Oblivion:Open

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	Open
School		Alteration
Type		Other
Effect ID		OPEN
Base Cost		4.3
Barter Factor		0
Availability (Click on any item for details)
Spells Scrolls Staves

Open {Difficulty} Lock

This effect opens a lock, without using lockpicking skills. Open spells are described in one of two ways. In the construction set, Open spells have a point strength, e.g., Open 7 pts on target. In the game, these points are translated into the quality of the lock which can be opened, e.g., Open Very Easy Lock. The points correspond to:

Difficulty	Points
Very Easy	7
Easy	20
Average	40
Hard	80
Very Hard	99
Needs a Key	100

Locks labeled "Needs a Key" cannot be opened with this spell, or lockpicks, or anything but the key or a scripted event which opens them. (Some doors in the game never open, and are merely there for decorative purposes.)

Note that many locks in the game are leveled, and may not correspond exactly to the values listed. Thus it's possible that a spell which says "Open Easy Lock" will not open ALL easy locks, depending on your level. There are only two spells in the game for which this is a problem; all other spells (including any you make at the Spellmaking Altar) use the standard values in the table. The first unusual spell is The Unwelcome Guest spell sold by M'raaj-Dar in the Dark Brotherhood. Its value is set to Open 12pts, which means that a lock with a value from 8-12 will be openable, but a lock with a rating from 13-20 will not be, even though they are both labeled as "Easy" locks. The second unusual spell is Fenrik's Welcome, which is part of the Spell Tomes mod. It has a 50 point magnitude, and therefore will open some hard locks, but not all.

One problem you may encounter with Open spells is trying to unlock gates. The Open spell tends to go through the gate and miss the lock you are targeting. At the Spellmaking Altar you can create custom Open spells that affect a larger area (at greater magicka cost, of course) which can make it easier to unlock gates. Try aiming at either the hinges, the handle or a lock rather than the bars themselves. Another trick that helps is to stand to one side of the gate and cast the spell at an oblique angle rather than straight on. You're more likely to hit one of the bars this way.

Open spells do not work underwater because they are targeted spells (no targeted spells work underwater). Even custom Open spells are all targeted spells. Therefore, carrying a few lockpicks may still be necessary.

[edit] Notes

Opening a lock with an Open spell is not considered a crime, unlike lockpicking. Therefore even well-guarded locked doors can be opened and entered, without any bounty.
Open Very Hard Lock is not available for purchase from any merchants. However, you can create the equivalent custom spell.
Characters born under the Tower birthsign have the Tower Key greater power: a targeted Open Average Lock spell.