Levelling up Lockpicking?

[Froggelet]

I want to level up my level 44 Human Rogue in Lockpicking (currently 160 in that) so looked around online and found that Sar'theris Strand in Desolace would be a good place to go. Took him there and, except for killing innumerable Nagas, there was nothing for him to do (nothing Lockpicking-wise). I went into the various ruins ashore, swam to offshore ruins, tried without success to get into Ethel Rethor, went up and down the coast to the wrecked ship and back and found it impossible to progress farther at either end. So where are the locked boxes I'm supposed to practice on? I have a sinking feeling (ho ho, little joke there) that they're underwater and I'm going to have to have him guzzle an Underwater Breathing potion and swim underwater. I hate that, just hate it. But I'll do it if that's what's required.

[Janfader]

I want to level up my level 44 Human Rogue in Lockpicking (currently 160 in that) so looked around online and found that Sar'theris Strand in Desolace would be a good place to go. Took him there and, except for killing innumerable Nagas, there was nothing for him to do (nothing Lockpicking-wise). I went into the various ruins ashore, swam to offshore ruins, tried without success to get into Ethel Rethor, went up and down the coast to the wrecked ship and back and found it impossible to progress farther at either end. So where are the locked boxes I'm supposed to practice on? I have a sinking feeling (ho ho, little joke there) that they're underwater and I'm going to have to have him guzzle an Underwater Breathing potion and swim underwater. I hate that, just hate it. But I'll do it if that's what's required.

I believe the keep in badlands have tons of boxes (where all the dark iron dwarves are). I think you can level your lock picking to 250 ish there. It's been awhile since I used my Rogue.

The keep is just south of Uldaman

[odinsnephew]

I have a sinking feeling (ho ho, little joke there) that they're underwater and I'm going to have to have him guzzle an Underwater Breathing potion and swim underwater. I hate that, just hate it. But I'll do it if that's what's required.

Yes they are on the sea bed. My rogue did it this way and I took an underwater breathing pot to do it. Levelled quite quick and the mobs are a lot lower = so less aggro. The other way is to go around pickpocting humanoids at that level range.

[Tater]

Thanks for the question as I also want to level mine but was too scared to ask. I've got a level 28ish rogue that is 100 or so LP.

Questions:

The other day, I found a guy when i was getting rogue training in SW that told me to go to the lake in Redridge to pick boxes at my level.

1) Will this char always tell you the best place to level and keep up with your LP Level?
2) I didn't know I could gain LP by pickpocketing, is this true?

[odinsnephew]

Thanks for the question as I also want to level mine but was too scared to ask. I've got a level 28ish rogue that is 100 or so LP.

Questions:

The other day, I found a guy when i was getting rogue training in SW that told me to go to the lake in Redridge to pick boxes at my level.

1) Will this char always tell you the best place to level and keep up with your LP Level?
2) I didn't know I could gain LP by pickpocketing, is this true?

I'm not sure if he will always tell you, but Althers mill and the lake at Redridge is good - or Durnholde keep in Hillsbrad foothills. Plenty enough boxes to level up.

You gain Lockpick skill ups through pickpocketing junkboxes from humanoid mobs.

[yavie]

Also once you get to 175 (or is it 180..) a good place to LP is outside of the Sunken Temple in Swamp of Sorrows. I got from 180-225 very quickly, even at 225 the boxes were still yellow (but had a ton of lockboxes in the bank so left after that point).

[Froggelet]

I believe the keep in badlands have tons of boxes (where all the dark iron dwarves are). I think you can level your lock picking to 250 ish there. It's been awhile since I used my Rogue.

The keep is just south of Uldaman

OK, thanks, I know where it is and it sounds good. Best of all, it's not underwater!

[Froggelet]

Yes they are on the sea bed. My rogue did it this way and I took an underwater breathing pot to do it. Levelled quite quick and the mobs are a lot lower = so less aggro. The other way is to go around pickpocting humanoids at that level range.

I'm confused - does pickpocketing raise lockpicking levels, then? I've not done much of it and know I should. I think it's time I started using all this guy's special abilities more.

[Froggelet]

Thanks for the question as I also want to level mine but was too scared to ask. I've got a level 28ish rogue that is 100 or so LP.

Questions:

The other day, I found a guy when i was getting rogue training in SW that told me to go to the lake in Redridge to pick boxes at my level.

1) Will this char always tell you the best place to level and keep up with your LP Level?
2) I didn't know I could gain LP by pickpocketing, is this true?

