OSRS Thieving Guide

Build a high-confidence Thieving training plan

Updated September 2026

Thieving has clear route choices: fast blackjacking, low-input knights, or high-level plunder and moneymaking loops. Choose the lane that matches your click tolerance and session style, then push to the next milestone before swapping.

On this page

12 sections

What Is Your Best Thieving Method Right Now?

Pick your route by click intensity and goals: speed, comfort, or profit. Lock one method through your next level checkpoint for better consistency.

Choose Your Planning Track

Fastest XPBlackjackingMaximum active XP with very high click intensity and low downtime.Low
AFK MainArdougne KnightsLow-complexity route with stable XP and solid long-run GP.Low
Balanced RoutePyramid PlunderGood high-level XP with more varied gameplay than pickpocket loops.Low
Profit RouteMaster Farmers / KnightsOptimized GP generation with rogue setup and diary unlocks.Low

Build My Thieving Plan Start with prebuilt routes

Method Comparison Arena

Compare XP speed, effort, and GP profile to choose a route you can reliably sustain.

High-Confidence Training Routes

Route 1Fast 99 RouteCore setup -> blackjack push -> high-level plunder finishTarget: 99

Route 2AFK RouteSetup utility gear -> Ardougne knight consistency loopOutcome: 99 with low strain

Route 3Balanced RouteBlackjack early -> pyramid plunder at threshold levelsOutcome: Strong XP with variety

Route 4Profit RouteRogue setup -> farmer/knight moneymaking optimizationOutcome: XP + GP growth

Milestones That Matter

55: AFK knight route opens.
71: Pyramid plunder unlock point.
91: Top plunder XP scaling begins.
94: Master farmer GP route powers up.
99: Final Thieving completion goal.

Execution Checklist

Choose speed, AFK, or profit lane first.
Set up rogue and stun-mitigation tools early.
Run one method per checkpoint to reduce switching loss.
Re-plan at 71, 91, and 94.

🎒 Essential Thieving Equipment

Rogue's Outfit (ESSENTIAL!)

Guarantees double pickpocketing loot. Mandatory for Ardougne Knights and Master Farmers. 2x Loot!

How to Obtain: Rogues' Den minigame (takes ~2 hours).

Why Essential: Without this, you earn half the gold from pickpocketing.

Gloves of Silence

Reduce pickpocket failure by 5%. Degrade after 62 failed attempts.

Cost: 3k GP (GE) or craft from Fancy Dress Shop.

Repair: 1 dark kebbit fur + thread/needle/knife (64 Crafting).

Ardougne Cloak

Increases pickpocket success rate. Reward from Ardougne Diaries.

Easy: +10% stalls in Ardougne
Medium: +10% pickpocket in Ardougne
Hard: +10% pickpocket anywhere!

Note: Doesn't stack with gloves.

Dodgy Necklace

25% chance to prevent stun/damage when pickpocketing. 10 charges.

Stacks with: Shadow Veil spell (36.25% total!).

Doesn't work: Blackjacking.

Shadow Veil Spell

15% chance to avoid stun. Stacks with dodgy necklaces!

Requirements: 47 Magic, 100% Arceuus Favour.

Combined: 36.25% stun avoidance (confirmed by Mod Ash).

💡 Priority Order: 1. Rogue's Outfit (mandatory for profit), 2. Ardougne Cloak Hard, 3. Dodgy Necklaces + Shadow Veil, 4. Gloves of Silence

⚙️ Settings to Make Thieving Easier

1. Hide NPC Attack Options

Prevent accidentally attacking NPCs you're pickpocketing!

How: Settings → Controls → NPC Attack Options → Hidden

2. Menu Entry Swapper (Runelite)

Make left-click = Pickpocket. Essential for spam-clicking!

Enable "Menu Entry Swapper" plugin in Runelite.
Toggle "Customizable left and shift click" in NPC Swaps.
Hold SHIFT + Right-click NPC → "Swap left click" → Pickpocket.

⚠️ Important: These settings dramatically improve XP rates. Set them up before training!

⚡ Fastest Way to 99 Thieving

Levels 1-5: Men/Women

Pickpocket 49 times to reach level 5. Best location: Edgeville house.

