OSRS 1-99 Thieving Guide: Fastest Methods to Master Thieving in Old School RuneScape

OSRS 1-99 Thieving Guide: Fastest Methods to Master Thieving in Old School RuneScape


Thieving in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a skill that offers both excitement and profit, making it a popular choice for players aiming to level up quickly while earning gold. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned adventurer, this OSRS 1-99 Thieving guide will walk you through the fastest, most efficient, and profitable methods to reach level 99. From pickpocketing to minigames like Pyramid Plunder, we’ve got you covered with detailed steps, tips, and strategies to optimize your training. Let’s dive into the world of stealth and riches!

Thieving is a members-only skill that allows you to steal from NPCs, stalls, and chests, unlocking valuable rewards and shortcuts as you progress. Beyond the practical benefits, it’s one of the fastest skills to level up and offers substantial money-making opportunities, especially at higher levels. Here’s why you should consider training Thieving to 99:

  • Profit Potential: High-level methods like pickpocketing elves or vyres can net you millions of gold per hour.
  • Quest Requirements: Many quests, such as Desert Treasure and Monkey Madness II, require decent Thieving levels.
  • Fast 99: With the right methods, you can reach level 99 in around 60 hours.
  • Unlocks: Access to exclusive areas, better loot, and Achievement Diary boosts make Thieving a worthwhile investment.

Key Benefits of Reaching Level 99

Achieving level 99 Thieving opens up some of the best skilling money-makers in OSRS, like pickpocketing Prifddinas elves for enhanced crystal teleport seeds. Plus, it’s a badge of honor that showcases your dedication to mastering a skill that blends strategy and patience.

Essential Thieving Gear and Boosts

Before jumping into training, equip yourself with the right gear and boosts to maximize your experience rates and profits. These items will make your journey smoother and more efficient.

Must-Have Thieving Equipment

  • Rogue’s Outfit: Obtained from the Rogues’ Den minigame (requires 50 Thieving and 50 Agility), this set doubles your loot from pickpocketing, boosting profits significantly.
  • Dodgy Necklace: Gives a 25% chance to avoid being stunned after a failed pickpocket attempt. Stock up, as each necklace has 10 charges before crumbling.
  • Gloves of Silence: Increases pickpocketing success rate by 5%. Useful early on, but they don’t stack with Ardougne Diary boosts.
  • Ardougne Cloak: Earned from the Ardougne Diary, this cloak boosts pickpocketing success rates—10% in Ardougne (Medium Diary) and 10% everywhere (Hard Diary).

Useful Boosts and Settings

To streamline your training, tweak your game settings and use consumables:

  • NPC Attack Options: Set to “Hidden” in the controls menu to make pickpocketing a left-click action, saving time.
  • Food: Bring multi-heal foods like cakes or pizzas to sustain yourself during click-intensive methods.
  • Stamina Potions: Essential for methods requiring movement, like Pyramid Plunder or stealing artefacts.

Fastest Pathway to 99 Thieving

This section outlines the quickest route to level 99 Thieving, focusing on high XP rates. Follow these steps to minimize your grind time while maintaining efficiency.

Levels 1-5: Pickpocketing Men and Women

Start your journey in Lumbridge by pickpocketing men or women. Each successful attempt yields 8 XP, and you’ll need about 49 pickpockets to reach level 5. This takes roughly 10 minutes and requires no prerequisites.

Levels 5-25: Bakery Stalls in Ardougne

Head to East Ardougne and steal from the bakery stalls. With 40 XP per steal, this method gets you to level 25 in about an hour. Stand in a safespot to avoid guards, and bank the cakes for later use.

Levels 25-45: Fruit Stalls in Hosidius

At level 25, move to the fruit stalls in Hosidius (requires 15% Hosidius favour). Each steal grants 28.5 XP, and you can expect 20k-30k XP per hour. Bank the strange fruit for run energy or drop unwanted items to keep going.