Seems that the Rogue trainer will always suggest locations appropriate to your level in Lockpicking - he did for my guy. Dunno about the pickpocketing. It's another one I've not done nearly enough. I did a general web search on 'levelling lockpicking World of Warcraft' and got a multitude of helpful info. Best, though, was a lengthy post taken from the official forum. It gives levels required and areas to go to to increase those levels.

[Froggelet]

Also once you get to 175 (or is it 180..) a good place to LP is outside of the Sunken Temple in Swamp of Sorrows. I got from 180-225 very quickly, even at 225 the boxes were still yellow (but had a ton of lockboxes in the bank so left after that point).

I'd like to get to about 225 so I could go to Ironforge and raise my levels by offering to pick locks on boxes for other players.

[clevins]

Two notes.

1) your LP skill is 5 x your level. At 44 you have a max LP skill of 220. At 28, 140.
2) given that, pick pocketing mobs will usually get you 5 junkboxes each level which gives you your skillups without doing anything extra. The easiest way to do this is this:

* turn on Autoloot (INterface options, I believe)
* Macro Pick Pocket to an attack you use from stealth. For example, if you usually open with Cheap Shot, create a macro that does this:

/cast Pick Pocket
/cast Cheap Shot

Bind that to the key that you use for your attack and go about your business. Two things though - you NEED to have autoloot on otherwise you'll have a loot dialog stay up each time you attack. And you need to have bag space since you'll get a lot of gray items. When you aren't fighting, take some time to pick any boxes you've gotten. After you max your LP skill for the level, mail the excess boxes to a bank toon.. Soon you'll have a bunch in the bank... when you ding, mail a few back to the rogue, pick them.

The gray items can be annoying... to sell them all with one click, create another macro:

/script for bag = 0, 4 do for slot = 1, GetContainerNumSlots(bag) do local name = GetContainerItemLink(bag,slot) if name and string.find(name,"ff9d9d9d") then DEFAULT_CHAT_FRAME:AddMessage("Selling "..name) UseContainerItem(bag,slot) end end end

Bind that to a key, talk to a vendor and click it... voila, all of your grey items will be sold.

[Froggelet]

Two notes.

1) your LP skill is 5 x your level. At 44 you have a max LP skill of 220. At 28, 140.
2) given that, pick pocketing mobs will usually get you 5 junkboxes each level which gives you your skillups without doing anything extra. The easiest way to do this is this:

* turn on Autoloot (INterface options, I believe)
* Macro Pick Pocket to an attack you use from stealth. For example, if you usually open with Cheap Shot, create a macro that does this:

/cast Pick Pocket
/cast Cheap Shot

Bind that to the key that you use for your attack and go about your business. Two things though - you NEED to have autoloot on otherwise you'll have a loot dialog stay up each time you attack. And you need to have bag space since you'll get a lot of gray items. When you aren't fighting, take some time to pick any boxes you've gotten. After you max your LP skill for the level, mail the excess boxes to a bank toon.. Soon you'll have a bunch in the bank... when you ding, mail a few back to the rogue, pick them.

The gray items can be annoying... to sell them all with one click, create another macro:

/script for bag = 0, 4 do for slot = 1, GetContainerNumSlots(bag) do local name = GetContainerItemLink(bag,slot) if name and string.find(name,"ff9d9d9d") then DEFAULT_CHAT_FRAME:AddMessage("Selling "..name) UseContainerItem(bag,slot) end end end

Bind that to a key, talk to a vendor and click it... voila, all of your grey items will be sold.

Thanks very much. I've tried pickpocketing a few times, using Distract to help and it's been, well, 'sorta' successful. Never got a locked box, tho, mostly just coppers and potions. I must admit guiltily that I have not been playing this guy as I ought to, not taking advantage of his special Roguish skills, and I plan to learn how to play him properly and not leave him sitting there untouched and under-appreciated.

[lackofluck]

I guess you should ask someone high level on your server, they will surely know whre you should go. At least that's what I did when I was first leveling a rogue.

[Froggelet]

I guess you should ask someone high level on your server, they will surely know whre you should go. At least that's what I did when I was first leveling a rogue.

Good plan, but it's becoming more difficult all the time to get reasonable responses to questions put forth in Channel 1. I'm quite pleased with the listing I downloaded and printed off from a websearch, since it sets out exactly what level you need to start lockpicking in each of the suggested areas (also says what levels you can attain there).

