InBaldur’s Gate 3, your gear is everything. You could settle for spending top dollar on rare items, but that will quickly wear on your wallet. What if we told you there was a way to set your party up with amazing items without spending a single gold piece? The answer is pickpocketing.

By entering stealth, you can sneak up behind any unsuspecting shop owner and take whatever you want. However, you have to be careful not to get too greedy or else. Check out this guide to learn all the best ways to pickpocket and steal items in BG3.

The guidance cantrip spell selection screen in Baldur’s Gate 3.

Updated June 08, 2025, by Jack Filsinger:It’s 2025, and Baldur’s Gate 3 is still going strong, with crossplay now available on all platforms!Whether you’re jumping in for the first time or going back in for one more run, you’ll need to know how to pickpocket. We’ve updated this guide with additional tips and tricks to increase your pickpocketing chances in BG3.

What Are The Basics Of Pickpocketing?

How To Get Loot Without Getting Caught

First of all,you don’t have to be a Rogue to commit crimes, andeven a Fighterin full chain mail can make the attempt (though they will be at a disadvantage).

All you have to do is enter sneak mode by pressing C on your keyboard or hold down on the D-pad, andfrom there, you’ll be able to see your victim’s sight range.

The stealth screen in Baldur’s Gate 3, which shows red areas in contrast with non-red ones.

Stay out of the red zone,because if you walk into it, there’s a good chance that you will be caught.

Sneak up close to your victim andclick on them to pick their pockets.

Astarion talking to Tav in Baldur’s Gate 3.

Choose the item or items you want to steal, anda sleight-of-hand dice roll will occurin the backgroundto determine if you’re able to get away with your loot.

The more valuable the item is, the harder the sleight of hand check will be to pass.

A range of dialogue options in a confrontation with a tiefling in BG3

Best Ways To Pickpocket And Steal Items In BG3

Use The Right Person For The Job

There are ways to make stealing a bit easier on yourself, and the best way to avoid getting caught isto have Astarion handle the jobfor youor to take matters into your own handsif you’re a Rogue.

Rogues naturally have a higher sleight of handstat than, say, a wizard or cleric.

However, that doesn’t mean a cleric can’t help you in your thieving efforts, andyou can have the healer of the group cast Guidanceon your rogue.

What To Do During And After The Check

After you loota shopkeeper,get away as fast as you canbecauseonce they realize they’ve been robbed, they will start looking around for the culprit,and it’s better to avoid being confronted and not have that awkward conversation.

If possible,go after a target who is off by themselves, because trying to pickpocket someone in a big crowd will increase your chances of being seen.

You can lure a target away from a group if you havea cat familiar.

How To Increase Your Pickpocket Chance

Now that you understand the basics of pickpocketing and stealing, you might be wonderinghow you can increase your chances of successful pickpocketingin BG3?

The best way to increase your odds is toequip magical items or cast spellsto buff your team.Here are some of the best items and spellsyou can use to aid your looting that are easy to get.

Smuggler’s Ring

Ring

Looting a skeletonhiding in a bushnear The Risen Roadpart of the map,at the coordinates X:58, Y:512.

Gloves of Thievery

Gloves

In the Zhentarim Basementat coordinates X: 295, Y: -250orafter completing the quest Find the Missing Shipment.

Guidance

Spell

Can becast by clerics and druids at level oneor bywarlocks at level three.

Enhance Ability

Available to bards, clerics, druids, and sorcerersat level three.Use the Cat’s Grace abilityto gain advantage on dexterity checks.

Hex

This spell isavailable to bards and warlocks. Use this spell toimpose disadvantage on perception checksand debuff enemies.

What To Do If You Get Caught In The Act

Despite your best efforts, sometimes you will get caught in the act, so if you’ve saved recentlyyou can simply reload and give it another go.

But if you haven’t,there are a few ways you may handle the situation without reloading.

The first is totalk your way out of it with a Persuasion or Deception roll, but the downside is that DC for these checks is oftentimes pretty high, andthere’s a good chance that you won’t bepersuasive enough.

you may also attempt to fight out of it, butall the surrounding NPCs will likely jump into the conflict, especially if you’re in the middle of a settlement.

The last option is to let yourself be carried off to prison, and even though your reputation will suffer slightly,it’s not too difficult to break yourself out of jail.