Starfield introduces a fresh take on lock picking, markedly different from the mechanics in the Elder Scrolls and Fallout universes. This guide breaks down how the new lock system works and what players should know to overcome it.
Many important items in Starfield hide behind locks on safes, computers, doors, or containers. Players will need to master the new hacking methods to access these valuables.
Where to find digipicks
The essential tool is the digipick, a digital lock-picking device. Gone are traditional picks and hairpins; the game relies on digital hacks. Digipicks are plentiful and can be found in the open world, looted from defeated enemies, or tucked away in tables or drawers nearby.
Digipicks can also be bought from sellers in the Miscellaneous category of a ship’s inventory. Players should visit a store in a major city where stock is usually sufficient and affordable.
What can be opened?
Starfield’s lock challenges come in levels: Beginner, Advanced, Expert, and Master. Anyone can attempt a beginner lock with a digipick. More advanced safes require points invested in the security skill to increase success chances.
Each lock attempt consumes a digipick. If the lock is reset, a new key is needed. An undo indicator shows how many digipicks remain; every reset eats one digipick.
Choosing a slot (beginner)
Beginners don’t need a high lock-picking skill to try a beginner lock. But having skill improves the number of automatic attempts, helping to land on the correct combination more efficiently.
At the center, a ring set is visible. To the right is a set of keys used for this lock, with tabs on the keys matching holes in the rings.
In the newbie lock there are four digital templates and the number of remaining master keys. Each of the four patterns consumes one digital image, and choosing the wrong pattern cancels progress and wastes a digipick. The goal is to use patterns that complete the circles.
Castles consist of several rings. The more complex the fortress, the more options players face. The outer portion must be addressed first, noting the holes that need filling and the tool options available to the right for selection.
These options appear in no set order; players must experiment with different combinations. The trick is to avoid locking any pick unless there is confidence it fits. Some options work in multiple cases, but only one is the correct solution. Rushing through a solution can waste precious digipicks and force a restart.
The image above illustrates a basic lock solution for beginners. It shows how two keys fit the outer ring. If a template has three contacts, all points must align with grooves, and the remaining grooves must match the second template.
It helps to see if multiple patterns can fit on the same circle before placing them. Remember where the first pattern’s points align, then try another pattern without prematurely confirming a remote solution.
One useful tip is that the tabs retain their position when rotated. Place a tab where it seems correct and switch between options to see which align. If two options fit, insert and remove the outer lock to confirm.
Central locking is typically simpler because there are fewer patterns to choose from; one of the remaining cartridges must be used in the outer slot.
Choose a slot (advanced)
Advanced locks present many master-key patterns. Some will be useless and not used at all. With more choices, some patterns can be applicable both indoors and outdoors.
To minimize the need for undoing actions that require extra digipicks, try solving both inside and outside before making final choices.
The accompanying image shows an advanced lock solution. Start from the outside first and avoid committing to a choice prematurely, even if the outer lock seems resolved. There may be another solution that isn’t immediately obvious.
Often, deciphering the outer lock reveals that one pattern is essential for the central lock. A good tactic is to begin with more complex patterns and test if they fit both outer and inner slots. When a 3 or 4 dot pattern fits only outside, the odds of a correct choice increase.
Please note that locks are generated randomly. If the final digital lock feels unusually tough, save before continuing. If it proves too difficult, restarting the game can refresh the challenge.
Regarding Expert and Master locks, more points in the security skill tree are needed. Progressing in this tree grants skills that assist in solving these puzzles as players advance.
How do automatic attempts work?
At the first level of the security skill tree, there is a talent called Security. Each rank allows mastering more difficult locks: Beginner, Intermediate, Expert, and Master.
Training this skill unlocks automatic attempts. Each successful manual lock open grants one automatic attempt, up to the limit allowed by the rank.
In practice, the digital interface features an automatic lock rather than literal automatic attempts. The chosen key is rotated to align with the current ring automatically.
At the second level of Security, the lock ring glows blue when the used key fits. This does not guarantee it is part of the solution, but it helps identify templates that are not needed or may apply only to central locks. This is especially useful when using automatic locks.
Other guides
- How to buy Starfield in Russia and Belarus on PC and Xbox
- Where to buy and how to steal a ship in Starfield – guide
Source: VG Times