OSRS Thieving Guide: Mastering the Art of Theft
Thieving is one of the most rewarding and versatile skills in Old School RuneScape (OSRS). Whether you're looking to make money, complete quests, or simply enjoy a more stealthy and sneaky playstyle, Thieving has something to offer for every kind of player. It may not be the flashiest skill in the game, but its efficiency and utility make it invaluable to those who know how to master it.
In this comprehensive Thieving guide for OSRS, we'll cover everything you need to know about training this skill, including the best methods, tips for maximizing XP gains, and how to use Thieving effectively for profit. Whether you're a complete beginner or an experienced player looking to optimize your Thieving grind, this guide will help you become a master thief in no time.
What is Thieving in OSRS?
Thieving in OSRS revolves around the art of stealing from NPCs, chests, or other interactive objects in the game. Players can thieve from a wide variety of sources, including pickpocketing NPCs, looting stalls, and accessing locked chests. The skill allows players to earn experience (XP) and sometimes valuable items or OSRS gold, while also unlocking special abilities that enhance your efficiency.
Key Thieving Activities:
Pickpocketing NPCs: Steal items or gold directly from NPCs, with varying levels of success based on the NPC's difficulty and your Thieving level.
Stealing from Stalls: Use your Thieving skill to take valuable items from various stalls in cities like Ardougne and Varrock.
Disarming Traps: In quests or specific locations, you may need to disarm traps or unlock doors using your Thieving skill.
Chests and Lockpicking: Open chests in dungeons and other areas, sometimes revealing valuable rewards or XP.
Tea Stalls and the Ardougne Knights: Various Thieving activities throughout the game allow you to train your Thieving while gaining rewards like money, items, and more.
Thieving Training Methods
Thieving can be trained in several ways, each with different XP rates, money-making potential, and required levels. Below, we'll walk through the most efficient and popular methods of training Thieving in OSRS.
1. Pickpocketing NPCs
Pickpocketing is one of the most classic and reliable methods of training Thieving in OSRS. While pickpocketing can be done at different levels from low-level NPCs to higher-level targets, the XP rates and rewards improve as you advance.
Recommended Pickpocketing Targets:
Men & Women (Level 1 Thieving): These NPCs are found in Lumbridge, and they offer a simple way to get started with pickpocketing. However, the XP and rewards are minimal.
Guards (Level 5 Thieving): Located in places like Varrock, Guards have a slightly higher XP rate and a small chance to drop valuable items.
Ham members (Level 38 Thieving): Ham members, located in the Draynor Village, are a great choice for training up to mid-level. They have a chance to drop a variety of items, including gold and weapons.
Ardougne Knights (Level 55 Thieving): These knights provide higher XP rates and lucrative rewards, such as coins, and training here can be very profitable.
Master Farmers (Level 38 Thieving): For players looking to train Thieving while also earning valuable seeds (such as Ranarr, Snapdragon, or Torstol), pickpocketing Master Farmers in places like Draynor Village and Ardougne is a great method.
Pickpocketing is usually best when combined with a method to prevent getting caught. In OSRS, players will fail pickpocketing attempts occasionally, which can result in damage or being stunned. Using items like the Cloak of Invisibility (from the Shades of Mort'ton quest) or the ** Ardougne Cloak** can mitigate some of these risks and make pickpocketing less frustrating.
2. Stealing from Stalls
Stalls are another great method for training Thieving. The Fruit Stall in Ardougne is the most popular spot for mid-level training. As you gain levels, you'll have access to better stalls, and the experience rate improves.
Recommended Stalls:
Fruit Stall (Level 25 Thieving): Located in Ardougne, the fruit stall is one of the best places for early training, offering steady XP and some money through fruits like bananas and oranges.
Silk Stall (Level 50 Thieving): Silk stalls, also in Ardougne, offer better XP and the potential to make a solid profit by selling the silks to shops for cash.
Crafting and Gem Stalls (Level 65 Thieving): At this level, stealing from the Crafting and Gem stalls will give you decent XP rates as well as highly valuable crafting materials that can be used or sold.
The best part about stealing from stalls is that you can continuously steal from them without worrying about combat or getting caught (unlike pickpocketing), making it a more relaxed way of training Thieving.
3. Blackjacking (Level 45 Thieving)
Blackjacking is one of the most efficient methods of training Thieving in OSRS, especially in terms of XP rates. It requires the player to stun and then rob specific NPCs known as "Saradominists" or "Blackjacks."
This method involves using a Blackjack (obtained in the Slayer's Gambit quest) to knock out NPCs, and then pickpocketing them while they are stunned. The XP rates here are some of the highest for Thieving, but they require a bit of patience and practice to master.
To start Blackjacking, you'll need to complete the Difficult Blackjacking questline or reach level 45 Thieving. Training with this method will yield top-tier XP rates but will require some initial preparation, including setting up appropriate gear.
4. Pyramid Plunder (Level 21 Thieving)
The Pyramid Plunder minigame, located in the Kharidian Desert, offers a rewarding way to train Thieving from levels 21 to 99. The method involves looting chests, avoiding traps, and navigating through rooms full of treasures.
XP Gains: At higher levels, Pyramid Plunder can yield significant XP and items such as cheap RS gold, herbs, and even unique rewards like the Sceptre of the Gods.
Requirements: To access Pyramid Plunder, you'll need to be at least level 21 in Thieving and have completed the Enakhra's Lament quest. As you progress, you'll have access to higher-tier rooms that offer greater XP rewards.
Pyramid Plunder is often considered one of the most enjoyable and profitable methods of Thieving in OSRS. Players can earn gold while also acquiring valuable rewards, including rare artifacts.
5. Chests and Disarming Traps
If you prefer a more traditional approach to Thieving, you can also earn XP by looting chests and disarming traps in specific quests or locations.
Tarn's Diary (Level 1 Thieving) is one of the most basic quests where players are required to loot a few items, disarm some traps, and collect XP rewards. As you level up your Thieving skill, you'll unlock more quests that involve opening locked doors and dealing with various locks.
Advanced Thieving Training Methods
Once you've reached higher Thieving levels, there are several advanced training methods and activities that can make the grind more efficient and rewarding:
1. Thieving in the Abyss (Level 91 Thieving)
If you're looking for a challenge, the Abyss provides an opportunity to level up Thieving while also making money. Players with a higher level of Thieving can try stealing from Abyssal NPCs or chests. This method offers a high experience and a chance to gain Abyssal Pouches, Herbs, and other valuable items.
2. Ardougne Cloak Perk:
The Ardougne Cloak offers an additional Thieving perk: the chance to automatically succeed at pickpocketing when worn. As this cloak grants bonus XP and other advantages, it can make leveling up more convenient.
3. Masterwork Thieving Locations:
Masterwork locations offer excellent rewards for high-level Thievers. At level 95, you can begin stealing from elite NPCs, unlocking high-value items and rare collectibles.
Conclusion
Thieving in Old School RuneScape is a skill that rewards patience, precision, and smart choices. Whether you're pickpocketing NPCs, looting chests, or mastering advanced techniques like Blackjacking and Pyramid Plunder, Thieving offers both lucrative rewards and excellent XP rates. With its range of training methods, Thieving is one of the most flexible skills in OSRS, enabling you to train at your own pace while making a profit.
By following the methods and tips in this guide, you'll be well on your way to mastering Thieving, and you may find that this underappreciated skill opens up new opportunities in the world of OSRS. Whether you're chasing experience or just trying to make a little extra gold, Thieving has something for every type of player. Happy thieving!