Jill Valentine isn’t the “Master of Unlocking” for nothing. The original Resident Evil had Jill equipped with a Lockpick that allowed her to sequence break most of the Arklay Mansion from the get-go. Resident Evil 3: Nemesis brought the Lockpick back, but the linear nature of the game meant Jill wasn’t using it too often. This has changed in the Resident Evil 3 Remake, where you're advised to hold onto Jill’s Lockpick for as long as they can.
Even though Jill doesn’t start out with the lock back in Resident Evil 3 (2020), it’s still her signature tool throughout the game and gets plenty of use. You'll find the Lockpick as part of RE3’s story, but there are several optional padlocks hidden across the game that offer ammo, healing items, and even useful items.
Edited on August 25, 2021 by Renan Fontes: Letting go of Jill's Lockpick on a fresh playthrough of Resident Evil 3 (2020) is one of the biggest mistakes you can make. Not only will you need to backtrack for precious items, you might end up locking yourself out of valuable gear for most of the game – if not permanently. It helps to know where lockers are, what they store, and when exactly you should have your Lockpick onhand if you really don't want to lug it everywhere.
Getting The Lockpick In RE3
Resident Evil 3’s Lockpick can be found in the Outdoor Area connected to the Subway Power Substation. You can access the Subway Power Substation after finding the Bolt Cutters in the Garage and bypassing the two zombified dogs guarding the Substation. Once inside the building, there will be three zombies stumbling around – two on ground level and the third coming down nearby stairs.
Kill the zombies on the ground level by keeping left and headshot the final zombie as he makes his way down. Walk up the stairs into the Control Room, rearrange Jill’s inventory at the Item Box if necessary, and exit down into the Outdoor Area. Run all the way down the path to see a dead body clutching a Case. Approach the body and Jill will place the Case into her inventory. Examine the cae to find the Lockpick hiding inside.
Substation Padlocks In RE3
There are two padlocks in your immediate vicinity where you find the Lockpick. The first padlock is actually right in the Outdoor Area, but unlocking the door triggers a Drain Deimos that infects Jill. Make sure you have at least one Green Herb on hand before unlocking the gate into the Power Maze. Otherwise, Jill will be poisoned and you'll gradually take damage while your mobility slows down.
The next padlock can be found inside the Substation itself. Cut through the Control Room and take the stairs back down to the Maintenance Room. Kill the three zombies now if you haven't already. Head straight to the lockers and use the Lockpick to nab some extra Handgun Ammo.
Downtown Padlocks In RE3
There are several padlocks scattered around Raccoon City you'll want to unlock after finding the Lockpick. Enter the Garage you cut through to get to the Substation and there will be a locker housing a First Aid Kit in the tool shop. Exit the Garage and head back to the Main Street to unlock Toy Uncle’s front door. Inside, you’ll find a Fancy Box with the Green Jewel hidden along with a Charlie Doll.
Return to the Subway Ticket Gate safe room and unlock the Supply Crate for some Shotgun Shells. Moon’s Donuts has a locker by its safe room, sporting a handy Hand Grenade inside. Raccoon City’s last few padlocks can be found in the Subway Office. In the same room where the Shotgun is locked up, you can open a locker for a First Aid Kit. In the room with the subway puzzle, there’s another Supply Crate with Shotgun Shells inside.
Sewer Padlock In RE3
There’s only one padlock in the Sewers and it’s difficult to miss considering it’s in the same room as the Battery Pack, which is necessary for progression. After bypassing the Hunter Gammas in the Sewers, head to the Laboratory and use the Lockpick on the padlock to nab Jill an Explosive A used for ammo crafting.
Keep in mind that if you left your Lockpick in the Item Box, you’ll need to backtrack to a safe room. If you end up picking up the Battery Pack before backtracking, even more Hunter Gammas will spawn in the Sewers – so be prepared for a fight or make sure you already have the Lockpick in your inventory by the time you reach the Laboratory.
Raccoon City Revisited Padlock In RE3
After escaping the Sewers and defeating Flamethrower Nemesis, you'll loop back to Raccoon City one last time. You won’t be able to freely explore Downtown like before, but there are some new streets to plunder, including a residential home with a Supply Crate inside.
After passing through Kendo’s alleyway, enter the home and bait parasite zombie on the first floor. Make sure you kill it before pressing on and then head upstairs to the bedroom. You'll find a Supply Crate with Explosive Rounds waiting to be picked up on a nightstand by the bed.
Hospital Padlocks In RE3
The only padlocks left are in the Hospital, Resident Evil 3’s penultimate area. The first half of the Hospital is played through as Carlos, with the second left up to Jill. Worth keeping in mind is that the Hospital is actually entirely optional as Jill and you can unlock the door to the final area – NEST-2 – immediately. From the Makeshift Sickroom after regaining control of Jill, head to Reception and unlock the Back Stairwell.
Past Reception, enter the Main Corridor and keep left to find a Supply Crate with Magnum Ammo inside. The next padlock can be found in the Emergency Entrance, but there will be multiple zombies ready to ambush you so don’t run in blindly. Slowly bait and kill all the zombies, then unlock the locker for some Explosive Rounds.
The last two padlocks can be found on the upper floor of the hospital. Head to the Staff Room to unlock a locker with Shotgun Shells inside. There’s another locker with Magnum Rounds in the Linen Room. Wherever you go, be prepared for some combat as the Hospital will be teeming with new enemies, along with anything you left alive as Carlos.