In Baldur’s Gate 3 (BG3), acquiring powerful gear is crucial for your party’s success. While purchasing items from vendors is an option, it can quickly drain your gold. However, there’s a more economical – and arguably more exciting – method: pickpocketing. With a bit of stealth and finesse, you can equip your companions with top-tier loot without spending a single coin. This guide will walk you through the best strategies to pickpocket and steal items effectively in BG3.
Understanding the Fundamentals of Pickpocketing in BG3
Executing a Successful Heist: Stealth and Sleight of Hand
You don’t need to be a Rogue to engage in thievery in BG3. Even heavily armored characters like Fighters can attempt to pickpocket, although their success rate might be lower. The core mechanic revolves around stealth.
To initiate pickpocketing, enter Sneak Mode by pressing ‘C’ on your keyboard or the corresponding button on your controller. Activating sneak will display the vision cones of nearby NPCs. These red zones indicate areas where you’ll be spotted.
Crucially, stay outside these red zones. Entering them significantly increases your chance of detection.
Once you are in sneak mode and positioned behind your target, click on the NPC to attempt to pickpocket them. This will open a dialogue window displaying their inventory.
Select the items you wish to steal. Upon selection, a hidden Sleight of Hand dice roll occurs in the background. This roll determines your success in pilfering the items undetected.
The difficulty of this Sleight of Hand check is directly tied to the value of the item you are trying to steal. More valuable items equate to higher difficulty checks.
Optimizing Your Pickpocketing Strategy in BG3
Character Selection and Strategic Positioning
To maximize your pickpocketing efficiency, utilize characters skilled in Sleight of Hand. Astarion, the Rogue companion, is an excellent choice due to his inherent expertise in this skill. Alternatively, if your player character is a Rogue, you are naturally well-suited for this role, especially if you choose the Thief subclass. Rogues possess a higher base Sleight of Hand stat compared to classes like Wizards or Clerics.
However, even non-Rogue characters can contribute to your thieving endeavors. Consider having a Cleric or Druid cast the Guidance cantrip on your designated pickpocket character. Guidance adds a d4 to ability checks, significantly boosting your Sleight of Hand roll.
After successfully stealing, immediate evasion is key. Quickly move away from the victim as NPCs will become suspicious and start searching for the thief upon realizing they’ve been robbed. Avoid being confronted to prevent awkward and potentially hostile situations.
Choose isolated targets whenever possible. Pickpocketing someone surrounded by a crowd dramatically increases the risk of being witnessed.
If your target is in a group, utilize a familiar like a cat to create a diversion. Familiars can lure NPCs away, creating an opportunity for a stealthy pickpocket attempt in a more secluded location.
Enhancing Your Pickpocketing Prowess
Items and Spells to Boost Your Sleight of Hand
To further improve your chances of successful pickpocketing, leverage magical items and spells that enhance your abilities. Here are some readily accessible options:
| Item/Spell | Type | How to Obtain | Benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smuggler’s Ring | Ring | Loot from a skeleton hidden in a bush near The Risen Road (coordinates X:58, Y:512). | Grants advantage on Sleight of Hand checks. |
| The Graceful Cloth | Armor | Located on the Rosymorn Monastery Trail (coordinates X: -43, Y:-129). | Provides a +1 bonus to Dexterity Saving Throws and Dexterity checks, including Sleight of Hand. |
| Gloves of Thievery | Gloves | Found in the Zhentarim Basement (coordinates X: 295, Y: -250) or obtained after completing the “Find the Missing Shipment” quest. | Grants advantage on Sleight of Hand checks. |
| Guidance | Spell | Cantrip available to Clerics and Druids at level 1, and Warlocks at level 3. | Adds a d4 to ability checks, significantly improving Sleight of Hand rolls. |
| Enhance Ability | Spell | Level 3 spell for Bards, Clerics, Druids, and Sorcerers. Use the Cat’s Grace version. | Grants advantage on Dexterity checks, including Sleight of Hand. |
| Hex | Spell | Available to Bards and Warlocks. | Impose disadvantage on the target’s Perception checks, making it less likely they’ll notice your theft. |
Handling Detection: Damage Control Strategies
Navigating the Consequences of a Failed Pickpocket Attempt
Despite careful planning, you might occasionally be caught in the act. If you have recently saved your game, reloading is a straightforward option to retry the pickpocket attempt.
However, if reloading isn’t preferable, you have alternative methods to manage the situation. Attempting to talk your way out of it is one approach. Choose dialogue options that rely on Persuasion or Deception. Be aware that the Difficulty Class (DC) for these checks can be high, and success is not guaranteed. A character with high Charisma and proficiency in Persuasion or Deception skills will have a better chance.
Another option, albeit a risky one, is to fight your way out. However, engaging in combat in a populated area will likely draw in other NPCs, quickly escalating the situation.
Finally, you can choose to be arrested. While your reputation might take a minor hit, escaping jail in BG3 is often relatively easy. In many cases, you can simply pick the lock on your cell door and make your escape.
By mastering these pickpocketing techniques, you can effectively acquire valuable items and enhance your party’s capabilities throughout your Baldur’s Gate 3 adventure.
