Lockpicking

Lockpicking is the ability to open locked doors, chests, junkboxes, and lockboxes. It can be performed in four ways:

1. The rogue class has a trained ability, Pick Lock, which allows them to open locked items. This can be learned at level 16 from any rogue trainer. Lockpicking skill is 5 times the rogue's level.
2. Blacksmiths can craft skeleton keys which are able to open locks of different levels. Each recipe yields multiple keys which can only be used by blacksmiths with the appropriate blacksmithing skill. The keys are consumed after successfully lockpicking an object.
3. Engineers can craft Seaforium Charges which provide a similar function to skeleton keys. Only engineers with the appropriate engineering skill can use the charges. The charges are consumed after successfully lockpicking an object.
4. The mage class has a trained ability, Khadgar's Unlocking, which allows them to open locked items. This can be learned at level 18 from Tome of Khadgar's Unlocking, bought from Truvicus in Stormwind City or Moroves in the Undercity. Khadgar's Unlocking provides significantly lesser lockpicking than a rogue's Pick Lock ability, capping at a potential of 195.

Methods

Source	Method	Unlocks
Blacksmithing	Silver Skeleton Key	25
	Golden Skeleton Key	125
	Truesilver Skeleton Key	200
	Arcanite Skeleton Key	300
Engineering	Small Seaforium Charge	150
	Large Seaforium Charge	250
	Powerful Seaforium Charge	300
Mage	Khadgar's Unlocking (Rank 1)	15
	Khadgar's Unlocking (Rank 2)	75
	Khadgar's Unlocking (Rank 3)	135
	Khadgar's Unlocking (Rank 4)	195

Pickable locks

Crafted Items
Item Level	Item	Orange	Yellow	Green	Grey
20	Practice Lock	1	30	60	80

Locked items

Junkboxes
Item Level	Item	Mob Level	Orange	Yellow	Green	Grey
20	Battered Junkbox	22-32	1	30	75	105
30	Worn Junkbox	32-42	75	100	120	170
40	Sturdy Junkbox	42-52	175	200	225	275
50	Heavy Junkbox	52-60	250	275	300	?

Lockboxes
Item Level	Item	Orange	Yellow	Green	Grey
20	Ornate Bronze Lockbox	N/A	1	? < 86	105
25	Heavy Bronze Lockbox	25	50	75	125
30	Iron Lockbox	70	95	120	170
35	Strong Iron Lockbox	125	150	175	225
40	Steel Lockbox	175	205	225	275
45	Reinforced Steel Lockbox	225	250	275	?
50	Mithril Lockbox	225	250	275	?
55	Thorium Lockbox	225	250	275	?
60	Eternium Lockbox	225	265	320	?

Locked Chests (from Fishing)
Item Level	Item	Orange	Yellow	Green	Grey
20	Small Locked Chest	1	?	?	?
30	Sturdy Locked Chest	70	?	?	?
45	Ironbound Locked Chest	175	?	?	?
55	Reinforced Locked Chest	250	?	300	?

Footlockers

Footlockers
Location	Item	Orange	Yellow	Green	Grey	Detail
Redridge Mountains	Practice Lockboxes	1	30	55	100	Alther's Mill
The Barrens	Buccaneer's Strongbox	1	30	55	105	Ship off Merchant Coast
The Barrens	The Jewel of the Southsea	25	<82	75	125	Ship off Merchant Coast
Redridge Mountains	Waterlogged Footlocker	70	95	120	150	Lake Everstill
Ashenvale	Waterlogged Footlocker	70	95	120	150	Zoram Strand
Wetlands	Battered Footlocker	70	95	120	170	Bluegill Marsh
Hillsbrad Foothills	Battered Footlocker	110	135	160	170	Durnholde Keep (Lower Level)
Hillsbrad Foothills	Battered Footlocker	110	135	160	?	Durnholde Keep (Upper Level)
Stonetalon Mountains	Battered Footlocker	110	135	160	?	Windshear Mine
Wetlands	Battered Footlocker	110	135	160	?	Bluegill Marsh
Desolace	Waterlogged Footlocker	150	175	200	?	Sar'theris Strand
Desolace	Mossy Footlocker	175	200	225	250	Sar'theris Strand
Badlands	Dented Footlocker	175	200	225	?	Angor Fortress - Downstairs
Swamp of Sorrows	Mossy Footlocker	175	200	225	?	Pool of Tears
Searing Gorge	Dented Footlocker	200	225	250	300	The Slag Pit - Lower Quarry Area
Searing Gorge	Dented Footlocker	225	250	275	?	The Slag Pit - Upper Barracks Area
Tanaris	Dented Footlocker	225	250	275	?	Lost Rigger Cove
Azshara	Mossy Footlocker	225	250	?	?	Bay of Storms
Eastern Plaguelands	Scarlet Footlocker	250	275	300	?	Tyr's Hand

