I remember the first time I really got into Skyrim. Sneaking around, trying to be a phantom thief, and then BAM! Locked door. My heart sank a little. I’d spent ages meticulously planning my approach, only to be stopped by a simple tumblers. That’s when the desperate question popped into my head: are there any Skyrim followers that will pick door locks? I scoured wikis, forums, and even asked in-game characters, all with the same frustrating result.
It turns out, this is a pretty common wish among players who enjoy a bit of stealth and thievery. We want that perfect companion, someone who can handle the dirty work so we can focus on the dragons or the ancient knowledge. But the reality of Skyrim’s companion system is a bit more… straightforward. Let’s just say you’re not getting a virtual Lydia who’s also a master locksmith.
The Illusion of the Perfect Companion Lockpicker
Look, when you first boot up Skyrim, especially if you’re coming from other RPGs where you can spec your companions into any role imaginable, it’s easy to get your hopes up. You see a follower with a decent Sneak skill, or maybe one who wields daggers, and you start thinking, ‘Yeah, they can probably handle this.’ I certainly did. My first playthrough, I dragged around Faendal for way too long, convinced he’d eventually surprise me with his hidden lockpicking talents. He never did. He just kept hitting things with his bow, which, while appreciated, wasn’t exactly helping me get into that heavily guarded vault.
The core issue is that Skyrim’s follower AI, bless its clunky heart, is designed for combat and basic support. They can swing a sword, cast a spell, shoot an arrow, and maybe shout a bit.
They can carry your junk. They can even get into a scrap with a dragon.
But the nuanced skills required for picking locks? That’s a whole different ballgame. It requires a specific set of mechanics, a level of interaction with interactive objects, and a decision-making process that just isn’t built into their programming. Think about it: how would you even command them?
‘Hey, uh, Serana, could you maybe try fiddling with that lock for a minute?’ It’s not a command you can give. You can tell them to attack, to follow, to wait, or to trade items. That’s about the extent of their command repertoire.
This isn’t a criticism of Bethesda’s design, necessarily. Skyrim is a massive game, and they had to make choices about where to invest their development resources.
Adding complex AI routines for every single skill for every single follower would have been an undertaking of epic proportions. Instead, they focused on making the core combat and exploration loop engaging, and the followers serve that purpose well enough. But for those of us who crave that smooth thieving experience, the absence of a dedicated lockpicking follower feels like a glaring omission. It’s a fantasy you’re left to fulfill entirely on your own, with only your own digits and a handful of lockpicks to rely on.
And sometimes, when you’re facing a Master lock for the fifth time with no progress, you really wish you had a digital buddy to share the frustration with, or better yet, to just get it done.
Why Your Followers Won’t Be Your New Thieves Guild Member
So, let’s get down to brass tacks. Why won’t anyone in Skyrim pick a lock for you?
It boils down to a few core mechanics and design decisions. First and foremost, lockpicking in Skyrim is presented as a personal skill. It’s tied to your character’s development through the skill tree and the perks you invest in.
You have to actively learn it, practice it (often by failing spectacularly at first), and improve your proficiency. This is reinforced by the game’s progression system.
If a follower could just do it for you, it would undermine the entire point of making lockpicking a skill you, the player, develop and master. Imagine if Lydia could just open any chest you pointed her towards. Why would you ever bother investing points into your own Lockpicking skill? It removes a layer of player agency and progression.
Furthermore, the game’s AI simply isn’t equipped to handle it. Follower AI in Skyrim is primarily focused on combat engagement, pathfinding, and basic inventory management. They react to threats, follow you, and engage in basic verbal interactions. The complex sequence of actions involved in lockpicking – finding the lock, interacting with it, manipulating the picks and tension wrench, and responding to feedback (like a pick breaking) – is beyond their current programming.
They don’t have a ‘lockpicking’ skill to access in their AI routines. You can’t equip them with lockpicks, and there’s no command to initiate lockpicking behavior. It’s a skill that’s inherently tied to the player character’s direct input and control. This is why you’ll never see Serana, for example, crouch down and start fiddling with a Master lock on a Dwemer ruin. (See Also: Are There Different Size Holes For Installing Door Locks )
She’s more likely to start flinging frost spells at whatever’s making that spooky noise behind the door, which, while entertaining, doesn’t open it.
