3 Ways to Get Lockpicks in Oblivion

Lockpicks in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion are like arrows in an archery game: you don’t notice them until you’re out… and then you notice them a lot.
Between the timing-based lockpicking minigame, the temptation to “just try” that Very Hard chest at level 2, and the occasional guard who takes your criminal résumé personally,
it’s easy to burn through picks fast.

The good news: Cyrodiil is basically a lockpick economy. Once you know where to buy them, where to farm them, and how to unlock the “I never want to hear a tumbler click again”
option, you’ll stop treating every locked drawer like a life-or-death resource decision.

Before We Start: This Is All In-Game

Everything below is strictly about getting lockpicks inside Oblivion (and versions like Oblivion Remastered, if you’re playing that).
No real-world anythingjust you, a suspicious amount of locked furniture, and the province of Cyrodiil quietly judging your choices.

Way #1: Buy Lockpicks From Shady Sam (Fastest Early-Game Stock-Up)

If you want lockpicks immediatelyno guild applications, no quests, no “prove you’re worthy” speechesyour first stop is Shady Sam.
He’s the game’s early “welcome to crime” vendor: always available, always sketchy, and always ready to trade lockpicks for gold.

Where to find Shady Sam

Shady Sam hangs out outside the Imperial City walls, near the area by the Chestnut Handy Stables. Many guides describe him along the
northwestern stretch of the city wall, near the gates for districts like Elven Gardens/Talos Plazabasically: exit the city, stay close to the wall,
and walk until you see a hooded merchant who looks like he sells “totally legal items, trust me.”

How his lockpick inventory works

Shady Sam typically carries a stack of 30 lockpicks at a time. If you buy him out, his stock refreshes on a timeroften as quickly as the next in-game day,
though some players report needing to wait a few in-game days depending on version or timing. The practical move is simple:
buy all 30, then wait/rest, and repeat until you’re swimming in picks like a dragon hoarding tiny metal teeth.

Why this method is great

• Available early: You can do it right after the tutorial/prologue.
• Simple loop: Buy → wait → buy again.
• No faction required: Perfect if you’re playing a “mostly honest” character with one very dishonest hobby.

Pro tip: If you’re low on gold, don’t feel pressured to buy 30 every time. Even grabbing 10–15 before a dungeon run can be enough,
especially if you pair it with the looting strategy in Way #3.

Way #2: Join the Thieves Guild and Buy in Bulk From Fences (Best Long-Term Supply)

Shady Sam is fantastic early, but the Thieves Guild is where lockpicks become a bulk commodity.
Once you’re in, guild-connected fences can sell large stacks of lockpicksmeaning you can restock for long dungeon crawls,
big heists, or your personal passion project: checking every locked chest “just in case it’s legendary.”

How to unlock lockpick buying through the Thieves Guild

In many versions of Oblivion, you’ll need to begin the Thieves Guild questline and complete the first mission
(“May the Best Thief Win”) to reliably unlock access to fences that sell lockpicks in meaningful quantities.
After that, fences become your go-to supply chain.

What fences sell (and why it’s worth it)

Fences can carry large stacks (often around 100) lockpicks, and their inventory refreshes after a short period (commonly a couple of in-game days).
Prices can vary depending on your haggling and disposition, but the big win is efficiency: you buy a ton at once and stop running errands for your lockpicks.

Examples of early fences you’ll encounter

As you progress with the guild, you’ll meet multiple fences across Cyrodiil. Common early names include:

• Ongar the World-Weary (Bruma)
• Dar Jee (Leyawiin)
• Luciana Galena (Bravil)
• Orrin (Anvil)

Bonus option: Armand Christophe (early, but slow)

There’s also a sneaky in-between option: Armand Christophe can sell lockpicks during the early Thieves Guild initiation window,
often at a cheap pricebut typically one at a time. It works if you absolutely want picks before fully committing,
but it’s not the method you pick when you need a stack big enough to survive your first Very Hard lock obsession.

Way #3: Loot Lockpicks While You Explore (Best “Free” Option)

If you’d rather not spend goldor you’re the type who sees “bandit camp” and thinks “my lockpicks now”you can build a healthy supply through loot.
Oblivion’s world throws lockpicks into the pockets of the exact people you’d expect: bandits, goblins, thieves, and generally anyone making life choices
that end with “and then the guard chased me.”

Where lockpicks commonly show up

• Bandits and goblins: Road encounters and dungeon mobs can drop lockpicks.
• Dungeons and caves: Chests inside (especially deeper in) are often good sources, and bandit hideouts can be particularly reliable.
• General adventuring loot: You’ll sometimes find picks in containers you weren’t even targetingbecause Cyrodiil is messy like that.