[clevins]

Thanks very much. I've tried pickpocketing a few times, using Distract to help and it's been, well, 'sorta' successful. Never got a locked box, tho, mostly just coppers and potions. I must admit guiltily that I have not been playing this guy as I ought to, not taking advantage of his special Roguish skills, and I plan to learn how to play him properly and not leave him sitting there untouched and under-appreciated.

You won't get a high percentage of boxes, but over the course of a level you'lld get a lot just because of the numbers of mobs you pick pocket using that macro. That's actually why I use the macro - you just continue questing and killing stuff as usual to level and you get extra loot in the process.

[Froggelet]

You won't get a high percentage of boxes, but over the course of a level you'lld get a lot just because of the numbers of mobs you pick pocket using that macro. That's actually why I use the macro - you just continue questing and killing stuff as usual to level and you get extra loot in the process.

Spent the whole half hour of his Underwater Breathing potion trudging around on the seabed at Sar'theris Strand and found not one lockbox. So...... went back ashore and began pickpocketing the Nagas and later the Centaurs (using the new macro). Again, no lockboxes. So, puzzled and a bit exasperated, went to Menethil and did three (only three?) lockboxes in the Murloc camps and today will try the Badlands. I've read that the lockboxes on the upper floor in that tower are appropriate to his level. I have to say that Lockpicking has got to be the most difficult thing to level up I've encountered yet. I thought Mining was bad, but this beats all. :sad:

[Froggelet]

I'm even more disappointed. Couldn't find my way up to the second floor of Angor Fortress after stealthing around in it for about half an hour (half an hour seems to be my magic number). So, off to Windshear Crag, the third place that was supposed to have boxes that he could level up on. Absolutely nothing in sight anywhere, not in any of the buildings or the mine or up in the rocks, so pickpocketed some logging employees for a while, but again, no boxes (I spent about forty five minutes there). The only place I can find boxes and level up painfully slowly is the Wetlands, where there are three boxes available on the Murloc camps each time I go in after logging out. I'll keep doing those, I guess, and maybe in a couple of weeks can get a Hunter friend of mine to go along with me. Maybe his 'Find Treasure' ability will find boxes. This is beginning to seem like the most pointless waste of time.

[clevins]

Do this - leave the pick pocket macro on. Continue to quest and level. Ignore trying to skill lock picking. It's not really meant to be power leveled like a profession.

At some point you'll be level 60 or so and the boxes in ANgor will be easy to get since the mobs will be much lower level. Go do them then. OH!!! Searing Gorge, the underground caverns... TONS of boxes there. Again, the mobs are 40-45 so you'll want to be prepared to deal with that... but lots of boxes.

There's very little reason to max LP if you've fallen behind while leveling - it's mostly that when you run instances and a chest is there and you can't pick it becuase your skill is too low that it's annoying.

But just leave the macro on and go level. YOU won't get a TON of boxes, but you'll get some. The other thing to do is to tell friends/guildies that you're skilling and if they or their alts get lower level boxes you'd like to pick them. You can also chill in SW or IF and spam trade that you're looking to pick boxes of a certain level.

[Froggelet]

Do this - leave the pick pocket macro on. Continue to quest and level. Ignore trying to skill lock picking. It's not really meant to be power leveled like a profession.

At some point you'll be level 60 or so and the boxes in ANgor will be easy to get since the mobs will be much lower level. Go do them then. OH!!! Searing Gorge, the underground caverns... TONS of boxes there. Again, the mobs are 40-45 so you'll want to be prepared to deal with that... but lots of boxes.

There's very little reason to max LP if you've fallen behind while leveling - it's mostly that when you run instances and a chest is there and you can't pick it becuase your skill is too low that it's annoying.

But just leave the macro on and go level. YOU won't get a TON of boxes, but you'll get some. The other thing to do is to tell friends/guildies that you're skilling and if they or their alts get lower level boxes you'd like to pick them. You can also chill in SW or IF and spam trade that you're looking to pick boxes of a certain level.

I think you're absolutely right. Another disappointing thing in this game. Don't misunderstand me - I'm not moaning about the game generally - I really like playing it and wouldn't do so did I not get enjoyment and pleasure from it. But there are a few things in it that annoy me terribly and this whole lockpicking thing has turned out to be one. What I shall never understand is why there was not a single solitary box anywhere at all. Baffling, but if I should give it a try again (ho hum) I'll go with my husband's Hunter and see if his Find Treasure ability gives any help. Otherwise, I'll keep the macro on, go about levelling him up class-wise and at least for now forget lockpicking. What really angers me about it is that if it were possible to level without this much difficulty, it could be a fun addition to gameplay. Ah, well..... and thanks again for all your help.

