Oblivion’s lockpicking remains essentially in Bethesda’s re-release, which means successfully completing Oblivion Remastered is a finicky and seemingly unpredictable process. At least, that’s how it seems. Despite how random the success rate seems, there’s a precise method to lockpicking in Oblivion, and it gets easier once you level up your lockpicking skill.
Our Oblivion Remastered lockpicking guide explains how the process works, along with a useful lockpicking glitch to max out your level fast.
Oblivion Remastered lockpicking explained
Successfully picking a lock in Oblivion requires you to set each of the lock’s tumblers permanently in place. The lock opens if you get it right, and your pick breaks if you get it wrong. Low-level locks have just one or two tumblers for you to set, while higher ones have up to five. The idea is to select a tumbler, move it up, and press the “set” button as soon as it hits the top, before it starts to fall again. If you can play with the audio on, make sure to do that, as the tumbler makes a little “tink” sound when it hits the top. If not, you’re aiming for the moment when it stops moving – when it reaches the top and right before it starts to fall again.
You can also try automatically completing the lockpick minigame, but the chances of success are rather low. You’re more likely to burn through picks with nothing to show for it this way. Alternatively, you can learn and cast the Open Lock spell from the Alteration school to open, assuming your Alteration skill level is higher than the level of the lock that you’re trying to pick. Bear in mind that Oblivion’s time keeps flowing while you’re casting your spell, so if someone’s after you, they won’t pause while you magically open a lock. It does stop while you complete the minigame, though.
On the bright side, lockpick magic isn’t a crime. If you’re already innocent, and a guard spots you magicking a lock open, they’ll think nothing of it.
What does raising Oblivion Remastered’s lockpicking level do?
Lockpicking is a sub-activity governed by the minor skill Security, which is under the major skill Agility. You raise your lockpicking level by – surprise! – picking locks. A higher level means more tumblers stay in place if you fail the minigame. Normally, set tumblers reset when you make a mistake.
Oblivion Remastered lockpicking glitch
You can raise your security level to 100 with your first lock and gain several overall levels instantly as a result. Once you set a tumbler, keep the pick on the set tumbler, and press the “set tumbler” button or key repeatedly. Oblivion Remastered counts it as a successful tumbler set each time, which counts toward increasing your security level.
Our Oblivion leveling guide explains why you won’t want to jump 10 or 15 levels in a single go, but you can, at least, use this as a quick way to gain a few levels early on.
For more help, check out our guide for finding a house in Oblivion and where to look for Daedric Artifacts once you’re at that point.