Oblivion Remastered: The Keys to Lockpicking

Master lockpicking in Oblivion with tips, tools, and gear to improve your precision and success—perfect for thieves, adventurers, and completionists.

The recently remastered Oblivion has everyone wondering – how the heck do you pick these locks? In this game, lockpicking isn’t just a mechanic, it’s a core part of exploration, thievery, and character progression. This guide breaks down everything you need to know: how the minigame works, where to find lockpicks, essential thief gear, and high-value lockpicking hotspots.

How the Lockpicking Minigame Works

Lock-picking in Oblivion Remastered isn’t just about trial and error – the strategy requires proper timing, precision, and pattern recognition. Unlike the pick-and-twist mechanics in other Elder Scrolls titles like Skyrim, Oblivion’s system relies on carefully reading a lock tumblers' movements.

When you pick a lock, you’re presented with 1 to 5 tumblers, depending on the lock’s difficulty. Your job is to lift each tumbler and “set” it at the right moment. The more tumblers you have to set in the lock, the harder it is.

Every tumbler has its own randomized movement pattern – start by lifting each tumbler to watch how it falls. If it drops slowly, that’s your cue to click to set it in place (X/A/Mouse-Click depending on the system you’re using). If the tumbler falls quickly, attempting to set it will almost always break your pick.

The tricky part is that tumblers you successfully set will stay in place, but the lock resets if you mess up a pick. This is why the minigame requires a blend of observation and execution. However, you can also opt for the automatic lockpicking option, which makes the game roll for success based on your Security skill level, but it’s a gamble.

Manual picking, especially with some practice and careful attention to audio cues, is often more reliable.

Where to Get Lockpicks

You can get lockpicks in Oblivion from several sources, both legal and... not so legal. Here's where to stock up:

Shady Sam: You can find Sam outside the northwestern side of the Imperial City Walls by the road. Shady Sam is an early game go-to thief who is always available to sell you lockpicks and other useful stealth items like invisibility potions.
Thieves Guild Members: Once you join the Thieves Guild, several members (like Armand Christophe and Luciana Galena) will sell or give you lockpicks. Fence merchants often carry a small supply as well.
Looting Bandits & NPCs: Many enemies, especially thieves, assassins, and bandits carry between 1 and 3 lockpicks. Dungeons, forts, and Ayleid ruins are great places to farm them.
Merchants (occasionally): Some general goods stores carry a limited number of lockpicks. It’s rare, but worth checking in cities like Bruma, Skingrad, and Chorrol.

Oblivion Lockpicking Techniques

So now you know the basics, but how do you go from snapping picks every other chest to cracking open expert-level locks on the first try? Here are the core techniques to mastering the art of lockpicking in Oblivion:

Tip #1: Audio Cues

Each tumbler makes a distinct sound when it falls: a fast “snap” or a slower, deeper “thunk.” The subtle difference is what tells you everything. When you hear the slower thunk, that’s your cue to click and set the tumbler.

People have such a tough time with lockpicking because they’re overlooking the audio feedback. Listening carefully for the slow-drop sound gives you a small edge that counts, particularly in high-level locks. This is what will save you from wasting 15 lockpicks.

Easily pick out subtle drop sounds with the Arctis Nova Pro, and fine-tune your spatial audio and EQ for precision lockpicking.

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Tip #2: Practice Your Timing (and Tune Your Mouse)

Each tumbler bounces up with a distinct motion and sound. Your goal is to press the lock button right when a tumbler reaches the top and pauses, as that’s your window to set it. If you’re too early or too late, the tumbler falls, and you risk breaking a pick.

To improve accuracy and consistency, consider adjusting your mouse sensitivity (DPI) and tuning your click settings:

Lower your DPI slightly to gain more control over small, precise movements, especially useful if you tend to overshoot or misclick.
Use a lightweight mouse with crisp, tactile clicks to reduce input lag and fatigue during tricky locks.
If your mouse software allows it (like SteelSeries GG), customize actuation or response curves for quicker feedback and finer control over click timing.

Practicing on easy locks or the training chest in the Waterfront District is a great way to fine-tune both your reflexes and your hardware setup.

Pro Tip: Assign one of your mouse’s side buttons to “Auto Attempt” using SteelSeries Engine. It saves time when you just want to brute-force lower-level locks without navigating the UI every time.

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Tip #3: Build a Rhythm

Lockpicking rewards patience. Instead of frantically clicking every time a tumbler moves, take a moment to study their patterns. Tumbler drops are randomized, but each alternates between fast and slow falls. Developing a consistent rhythm of lifting the tumbler, observing it, and setting it helps you avoid misclicks and builds muscle memory.

When dealing with multiple tumblers, mentally track which ones are already set so you don’t waste your lockpicks on careless clicks.