[Wintrow]

To think they added Lockpicking goodies somewhere in TBC. BE rogues get locked boxes in one of the Troll ruins. Picking time reduced. And so on.

Guess it's fallen off the radar again :tongue:.

[Janfader]

There are all kinds of lockpicking boxes in Azeroth, OL's and NR that are laying around in common areas... I didn't have any issues leveling my LP'n skill once I found these places.

Strategy Please note that while this guide covers the best ways to power-level your lockpicking, it is perfectly feasible to level the vast majority of your skill simply by choosing to work quests that involve humanoids that can be pickpocketed for lockboxes, which can then be picked to raise your skill, and which also will sometimes contain Rogue poisons, thus increasing the value of this approach.

1 to 170 Early on you might get some [Practice Locks] from an engineer to increase your lockpicking up to skill level 80. The quest to obtain Lockpicking will point you towards plenty of practice chests.

The best way for Alliance rogues to get their lockpicking skill up at level 16-20 (after getting the Pick Lock skill) is Alther's Mill in the Redridge Mountains region. The quest [20] Alther's Mill requires lockpicking a chest in Alther's Mill for a quest item and is close to the practice lockboxes. These chests respawn very quickly (you can stand between a couple or three and alternate between them) and may be practiced upon from 1 to over 100 skill. You do not have to be on the quest to pick these, so you can come back later to raise your skill when your level based skill cap is higher. If you do the quest at level 16, you should probably return at least once when you are over level 20. Horde rogues can similarly gain early levels from an equivalent quest on the ship off the Merchant Coast, south of Ratchet in the Barrens. Additionally, blood elf rogues may take the quest, Quest:Greed in the Ghostlands at level 16, which takes them to the Amani Catacombs where they may practice lockpicking up to 100 (currently level * 5). In addition to training, these chests contain treasure.

(Note: The above mentioned chest are not faction specific. If preferred Alliance characters could just as easily skillup lockpicking on chests found in the ship at the Merchant Coast. Vise-versa, it is possible for Horde characters to level on the chests found in Alther's Mill.)

The rogue poisons quests for Horde and Alliance provide the next opportunity for solid skill gains. The quest can be picked up at level 20, although it may be too difficult for many players at level 20. The item required to complete this quest is contained inside a locked chest that can be picked repeatedly up to 170. (You are likely to hit your skill level cap first, if you are on the poison quest.) If you've already finished the quest, you can still use the chests to gain skill. The chests don't highlight when you mouse over them after the first time (when you obtain the quest item), so you have to activate your lockpicking skill first and then click the chest. The chest will be empty if you already have the quest item or have completed the quest. Be sure to close the empty loot window in order to speed along the chest respawning (it is very quick if the loot window is not left open.) The poison Touch of Zanzil is applied every time the chest is lockpicked. The poisons can be dispelled if you have the cure from the poison quest chain, Anti-Venom skill (and Anti-Venom in your pack) from the First Aid profession, or by the dwarf racial Stoneform. The boss guarding the chest will probably respawn a couple of times while you are leveling your lockpicking skill on this chest. (It appears that either faction could use the opposite faction chest; not tested.)

Also, level 1 Battered Footlockers can be pickpocketed from the mobs around Durnholde Keep in the Hillsbrad Foothills. Continuously make routes around Durnholde Keep and pickpocket mobs for Junkboxes. Note again that these are level 1, so if you have already leveled up using the lockbox in the rogue poisons quest, these will be grey and therefore useless for leveling your skill.

At Bluegill Marsh in the Wetlands, there are Battered Footlockers with varying skill level requirement of 105, 110, and 115.

150 to 225 Alternate PathIf you don't like the water, you can head to Angor Fortress in the Badlands. There are two types of footlockers inside the fortress, Battered Footlockers and Dented Footlockers. The Battered Footlockers are located upstairs, and you will be able to open them immediately at 150; however, the Dented Footlockers will require a skill of 175 to open.

If you are level 30-40 you can go to Desolace, bring 2–3 hours worth of water breathing potions, and pick your way into the mid 200s. There are Waterlogged Footlockers around (37,21) off the northwest shore. There are level 33 mobs you will have to deal with while doing this. There are also Mossy Footlockers in the deeper areas that can get you to 225. These can be found in a NE running trench near the big island off the coast, around 36,11. Though they are few and far between here. A better place to find these is in the lake that surrounds the Sunken Temple in the Swamp of Sorrows.

