0-40 Thieving OSRS Quick Guide

Thieving in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a versatile skill that offers decent experience rates, profitable rewards, and access to unique content like quests and minigames. Reaching level 40 Thieving is a common early-game goal, as it unlocks efficient training methods and valuable loot. This guide provides a streamlined path to level 40 Thieving, optimized for speed and simplicity, while incorporating beginner-friendly tips and strategies. Whether you’re a new player or an experienced one training an alt, this guide will help you hit level 40 fast.

Thieving is a profitable skill that requires minimal setup, making it ideal for players looking to earn gold or unlock content early. By level 40, you gain access to Fruit Stalls and Master Farmers, which offer great experience and loot. Additionally, Thieving is a requirement for several quests, such as The Feud and Biohazard, which unlock further gameplay opportunities.

Key Benefits of Level 40 Thieving

Profit Potential: Stealing from Fruit Stalls and Master Farmers can yield valuable seeds and items.
Quest Requirements: Level 40 Thieving is needed for quests like The Feud (level 37) and others that enhance your account progression.
Minigame Access: Higher Thieving levels improve success rates in activities like Rogues’ Den.
Efficient Training: Methods at level 40 are faster and less click-intensive than early levels.

Thieving Basics and Requirements

Thieving involves pickpocketing NPCs, stealing from stalls, or looting chests to gain experience. Each action has a chance to fail, which can result in taking damage or being stunned, so maintaining hitpoints is important. No expensive gear is required, but a few items and strategies can make training smoother.

General Tips

Keep your hitpoints above 20 to avoid dying from failed pickpockets.
Use the Thieving Cape (if available) for a 10% success rate boost.
Complete low-level quests like Biohazard to access better training areas.
Bank stolen items regularly to avoid losing valuable loot if you die.

Fastest Pathway to Level 40 Thieving

The fastest way to level 40 Thieving involves a combination of pickpocketing and stall stealing, progressing through NPCs and stalls with increasing experience rates. Below is the optimal training path, with experience rates and level requirements.

Levels 1–5: Pickpocketing Men/Women

Start by pickpocketing Men or Women in Lumbridge or Varrock. Each successful pickpocket grants 8 XP, and they drop 3 GP. Failures deal 1 damage, so bring a few pieces of food (e.g., shrimp or cakes).

Location: Lumbridge (near the general store) or Varrock (city center).
XP/Hour: ~4,000–6,000 XP.
Tip: Trap NPCs in a building to reduce their movement and make pickpocketing easier.

Levels 5–25: Cake Stalls

At level 5, switch to stealing from the Baker’s Stall in Ardougne’s marketplace. Each steal grants 16 XP and items like cakes, which can be eaten to heal during training. This method is faster and safer than pickpocketing.

Location: East Ardougne marketplace.
XP/Hour: ~10,000–15,000 XP.
Tip: Stand behind the stall to avoid guard detection and bank cakes for food.

Levels 25–40: Fruit Stalls

From level 25, steal from Fruit Stalls in Hosidius (requires 15% Hosidius favor). Each steal gives 28.5 XP and various fruits, which can be banked or dropped. This is the fastest method to level 40 and remains viable beyond.

Location: Hosidius market (near the house portal).
XP/Hour: ~20,000–30,000 XP.
Tip: Use the nearby bank deposit box to quickly clear inventory.

Method	Level	XP per Action	XP/Hour	Location
Pickpocketing Men/Women	1–5	8	4,000–6,000	Lumbridge/Varrock
Cake Stalls	5–25	16	10,000–15,000	Ardougne
Fruit Stalls	25–40	28.5	20,000–30,000	Hosidius

Alternative Training Methods

If you prefer variety or want to combine Thieving with other skills, consider these alternative methods. They may be slower but offer unique rewards or less intensive gameplay.

Pickpocketing Farmers (Levels 10–40)

Pickpocketing Farmers near farming patches (e.g., Falador or Catherby) grants 14.5 XP per success and drops seeds, which can be profitable for Ironmen or players training Farming.

XP/Hour: ~8,000–12,000 XP.
Loot: Low-level seeds (e.g., potato, onion).
Tip: Wear a Dodgy Necklace to reduce stun frequency.

Stealing from Silk Stalls (Levels 20–40)

Stealing from Silk Stalls in Ardougne provides 24 XP per steal and silk, which can be sold for profit. This is a good option if you haven’t unlocked Hosidius favor.

XP/Hour: ~15,000–20,000 XP.
Loot: Silk (sells for ~60 GP each).
Tip: Avoid guards by stealing from the back of the stall.

Sorceress’s Garden (Levels 25–40)

Sorceress’s Garden is a minigame that trains Thieving and Agility simultaneously. It’s less efficient (~9,000–15,000 Thieving XP/hour) but relaxing and offers Sq’irk Juice for Agility boosts.

Location: Al Kharid (talk to Osman).
XP/Hour: ~9,000–15,000 Thieving XP, plus Agility XP.
Tip: Focus on the Summer Garden for the best XP rates.

Tips for Optimizing Your Thieving Grind

To make your journey to level 40 Thieving as efficient as possible, follow these strategies to boost XP rates, minimize failures, and stay motivated.

Maximize Success Rates

Higher success rates mean more XP and less time spent stunned or healing. Equip items like the Gloves of Silence or Dodgy Necklace, and consider completing the Ardougne Easy Diary for the Ardougne Cloak’s bonus.

Manage Inventory and Banking

Fruit and Silk Stalls generate a lot of items, so use nearby bank deposit boxes (e.g., in Hosidius or Ardougne) to clear your inventory quickly. Drop low-value items like apples to maintain stealing speed.

Combine with Quests

Complete Thieving-related quests like Tower of Life (level 10) or Biohazard (level 30) early to gain XP rewards and access better training areas. These quests also progress your account for other skills.

Stay Focused with Breaks

Thieving can be click-intensive, especially when pickpocketing. Take short breaks to avoid burnout, and consider alternating with less active methods like Sorceress’s Garden for variety.

By following this guide, you’ll reach level 40 Thieving in just a few hours of focused training. Fruit Stalls in Hosidius are your best bet for speed, but alternative methods like Silk Stalls or Sorceress’s Garden offer flexibility. Once you hit level 40, you can transition to pickpocketing Master Farmers or continue with Fruit Stalls for profit and XP. Happy thieving, and enjoy the rewards of this versatile OSRS skill!