Skip by doing quests if preferred (not time-efficient)

Levels 5-25: Bakery Stalls

Location: Ardougne Market

Strategy: Stand underneath baker to avoid detection

Travel: Captain Barnaby (Rimmington 30gp) or Ardougne Cloak

Levels 25-43: Fruit Stalls

Location: Hosidius (east of market - 2 stalls in house)

Travel: Veos (Port Sarim), Woodcutting Guild, or Xeric's Talisman

35-40k XP/hr

Strategy: 1 stall (chill) or alternate between 2 stalls (slightly faster)

Levels 43-45: The Feud Quest

15k XP reward brings you to level 45 - just enough to start blackjacking!

Don't want to blackjack? Skip to Ardougne Knights or Stealing Artefacts instead!

Levels 45-91/99: Blackjacking 🏆

Fastest Thieving XP in the game!

250k XP/hr

at 65+

Requirements:

The Feud quest
Ironman: Rogue Trade mini-quest for blackjack

XP Rates by NPC:

Levels	NPC	XP/hr
45-55	Bearded Pollnivnian Bandits	60-80k
55-65	Pollnivnian Bandits	100-150k
65-99	Menaphite Thugs	250k

How Blackjacking Works:

Lure bandit/thug into building, close curtain.
Right-click → "Knock-out".
Always pickpocket immediately (even if knock-out fails).
If successful: pickpocket twice, then knock-out again.
If failed: pickpocket to cancel aggro, then repeat.
If attacked: find stairs to de-aggro, then restart.

Food Strategy: Keep inventory full. Use Jugs of Wine (buy from Pollnivneach pub) since they leave an empty jug when consumed.

Helpful Plugin: RuneLite "Blackjack" plugin highlights thugs and shows blackjackable status.

⚠️ Blackjacking Note: Very click-intensive but incredibly fast. Take breaks! Many players alternate between blackjacking and AFK knights.

😴 AFK Ardougne Knights (55-99)

Much less click-intensive than blackjacking, AFK-able, AND profitable!

XP & Profit Rates (with Rogue's Outfit)

Levels	XP/hr	Pickpockets	GP/hr (No Rogue)	GP/hr (Rogue)
55-70	50k	6,774	30k	60k
70-80	100k	14,810	60k	120k
80-90	150k	39,861	85k	170k
90-95	220k	40,632	130k	260k
95-99	250k	50,568	150k	300k

💰 Total Profit 55-99: 15M GP with Rogue's Outfit!

Coin Pouch Mechanic

Successful pickpockets give coin pouches. Max 28 in inventory.

Click pouch to convert to coins when full, then continue spam-clicking!

Stop Failing

97 Thieving + Ardougne Cloak 2+ = 0% fail rate!

Splashing Worlds

Official: World 378

Clan Chats: "thievinghost" & "splashworlds"

Someone splashes knight to keep it in one spot. Sometimes moves around.

Trap Knight Yourself

Use Dragon Spear special attack to safespot. Check YouTube for "Ardy knight safespot" tutorials!

🏛️ Pyramid Plunder (71/91-99)

At 91+, Pyramid Plunder becomes the FASTEST Thieving XP in OSRS while being much more fun than blackjacking!

Requirements & Recommendations

Required:

• Start Icthlarin's Little Helper (access Sophanem)

Recommended:

• Finish Icthlarin's (fast travel)
• Contact! quest (bank in Sophanem)
• Pharaoh's Sceptre (~5M, teleport + banking)
• Graceful outfit (run energy)
• Serpentine helm OR Antipoison

XP Rates

Level 71 Thieving:120k XP/hr

Level 81 Thieving:190k XP/hr

Level 91 Thieving:270k XP/hr ⚡ FASTEST!

How Pyramid Plunder Works

Location: Pyramid in Sophanem (find Guardian Mummy in one of 4 start rooms)

Timer: 5 minutes to clear rooms before kick-out

Rooms: 8 rooms total (Room 1 = 21 Thieving, Room 8 = 91 Thieving)

Room Contents:

• Spear Walls: Disable at room start (can fail, 1-4 damage)
• Urns: Grant XP + trinkets (search, don't check for snakes)
• Doors: 4 doors per room, only 1 real exit
• Grand Gold Chest: No XP, chance of Pharaoh's Sceptre
• Sarcophagus: AVOID! No Thieving XP, wastes time

Optimal Strategy:

✓ Play in World 493 (official world) - follow other players through doors
✓ Only loot final 3 rooms (prioritize final room)
✓ Use "search" on urns (NOT "check for snakes")
✓ Skip sarcophagi entirely
✓ Make sure you have time to fully loot final room!

