Oblivion talk:Skeleton Key

Skeleton Key and Jail

If you have the Skeleton Key in your inventory when arrested (with or without other lockpicks), does it stay in your inventory as the one lockpick ever?

Nope. --Aristeo 14:06, 16 October 2006 (EDT)

Screenshot

How did you get the screenshot? Verin Sedai 22:08, 15 November 2006 (EST)

I got the screenshot by placing the skeleton key in a display case. I used tfc (toggle free camera) to be able to position the camera directly over the skeleton key. I summarized most of the tricks that I know of for screenshots at Help:Images#Capturing Screenshots. I hope that helps. --Nephele

Bonus Remains After Giving Martin Skeleton Key

I gave Martin my Skeleton Key, but I still have the +40 bonus. This is preventing leveling, so I might like to get rid of the bonus. Any ideas how? Matt Morgan 15:01, 5 January 2007 (EST)

The main question is: are on you playing on PC or Xbox? From your earlier edit, I'm guessing you're on the PC, in which case you just need to use the Console and type:

player.removespell C45AA

On Xbox, I doubt that it's possible to fix it, although someone else might have some ideas. --Nephele 17:17, 5 January 2007 (EST)

Does anyone actually know why this happens? it happened to me on the Xbox and a similar thing occured with the boots of springheel jak, when i fell down the chimnmey, the boots were destroyed but the enchantment remained.

It has to do with enchanted quest items being forcibly removed, for some reason it can leave behind the effects (NEVER wear the Gray Cowl of Nocturnal whilst doing Saguine's quest as you'll be stuck with ALL the effects including the bounty and infamy.) --Nacht 17:12, 26 December 2009 (UTC)

fortify securtity issue fixed?

If I understand the issue correctly, this key didn't used to put a "Fortify Security" entry in the list of magical effects? It definatly does now. I just installed Shivering Isles and started playing again from scratch. I suppose this is one of the fixes in the latest version of the game.

"It IS possible to use the Skeleton Key to level Security beyond 60. To do this, open a container while the Skeleton Key is in your inventory. Place the Key in the container, then take it back (without closing the container). You will briefly see the icon appear notifying you of the fortify skill effect. Close the container. The Skeleton Key will now be in your inventory, but your Security Skill should be at its normal value. Apparently, the Key's fortify effect applies immediately upon picking up the key, even in a container. However, if you place the key in a container, the fortify effect isn't removed until the container is closed."

Doesn't work for me (X360). I have a Security level of 100, place the Key in a container and take it out again as specified...no icon appears, and I still have a level of 100. 202.7.176.138 10:13, 20 August 2008 (EDT)

Doesn't work for me either (PC). I've removed the note since it seems to have been a one-off rather than a guaranteed occurrence. –Rpeh^{•T•C•E•} 03:29, 21 August 2008 (EDT)

I just tried this, and it works, easily reproducible even. Fully patched Steam GOTY version, unofficial patches, and I used the chest right next to the training chest in Dunbarrow Cove/Thieves Den after casting drain security self 99 for 3. I know it works because DarnUI shows my skill level whilst picking. I cast drain, place n' take, then choose the lock, and it shows 0 skill (or a negative number, depending on how fast I am). 96.41.235.148 02:49, 24 July 2012 (UTC)

Skeleton Key & Lockpicks Broken stat

Does missing a tumbler with the key count towards the picks broken on the stats page even when it is unbreakable? (I hate stat pages. They always show your flaws to you and rub it in.) — Unsigned comment by 72.67.80.126 (talk)

When using the Skeleton Key, your "Locks Picked" statistic will go up with every lock you open, but your "Lockpicks Broken" statistic never changes. --Nephele^Talk 01:03, 24 July 2007 (EDT)

