To lockpick in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, follow these key steps and tips to master the minigame:
Basic Lockpicking Mechanics
- Approach a locked door or chest while having at least one lockpick in your inventory and initiate the lockpicking minigame.
- You will see a cross-section of the lock with several tumblers (springs) inside.
- Use the left control stick (or mouse/keyboard) to push the inner metal piece (the tumbler) upward.
- Your goal is to "set" each tumbler by pressing the action button (e.g., X on Xbox or left-click on PC) at the precise moment when the tumbler reaches the top and moves slowly upward
Timing and Technique
- Tap the tumbler repeatedly to observe its movement speed. Tumblers move up and then fall back down at varying speeds.
- Only attempt to set the tumbler when it moves up slowly. Setting it while it moves too fast or is falling will break your lockpick
- Listen for a distinct "click-cleek" sound with a higher pitch, which indicates the tumbler is in the correct position to be set
- If you fail to set a tumbler correctly, you must restart the entire lockpicking process unless your Security skill is high enough to allow partial progress
Additional Tips
- Patience is key: wait for the slow upward movement before setting the tumbler.
- Higher Security skill levels make the minigame easier by increasing the margin for error
- You can use spells or items to temporarily boost your Security skill to make lockpicking easier
- The Skeleton Key item allows unlimited lockpicks and can simplify the process
- Avoid rushing to prevent breaking lockpicks unnecessarily
By carefully timing your button presses to coincide with the slow upward motion of each tumbler and listening for the audio cues, you can efficiently pick locks without breaking your lockpicks in Oblivion
