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 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

• See skill boost abilities for details on how abilities are different from standard enchantments.

• 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.

• If your Security skill is 60+ you cannot use the Skeleton Key to level security at all - since the game now treats your skill as level 100+, it will not record any experience toward new levels. You must take the Key out of your inventory to continue leveling, for example to improve your Agility attribute, or to level up if Security is a major skill.

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

• In order to capitalize on the benefits of the Skeleton Key (easier lockpicking, no breakage), but also "lock in" the benefits of the points gained while using it, DO NOT trigger a security skill level advance with the Skeleton Key in your inventory. As you pick locks with it (or just raise tumblers), periodically check your stat sheet and just as you are nearing the level mark, drop the Skeleton Key on the floor and switch to a regular lockpick, (just be sure to save first, in case it falls through the environment surface while dropping it). You will retroactively level in each successive and successful lockpicking attempt, and you will get one level increase for EACH tumbler you lift with a regular lockpick due to the surplus point accumulation with the Skeleton Key! After you have exhausted your surplus points and are no longer leveling, pick up the Skeleton Key again to repeat the process. The extra experience points gained while leveling with the Key must be deliberately retrieved, or they will be lost forever.
  • Outside of training, using the Skeleton key this way is the fastest and cheapest 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.
  • Important note: For some reason, at leveling-time after dropping the Skeleton Key, the retroactive levels only kick in when you raise a tumbler with a regular pick and not if you break a pick. Moreover, you will forever lose your last retroactive benefit if you keep the Skeleton Key in your inventory when you level - you MUST drop it before leveling. Apparently, only points surplus for establishing the last level are carried forward, so you lose the benefit of the extra leveling points for the fake level created by the Skeleton key unless you return to your "real" level and manually retrieve them by method described above.
• If you are not interested in leveling security, the Skeleton Key makes the lockpicking mini game impossible to lose, as you can simply repeatedly auto-attempt a lock without breaking the Skeleton Key itself until the lock is picked. This is much quicker than picking it manually.

[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.