Fortified Security

On the skills page my security was green to show it was fortified. I wonder what made the difference. — Unsigned comment by 82.7.22.161 (talk)

lockpick conveniance

I usually don't have many lockpicks because I never bother to buy any. The result is I usually save the game right before I pick a lock, and the lockpicks keep on breaking so I have to keep reloading the game. Once I get the skeleton key, I wont need any more lockpicks except for some quests and jail. — Unsigned comment by Master264 (talk • contribs) on 14 August 2008

Yeeeessss..... I'm not sure if that's a question or not. If it was, then you're right. You can sell all your lockpicks unless you expect to go to jail some time soon, because although the Skeleton Key is confiscated, you get to keep one lockpick. –Rpeh^{•T•C•E•} 15:31, 14 August 2008 (EDT)

Secutity skill increasing

I'm using the PS3.

I got the Skeleton Key at level 10 but had made the mistake of making Security a Major Skill; so I had to remove the Key and store it away when I reached Security skill 59. I've managed to get Sec up to 69 since then but it's taken a LONG time to do it. So I have 2 questions I hope someone can help me with:

1) Even without the Key I always use Auto to open locks because it's faster and easier. How are skill increase increments counted when Auto is used? Does the game count the number of initially down tumblers in the lock being opened? The number of broken picks it took Auto to open the lock? It seems like the latter, though that's counter-intuitive. At Sec skill 69 it usually takes me only 1 or 2 Auto tries to open even very hard locks, and it seems my Sec skill increases faster when Auto happens to break 5 or 10 picks to open a lock. (For simplicity I'm discounting the option of manually lifting tumblers then backing off before the lock opens, and then doing this over and over again to get tons of tumblers lifted.) My basic question is, What gets counted when Auto is used?

2) Regarding the retroactive skill point gain procedure described in the Skleleton Key article, does this apply even if my "real" Sec skill is over 60? Right now when I retrieve my Skeleton Key my Sec skill shows as 109 (in blue, not green). Is the article saying that if I go to some dungeon with a Sec of 109, Auto-picking locks till I'm about to reach 110, then drop Key on the floor and pick the lock I'm at with a regular pick, then each tumbler I raise without breaking that pick will result in a full skill increase (110, 111, 112, 113, etc), which will appear immediately on my stat page? And when do the increases appear? Immediately, or after I go home and sleep? Does the term "leveling" in the article refer to Character leveling or raising my skill points? Please clarify. I'm confused.

24.58.63.186 11:34, 6 September 2008 (EDT)

When using auto it counts how many times you try.It doesn't matter if pick breaks or not. — Unsigned comment by 79.116.75.157 (talk) on November 7, 2008

Horribly confused

This whole retroactive stuff on the article has me really confused about the whole level up thing. Does it mean I can't level up, say 51 to 52 without dropping it or from apprentice to journeyman? Why does it matter if the ability is locked in? Doesn't it give you the benefits of having 100 security at level 60? Similar to the Dwemer Forge and Alchemy Table? If that's the case, why am I okay with leveling up armorer and alchemy respectively but this key is causing mass hysteria over it? Finally, what does it mean surplus experience?

Is the article any less confusing now? --Nephele^Talk 14:13, 4 January 2009 (EST)

how do u get it?

i have ben searching for the skeleton key but i can not find it. can some one tell me what quest u have to do and how u get to it?— Unsigned comment by 70.146.159.11 (talk)

Second Sentence Oblivion:Nocturnal.--Ratwar 20:56, 14 September 2009 (UTC)

Where?

where can i find the skelington key?im confused. — Unsigned comment by 82.22.145.173 (talk) on 13 April 2010

Read the article. "You can receive this key by completing Nocturnal's Daedric quest." --SerCenKing ^Talk 08:18, 14 April 2010 (UTC)

To "Horribly Confused" and others with similar questions about levelling with the Skeleton Key beyond level 60:

I just re-read what I wrote a couple years ago, and I agree, I probably could have written more clearly. Although I haven't played Oblivion with the most recent patches, if it's still working the same way, here is another way of looking at it:

Obviously you can't actually have the Skeleton Key in your possession beyond level 60 in security since with the key it is already 100, right? It must be taken out of your inventory since the Key raises your security skill to its max. And you can't level beyond 100, right? So take the Key out just before you level in security.

