BethesdaLockpicking is an essential part of Oblivion Remastered, as it gives you access to locked chests and doors containing valuable loot, but it can be tricky to master. Luckily, there are ways to make the minigame easier and reduce the risk.
After weeks of rumors, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is finally here, being shadowdropped by Bethesda during the reveal stream. It comes with upgraded visuals and major overhauls to various systems, like levelling, but many have been left intact.
This includes the lockpicking minigame, which is simply in theory but becomes difficult when you’re met with higher-level locks. So, here’s how it works and how to make picking locks easier.
Oblivion Lockpicking explained
Oblivion’s lockpicking minigame is all about timing, as you have to nudge the tumblers with the pin to try and fix them in place when they’re at the top of the lock — before they slip back down. The difficulty comes from the different speeds at which tumblers move, which can make it tricky to time.
On easier locks, this will be fairly straightforward, as they’ll hold in place for a brief time to make the window very obvious. However, on harder locks, they pop back out almost immediately to try and throw you off.
BethesdaIf you get it right, the tumbler will stay at the top of the lock, and you can move on to the next one. If you fail, your lockpick will break, the tumbler will pop out, and some of the others might reset.
The key is to push the tumblers a few times before pressing X/A/Left Click to get a feel for them. They don’t move at the same speeds every time, so you’re looking for an occasion where they move particularly slowly.
Eventually, the tumbler will stick at the top of the lock briefly, which is the perfect time to try and set them. It’s possible to pull it off no matter how quickly they move, but to get it right consistently and avoid wasting valuable lockpicks, this is the best way to tackle it.
There is also a subtle audio cue to listen out for. Every attempt triggers a clicking sound, but if you hear two clicks back-to-back, with the second being higher-pitched, then that’s the perfect time to make your attempt.
This is much trickier than the tension-based lockpicking in Skyrim and Fallout, but after a while, it’ll become second nature. Just be sure to stock up on lockpicks.
How to get lockpicks
Lockpicks are pretty common in Cyrodiil and can be found by looting chests and other containers or defeated enemies. However, if you don’t want to leave it up to chance and prefer to stock up, there are a few places to go.
The easiest is Shady Sam, a thief found in the Elven Gardens District of Imperial City. He has a steady supply of lockpicks that can be purchased, so make sure you visit him if you’re running low.
BethesdaYou can also buy them from any Thieves Guild fence, but you must first become a member of the faction by investigating the Gray Fox wanted posters scattered around the map and following that questline. Once you’ve joined, you can find fences in these locations:
How to get Skeleton Key
If you’re getting tired of buying and breaking lockpicks, then you need the Skeleton Key. This is essentially an invincible lockpick that can never be broken, allowing you to spam the minigame with no fear of running out. It also boosts your Security skill by 40 points, making any locked door a breeze.
To get your hands on it, you’ll have to complete the Nocturnal Quest, unlocked by visiting the Nocturnal Shrine outside Leyawiin after reaching level 10. You’ll be asked to recover the Eye of Nocturnal from a couple of thieves, which eventually takes you to Tidewater Cave, where the Skeleton Key can be found inside a chest.
BethesdaAlternatively, you can skip all of this by using a console command. This is ideal if you’re an Oblivion veteran who wants to skip side activities, but if you’re a new player, it’s best to complete the quest and experience it in the right way.
For more Oblivion Remastered, be sure to check out the best races and subraces, as well as some crazy mods you need to try.
