How to Improve Lockpicking in Fallout 4

In the post-apocalyptic world of Fallout 4, the ability to pick locks can mean the difference between scraping by and thriving. Whether you're a seasoned vault dweller or new to the Commonwealth, improving your lockpicking skills is essential for accessing valuable loot and exploring hidden areas.

Locks come in four difficulty levels: Novice, Advanced, Expert, and Master. To pick locks, you need bobby pins, which can be purchased from vendors or found throughout the wasteland. In this blog, we share our top tips for improving your lockpicking skills.

3 Pro Tips to Get Better at Lockpicking in Fallout 4

Tip 1: Increase your Perception

A higher Perception attribute makes lockpicking easier. Locks in Fallout 4 come in four types: novice, advanced, expert, and master. You need at least 4 Perception to unlock the Locksmith perk in the first place, and each additional level of lock requires a higher rank of the Locksmith perk to attempt.

• Rank 1 (Perception Level 4): Allows picking of advanced locks

• Rank 2 (Perception Level 7): Enables expert lock picking

• Rank 3 (Perception Level 18): Grants access to master locks

• Rank 4 (Perception Level 41): Bobby pins never break during lockpicking

You can access the locksmith perk in your Perk Chart.

How to Increase Perception

1. Assign Points at Character Creation: Initially, you can assign points to Perception during character creation. The base Perception score can be set up to 10.

2. Leveling Up: Every time you level up, you gain a point that can be used to increase any of your SPECIAL stats, including Perception. You can choose to allocate this point to Perception instead of selecting a perk.

3. Equipment and Items: Certain items, like the Vault suit, provide a +1 bonus to Perception. However, these bonuses are typically small and temporary or situational.

4. Exploits and Cheats: While not recommended for a standard playthrough, using exploits or cheats can allow you to achieve higher Perception scores beyond the normal maximum of 44.

Tip 2: Start with the Bobby Pin then Use the Screwdriver

Lockpicking in Fallout 4 requires precise movements to hit the right spot within the lock. To pick locks faster and with more ease, you’ll need to start with the bobby pin to get the lock into the right position, then use the screwdriver to pry the lock open. Here’s how we would go about it:

• Insert the bobby pin into the lock cylinder.

• Slowly rotate the bobby pin to find the "sweet spot" When you feel less resistance, attempt to turn the lock with the screwdriver.

• If you encounter strong resistance, stop and adjust the bobby pin's position The further the lock rotates, the closer you are to the correct position.

Pay attention to visual and tactical cues in the lock. As you rotate the bobby pin, look for subtle movements in the lock mechanism. You may feel vibrations on your mouse or controller indicating the correct position. If you feel resistance when using the screwdriver, go back to the bobby pin and try to readjust the lock position, then pick up the screwdriver again.

Remember to be gentle with the screwdriver, as applying too much force can break your bobby pins. It's a process of trial and error, so be patient and practice picking locks at every opportunity you get.

Tip 3: Manage your bobby pin supply

At levels 1-3, bobby pins can break during lockpicking attempts, so it’s important to make sure you always have enough on hand. You can purchase more bobby pins from vendors or scavenge them throughout the game world.

Once you reach level 4, bobby pins do not break during lockpicking.

Pro Tip: Before attempting difficult locks, save the game. This allows you to reload if you break too many bobby pins.

Level Up and Lock Pick

Ultimately, you improve in lockpicking by leveling up, making sure you always have enough bobby pins on hand so you can practice each opportunity you get. Routinely save your progress before difficult locks, so your progress isn’t lost while practicing. Lockpicking is all about manipulating the bobby pin and screwdriver into the correct position. The more locks you pick, the better you'll become at recognizing patterns and sweet spots.