Where to Buy Lockpicks in Oblivion's Imperial City

In The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion , lockpicks are essential for the lockpicking minigame to access chests, doors, and hidden loot throughout Cyrodiil, especially early in the game around the Imperial City. Players frequently discuss this on forums like Reddit, where Shady Sam emerges as the go-to vendor for quick, reliable purchases without guild commitments. This spot has trended in Oblivion Remastered talks since its 2025 release, blending nostalgia with fresh player queries.

Primary Vendor: Shady Sam

The most straightforward option is Shady Sam , a shady merchant camped just outside the Imperial City walls. Exit the Chestnut Handy Stables gate (east side of the city), hug the outer wall northeast, and find him near a bush—he's in dark clothes and sells 30 lockpicks daily for about 6 gold each (total ~180 gold for a full stack).

  • Stock refreshes every 24 hours, letting you buy another batch after waiting or resting.
  • No faction required; ideal for beginners avoiding Thieves Guild quests.
  • He's nocturnal (active 6 PM–6 AM), so time your visit or wait.

"You can find Shady Sam located north of the stables, just outside the wall of the imperial city, where he offers a limited selection of lockpicks for sale."

This method fueled endless Reddit threads, with players sharing "perimeter walk" tips to stock up before dungeons like Vilverin.

Thieves Guild and Advanced Options

Joining the Thieves Guild unlocks fences with bigger inventories (often 100+ lockpicks), contacted via Imperial City Waterfront contacts during early quests. Progression opens black market dealers citywide.

  • Dark Brotherhood merchants also stock them post-sanctuary access.
  • Market District shops like Jensine or Slash 'N Smash occasionally carry a few, but loot crates/barrels there for free picks too.
  • Skeleton Key from Nocturnal's shrine quest (Thieves Guild path) auto-succeeds locks, ending pick needs entirely.

Vendor| Location| Stock Size| Gold Cost (Each)| Requirements
---|---|---|---|---
Shady Sam 13| Outside Imperial City Stables (NE wall)| 30 (daily refresh)| ~6| None
Thieves Guild Fences 3| Various (post-quest)| 100+| Varies| Guild membership
Jensine 7| Market District| Limited| Competitive| None (sells loot too)
Dark Brotherhood 1| Sanctuary merchants| Moderate| Standard| Faction quests

Forum veterans note early-game crate looting in the Imperial City yields hammers and picks alongside Sam's buys, stretching gold from Ayleid ruins sales.

Tips from Recent Discussions

Oblivion Remastered (2025) revived these talks, with players mixing Sam's bulk buys and skill grinding for easier minigames. One Redditor quipped: "Why trek when UESP has it all?" sparking wiki-vs-forum debates—yet newbies still flock to Sam.

  • Fund it : Sell wolf pelts, bandit gear, or Waterfront pickpockets to Jensine (600 gold pool).
  • Alternatives : Goblin caves drop picks; save-scum tough locks.
  • Pro Tip : Boost Security skill via practice—novice locks barely need picks later.

As of early 2026 guides, Shady Sam remains the Imperial City lockpick king for non-guild runs.

TL;DR : Head to Shady Sam outside Imperial City stables for 30 cheap lockpicks daily—no quests needed.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.