You can find some sort of lockpicking mechanism in most modern RPGs. While each title comes with a unique approach to this concept, Starfield takes the hard way. For example, if you enjoyed unlocking doors in Skyrim or Fallout, this new mini-game will baffle your mind. However, you can’t just skip the puzzle just because it is a bit harder, as some of the best loot is safely hidden behind these digital locks.
The only problem is that the game doesn’t provide any extra details to enlighten your way. The single screen tutorial is so brief that most rushers will skip it without noticing. Therefore, this article provides a complete Starfield lockpicking guide so that you can unlock everything from Novice to Master level.
Table of Contents
Lockpicking in Starfield:
Before we dive into the complexity of lockpicking, it would be best to give you a short introduction. Starfield locks are a bit different than the ancient iron keyholes of Skyrim. These advanced locks can only be opened with a special digital lockpick, or Digipick for short. Once you activate the Digipick, you must then rotate the keys in such a manner that they fill all the gaps in the lock.
The next step is to shift to other keys and try filling all the gaps in each circle. That’s right, higher-tier locks will present you with multiple circles. As you progress from Novice to Advanced locks, you will start encountering double-circled locks. In some cases, a single key will even fill gaps in two different circles. Similarly, you will also notice that certain keys seem to fill the gaps, but they aren’t the actual solutions. Don’t worry; the next section of this guide will answer all the questions in your mind.
How to Start Lockpicking?
You can’t just head to the nearest lock and try your luck in Starfield. Instead, you must fulfill certain requirements before the game even lets you attempt the challenge. For instance, you must acquire at least one Digipick to start lockpicking. Next, you must unlock and upgrade the Security skill to pick Advanced to Master level combinations.
Also, you will lose a Digipick after each attempt, so make sure to stock up on these items. Here are the skill requirements for different lock levels in Starfield:
- Novice: Always accessible
- Advanced: Security Rank 1
- Expert: Security Rank 2
- Master: Security Rank 3
If you wish to start picking locks right from the beginning, it would be best to choose the best background, like Bouncer or Cyber Runner. Furthermore, investing skill points in the Security skill will unlock special mechanisms. For example, at Security Rank 2, the circle will turn blue whenever the keys are placed in the correct position. Also, you can now bank additional auto attempts.
Starfield: Lockpicking Guide
Once you fulfill all the requirements and gather enough Digipicks, it is time to test your hacking skills. While all locks are randomly generated and even get refreshed after you refresh the game, there are some tricks to help you master the skill. However, before you start picking every lock in the game, it would be best to check the lock’s level, your Security skill rank, and your experience.
For instance, Novice level locks are fairly easier to pick after you get a grasp of the concept. However, the same can’t be said about Advanced to Master level locks, as they add a secondary layer of protection. Here are the best ways to pick every lock in Starfield:
Novice Lockpicking:
The first thing that you must examine is the level of the lock that you are picking. If it is a Novice lock, then you only need to solve one circular ring. The goal is to use all three available keys to fill the gaps and complete the circle. So, examine all three keys and use the one that fills the most gaps first.
However, don’t lock in just yet, as there is a fair chance that you are connecting the wrong dots. If you confirm a key is in the wrong position, then you will need to undo it, which costs 1x Digipick. Fortunately, if you have unlocked Security Rank 2, the circle will turn blue as soon as you rotate the keys in the correct position. Repeat the process for the remaining keys and place them in the correct positions to unlock the safe.
Advanced Lockpicking:
Let’s try our luck with Advanced level locks in Starfield. These locks are a bit harder to pick as you must now solve 2 circular rings. Moreover, there are 5 available keys located on the right side of the screen. One thing to note is that 1 or 2 of these keys may be useless as they won’t be used at all. Furthermore, certain keys may be used in both circles.
Therefore, you must avoid confirming your keys unless you are absolutely sure of them. Secondly, to avoid using additional Digipicks, you must try to simultaneously solve both the inside and outside circles in your head. Once you have eliminated the possibility of useless keys and the other keys complete the circle, it is time to confirm your selection. If everything fits in place, you will gain access to the locked loot in no time. Also, the Security rank 2 will only help you solve the first ring, so don’t rely on it completely.
Expert to Master Lockpicking:
Master and Expert level locks are almost similar to Advanced locks. However, there may be an additional circular ring, making the total three rings for one lock. Furthermore, you must invest more skill points in Security to access such locks.
Again, repeat the previous strategy and use the blue circle method to eliminate the useless keys for the current ring. The good news is that the ring will turn blue for the correct keys for all three circles. Moreover, pay attention to all three rings while finishing the first circle, as the same keys may be used to complete all of them. Once you are absolutely sure of your selection, lock all the keys in place to solve the mini-game.
What is Lockpicking Auto Attempt?
Starfield gives you a few auto-attempt slots to make the whole lockpicking mini-game a bit easier. When you use this function while on the lockpicking screen, the game will automatically show you the right keys for the current circular ring. Yes, it doesn’t solve the whole puzzle, but you can use it to guess the right keys for the current ring.
You will gain 1x auto attempt for each successful lockpicking. Moreover, you can store up to 5 auto attempts at Security rank 4, making it easier to solve some of the toughest puzzles in no time. However, you should save these slots until you find a really tough, unsolvable lock with no spare Digipicks.
Conclusion:
You can find tons of precious loot scattered around the vast universe in Starfield. However, some of the best items and Burden of Proof Evidence are usually safely locked behind closed doors. So, to acquire such items, you must solve the lockpicking mini-game, which can be a bit confusing for some players. Therefore, this article provides a complete Starfield lockpicking guide to help you solve even the Master locks.