What is not so obvious is that apparently you get more points toward levelling a skill as your skill level itself goes up. (For anyone who has played a few RPGs, such an arithmetic trick in levelling calculations is actually very common: as level goes up, so do the number of points needed to level, and usu. at a faster rate). Therefore, each success or creditable attempt is worth more at higher levels. So if you are in reality level 20 in security, you will be get maybe (I'm just guessing here) 3 times as much point value from using the skill at level 60 with the Skeleton Key (ie. 20+40). So what happens to those extra points when you take the Skeleton Key out of your inventory, dropping your level down to 20 again? The surprising thing is nothing. It's still there, waiting for you to claim it.

But there's the rub. If you don't claim those extra points just right, it disappears as if those points didn't exist to begin with. Either no longer true or not true: [Every lockpick break will clear those points, forever, poof.] However every tumbler lift (with a normal lockpick) will automatically "cash out" those extra points that you piled up with the higher skill level using the Skeleton Key. Once you approach level 100, of course, there is no noticeable difference (but is still there incrementally) between levelling points with or without the Skeleton Key. The main reason to level with the Skeleton Key after level 60 is simply convenience: no breakage.

This is an exploit also: if you drop the Key before levelling even before level 60, you will rise in skill faster because you are distributing level x+40 points at level x, which gets more mileage out of them. When I first tried this at a very low security level, I recall I could actually level 2 times at each level point, just by dropping the Key and vacuuming up the extra points with the normal lockpick (just raise a tumbler or two to cash out the points at the lower level).

So in summary: As the red progress bar for your security skill reaches the levelling point, (1) save game, (2) safely drop the Skeleton Key, (3) use a regular lockpick, (4) lift tumblers and don't use auto-attempt and don't even manually try to open the lock: all the extra points you got at level 60 are now distributed at level 20 from any credit-worthy action in lockpicking, such as lifting tumblers.

Breaking a lockpick will not clear the points, but it is still costing you the price of a lockpick. Better to just randomly lift 4-7 tumblers to cash out the points.

--Rpger 22:35, 28 April 2010 (UTC)

Sooo what you mean is to nearly level with the Skel key and then drop it and keep pushing the tumblers without securing them? And keep doing this untill the points racked up with the Skel key are disipated? If not explain EVERY detail not just the gist of what your saying. I understand what is going on on the math aspect so dont lecture me there, I just want to know how you are executing this exploit with some detail, plz. Also while I am at it, is there a mod or official/unnofficial patch for the level 100 lvling problem here? PLZ + TY (360 version) --Lightfire228 22:02, June 24 2011 (EST)

Leveling Update with the Skeleton Key

As of 5-1-2010, (with the latest patch), the fast leveling with the Key still works. The only change I noticed is that it is easier than I remember, since a manual breaking the regular lockpick doesn't seem to clear the extra points, in fact, using auto-attempt with the regular lockpick actually seems to be a faster way to cash in the points instead of something to be avoided. I just tried this starting with level 19 security, having used the Skeleton Key to rack up the points until the progress bar for security was just about to level (nearly 99% of the way). With about 3 auto-attempts, or 5 manual tumbler lifts, my security leveled up 5 times, going from level 19 to level 24. From that I can infer "auto-attempt" must randomly assign 5 tumbler lifts, and credit you with the successful ones based on some weighted formula related to your skill. That is why I could go up 5 levels with just 2 or 3 auto-attempt tries at my level.

That is good. In the time it took to go up one level, I went up 5. Had I kept the Skeleton Key in my inventory, I would have only gone up 1 level.

The degree to which the remaining points overshoots the level mark (at your unbuffed level) will of course be relevant only to that unbuffed level. The only progress bar level that matters is the one that is seen while the Skeleton Key is in inventory.