225 to 300Once at 205 or so, go to the Scarlet Monastery doors. Read below the doors section on what to do. Open each door, go into the instance and pickpocket 3 mobs. Come back out and open the doors and the timer will have reset for the skillups from the doors. Continuously do this until 225. At 225, go to Searing Gorge. Down in the Slag Pit are [Dented Footlockers]. You can open all of them, and again pickpocket for junkboxes. Additionally, you can travel to the Swamp of Sorrows. A water-breathing potion makes circling the deep water around the Sunken Temple much easier, as [Mossy Footlockers] spawn throughout the area. Stay in either of these locations until 250-255.

The best place to raise your skill from 250 to 300 is in Blackrock Depths. Simply go in, turn to the left and unlock the Shadowforge Gate. Continue forward and take the first right, picking the next Shadowforge Gate. Pick the first door on the left, the East Garrison Door, and then head through the door, staying on the bottom level. If you are level 60 or above, pick the large wooden object sticking out of the ground below the giant gear, The Shadowforge Lock; lower levels can aggro the mobs around it. Pickpocket the 10 humanoid mobs in the room and you should average either 1 Sturdy Junkbox or 1 Heavy Junkbox each run. You can also lockpick cell doors if you are able to solo small groups before them. Then head out of the instance and reset it before doing all four again. Note that you can only reset the instance 3(Not 5) times before it disables you from entering, saying "You have entered too many instances recently". This is valid for the whole account and resets roughly an hour after you entered the first time. Keep in mind that a number of mobs will be able to see through stealth, regardless of your level, so be prepared.

Another place for 250-300 is Tyr's Hand in Eastern Plaguelands. Pickpocket the mobs and find all of the [Scarlet Footlockers]. In the time it takes to take a full circle of Tyr's Hand, the starting point will be pickpocketable and have boxes respawned. Do this until 300.

Yet another location to level lockpicking from 250 to 300, particularly for those above level 60 is in the mines below Honor Hold in Hellfire Peninsula. The Gan'arg Sappers can be pickpocketed for [Heavy Junkboxes]. As most have their back to the center of the mine they can all easily be robbed clean with little problem, and the only other NPCs capable of interrupting the Rogue are the patrolling Succubi, but they can be easily avoided.

Another spot at Searing Gorge is the Stonewrought Pass. You can pick the doors on either side at around 225, however the Loch Modan side has an Alliance guard so Horde may find it easier to simply level on the Searing Gorge side. The door quickly closes after being opened, so you can continuously pick the door until it is grey.

300 to 375The best place at 70 is in Feralfen Village in Zangarmarsh. This is located south of Coilfang Reservoir and Twin Spire Ruins, west of the Lagoon and east of Quagg Ridge. There are three areas of buildings clumped together with a handful of wicker chests in each. They typically spawn inside and around the huts. The tower in the western section of the village has wicker chests on the first floor and on the top floor. You can also pickpocket the mobs (levels 61-63) with an 11% chance of getting a [Strong Junkbox] (requires Lockpicking 300).

Another location for leveling lockpicking between 300 and 350 is outside of Black Temple in Shadowmoon Valley (very east side, hunk of land sticking out). Stay near the blood elves that are paladins/warriors (not by name), not the demon hunters. Pickpocket these and kill them to have them respawn. As many know, there is an epic thrown weapon that can be taken out of the [Strong Junkboxes] that come out of Outland, [Spinesever]. Formerly a popular item, it was nerfed with patch 2.3.

350 and beyondWith the amount of humanoid mobs you'll be killing, if you make it a habit to pick all of their pockets before stabbing you'll wind up with more [Reinforced Junkboxes] than you'll know what to do with. This should allow you to easily skill Lockpicking up to 400.

Another option to consider is the Violet Hold door in Dalaran, which can be picked at 365. It is unknown what the timer is before picking the door will again reward a skillup.

The Feralfen Village in Outland is still a viable place to level your lockpicking, for 380+. The doors to Karazhan, Shadow Labyrinth, Shattered Halls, and the Arcatraz will all offer easy skill points as well, as all are orange at 350 — simply leave your keys to these instances in your bank. Stratholme doors also remain green until 400; they are less likely to give a skill point, but offer multiple attempts in a single area with no travel time.