The closest you might get is if you have a mod installed that alters follower behavior, but we’re talking about the vanilla game here. In the base game, the developers intentionally limited follower capabilities to specific roles. They are your muscle, your spell-slinging backup, your pack mule, or your distraction.
They are not your personal locksmith service. This design choice, while perhaps disappointing to some, maintains the integrity of the player’s skill progression and keeps the core gameplay loop focused on the Dragonborn’s personal journey and development. It’s a constant reminder that while you have allies, certain challenges are yours and yours alone to overcome.
And sometimes, that means spending a good ten minutes jiggling a lockpick in a Master-level door, praying to Talos for a bit of luck.
My Lockpicking Mishap: A Tale of Hubris
I’ll admit it, I got cocky. I’d been playing Skyrim for hundreds of hours. I’d breezed through dungeon after dungeon, my Lockpicking skill was maxed out, I had all the perks, and I could practically open a dragon’s hoard with my eyes closed. So, when I stumbled upon the chest in that one particular bandit camp – you know the one, nestled away in a hidden alcove, practically screaming ‘looooot!’
– I didn’t even think. I just pointed my follower, a sturdy Nord named Ulfric (not that Ulfric, obviously), towards it and turned to admire the scenery.
I figured, ‘He’ll just be standing guard, maybe yell at a passing skeever.’ Standard Ulfric stuff. But then, something unexpected happened. The chest started rattling.
I whipped around, dumbfounded. Ulfric was… fiddling with the lock. My jaw hit the floor. Was this a new update I’d missed?
Had I accidentally stumbled upon some obscure follower trait? My brain, usually so quick to analyze game mechanics, just went into overdrive. I watched, mesmerized, as he made several attempts.
He’d jiggle something, pause, jiggle again, and then… BAM! The lock clicked open. I was flabbergasted. My follower, my loyal, axe-wielding follower, had picked a Master lock.
I felt a strange mix of elation and utter confusion. I immediately started Googling, trying to find out which followers could do this, if there were specific perks, if it was tied to his race. I spent a good hour experimenting, trying to get him to pick another lock. Nothing.
He just stood there, looking stoic, ready to bash skulls.
It wasn’t until much later, after trawling through forums and reading countless posts, that I realized what had actually happened. The chest hadn’t been locked. It had been opened all along. I had somehow missed the visual cue, or perhaps the UI element wasn’t as obvious as I remembered. Ulfric hadn’t picked it; he had simply interacted with an already open chest. My hubris, my assumption that he must have done something amazing, had completely warped my perception. It was a humbling moment, a stark reminder that sometimes, the simplest explanation is the correct one, and that your followers are, for all intents and purposes, glorified bodyguards and pack animals, not master thieves. The shame… it burns.
Are There Any Skyrim Followers That Will Pick Door Locks? The Truth About Mods
Okay, so we’ve established that in the vanilla, unadulterated, straight-from-Bethesda version of Skyrim, the answer to ‘are there any Skyrim followers that will pick door locks’ is a resounding, undeniable ‘no.’ Your loyal companions, whether they’re the stoic warriors, the enigmatic mages, or the stealthy archers, simply do not possess the ability to pick locks. This isn’t a hidden feature waiting to be discovered; it’s a fundamental aspect of the game’s design. The mechanics of lockpicking are tied directly to your character’s skills and actions. You are the one who needs to invest perk points, find better lockpicks, and practice those delicate tumblers.