Typically, unguarded footlockers have a lower skill range than guarded ones. When lockpicking, nearby mobs may also become hostile when they are otherwise outside your aggro range.

Locked chests

Common Loot-containing locked chests
Name	Orange	Yellow	Green	Grey	Location(s)
Large Iron Bound Chest	25	?	?	?	Instances, 18+
Large Mithril Bound Chest	175	?	?	?	Instances, 39+
Large Mithril Bound Chest	250	?	?	?	Instances, 58+

Doors

Doors
Location	Door	Orange	Yellow	Green	Grey	Note
The Deadmines	Gate	1	?	?	?	Can also be opened with Defias Gunpowder
Gnomeregan	Workshop Door	150	175	?	?	Can also be opened with Workshop Key
Dragonmaw Retreat	Lower Reserve Gate	160	?	?	?	Can also be opened with Lower Reserve Key
Scarlet Monastery	Armory and Cathedral Doors	175	200	225	275	Can also be opened with Scarlet Key
Stormwrought Ruins	Stormwrought Castle Gate	185	?	?	?	Can also be opened with Key to Stormwrought Castle
Searing Gorge	Searing Gorge Gate	225	250	275	?	Can also be opened with Key to Searing Gorge
Blackrock Depths	East Garrison Door	250	275	300	?	Can also be opened with Shadowforge Key
Blackrock Depths	Prison Cells	?	250	300	?	Can also be opened with Prison Cell Key
Blackrock Depths	Shadowforge Gates	250	275	300	?	Can also be opened with Shadowforge Key
Blackrock Depths	Shadowforge Mechanism	250	275	300	?	Can also be opened with Shadowforge Key
Scholomance	Scholomance Door	280	?	?	?	Can also be opened with Skeleton Key
Stratholme	Stratholme Gates	300	?	?	?	Can also be opened with Key to the City
Dire Maul	Crescent Door	300	?	?	?	Can also be opened with Crescent Key
Karazhan Crypt	Karazhan Crypt Gate	300	?	?	?	Can also be opened with Karazhan Crypt Key

FAQ

Q. How do I get the skill lockpicking?

A. You must buy the skill from your trainer at level 16. Then you can complete the quest that trainer gives you to get free thieves tools (or buy them at 15 silver (or so).

Q. Okay, I have the quest, but my skill is super low I can't complete the quest, what now?

A. In the same area as your lock-picking quest, there should be some chests you can level up on. These chests are orange at skill level 1 (see below for color explanation) and don't go grey until about 100. Also, see down below for a 1-300 skill-up guide.

Q. What do these colors mean? Red? Orange? Grey? I'm colorblind!

A. Every lock you pick has a 'skill level'. Just like with trade-skill items, they are color coded.

• Red = can't pick the lock at your skill level
• Orange = guaranteed skill-up
• Yellow = good chance for skill-up
• Green = low chance for skill-up
• Grey = no chance for skill-up

There is a list down below for commonly items and their skill-up numbers in reference to lock difficulty.

Q. Do I have to visit a trainer to get journeyman/artisan/safe-cracker rank in Lockpicking?

A. You don't. Your skill scales with level: every level you gain as a rogue translates into 5 extra points to your lock-picking cap.