Gear [Dark Leather Gloves], created through Leatherworking, increase lockpicking skill by 5. They reduce the chance of a lockpicking attempt failing and also can be used to pick locks slightly out of your skill range.

editPickable Locks Crafted Items Crafted Items
Item Level Item Orange Yellow Green Grey
20 [Practice Lock] 1 30 60 80
Locked Items τJunkboxes (from Pickpocket)
Item Level Item Mob Level Orange Yellow Green Grey
20 [Battered Junkbox] 22-32 1 30 75 105
30 [Worn Junkbox] 32-42 75 100 120 170
40 [Sturdy Junkbox] 42-52 175 200 225 275
50 [Heavy Junkbox] 52-60 250 275 300 ?
60 [Strong Junkbox] 61-70+ 300 325 350 ?
70 [Reinforced Junkbox] 71+ 350 375 ? ?
τLockboxes (Mob Drops)
Item Level Item Orange Yellow Green Grey
20 [Ornate Bronze Lockbox] N/A 1 ? < 86 105
25 [Heavy Bronze Lockbox] 25 50 75 125
30 [Iron Lockbox] 70 95 120 170
35 [Strong Iron Lockbox] 125 150 175 225
40 [Steel Lockbox] 175 205 225 275
45 [Reinforced Steel Lockbox] 225 250 275 325
50 [Mithril Lockbox] 225 250 275 325
55 [Thorium Lockbox] 225 250 275 325
60 [Eternium Lockbox] 225 265 320 325
68 [Khorium Lockbox] 325 350 ? ?
73 [Froststeel Lockbox] 375 ? ? ?
78 [Titanium Lockbox] 400 ? ? ?
τLocked Chests (from Fishing)
Item Level Item Orange Yellow Green Grey
20 [Small Locked Chest] 1 ? ? ?
30 [Sturdy Locked Chest] 70 ? ? ?
45 [Ironbound Locked Chest] 175 ? ? ?
55 [Reinforced Locked Chest] 250 ? 300 <300
Footlockers τFootlockers
Location Item Orange Yellow Green Grey Detail
Ghostlands [Burial Chest] 1 30 55 ? Amani Catacombs
Ghostlands [Primitive Chest] 20 30 55 > 110 Zeb'Nowa and Zeb'Tela
Redridge Mountains [Practice Lockboxes] 1 30 55 100 Alther's Mill
The Barrens [Buccaneer's Strongbox] 1 30 55 105 Ship off Merchant Coast
The Barrens [The Jewel of the Southsea] 25 <82 75 125 Ship off Merchant Coast
Redridge Mountains [Waterlogged Footlocker] 70 95 120 150 Lake Everstill
Ashenvale Forest [Waterlogged Footlocker] 70 95 120 150 Zoram Strand
The Barrens [Gallywix's Lockbox] 70 100 120 170 During [24] Mission: Possible But Not Probable; northeast Barrens, tower in Sludge Fen
Westfall [Duskwood Chest] 70 100 150 170 During [24] Klaven's Tower; southeast Westfall in Klaven's Tower
Stonetalon Mountains [Battered Footlocker] 70 <100 120 >160 Windshear Crag
Hillsbrad Foothills [Battered Footlocker] 110 135 160 175 Durnholde Keep (Lower Level)
Hillsbrad Foothills [Battered Footlocker] 110 135 160 200? Durnholde Keep (Upper Level)
Stonetalon Mountains [Battered Footlocker] 110 135 160 >195 Windshear Mine
Wetlands [Battered Footlocker] 70 95 120 170 Outside of Murloc camps
Wetlands [Battered Footlocker] 110 135 160 >175 In Murloc camps
Desolace [Waterlogged Footlocker] 150 175 200 >225 Sar'theris Strand
Badlands [Battered Footlocker] 150 175 200 250 Angor Fortress - Upstairs
Desolace [Mossy Footlocker] 175 200 225 250 Sar'theris Strand [35, 13]
Badlands [Dented Footlocker] 175 200 225 >250 Angor Fortress - Downstairs
Swamp of Sorrows [Mossy Footlocker] 175 200 225 >255 Pool of Tears
Searing Gorge [Dented Footlocker] 200 225 250 >295 The Slag Pit - Lower Quarry Area
Searing Gorge [Dented Footlocker] 225 250 275 >295 The Slag Pit - Upper Barracks Area
Tanaris Desert [Dented Footlocker] 225 250 275 >305 Lost Rigger Cove
Azshara [Mossy Footlocker] 225 250 ? ? Bay of Storms
Eastern Plaguelands [Scarlet Footlocker] 250 275 300 ? Tyr's Hand
Zangarmarsh [Wicker Chest] 300 325 350+ 400 Feralfen Village
Nagrand [Dented Footlocker] 325 - 350 Kil'sorrow Fortress

Typically, unguarded footlockers have a lower skill range than guarded ones. When lockpicking, nearby mobs may also become hostile when they are otherwise outside your aggro range.