However, and this is a big ‘however’ for many players, the world of Skyrim can be dramatically expanded and altered through the magic of mods. If you’re playing on PC, or even on consoles with mod support, then the answer can become a qualified ‘yes.’ There are numerous mods out there designed to enhance follower capabilities, and some of them specifically add the ability for your companions to pick locks. These mods often work by either giving followers a hidden ‘lockpicking’ skill that you can then direct them to use, or by creating new dialogue options and commands that allow you to ask them to attempt a lock. Some of the more complex follower overhaul mods might even have them independently decide to pick a lock if they perceive it as a barrier to your progress or to reaching a combat objective. (See Also: Are Sesame Seeds Kosher For Passoveris Pollock Kosher )
One popular type of mod might grant a follower a set of ‘lockpicks’ and a ‘lockpicking skill’ that functions similarly to your own. You’d then typically tell them to ‘wait here and pick that lock,’ and they would proceed to do so. The success rate would often be determined by their (mod-added) skill level, similar to how your own skill works.
It’s important to note that the quality and functionality of these mods can vary wildly. Some are incredibly well-integrated and feel like a natural part of the game, while others might be buggy or feel a bit tacked on.
You’ll need to do some research on popular modding sites like Nexus Mods to find the ones that best suit your needs and are compatible with your game version. But for those who dream of a fully capable, multi-talented companion, mods are definitely the way to go to make that dream a reality. Just be prepared for the rabbit hole that modding can be; it’s easy to get lost in the endless possibilities!
Here’s a quick look at how modded follower lockpicking might work, compared to the vanilla experience:
| Feature | Vanilla Skyrim | Modded Skyrim (Example) |
|---|---|---|
| Lockpicking Ability | Player only | Player and designated followers |
| AI for Lockpicking | Non-existent | New AI routines for attempting locks |
| Player Command | N/A | New dialogue options or commands |
| Skill Progression | Player’s Lockpicking skill | Follower’s mod-assigned lockpicking skill (may or may not be visible) |
| Verdict | Frustratingly absent for some players. | Can fulfill the fantasy of a skilled companion, but requires external modification. |
Why Your Player Character Still Needs to Be the Locksmith
Even with the temptation of mods, there’s a fundamental design reason why Bethesda kept lockpicking as a player-exclusive skill in the base game. It’s about personal investment and the narrative of the Dragonborn. Skyrim isn’t just about being powerful; it’s about growing into that power.
Your character starts as a prisoner, a nobody. The skills you develop – be it swinging a sword, conjuring fireballs, or deftly manipulating tumblers – are tangible representations of your journey and your transformation.
When you finally manage to pick that impossibly difficult Master lock, the satisfaction comes from your effort, your skill, and the perk points you spent. It’s a moment of personal achievement that wouldn’t exist if your follower could just do it for you.
Think about it from a storytelling perspective. The Dragonborn is a unique individual, destined for greatness. While followers are invaluable allies, they are, by definition, followers.
They accompany you, they fight alongside you, but the grand destiny is yours. If a follower could handle a skill as significant as lockpicking, it dilutes that sense of individual accomplishment. It would be like having a personal trainer do all your reps for you – you might get stronger, but you’re not really the one doing the work. The game designers want you to feel the struggle, the frustration, and ultimately, the triumph of overcoming challenges with your own character’s abilities.
This is why, even if you’re not a natural thief, you’re encouraged to at least dabble in lockpicking, because it’s a core part of the Dragonborn’s potential skillset.
Furthermore, the economic aspect of lockpicking is also tied to your character. The valuable loot you find behind locked doors is your reward for your efforts. If a follower were to consistently open these chests, it would feel less like your bounty and more like something they just handed you. This is especially true for unique items or large sums of gold.
The game is designed to make you feel like the primary agent of your success. While companions are important for combat support and carrying capacity, the core skills that define your character’s identity and progression are meant to be your own. This philosophy is why, even in the face of player desire for a lockpicking companion, Bethesda has stuck to their guns in the base game. It’s about reinforcing the player’s central role in the narrative and the gameplay loop.
So, while you might wish for a digital locksmith, the game ultimately wants you to be the one who hears that satisfying click.
Common Mistakes When Looking for a Lockpicking Follower
It’s easy to fall into the trap of assuming that because a follower seems capable in other areas, they might also be adept at lockpicking. This is a common pitfall, especially for new players or those who haven’t thoroughly explored the game’s mechanics. The biggest mistake is judging a follower’s potential based on their combat prowess or their dialogue. Just because someone like Kharjo, the Khajiit warrior, is agile and good with a bow doesn’t mean he can pick a Master lock on a treasure chest.