How to farm without making it a chore

The secret is to let lockpicks be a side benefit of what you were already doing: clearing a cave for a quest, exploring a fort for loot,
or traveling between towns. If you treat “find lockpicks” like your only goal, you’ll get bored; if you treat them as the bonus prize for normal gameplay,
you’ll steadily build a stash.

Also, consider this practical rhythm:

1. Travel to a town (sell loot, repair gear, dump stolen goods if you have a fence).
2. Clear one nearby dungeon (bandits/goblins are ideal early).
3. Keep lockpicks, sell the rest (use the gold to buy even more picks from Shady Sam or fences).

That loop turns “I’m out of lockpicks” into “I guess I’ll go get paid and also pick up 40 more picks on the way.”

The “I’m Done Breaking Lockpicks” Upgrade: Get the Skeleton Key (Unbreakable Lockpick)

If you want the ultimate quality-of-life solution, you’re looking for the Skeleton Keyan unbreakable lockpick rewarded from
Nocturnal’s Daedric quest. As a bonus, carrying it boosts your Security skill significantly (often noted as a +40 effect),
making locks feel less like a rhythm game designed by a mischievous wizard.

How to get the Skeleton Key (high-level steps)

1. Reach level 10. The quest generally becomes available at that point.
2. Go to Nocturnal’s Shrine north/northeast of Leyawiin, along the road.
3. Start the quest “Nocturnal” (often involving speaking with Mor gra-Gamorn and interacting with the shrine).
4. Investigate Leyawiin and track down the stolen Eye of Nocturnal (commonly linked to Weebam-Na and Bejeen).
5. Retrieve the Eye (frequently from Tidewater Cave southeast of Leyawiin) and return it to the shrine.
6. Collect your reward: the Skeleton Key.

One important “don’t get caught” note

Even with the Skeleton Key, it’s still smart to keep a few regular lockpicks available (or stashed somewhere safe), because getting arrested can strip you of certain
“tools of the trade.” Some guides and community notes specifically warn that the Skeleton Key may not behave exactly like a normal lockpick during confiscation scenarios,
so don’t treat it as a substitute for good behaviortreat it as a substitute for broken lockpicks.

Quick Comparison: Which Lockpick Strategy Should You Use?

of “Real Play” Experience: What Actually Keeps You From Running Out

Here’s what tends to happen in actual gameplay: you start out feeling cautious, like each lockpick is a family heirloom. You see a locked chest in the tutorial sewers,
you try a few careful tumbler taps, and you think, “Okay, I get it.” Then you walk into the first town, spot a locked door, and suddenly you’re living the chaotic
lockpick lifestyle: quicksave, snap, quicksave, snap, “AUTO-ATTEMPT,” snap, reload, repeat.

The turning point usually comes when you stop treating lockpicks as a rare resource and start treating them like an inventory category you manage on purpose.
The biggest quality-of-life change is doing a pre-adventure restock. Before you head into any dungeon you haven’t cleared before, swing by Shady Sam
and buy his full stack, or visit a Thieves Guild fence if you have access. It takes a minute, and it prevents the classic moment where you’re deep underground,
your torch is sputtering, you’ve beaten the boss, and the final reward chest is locked behind your last lockpick’s fragile hope.

The second thing that makes a huge difference is learning when not to pick locks. Early on, it’s tempting to brute-force every lock you see,
but “tempting” isn’t the same as “smart.” A Medium lock on a random dresser isn’t worth ten broken picks when you’re poor. If you’re low on stock,
prioritize locks that actually matter: end-of-dungeon chests, quest targets, and anything that looks like it belongs to someone with fancy taste.
You can always come back later when you’re richer, better at Security, and emotionally prepared to lose fewer picks per attempt.

Third: looting lockpicks feels slowuntil it doesn’t. Bandit caves and goblin dungeons are like passive income for thieves. You clear one for a quest, you walk out with
a couple of picks. You clear five over a few play sessions, and suddenly you’ve built a stash without even trying. The trick is consistency: keep the lockpicks,
sell the heavy stuff, and use that gold to buy more picks. The loop feeds itself.

Finally, the Skeleton Key is the moment you realize you were living on hard mode for no reason (once you can start the quest). Not because it “wins” the minigame for you,
but because it removes the stress. You start attempting locks with curiosity instead of dread. You practice the timing. You learn the feel of the tumbler speeds.
And the funniest part? When lockpicks stop being scarce, you become a better lockpickerbecause you can actually afford to learn.

Conclusion

If you want lockpicks fast, buy out Shady Sam and let his inventory refresh. If you want lockpicks forever, join the Thieves Guild and buy in bulk from fences.
If you want lockpicks without spending gold, loot bandits, goblins, and dungeon chests as you explore. And if you want the ultimate upgrade, aim for Nocturnal’s quest
at level 10 and grab the Skeleton Key. Do any two of these together and you’ll go from “I’m out of lockpicks” to “I have 120 and I still check every locked barrel.”

SEO Tags