Tip #4: Level Up Your Security Skill

Your character’s Security skill isn’t just for show; it directly affects how easy it is to read tumbler behavior. At higher levels, tumblers fall slower, which gives you more time to react. This also makes the Auto Attempt feature more viable, though manual picking remains the more reliable choice. Manual picking gives you full control over each tumbler, avoids random failures, and allows skilled players to succeed even on high-difficulty locks, rather than leaving it to chance.

To boost your Security skill:

Use lockpicks regularly on low-level locks
Visit trainers like Jorundr in Brume or Luciana Galena in Bravil
Use Fortify Security potions or enchanted gear before tough jobs.

Tip #5: Use the Skeleton Key Wisely

The Skeleton Key is a Daedric artifact granted by Nocturnal, and it's one of the most useful items in the game for thieves and dungeon delvers. It functions as an unbreakable lockpick, meaning you can fail attempts without losing it. This key also acts as an unbreakable lockpick and gives you a Fortify Security +40 effect while equipped.

The Skeleton Key gives you unlimited practice and eliminates the pressure of running out of picks, especially on Very Hard locks. However, you’ll still need to play the minigame – it’s not a free pass. Pair it with a high Security skill, and you can open any lock in the game. The Skeleton Key is the best lockpicking item in the game, perfect for stealth builds or anyone looking to break into high-level loot early.

To get the Skeleton Key:

Before you set out to pick up the skeleton key through Nocturnal’s quest, ensure you’re at least level 10. You can level up by working on your minor skills through playing the game or by working with skill trainers.

Head to Nocturnal’s Shrine located in the Blackwood region, east of Leyawiin and slightly northeast of Tidewater Cave.
Once you reach the shrine, speak to the follower to begin the quest.
Nocturnal will appear and ask you to retrieve her stolen Eye of Nocturnal, which was hidden in Tidewater Cave, a nearby underwater dungeon.
You’ll then face a few enemies and need to swim through submerged tunnels, so bring Water Breathing potions or spells (or train your Alteration skill beforehand).
After retrieving and returning the Eye of Nocturnal, she rewards you with the Skeleton Key.

Lockpicking Hotspots

Once you've mastered the lockpicking minigame and secured the Skeleton Key, it's time to put your skills to the test. Cyrodiil is full of locked doors and hidden chests, many of which guard powerful gear, rare alchemical ingredients, or hefty piles of gold. Below are some of the best lockpicking hotspots.

Guild Halls and Faction Headquarters

Even if you’re a member, not every room is open to you. The Arcane University, Fighter’s Guild storage rooms, and Thieves Guild safehouses often feature locked display cases and private chambers. These spots usually contain enchanted weapons, scrolls, or gear upgrades, perfect for leveling your Security skill while outfitting your character.

Ayleid Ruins and Ancient Tombs

These sprawling dungeons are filled with locked chests, especially at the ends of side passages and behind puzzle-based barriers. Fanacas and Moranda are two great examples with multiple locked containers.

Pro tip: Keep a few Restore Fatigue potions handy – you'll often need to fight off undead or Daedra between pick attempts.

City Houses (Legal-ish Breaking & Entering)

Nearly every city in Cyrodiil has houses with Average to Very Hard locks, particularly in the Wealthy and Castle districts. Use nighttime cover, sneak boosts, and Chameleon gear to break into homes without detection. Some top-tier homes worth targeting:

Umbacano Manor (Imperial City Talos Plaza)
Thoronir’s House (Imperial City Market)
Velwyn Benirus’s Manor (Anvil)

Just be careful – residents will call guards if you get caught mid-pick.

Bandit Camps and Marauder Strongholds

The enemies may not be subtle, but they often hoard powerful loot behind locked chests. Look for strongholds like Rockmilk Cave, Fort Naso, or Bleak Flats Cave, where multiple high-tier enemies guard gear behind Hard or Very Hard locks.

You’ll often find enchanted weapons, repair hammers, and soul gems, perfect for adventurers.

Daedric Shrines and Quest Locations

High-level questlines (like Daedric artifact hunts or Mages Guild promotions) often involve locked doors and containers with quest-specific gear. These locks scale with your level and reward you with rare items for your trouble.

If you're pursuing Nocturnal’s quest for the Skeleton Key, you’ll even face underwater locks in Tidewater Cave, a true lockpicking challenge.

Bonus Tips

Use Quick Save

When working on a very hard lock with multiple tumblers already set, it doesn’t hurt to do a quick save to protect your progress in case you mess up on the final one. This way, you can reload if things go sideways.

Practice at Lockpick Training Chests

You can find Lockpick Training Chests in the Thieves Guild hideouts (and in some guild halls). These training chests offer risk-free practice without breaking your picks. These are great for mastering rhythm and tumbler timing.

Always Keep Extra Picks

Even with the Skeleton key, you may choose to unequip it to increase your Security skill manually. Buy picks from Shady Sam (outside the Imperial City) or loot them from Thieves, Bandits, and Dremora.