Lockpicking Controls and Tumbler Mechanics
In DREADMOOR, exploring waterways and abandoned settlements reveals secured containers and barred entryways. When approaching a locked chest or door, engaging the mechanism opens the lockpicking interface.
Move your mouse to find the correct position for the lockpick. When the pick is in the right zone, the keyhole will glow. Hold the turn button to turn the lock and move your mouse to keep the pick in the correct position until it opens. Careful positioning is essential because the lockpick will break once its durability runs out.
Lockpick Tiers and Durability
Three distinct lockpick variants exist in the game, each featuring different durability and reliability. The most basic option is the 
Crude Lockpick. The game describes it as a makeshift tool filed from scrap metal. This tier is rusty, brittle, and short-lived.
Next is the standard 
Lockpick, an iron lockpick made by someone who knows the craft. It is reliable enough in skilled hands and able to open most known locks. The highest tier is the 
Master Lockpick, regarded as a true work of thieving art, forged from tempered alloy. When used on difficult mechanisms, it glides like silk, yet remains strong and reliable.
Crafting Lockpicks at the Craft Table
Lockpicks are assembled by hand rather than purchased from ordinary traders. You are in the Craft table menu to assemble these essential tools. Here you can craft baits, lockpicks, and upgrades for tools and weapons.
Press [N] to open the blueprint book, or hover over it and press [LMB]. On the left is a list of items available to you, which can be sorted by blueprint type. Select the item you wish to craft and pin the recipe by pressing [V]. The required resources will be displayed on the console beneath the craft table surface.
To assemble a Crude Lockpick, you need one piece of 
Rubber and one 
Metal Plate. To make a standard Lockpick, the recipe requires one 
Rope, two pieces of Metal Plate, and two units of 
Coral fibers. The superior Master Lockpick demands two pieces of Metal Plate, two units of 
Chromatic Scales, and one jar of Bug slime. Hover over each ingredient in turn and press [LMB] to place them on the craft table one at a time. Once all the required crafting materials have been selected, hold [F] to craft the item.
Objectives and Exploration Salvage
Carrying multiple lockpicks is vital when embarking on expeditions across the wetland map. During key story progression, survivors receive tasks to head for the Drying House and force the control room door. Furthermore, scavenging after sunset yields substantial rewards, as the night is full of dangers, but the loot is much more valuable. Mastering the lockpicking minigame ensures you never forfeit valuable upgrades and salvage found inside locked containers.