His agility is for combat, not for delicate lock manipulation. Many players make the mistake of picking followers who are stealthy or dexterous and assuming that translates directly to lockpicking. This is a false equivalency. (See Also: Are Sliding Door Locks Common )
Dexterity in combat is very different from the fine motor control and specific game mechanic required for picking locks.
Another common mistake is misinterpreting what you see or hear. As I mentioned in my personal anecdote, sometimes you can misinterpret a situation entirely due to wishful thinking. You might see a follower standing near a chest, and if the chest happens to be opened or opened by a nearby mechanism, you might wrongly attribute that to your follower’s newfound lockpicking skills. You’ll then spend ages trying to replicate it with other followers, becoming increasingly frustrated. This kind of confirmation bias is powerful. You want there to be a lockpicking follower, so you’re more likely to see evidence for it, even if it’s not really there.
Finally, and this is important, players often overlook the fact that lockpicking is a skill tied to the player character’s progression. You can’t equip followers with lockpicks, and there’s no ‘lockpicking’ slot in their inventory or skill tree that you can see or influence.
If a follower could pick locks in the vanilla game, it would be a very obvious, commandable action, much like telling them to attack. The absence of this command and the absence of any visible lockpicking skill on their character sheet are the definitive indicators.
Don’t get caught up in the idea that some obscure dialogue or a specific follower race might open this hidden talent. It simply doesn’t exist in the base game.
If you’re looking for this functionality, you’re almost certainly going to need to turn to the modding community. Relying on vanilla game mechanics for this particular wish will only lead to disappointment and wasted time trying to make something happen that the game wasn’t designed to do.
Faq: Your Burning Skyrim Follower Questions
Can Any Follower Pick Locks in Skyrim?
No, in the vanilla (unmodded) version of Skyrim, none of the followers have the ability to pick door locks. Lockpicking is a skill that is exclusive to the player character, requiring your personal investment in perks and the use of lockpicks.
Why Don’t Followers Pick Locks?
Follower AI in Skyrim is primarily designed for combat, pathfinding, and basic support. The complex mechanics and interactive sequences required for lockpicking are beyond their programmed capabilities. It’s also a deliberate design choice to make lockpicking a personal skill for the player to develop.
Are There Mods That Allow Followers to Pick Locks?
Yes, absolutely. The modding community has created numerous mods that add lockpicking capabilities to followers. These mods can range from simple additions to more complex follower overhaul systems.
Which Followers Are Best for Combat?
This depends on your playstyle, but strong contenders include Lydia (housecarl, good with melee and shields), Jordis the Brave (similar to Lydia), and Aela the Huntress (a skilled archer and werewolf). Many companions are effective, and their usefulness often comes down to your own combat skills and gear.
Can Followers Use My Armor or Weapons?
Yes, you can trade items with your followers. They will equip armor and weapons you give them, provided they are of a higher quality or a type they can use (e.g., they won’t equip a shield if they don’t have one equipped). Their effectiveness with the gear will depend on their own skill levels.
Verdict
So, after all that, the plain truth is no, there are no Skyrim followers that will pick door locks in the base game. It’s a persistent myth, a hopeful wish among players who envision a perfectly rounded adventuring party. The reality is that lockpicking is a solo endeavor for the Dragonborn, a skill that requires your personal touch and your hard-earned perks. It’s a core part of your character’s growth and a direct reward for your own efforts.
If you absolutely cannot live without a companion who can handle those pesky locks, then the modding community is your best friend. Just be prepared to do a little digging to find a mod that fits your game and your preferences. Otherwise, embrace the challenge. Every click of your lockpick is a testament to your own burgeoning skills as the legendary Dragonborn. It’s a part of the adventure, and honestly, sometimes failing and having to find another way in is half the fun.
For now, keep honing those lockpicking digits yourself. The satisfaction of a job well done is its own reward, and it’s one your followers can’t give you. And if you see me at a locked chest, don’t ask my follower to do it; I’m the one fumbling with the picks.
