In The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion , lockpicks are essential for opening chests, doors, and other locked containers during your adventures across Cyrodiil. The good news is there are reliable, straightforward ways to stock up without running dry mid-dungeon.

Fastest Vendor: Shady Sam

Shady Sam is your go-to early-game supplier for unlimited lockpicks—he restocks 30 daily just outside the Imperial City. Fast travel to the Imperial City Stables, exit northeast along the city walls, and you'll spot him in black robes. Buy out his stock each day for a steady supply; it's hassle-free and perfect for new characters.

"Shady Sam carries 30 lockpicks at a time and his stock refreshes daily if you buy them all, making him the best place to get lockpicks early in Oblivion."

Looting Hotspots

Don't sleep on free lockpicks from enemies and containers—they're everywhere in goblin caves, bandit camps, and dungeons.

  • Goblin caves/mines (like Goblin Jim's Cave) drop multiple lockpicks per chest and goblin corpse—ideal for bulk hauls.
  • Bandit hideouts yield picks from bodies and locked chests at the end of crawls.
  • Roads between cities often have roaming bandits with 1-2 picks each.

This method shines for low-gold runs, as recent Oblivion Remastered forum threads (as of May 2025) still rave about goblin runs for "100+ picks" in one go.

Thieves Guild Fences (Endgame Goldmine)

Join the Thieves Guild for fences selling 100 lockpicks each —no murder required like the Dark Brotherhood. Complete initial quests to unlock them; they're worth it for high-volume needs. Pro tip: Pair with the Skeleton Key (Nocturnal quest post-level 10) for unbreakable lockpicking and skill boosts.

Method| Lockpicks per Visit| Restock/Repeat| Best For
---|---|---|---
Shady Sam| 30| Daily| Early game, quick buys 13
Looting (Goblins/Bandits)| 5-20+ per run| Infinite (farmable)| Free, combat lovers 35
Thieves Guild Fences| 100| Quest-unlocked| Late game, bulk 19

Trending Tips from Forums (2025 Remaster Buzz)

Oblivion's 2025 Remastered edition has sparked fresh Reddit threads where players swear by Shady Sam loops and goblin farms over wiki dives. One user noted: "Goblin caves for sure" for effortless stacks, while others push Thieves Guild for "tons legit." No major patches changed this since launch—timeless mechanics!

TL;DR: Hit Shady Sam daily, loot goblin caves, join Thieves Guild for 100-packs—never pick-lock broke again.

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