Just remember, at higher levels an auto-attempt may actually open the lock, so you might waste a level or two and no longer be able continue to level. So lifting tumblers as a way to cash out the extra points is still better, since you can keep doing it uninterrupted. Of course you could quick map somewhere with another very hard lock, but why waste the time? I also have not tested that whether the extra Skeleton Key points will be preserved as you cross zones.

So it still works, better than I remember. --Rpger 21:28, 1 May 2010 (UTC)

Wont work?

As of 6/1/2011 I tried this and I go to 59 to 61 when I rise 2 locks then I pick up the key again and try and get xp and the bar is not moving? Is this patched?

It's Gone...

When I finished the quest and Nocturnal gave me the Skeleton key, I went down to some chest and started to pick it, but for some reason, I was using my lockpicks (I had like fifty if it matters), and I couldn't find the skeleton key in my inventory. I know for sure I didn't accidently drop it. Do any of you know what might've happened? JarFul98 17:52, 1 August 2011 (UTC)

link to wikipedia

Is it really nessesary to have a link to Wikipedias article on Skeleton keys? its irrelevant (From Fear to Eternity- Eddie The Head 09:52, 18 August 2011 (UTC))

It's not relevant, but it might help people realise it's not named after in-game skeletons. I'm not wedded to the section though, so I won't mind if somebody removes it. rpeh •T•C•E• 10:01, 18 August 2011 (UTC)

hmm i just read it, it makes sense i guess so that people dont get confused i dont mind its being there (From Fear to Eternity- Eddie The Head 10:08, 18 August 2011 (UTC))

Console code for key

Anyone know the console code to import a new skele key? I have been doing quests in S.I. and suddenly noticed my security skill had dropped 12 points. After selling all of my normal looted lock picks, I tried to pick a door only to notice that my skeleton key is gone. No clue where it went. Any ideas?

36 Khajiit Thief.

68.96.192.40 13:03, 9 September 2011 (UTC)Narazbad

The code for the Skeleton Key is "0000000B"— Unsigned comment by 174.91.92.194 (talk) at 00:50 on 22 October 2011

FYI to anyone else like me... I messed around with the skeleton key, just to see what was in some chests, and then I removed it, but the +40 Fortify Security effect was still on me. To get rid of the effect, I had to additem again and then drop it. That removed the fortify security from me, and then to remove the key I put it in an empty chest and did removeallitems on the chest.

Moved Bug

• Occasionally the fortify enchantment will disappear and you will have to drop it and pick it up again to retrigger the effect.

While I've experienced a handful of weird bugs while using the Skeleton Key, I don't like how general this description is. If a cause for this can be provided, I won't have a problem seeing this moved back (unless it's a common bug that doesn't need to be listed here, of course). --AKB ^{Talk Cont Mail} 00:41, 29 October 2011 (UTC)

Tip on faster Security leveling

While this was removed from the article for being useless, I'm placing it here since I believe the technique has some utility and deserves inclusion as a tip. "If you have level 65 Security with the Skeleton key, and you are 90% or so toward to reaching level 66. Stop! Safely store the key out of your inventory. You are now level 25 with a full red progress bar. Go to a lock and lift one tumbler. You gain a level! You are now level 26 and you will most likely still have a full red progress bar. Lift another tumbler. You gain another level. You are now level 27 with most likely a partially full red progress bar. Retrieve the key. You are now level 67 with a small amount of red in the progress bar. Doing this uses your Security points efficiently by roughly doubling your progress." Kalevala (talk) 13:41, 6 October 2018 (UTC)

Suggested wording for the note:

• You can speed up Security leveling by safely storing the key out of your inventory. If the skill progress bar is then full lift a tumbler to advance a level. Reacquire the key at the now higher level.

Kalevala (talk) 14:15, 6 October 2018 (UTC)