Lockpicking in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (including Oblivion Remastered) is a timing-based minigame that requires patience and practice. Here's how it works and how to successfully pick locks:
Basic Mechanics
- When you attempt to pick a lock, you see a cross-section of the lock with several tumblers (pins) that need to be set at the top of their chambers. The number of tumblers depends on the lock's difficulty (easy, average, hard)
- You use the lockpick to push each tumbler upward. The goal is to "set" each tumbler precisely when it reaches the top of the lock
- Tumblers move up and then fall back down at varying speeds-sometimes fast, sometimes slow. The key is to wait for the tumbler to move slowly upward or fall slowly before trying to set it
How to Pick a Lock Successfully
- Select a tumbler to pick and tap it upward repeatedly to get a feel for its movement pattern
- Observe the speed of the tumbler's movement. Tumblers alternate between fast and slow speeds. You want to wait for the slow movement because it gives you more timing leeway
- When the tumbler moves slowly upward, keep tapping to make it bounce repeatedly near the top without fully resetting. This creates a slow, predictable pattern to time your set
- Press the "set" button (Space on PC, A on Xbox, or equivalent) while the tumbler is moving upward and near the top. Setting it at this moment will lock the tumbler in place successfully
- Repeat for all tumblers. If you fail to set a tumbler correctly, the lockpick breaks, and depending on your Security skill, some or all tumblers may reset, requiring you to start over
Tips for Success
- Always wait for the slow-moving tumbler before setting it; trying to set it during a fast movement will almost always break your lockpick
- Learning the pattern of each tumbler's movement helps predict when the slow movement occurs
- Higher Security skill makes lockpicking easier by allowing more margin for error and sometimes preventing tumblers from resetting
- You need at least one lockpick in your inventory to attempt lockpicking; otherwise, you must use a key or magic
- Some locks cannot be picked and require specific keys
In summary, Oblivion lockpicking is about timing your "set" action to when a tumbler is slowly moving upward near the top of its chamber, using patience to avoid breaking lockpicks and resetting progress
