In The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion , lockpicks are essential tools for the Security skill, letting you crack open chests, doors, and gates during your adventures across Cyrodiil. Whether you're a sneaky thief or just need to access that one stubborn loot container, knowing reliable sources keeps your inventory stocked without frustration.

Primary Sources for Lockpicks

Lockpicks drop frequently from enemies and containers, but merchants offer consistent access, especially early game.

  • Looting goblin caves and bandit camps : These are the fastest free method—goblins and bandits often carry 1-2 lockpicks, and end-of-dungeon chests yield stacks of 5+ at once. Head to nearby mines or caves outside the Imperial City for quick runs.
  • Shady Sam (top early vendor) : Found outside Imperial City walls, northeast of the stables along the wall (near Talos Plaza and Elven Gardens gates). He sells 30 lockpicks daily; buy out his stock, wait 24 hours, and it refreshes. Perfect for low-level characters avoiding combat.
  • Thieves Guild fences : Join the guild (start in Imperial City Waterfront) for access to bulk sellers like Ongar the World-Weary. They stock hundreds, ideal for high-volume needs.

Method| Pros| Cons| Best For
---|---|---|---
Looting (goblins/bandits)| Free, abundant in dungeons| Combat risk, random drops| Combat builds, exploration13
Shady Sam| Reliable, early access, daily restock| Costs ~4-10 gold each| Beginners, quick buys137
Thieves Guild| Huge quantities, cheap long-term| Requires questline join| Dedicated thieves35

Tips from Player Forums

Communities like Reddit's r/oblivion buzz with stories of lockpick woes turning into triumphs—recent 2025 threads echo timeless advice amid Oblivion Remastered hype.

"Goblin caves for days—cleared one and had 50 picks before Shady Sam." – Forum vet on early grinding

Players speculate joining Dark Brotherhood for niche vendors, but Thieves Guild wins for volume; some duplicate picks via glitches (console commands in mods), though purists avoid it.

Lockpicking Minigame Basics

Tired of wasting picks? Quick-save first. Rotate to lift tumblers (green = sweet spot), tug to test—avoid red breaks. Practice on low locks builds skill fast.

Quick Steps :

  1. Align pick to tumbler gap.
  2. Hold rotation until green flashes.
  3. Release on tug success; repeat for all 5 tumblers.
  4. Higher Security skill = fewer breaks.

With Oblivion Remastered trending in 2025 forums, these spots remain unchanged—stock up and raid Ayleid ruins confidently.

TL;DR : Hit Shady Sam outside Imperial City or loot goblin caves for easy lockpicks; Thieves Guild for pros.

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