Locked Treasure Chests τCommon Loot-containing locked chests
Name Orange Yellow Green Grey Location(s)
[Large Iron Bound Chest] 25 ? ? ? Blackfathom Deeps, Gnomeregan, Razorfen Downs, Razorfen Kraul, Scarlet Monastery, Shadowfang Keep and The Stockade
[Large Mithril Bound Chest] 175 ? ? ? Uldaman
[Large Mithril Bound Chest] 250 ? ? ? Blackrock Spire, Dire Maul and Stratholme
[Bound Fel Iron Chest] 300 ? ? ? Hellfire Ramparts, Mana-Tombs, The Blood Furnace, The Slave Pens and The Underbog
[Bound Adamantite Chest] 325 ? ? ? Auchenai Crypts, Hellfire Ramparts, Mana-Tombs, Sethekk Halls, Shadow Labyrinth, The Blood Furnace, The Botanica, The Mechanar, The Shattered Halls, The Slave Pens, The Steamvault and The Underbog
[Bound Adamantite Chest] 350 ? ? ? Hellfire Ramparts, The Blood Furnace, The Botanica, The Mechanar, The Shattered Halls, The Slave Pens, The Steamvault and The Underbog
Doors Doors
Location Door Orange Yellow Green Grey Note
The Deadmines Gate 1 ? ? ? Can also be opened with Defias Gunpowder
Gnomeregan Workshop Door 150 175 ? ? Can also be opened with Workshop Key
Scarlet Monastery Armory and Cathedral Doors 175 200 225 275 Can also be opened with Scarlet Key
Searing Gorge Searing Gorge Gate 225 250 275 ? Can also be opened with Key to Searing Gorge
Blackrock Depths East Garrison Door 250 275 300 ? Can also be opened with Shadowforge Key
Blackrock Depths Prison Cells ? 250 300 ? Can also be opened with Prison Cell Key
Blackrock Depths Shadowforge Gates 250 275 300 ? Can also be opened with Shadowforge Key
Blackrock Depths Shadowforge Mechanism 250 275 300 ? Can also be opened with Shadowforge Key
Scholomance Scholomance Door 280 323-336 341 ? Can also be opened with Skeleton Key
Stratholme Stratholme Gates 300 ? ?-334 ? Can also be opened with Key to the City
Dire Maul Crescent Door 300 ? ?-334 ? Can also be opened with Crescent Key
Shattered Halls Shattered Halls Door 350 ? ? ? Can also be opened with Shattered Halls Key
Shadow Labyrinth Shadow Labyrinth Gate 350 ? ? ? Can also be opened with Shadow Labyrinth Key
The Arcatraz Arcatraz Door 350 ? ? ? Can also be opened with Key to the Arcatraz
Karazhan Karazhan Door 350 ? ? ? Can also be opened with The Master's Key
Dalaran Violet Hold Door 365 ? ? ? Can also be opened with The Violet Hold Key

Skill gains on doors not inside an instance are on a timer. They cannot be picked repeatedly for skill. A certain amount of time (about 5 min) must elapse before skill gains may be realized again. As of 5th August 2008, doors within instances must also be given time to cool down before getting another skill point, even if you reset the instance

As of 16th December 2007, there seems to be a 50/50 chance that picking a junkbox will reset the skill gain timer on either or both Scarlet Monastery doors. Zoning into any of the four instances and pickpocketing at least three mobs always resets the SM door timer on both doors.

editAlternatives to Lockpicking If a rogue is unavailable, there are several alternatives.

Locks can be opened by various Skeleton keys made by Blacksmiths. There are four types of skeleton key recipes, all of which can be learned from Blacksmithing trainers. Each recipe creates two keys, which are used up on a successful pick.

Additionally Engineers can use Seaforium Charges to open locked doors and chests.

In the early closed beta, mages had a spell called Khadgar's Unlocking which could unlock lockboxes and doors by consuming a reagent, but this spell was removed in Patch 0.9.

