Whether you’re cracking open a nobleman’s chest or sneaking into a guardhouse, lockpicking in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is a skill that demands patience, precision, and a little trial and error. If you’re struggling, you’re not alone, especially if playing on a controller. So, this guide explains everything you need to know about KCD 2’s lockpicking minigame.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Lockpicking Explained
Lockpicking in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 builds on the foundation set by the original game but with some major upgrades to make it more accessible, especially for console players who struggled with the original system. You’ll first need many lockpicks to enter this minigame, which can be purchased from merchants and blacksmiths, or you can steal them from others’ chests, which of course is a theft. Unlike the first game, where lockpicks were quite fragile, they’re more durable in the sequel, though you’ll still want to carry extras as they break a lot when doing hard lockpicking.
The basic mechanic involves finding the “sweet spot” in a lock and rotating it while keeping your pick in that position. The difficulty of a lock tells how small this spot is and how much accuracy you need to move. One major improvement is that lockpicking no longer requires you to move two analog sticks simultaneously on consoles—the system has been reworked to be more intuitive across all platforms.
Let’s clearly break down the process. When you approach a locked door or chest, you’ll get the option to attempt lockpicking assuming you have at least one lockpick in your inventory. As soon as you start, a large circular interface pops up. You’ll need to move a small golden dot around the lock’s circumference. The task is to find the spot where the circle grows largest and glows yellow.
Once you’ve found the golden zone, you must rotate the lock using a button (D on keyboard or L2/RT on console) while simultaneously keeping the dot in the same position relative to the lock. It’s a bit like trying to keep a marble in a moving groove. If you drift too far off the sweet spot, the lock jams, and if you keep forcing it, your lockpick breaks, and it happens very often with harder lockpicks. Early on, you might fight it almost punishing. The rotation is sensitive, and Henry’s untrained hands are naturally shaky. But stick with it. As your Thievery skill levels up, the wobble gets less intense, making the process easy.
Lockpicking Difficulty Levels in KCD 2
Locks in KCD 2 come in five flavors:
- Very Easy
- Easy
- Medium
- Hard
- Very Hard
Don’t let the term “Very Easy” fool you. Even those lockpick tries can be hard if your skill is low, or mainly when playing with a controller. With tougher locks, your margin for error is razor-thin—the sweet spot becomes smaller, and the visual cues less helpful. You also need to have a high enough Thievery skill to attempt more advanced locks. So if you walk up to a Very Hard lock early in the game, it’ll just laugh in your face.
Some helpful perks can level up your lockpicking game. Silent Fiddler at Thievery Level 6 drastically reduces noise while lockpicking, and it’s a lifesaver in populated areas. With Tool Master (Thievery), your lockpicks become more stable, and successful attempts can return a broken lockpick to your inventory. Locksmith perk from the Craftsmanship treats your Thievery level as three points higher during lockpicking, making even tough locks manageable. Plus, you get bonus lockpicks when forging gear.
How to Get Lockpicks in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
Lockpicks are your only way to perform lockpicking, and you’ll need plenty of them until you reach the game’s ending. Here’s where to get them:
- From NPC Bara the Beggar – After the prologue, you can chat with Bara near Troskowitz. She’ll give you your first lockpick if you play your cards right in dialogue demanding armor to wear.
- Bird Nests – A surprisingly great early source. Knock them down with rocks (press G while sneaking), and you might find a lockpick or two inside.
- Vendors and Fences – Blacksmiths like Radovan in Tachov sell them, as do underground dealers such as Whitebeard or Miller Krezyl.
- Kreyzl’s Training Chest – In Lower Semine Mill, Miller Kreyzl not only teaches you stealth and thievery but also provides a practice chest that regularly restocks with lockpicks. You can return to it anytime for a fresh supply.
Lockpicking Tips for Console Players
Lockpicking on a console can be brutal in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. If you’re playing on PS5 or Xbox, you’ve probably already screamed at your screen once or twice while fumbling with analog sticks that seem too sensitive for this minigame.
One of the biggest issues console players run into is how twitchy the right stick can be. You’re supposed to rotate the lock smoothly while keeping your cursor in that golden sweet spot, but the stick often jumps or over-corrects. That’s a big issue when you need super-precise, circular movements. A lot of players find that holding the stick like a joystick, using both thumb and index finger, gives you more control than just thumbing it normally.
Further, set your controller down on a flat surface. If you place it on your lap or table and use your fingers like you’re adjusting a dial, you might find it’s easier to keep the cursor where it needs to be. Sounds weird, but more than a few Reddit users have found it workable.
Moreover, go to your controller settings and experiment with the deadzone adjustment. On PS5, for example, players have discovered that reducing the deadzone can help fix weird stuttering when the cursor crosses the X or Y axis. Don’t be discouraged if it’s rough at first. Like already mentioned, as your Thievery level increases and you unlock better perks, the minigame becomes more forgiving. Locks that once felt impossible will suddenly be manageable. Until then, practice on easy locks, train with Kreyzl, and keep a bottle of Saviour Schnapps in KCD 2 nearby in case things go wrong.
