A thief is never caught as long as they have a lockpick. But, particularly in the early game, lockpicks can be hard to come by in Oblivion Remastered.
As you level up your security skill and get the hang of the lockpicking mini-game, you’ll need a steady supply of lockpicks to fuel your learning. Here are a few easy places where you can get your hands on more lockpicks, as well as other key items.
Regular vendors
Many regular general store shopkeepers do actually stock lockpicks, such as Colovian Traders in Skingrad, but usually in such small numbers that it’s not worth making the specific trip to buy them.
However, it’s worth remembering that if you’re visiting a shop for a different reason, always check to see if they’ve got a couple of lockpicks and grab them where you can. Two here and two there can add up quickly.
Thieves Guild Fences
The best place to buy lockpicks is from Thieves Guild Fences. These special merchants will also buy stolen goods from members of the Thieves Guild, and more become available as you advance through the ranks.
Before you’re a member though, you can also buy lockpicks from Armand Christophe in the Garden on Dreloth on the Imperial Waterfront around midnight for 5 gold each.
Below we’ve embedded an interactive map showing the locations of every Fence where you can buy lockpicks in Oblivion Remastered:
Once you’re a full member of the Guild, visit the Ongar the World-Weary, the Fence in the northern city of Bruma.
Charged with keeping new members supplied and stealing, Ongar will have dozens of lockpicks for sale whenever you visit, and refreshes that amount every few days.
Goblins
Goblins in Oblivion are basically just wasps. They’re not considered intelligent, more of a semi-dangerous nuisance which should be avoided where possible and eradicated when not.
However, for some reason, Goblins in Oblivion have an extremely high chance to drop lockpicks when defeated.
This means you can make your way through various caves and mines throughout the countryside, collecting not just loot and experience as you go but lockpicks as well.
Derelict Mine just to the east of Skingrad is a good place to start, as is the ironically named Empty Mine to the southeast of Vilverin. Finally, you can also find a load of goblins inside the Pillaged Mine on the southwest corner of Chorrol too.
Skeleton Key
Alternatively, once you reach level 10 you can complete a quest for the Daedric Lord, Noctural, who will gift you the magical artifact known as the Skeleton Key. This acts as an unbreakable lockpick, meaning you’ll never run out again!
You find Nocturnal’s Shrine on the east road travelling south towards Leyawiin.
For more great items, check out our round-up of the best weapons in Oblivion Remastered, as well as our map of every Daedric Artifact location.