Source Item Unlocks
Blacksmithing [Silver Skeleton Key] 25
[Golden Skeleton Key] 125
[Truesilver Skeleton Key] 200
[Arcanite Skeleton Key] 300
[Cobalt Skeleton Key] 375
[Titanium Skeleton Key] 430
Engineering [Small Seaforium Charge] 150
[Large Seaforium Charge] 250
[Powerful Seaforium Charge] 300
[Elemental Seaforium Charge] 350
editLockpicking etiquette There is very little consensus on what standard policies for lockpicking are; Rogue expectations can vary wildly from server to server. Some expect a tip, and some gladly open locks for free. Common assumptions can be:

If the rogue is not sending messages via Trade, General chat, or by yelling, then it is never acceptable to open a trade with a rogue without first asking them if he can open a certain box. Among other things, it can disrupt a mail composition, an Auction House scan, or a profession crafting, and can be very irritating. Many rogues will automatically ignore people who open trade windows unsolicited. However, if the rogue is clearly stating that he/she is opening lockboxes, it can be considered even more irritating to the rogue who then has to deal with floods of whispers coming in, so simply open trade.
Rogues will generally offer their service for free; it is generally expected to offer a tip if you can afford it.
If a rogue expects a fee for lockpicking, he should negotiate it ahead of time. Otherwise, gracious players often tip anywhere between 2 and 5 to the opening rogue, based on the type of lockbox opened. Locks under Thorium Lockboxes usually are tipped 50 and Thorium and above are tipped 1 on most servers. A generally good guideline to follow would be one silver for every skill on the lockbox (ex. Thorium Lockboxes would be 2 50 .
If you ask a rogue before opening, he/she will often open it for free.
Always ask friends and guild mates before asking strangers. You are more likely to get it opened and more likely to get it done for free or a discounted price.



editPatch changes Patch 3.0.2 (2008-10-14): Pick Lock no longer requires [Thieves' Tools].

editSee also Rogues can learn the Pick Lock ability, which opens up the lockpicking skill to them.

[clevins]

You know... I remember them saying something about removing chests from the world. I never thought about it being ALL of them including ones you use to level LP... hmm.

There are a few Rogue skills that they've never used well - lock picking is one, the other is Disarm Traps. You learn it, use it a bit in Strat, can certainly use it in PvP vs Hunters... but other than that... meh.

One of the disappointments I've got with WoW is that there's not a lot of class specific stuff in it. Hunters don't get quests here and there that take advantage of hunting and tracking skills, etc. It would be far more complex to design, especially if you used class abilities in instances, but it would be far richer.

[Froggelet]

Thanks........ I'm sorry to say(because I am not trying to disparage your efforts) that this information duplicates pretty well everything I've found online over the last few days.

[Froggelet]

You know... I remember them saying something about removing chests from the world. I never thought about it being ALL of them including ones you use to level LP... hmm.

There are a few Rogue skills that they've never used well - lock picking is one, the other is Disarm Traps. You learn it, use it a bit in Strat, can certainly use it in PvP vs Hunters... but other than that... meh.

One of the disappointments I've got with WoW is that there's not a lot of class specific stuff in it. Hunters don't get quests here and there that take advantage of hunting and tracking skills, etc. It would be far more complex to design, especially if you used class abilities in instances, but it would be far richer.

Well, talking my husband into letting his Hunter spend some time roaming these areas with my Rogue may give us a clue and I'll post the information once we've done it. Might be a couple of weeks, though, as he's tremendously busy at work and then has to go out of town on a trip. It might explain why there are NO boxes in any of the areas that I searched so painstakingly without success. Maybe none of the websites I found had been updated yet (stranger things have happened).

I've only used Disarm Trap once - and that was in that cave in Hillsbrad (can't remember the name) where there were traps all along a tunnel.

I agree with you about the class-specific quests. It would be good to have more. Surely the trainers could be the ones to give them out? I've always been rather disappointed in how the professions are handled. But there you go - there are few things in life that you love completely with no drawbacks. Even with the people dear to you, you sometimes can't help thinking 'Oh, I wish he wouldn't do that'.

[Froggelet]

Update: OK, this morning I took a lvl 49 Dwarf Hunter to first Windshear Crag, then Sar'theris Strand. Had his 'Find Treasure' turned on, and yes, there are still locked boxes. BUT far fewer than I recall seeing there when I was levelling up this character and questing in those areas. Boxes still exist, but are harder to find too. I found only three in a thorough search of Windshear Crag and only two in Sar'theris Strand. So it's no less disappointing and difficult to level anyone up in Lockpicking.