Runelite Plugin: "Pyramid Plunder" highlights doors/traps for easier navigation

Travel & Banking

Best Travel: Pharaoh's Sceptre teleport directly to minigame (~5M GP investment, worth it!)
Alternative: Magic carpet from Shantay Pass → Pollnivneach → Sophanem
Banking: Contact! quest = bank in Sophanem basement (NE temple). Otherwise: Pharaoh's Sceptre + Ring of Dueling

💰 Moneymaking: Master Farmers

Master Farmers (38-99)

Best Thieving moneymaker for Ironmen!

1.6M GP/hr

at 94+ Thieving

⚠️ Important: Drop table now scales with Farming level! You need 85 Farming for best profit rates.Requirements for Best Rates:

• Full Rogue's Outfit (mandatory for 2x loot)
• Ardougne Hard Diary (10% success boost)
• 85 Farming (better seed drops)
• Seed Box from Tithe Farm (auto-stores seeds)

Level	Success Rate	XP/hr	GP/hr (No Rogue)	GP/hr (Rogue)
38	57.5%	30k	100k	200k
50	64.7%	40k	250k	500k
60	70.7%	50k	300k	600k
70	84.4%	75k	500k	1M
80	91%	90k	600k	1.2M
90	97.6%	120k	750k	1.5M
94	100%	130k	800k	1.6M

Locations

Hosidius: Safespot available.
Draynor: Bank nearby, no safespot.
Ardougne: Safespot available.

💡 Ironman Tip: Master Farmers are THE best way to stock up on herb seeds while making money. Essential for Herblore training!

📊 Thieving Calculator

Plan your Thieving training with our calculator:

Calculate:

✓ Pickpockets needed for level goals
✓ Expected XP rates by method
✓ Time to reach 99
✓ Profit estimates (Knights, Master Farmers)
✓ Success rates by level

Compare Methods:

✓ Blackjacking vs Knights vs Pyramid Plunder
✓ Speed vs Profit trade-offs
✓ Equipment bonus effects
✓ Custom level ranges

Open Thieving Calculator →

Frequently Asked Questions

01What's the fastest way to 99 Thieving?

Blackjacking Menaphite Thugs (65-99) at 250k XP/hr. At 91+, Pyramid Plunder becomes fastest at 270k XP/hr and is more enjoyable!

02What's the most AFK method?

Ardougne Knights (55-99). Much less click-intensive than blackjacking, can be done while watching movies/studying. Makes 15M profit to 99 with Rogue's Outfit!

03Is Rogue's Outfit worth getting?

Absolutely! Takes ~2 hours to obtain and DOUBLES your loot from pickpocketing. Mandatory if you want to make money with Thieving.

04Should I use Dodgy Necklaces?

Yes! Combined with Shadow Veil spell (47 Magic, Arceuus), you get 36.25% chance to avoid stun/damage. Essential for pickpocketing, but doesn't work on blackjacking.

05Is blackjacking difficult?

It's click-intensive but simple once you learn the rhythm: knock-out → pickpocket → pickpocket → knock-out → repeat. Take breaks to avoid wrist strain!

06When should I switch to Pyramid Plunder?

Can start at 71 (120k XP/hr). Becomes better than blackjacking at 91+ (270k XP/hr). Much more fun and less click-intensive!

07Best Thieving moneymaker?

Master Farmers (94+ Thieving, 85 Farming, Rogue's Outfit, Ardougne Hard) = 1.6M GP/hr. Ardougne Knights are more AFK at 300k GP/hr (95+).

📚 Related Guides

🏃

Agility Guide

Train alongside darts

🌱

Farming Guide

Use Master Farmer seeds

📊

Thieving Calculator

Plan your training

Sources & methodology

XP rates, requirements, and drop data in this guide are cross-checked against the OSRS Wiki and verified against in-game behaviour. Grand Exchange prices move daily, so treat GP/hr figures as estimates and confirm current prices with the OSRS Wiki price tracker before committing to a method.

Darren

Darren started playing the original RuneScape 2 back in the day and came back when Old School RuneScape launched. He's played on and off over the years and built OSRSToolkit to give players a single place to find reliable tools, calculators, and guides — all informed by real in-game experience.