Mastering Theft: Top Strategies for Pickpocketing in BG3

In Baldur’s Gate 3, your equipment is crucial. While it might be tempting to splurge on rare gear, that can quickly drain your resources. What if you could equip your entire party with impressive items without spending a single coin? The solution lies in pickpocketing.

When you activate stealth mode, you can quietly approach any unsuspecting shopkeeper and take whatever you desire. But beware of getting too greedy! Follow this guide to explore the best strategies for pickpocketing and stealing items in BG3.

Updated January 21, 2025, by Jack Filsinger: As of 2025, Baldur’s Gate 3 remains popular, with crossplay functionality available on all platforms! If you’re diving in for the first time or returning for another adventure, mastering the art of pickpocketing is essential. This guide has been refreshed with new tips and tricks to enhance your chances of success in BG3.

Understanding the Basics of Pickpocketing

How to Steal Without Getting Caught

First off, you don’t need to be a Rogue to steal; even a Fighter dressed in heavy armor can attempt it (though they’ll face a tougher challenge).

Activate sneak mode by pressing ‘C’ on your keyboard or holding down the D-pad, and you’ll clearly see your target’s field of vision.

Approach your target closely and click on them to begin pickpocketing. Select the item(s) you wish to steal, and a sleight-of-hand roll will determine whether you succeed.

Top Strategies for Successful Pickpocketing

Choosing the Right Character

To improve your chances of success while stealing, consider having Astarion do the job or take the reins yourself if you’re playing as a Rogue. Rogues have a natural advantage in sleight of hand compared to other characters like wizards or clerics.

What to Do During and After the Theft

Once you’ve successfully picked a shopkeeper’s pocket, make your escape quickly. As soon as they realize they’ve been robbed, they’ll start looking for the thief, and you want to avoid a confrontation.

If possible, target individuals who are alone, since trying to steal from someone in a crowd increases the risk of being seen.

Boosting Your Pickpocketing Chances

Now that you’ve got the basics down, you might be asking how to enhance your success rate when pickpocketing in BG3.

The most effective way to improve your odds is to use magical items or cast spells that bolster your abilities. Here are some useful items and spells that are easy to acquire:

Name	Type	How to Obtain
Smuggler’s Ring	Ring	Found on a skeleton hidden in a bush near The Risen Road at coordinates X:58, Y:512.
The Graceful Cloth	Armor	Located on the Rosymorn Monastery Trail at coordinates X: -43, Y:-129.
Gloves of Thievery	Gloves	Found in the Zhentarim Basement at coordinates X: 295, Y: -250 after completing the quest “Find the Missing Shipment”.
Guidance	Spell	Can be cast by clerics and druids at level one, or by warlocks at level three.
Enhance Ability	Spell	Available to bards, clerics, druids, and sorcerers at level three. Use the Cat’s Grace ability for advantage on dexterity checks.
Hex	Spell	Available to bards and warlocks. This spell can impose disadvantage on perception checks and debuff your targets.

What to Do If You’re Caught

Reload the Game or Charm Your Way Out

Even with the best intentions, getting caught can happen. If you’ve saved your game recently, just reload and try again.

If you haven’t saved, you can try to talk your way out of trouble with a Persuasion or Deception roll. Keep in mind, though, that the difficulty for these checks may be high, and you might not convince your accuser.

Your last option is to surrender and let yourself be taken to jail. While it might slightly tarnish your reputation, escaping from jail is usually feasible.