Oblivion:Skeleton Key

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Daedric Artifact: Skeleton Key (0000000B)
Type	Lockpick
Editor ID	DASkeletonKey
Statistics
Weight	0.	Value	5000
Enchantment
Fortify Security 40 points on self

The Skeleton Key is an unbreakable lockpick that increases your security skill by 40 points whenever the key is in your possession. You can receive this key by completing Nocturnal's Daedric quest. The Skeleton Key's effect is not a typical skill boost, because the Fortify Security effect is implemented as an ability.

[edit] Notes

• In order to break out of a jail cell via lockpicking, it is still necessary to keep an ordinary lockpick in your inventory. The game does not treat the Skeleton Key like a lock pick. If you are arrested, it will be removed from your inventory.

• Having the key in your possession provides access to all "Fortify Skill" options while using spellmaking and enchanting altars.

• The Skeleton Key makes the lockpicking mini-game impossible to lose: simply use the auto-attempt lockpicking option repeatedly until the lock opens. This is much quicker than picking it manually.

• See skill boost abilities for details on how the key's Fortify Skill ability is different from a standard enchantment.
  • If your Security skill before acquiring the Skeleton Key is 60 or higher, you cannot use the Skeleton Key to level Security: once you add the key to your inventory, the game treats your skill as 100. If you are only interested in your Security skill level, then using the Skeleton Key will cause no problems. However, if you are concerned about Efficient Leveling — for example, increasing your Agility attribute, or your character's Maximum Character Level (if Security is a major skill) — then you will need to take the key out of your inventory to gain any security experience.
  • If your Security skill without the key is less than 60, and if you want to maximize the experience points gained while using the Skeleton Key, while still taking advantage of the key's benefits (easier lockpicking, no breakage), make sure that you do not trigger a security skill level advance with the Skeleton Key in your inventory. (Again, if you don't care about maximum experience or efficient leveling, these procedures are unnecessary). As you pick locks (or just raise tumblers) with the key, periodically check your skill statistics. Just as you are nearing the next Security level, remove the Skeleton Key from your inventory (the safest way to do this is to put the key in a container; if you drop the key on the floor, be sure to save first just in case the key falls through the floor). Continue picking a lock using a regular lockpick. You will immediately gain a skill level, and will continue to gain skill levels for each tumbler you successfully lift using a regular lockpick, until all of the surplus experience gained while using the Skeleton Key has been exhausted. (To understand what is happening, note on the experience charts how much more experience you accumulate going from skill 50 to skill 51, than from skill 10 to skill 11, for example). You will not gain a skill level if you break the lockpick. After you are no longer leveling with each successful tumbler (i.e., you have exhausted your surplus experience), pick up the Skeleton Key and start working towards your next skill level, repeating the process. The extra experience points gained while leveling with the Key must be deliberately retrieved; if your Security level increases when the key is in your possession, the surplus experience from that level will be lost forever.
    • This is a very fast and cheap way to level security because: (1) you never buy lockpicks, (2) you don't waste time on save/reload cycles except briefly just at leveling-time, (3) lockpicking goes faster because your security skill is 40 points higher, and (4) you gain at least two levels for every one you suffer through.

[edit] Bugs

• If you give Martin the Skeleton Key to complete the Blood of the Daedra quest, your character may still have the +40 bonus to Security.
  • This bug is fixed by the Unofficial Oblivion Patch.

[edit] See Also

• For more on Skeleton Keys outside games, see this article on Wikipedia.