Dragon Age Origins: How does lockpicking work? Dragon Age: Origins Guide

Lockpicking in Dragon Age Origins allows breaching doors/chests to collect any loot or valuables inside them. On this page of our guide, we explain how Deft Hands and other talents affect your chances of successful lockpicking, and whether you need items (lockpicks) to perform the action.

Last update: 13 June 2024

How to open locked chests in Dragon Age Origins? On this page of our guide, we explain how to unlock the Deft Hands talent that allows lockpicking. You'll also learn how the game calculates the chances of opening the lock and whether you need a lockpick.

• Locked chests in the game world
• Unlocking and using lockpicking talents
• Using a Rogue to open locks

Locked chests in the game world

1. During exploration of locations in the game, you may come across locked chests and doors. Interact with them without means of lockpicking and the game will display a message stating that the hero doesn't have the necessary skills to open the lock.
2. There are no lockpicks in the game. You either need to learn the Lockpicking talent or search for a key opening a given lock.

Unlocking and using lockpicking talents

1. Lockpicking talents are only available to the Rogue class. If your hero is of another class, you'll initially won't be able to loot locked chests. This is true for the locations for certain Origins like Ostagar, or Korcari Wilds.
2. This changes after reaching Lothering and visiting the tavern. Apart from Loghain's people, you'll meet Leilana who after a short conversation will join the party. She is a Rogue.
3. Alternatively, you can recruit Zevran later in the campaign. This is a better choice for a Rogue if your hero is evil.

1. Go to the talents tab. In the unique talents of Rogue class you can find Deft Hands, which is the skill allowing lockpicking. Leliana should have this talent already unlocked. Otherwise, you have to purchase it - it requires at least 10 Cunning points.
2. In the same row, you will find higher tiers of Deft Hands. These are Improved Tools, Mechanical Expertise, and Device Mastery. As can be expected, their cost is higher - the final, fourth talent requires the hero to be at level 12 and have 22 Cunning points.
3. The game always takes into account your lockpicking talents and the amount of Cunning points. Thus, the better your talents and Cunning, the stronger locks you can break and get better loot. We recommend unlocking 2 initial talents right away, and buy the remaining 2 later in the game. Also, try to regularly spend your development points on improving Cunning.

Using a Rogue to open locks

1. Whenever you come across a locked door/chest, switch to the party member that has Deft Hands and potential further levels of it unlocked.
2. If the Rogue's abilities are higher than the level of the lock (unlocked further tiers of lockpicking talent + current Cunning level), the lock will be opened, and in the case of containers, you receive access to its contents. Successful opening of a lock is also rewarded with a small amount of experience.