If you’re diving into The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and want to master the art of picking locks, you’re in the right place. Lockpicking is a handy skill for cracking open chests, doors, and other goodies, tied to your Security skill. This guide breaks down how to do it step-by-step in order to make you a pro at popping those locks without breaking all your lockpicks.
1. Lockpicking Basics
Walk up to a locked door, chest, or whatever, and interact with it. If you’ve got a lockpick in your inventory, you’ll jump into the lockpicking minigame. You can grab lockpicks from shops, shady dealers, or loot them from dungeons.
The lockpicking screen shows a lock with 2 to 5 tumblers (those little pins). You’ve got to push each one up to the right spot to unlock it. How many tumblers you deal with depends on how tough the lock is:
- Very Easy: 1 tumbler
- Easy: 2 tumblers
- Average: 3 tumblers
- Hard: 4 tumblers
- Very Hard: 5 tumblers
Move the Lockpick
Use your mouse (on PC) or left stick (on consoles) to slide the lockpick under a tumbler. Hit the action button (left click, A on Xbox, X on PlayStation) to nudge the tumbler up.
Set the Tumbler
When you push a tumbler, it’ll move up at different speeds. If it’s zipping up fast, it’s not ready and will drop back down. If it’s crawling up nice and slow, it’s good to go.
Hit the action button again when the tumbler’s at the top and moving slow to lock it in place.
Mess up the timing (like pushing when it’s too fast), and your lockpick might snap, and some tumblers could reset. Get every tumbler set in the right spot, and the lock will pop open.
2. Tips for Successful Lockpicking
Listen for Audio Cues
Pay attention to the sounds. A slow, heavy clunk means the tumbler’s ready to set. A quick, light noise means it’s not.
Watch Tumbler Speed
You can see if a tumbler’s ready by how slow it moves up. Get used to spotting the difference for better timing.
Save Before Attempting
Lockpicks break, especially on tricky locks. Save your game first so you don’t burn through your whole stash.
Improve Your Security Skill
Leveling up your Security skill makes lockpicking smoother and cuts down on broken lockpicks. You can grind it by picking locks or training with someone like J’baana in the Imperial City Prison or Majana in Bruma.
As your Security skill gets better, you’ll unlock perks (like at Journeyman or Expert) that stop tumblers from resetting if a lockpick breaks.
Use the Skeleton Key
If you’ve snagged the Skeleton Key (check out a guide for Nocturnal’s quest), equip it for a sweet +40 boost to Security. It makes even the toughest locks a breeze.
Auto-Attempt Option
If you’re fed up, you can hit “Auto-Attempt” in the lockpicking screen. It uses your Security skill to try unlocking for you, but it’s hit-or-miss if your skill’s low, and it can chew through lockpicks.
3. Lockpicking Strategies
Start with One Tumbler
Focus on one tumbler at a time. Push it up, check its speed, and set it when it’s moving slow.
Practice on Easy Locks
Early on, mess around with “Very Easy” or “Easy” locks (like chests in dungeons or houses) to level up your Security and get the hang of it.
Carry Extra Lockpicks
Keep 10–20 lockpicks on you. Hard locks can break a bunch, so stock up from Thieves Guild fences or merchants like Ongar in Bruma or Shady Sam near the Imperial City.
Use Buffs
Spells, potions, or gear that boost Agility or Security (like Fortify Security) can give you an edge.
Notes
When you check a lock, it’ll tell you how tough it is (like “Hard Lock”). Your Security skill and gear like the Skeleton Key decide how easy it is to crack.
Picking locks in someone’s house or a restricted spot can get you in trouble if you’re caught, so sneak around to stay hidden.
Sometimes you can find keys on NPCs or in the area to skip lockpicking. Spells like Open Lock from Alteration magic can also do the trick.
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