Lockpicking in Gothic 1 Remake is basically a slider-and-pin puzzle – Move each plate until every copper pin sits in the center hole, avoid forcing edge-stuck plates, and train with Fingers early to make locks far less punishing.
How to lockpick in Gothic 1 Remake
Step 1: Save before you start
Make a manual save before opening any chest or door. The system can eat durability quickly, and a bad sequence can leave you with a broken pick and a reset lock.
Step 2: Read the lock pattern
Look at each plate and identify where the pin currently sits. Your goal is to move every pin to the middle hole, which is the unlock position.
Step 3: Find the “safe” plates first
Start with the plates that sit near the edges and move them inward one notch if possible. The trick is to eliminate plates that can’t move further without rattling, because that edge pressure is what burns durability.
Step 4: Test plate interactions
Some plates only move themselves, while others drag neighboring plates in the same or opposite direction. Test carefully and note which ones are linked, because once you understand the relationship, the solution becomes a clean sequence instead of guesswork.
Step 5: Center the easiest plates
Work from the bottom or the first plate onward and move each one toward the center only when the surrounding plates are safe. If a move creates a new edge problem, back off and re-balance the lock before continuing.
Step 6: Reset instead of brute forcing
If the lock turns messy, reset it and start again rather than burning through picks. You can also use the skill training from Fingers to make failures less punishing and to keep the lock from resetting on a break.
Fingers location and lockpicking training
Fingers in the Old Camp is the key early trainer for lockpicking, and he becomes available after the relevant Old Camp progress that leads Diego to point you toward him.
Training is the real solution if you want to stop wasting lockpicks on tougher chests. In practical terms, the first rank gives you more room for mistakes, while the higher rank makes failure less painful by simplifying the lock itself.
Where to get lockpicks
The most reliable sources are merchants and exploration loot. Mordrag and Dexter are both early Old Camp options, and lockpicks can also be found in prisoner-heavy areas or looted from chests and NPCs. Because the early supply is limited and pricey, it is smart to buy a small stack, save often, and avoid wasting picks on locks you are not ready for.
Mistakes to avoid
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Don’t brute-force a plate that is already at the edge; that is how you lose durability fast.
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Don’t assume every lock behaves the same; some plates affect others, and those interactions matter more than raw speed.
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Don’t skip training if you plan to open lots of chests; Fingers’ skill ranks dramatically reduce the pain of mistakes.
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Don’t forget that lockpicking does not make you safe; the game does not pause while you are picking.
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Don’t open difficult locks without a save file ready, because a failed attempt can cost you both the pick and your progress.
Learning the Gothic 1 Remake lockpicking system early saves ore, preserves lockpicks, and opens up better loot routes throughout the colony. Training with Fingers turns a frustrating mini-game into a manageable skill check, which is especially valuable if you want to clear chests efficiently instead of wasting time reloading.
