The Elder Scrolls Oblivion Remastered Lockpicking Guide

Unless you’re in possession of the skeleton key or you use console commands to unlock items, lockpicks are going to be your best friend (or worse enemy!) in The Elder Scrolls Oblivion Remastered. This is a very basic skill, and you’ll be introduced to it during the tutorial segment, but it can be tricky to master. 

Unlike Skyrim, lockpicking has a completely different UI. You’ll be running through a lot of lockpicks if you don’t know what you need to do. 

How to Use a Lockpick in Oblivion Remastered

Using a lockpick is all about getting your timing right. When you’ve initiated the activity, you’ll be shown the cross-section of a lock, with the tumblers inside it. Your job will be to set the tumblers in their respective chamber. 

To do so, you need to bounce the tumbler with your lockpick and then hit Space on PC/ A on Xbox/ X on PlayStation,  the moment the entire spring disappears from your view. If you do this correctly, the tumbler will sit in the chamber and then go black.

These tumblers rise and fall at different speeds, and if you miss the timing, it’ll fall back on your lockpick and break it. It’s a game of patience and observation. If you’re having trouble picking locks, you could work on increasing your Security skill. Sometimes, having a high Luck attribute could also help you with lockpicking in Oblivion Remastered, considering it has a positive effect on skills when its stat is above 50. 

Where to Find More Lockpicks

The easiest way to find more lockpicks is by looting every single enemy you defeat. Random bandits and goblins have a higher chance of carrying lockpicks. Sometimes, these can be found within crates and chests, too.

Alternatively, you’ve also got the option to buy them from vendors around Cyrodiil. If you join the Thieves Guild, you’ll be able to find different fences scattered around the world, who’ll gladly sell you lockpicks, but they’ll also charge you around 6 gold for it. 

What Can You Unlock With a Lockpick? 

You will be able to unlock any locked door or chest using a Lockpick in The Elder Scrolls Oblivion Remastered. Whenever you approach a locked door, you’ll see the prompt to use a lockpick. Just press the displayed keybind and it’ll take you to the minigame. 

However, there are a few doors and chests that require special keys. You won’t be able to unlock those using lockpicks.