Fallout 4 is still a blast, even years after its release. But locked safes, doors, and containers can slow you down if you don’t understand how lockpicking works. This Fallout 4 Lockpicking Guide explains how the system works, which perks actually matter, and how to open even Master locks without frustration.
Table of Contents
How Lockpicking Works in Fallout 4
To pick a lock, you need at least one bobby pin and the Lockpicking perk. The mini-game is simple but unforgiving. You move the bobby pin around the lock and try to turn the screwdriver. If the lock resists, you’re in the wrong position. Push too hard, and your bobby pin snaps.
The trick is reading resistance. Strong resistance means you’re far off. Slight resistance means you’re close. Small adjustments are key, especially on higher-difficulty locks. Expert and Master locks demand patience and fine movements. Spam turning and you’ll just burn through pins.
Important: On Expert and Master locks, breaking a bobby pin resets the lock. The sweet spot shifts, and your progress is lost. This is why slow, controlled movements always win.
Lock Difficulties Explained
There are four lock difficulty levels in Fallout 4, and each one behaves differently.
- Novice: No perk required. Large margin for error.
- Advanced: Requires Lockpicking Rank 1. Smaller sweet spot.
- Expert: Requires Lockpicking Rank 2. Tight margin. Pins break quickly.
- Master: Requires Lockpicking Rank 3. Extremely small sweet spot. Zero tolerance for mistakes.
If you can’t open a lock yet, don’t force it. Mark the location, level up, and come back later with better perks.
How to Pick Locks Without Breaking Bobby Pins
If you want to save bobby pins and your sanity, follow these rules:
- Stop turning the screwdriver immediately when resistance kicks in
- Back out slightly and reposition the pin
- Use small movements instead of wide swings
- If the lock barely resists, you’re close. Fine-tune it
On higher difficulties, patience matters more than speed. Once you get a feel for resistance, lockpicking becomes consistent rather than random.
Where to Find Bobby Pins in Fallout 4
Bobby pins are everywhere if you loot properly. Early on, they might feel scarce, but that changes fast.
Best sources include:
- Toolboxes
- Desks, cabinets, and containers
- Safes you already opened
- Vendors like Carla and Diamond City traders
If you loot regularly, you’ll be sitting on dozens or even hundreds of bobby pins by mid-game. That’s why the final Lockpicking rank isn’t about saving pins. It’s about convenience.
Fallout 4 Lockpicking Perks and Perception Explained
To start lockpicking, you need Perception 4. Perception is one of the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. attributes, and it unlocks the Lockpicking perk once you reach that level.
Lockpicking Perk Ranks:
- Rank 1: Unlocks Advanced locks. Makes all locks easier.
- Rank 2: Unlocks Expert locks. Increases the usable sweet spot.
- Rank 3: Unlocks Master locks. Maximum control and precision.
- Rank 4: Bobby pins never break. Locks no longer reset when you fail.
Rank 4 is pure quality-of-life. You don’t need it, but it completely removes the most annoying parts of lockpicking.
Is Lockpicking Worth It?
Short answer: Yes.
Lockpicking gives you:
- Better loot
- Hidden shortcuts
- Alternate quest paths
- Extra resources and ammo
Skipping lockpicking means skipping content. Even one early perk point pays off fast.
Make Lockpicking Stress Free With PLITCH!
If you want to skip the lockpicking minigame altogether, PLITCH lets you customize Fallout 4 exactly as you like. Instead of wasting time on stubborn locks, you can focus on exploration, quests, and loot.
For lockpicking, the most useful Fallout 4 codes are:
- Instant lockpick
- +100 Lockpicks
- +1 Perception to unlock higher lock tiers faster
You can also activate Godmode or Invisibility to loot locked areas without any pressure. PLITCH is perfect if you’ve already beaten the game or just want a smoother, frustration-free run through the Commonwealth.
Check out this blog and our YouTube channel to learn more about PLITCH!
Happy Gaming!
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