Levels 45-91: Blackjacking Bandits

Blackjacking is the fastest XP method from 45 to 91, offering up to 250k XP per hour at higher levels. You’ll need partial completion of The Feud quest and a blackjack (any type works). Here’s how:

  1. Lure a Bearded Pollnivnian Bandit (level 45-55) or Menaphite Thug (level 65+) into a secluded spot in Pollnivneach.
  2. Knock them out, then pickpocket twice before they recover.
  3. Use Saradomin brews or jugs of wine for healing to extend trips.

This method is click-intensive but unbeatable for speed until Pyramid Plunder.

Levels 91-99: Pyramid Plunder

From level 91, Pyramid Plunder in Sophanem becomes the top XP method, offering up to 270k XP per hour. You’ll need to start Icthlarin’s Little Helper to access the city. The strategy:

  • Buy a Pharaoh’s Sceptre (around 5M GP) for teleports to save time.
  • Focus on looting the final two rooms (7 and 8) at level 91, skipping earlier ones except for golden chests.
  • Use stamina potions and antipoison to manage the 5-minute timer and traps.

It takes about 26 hours to go from 91 to 99, making this the ultimate endgame method.

Alternative Thieving Methods

If blackjacking or Pyramid Plunder isn’t your style, these alternative methods offer variety and decent XP rates, often with added profit or less intensity.

Levels 49-65: Stealing Artefacts in Piscarilius

With 75% Piscarilius favour and a lockpick, steal artefacts in Port Piscarilius. This method yields 60k-100k XP per hour if efficient, though beginners may see slower rates. It’s a good break from blackjacking’s intensity.

Levels 55-99: Ardougne Knights

Pickpocketing Ardougne Knights offers 50k-200k XP per hour, scaling with level and boosts. Join a “Thieving Host” Friends Chat to find a trapped knight in a bank, then spam-click with rogue equipment and dodgy necklaces. At level 95 with the Hard Ardougne Diary, you’ll never fail, making this semi-AFK and profitable (up to 15M GP total).

Levels 82-99: Pickpocketing Vyres

After completing Sins of the Father, pickpocket vyres in Darkmeyer for 120k-180k XP per hour and over 4M GP per hour in blood shards. Use rogue gear, dodgy necklaces, and Redemption prayer with prayer restore potions for sustainability.

Levels 85-99: Pickpocketing Elves

Post-Song of the Elves, elves in Prifddinas yield 150k XP per hour and 3M+ GP per hour from enhanced crystal teleport seeds. This method is slower than Pyramid Plunder but highly lucrative.

Thieving XP and Profit Table

Here’s a quick comparison of the main methods to help you decide:

Method Level Range XP/Hour GP/Hour Notes
Blackjacking 45-91 100k-250k Minimal Click-intensive, fastest mid-game XP
Pyramid Plunder 91-99 Up to 270k Variable (Sceptres) Best endgame XP, requires focus
Ardougne Knights 55-99 50k-200k Up to 15M total Semi-AFK, great with diary
Vyres 82-99 120k-180k 4M+ High profit, quest-locked
Elves 85-99 150k 3M+ Balanced XP and GP

Tips for Efficient Thieving Training

Maximize your Thieving grind with these pro tips:

  • Quest Early: Complete low-requirement quests like Biohazard (1,500 XP) and Hazeel Cult (1,500 XP) to skip early levels.
  • Use Shadow Veil: This spell (requires 47 Magic and A Kingdom Divided) boosts success rates by 15% when combined with dodgy necklaces.
  • Bank Strategically: For stall methods, bank useful items like cakes or fruit; drop the rest to save time.
  • Rotate Methods: Switch between methods to avoid burnout—blackjacking’s intensity pairs well with Pyramid Plunder’s variety.

With this OSRS 1-99 Thieving guide, you’re equipped to tackle the skill with confidence. Whether you prioritize speed, profit, or a mix of both, there’s a method here for you. Start pickpocketing, plunder pyramids, and watch your levels—and gold stack—rise. Happy thieving!