OSRS Fastest Thieving XP Guide

Thieving in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a lucrative skill that unlocks high-level quests, money-making methods, and unique rewards like the Rogue’s Outfit. For players aiming to reach level 99 quickly, choosing the fastest Thieving XP methods is key. This guide covers the most efficient training pathways, gear recommendations, and tips to optimize your grind, ensuring you hit 99 Thieving in record time. Whether you’re an Ironman or a main account, these strategies will help you maximize XP per hour.

Thieving offers access to critical content, such as the Ancient Magicks spellbook (level 53), Desert Treasure, and money-making methods like pickpocketing Vyres. The skill is also relatively quick to train compared to others, with top methods yielding over 270,000 XP per hour. Additionally, Thieving is profitable, with methods like Ardougne Knights and Pyramid Plunder offering significant gold alongside XP.

Key Unlocks for Thieving

• Rogue’s Outfit: Obtained from Rogue’s Den minigame (requires 50 Thieving and Agility). Doubles pickpocketing loot.
• Ardougne Diary: Medium diary boosts pickpocket success by 10% in Ardougne; Hard diary extends this to all of Gielinor.
• Dodgy Necklace: 25% chance to avoid stuns on failed pickpockets.
• Shadow Veil: Ancient Magicks spell that increases pickpocket success and XP rates.

Fastest Thieving XP Pathway (Level 1-99)

The fastest route to 99 Thieving involves a combination of quests, early-game methods, and high-XP activities like Blackjacking and Pyramid Plunder. Below is a step-by-step breakdown optimized for speed.

Levels 1-26: Quests for Early XP

Start by completing quests that reward Thieving XP to skip the slow early levels. These quests have low requirements and provide a significant boost:

Quest	Thieving XP	Requirements
Tower of Life	500	10 Construction
Biohazard	1,250	Plague City
Hazeel Cult	1,500	None
Tribal Totem	1,775	21 Thieving
Fight Arena	2,175	Ability to defeat level 44-137 enemies
The Queen of Thieves	2,000	20 Thieving, Client of Kourend

Completing these quests grants 9,200 XP, taking you to level 26 in under an hour.

Levels 26-45: Fruit Stalls in Hosidius

At level 25, steal from the fruit stalls in Hosidius (east side near the beach). Alternate between the two stalls in the house for maximum efficiency, yielding up to 42,000 XP per hour. Drop all loot to maintain high XP rates unless you’re an Ironman needing food. No favour is required since the Hosidius favour system was removed.

Levels 45-91: Blackjacking

Blackjacking in Pollnivneach is the fastest Thieving XP method from level 45 to 91, offering up to 257,000 XP per hour at higher levels. After completing The Feud (requires 30 Thieving), knock out and pickpocket NPCs like Bearded Pollnivnian Bandits (level 45), Pollnivnian Bandits (level 55), and Menaphite Thugs (level 65).

• XP Rates:
• Level 45: 103,000 XP/hour
• Level 55: 138,000 XP/hour
• Level 65: 203,000 XP/hour
• Level 95: 257,000 XP/hour
• Setup: Equip a maple blackjack (o), Dodgy Necklaces, and food (e.g., jugs of wine). Use a Ring of Life for Hardcore Ironmen.
• Tips: Enable one-click mode for knockouts and pickpockets. Be prepared for click-intensive gameplay.

Blackjacking is highly efficient but requires focus. If it feels too intense, consider stealing artefacts in Port Piscarilius (see below).

Levels 91-99: Pyramid Plunder

From level 91, Pyramid Plunder in Sophanem offers the fastest Thieving XP in the game, up to 270,000 XP per hour. Access requires starting Icthlarin’s Little Helper. Focus on looting golden chests and urns in rooms 7 and 8, and some urns in room 6 if time allows.

• Requirements: High-healing food (e.g., Saradomin brews), stamina potions, antipoison (araxyte venom sacks recommended), and a Pharaoh’s Sceptre for teleports.
• Strategy: Use a duo partner to call correct doors, speeding up progression. Avoid worlds with new players, as they reset doors.
• Profit: You’ll earn modest gold and a chance at the Pharaoh’s Sceptre, a valuable drop.

Alternative Fast Thieving Methods

If Blackjacking or Pyramid Plunder feels too intense, these alternatives offer competitive XP rates with less effort or unique benefits.

Stealing Artefacts (Level 49-65)

Stealing artefacts in Port Piscarilius (requires 75% favour and 49 Thieving) yields up to 270,000 XP per hour at level 99 with good practice. Lure guards, teleport using Kharedst’s Memoirs, and smuggle artefacts past patrols. This method is less click-intensive and allows multitasking (e.g., fletching or alching).

Rogues’ Castle Chests (Level 84+)

In the deep Wilderness, Rogues’ Castle chests provide the fastest Thieving XP (up to 280,000 XP/hour at 99) but come with high risk due to PKers. Bring minimal gear (e.g., a knife, food) and use the Ardougne or Edgeville lever to access the area. This method is ideal for experienced players comfortable with Wilderness risks.

Civitas illa Fortis (Level 50+)

Pickpocketing wealthy citizens in Civitas illa Fortis (requires Children of the Sun and 50 Thieving) offers a low-effort, semi-AFK method. Street urchins occasionally distract NPCs, enabling automatic pickpocketing for 20 seconds, yielding up to 95,000 XP per hour with world-hopping. Use Rogue’s Outfit to double house key drops for burglary.

Gear and Boosts for Maximum Efficiency

Optimizing your setup is crucial for hitting peak XP rates. Here’s what to prioritize:

• Rogue’s Outfit: Essential for doubling loot, especially for Ironmen or money-makers.
• Dodgy Necklace: Carry 10-15 to reduce stuns during pickpocketing.
• Ardougne Cloak: Medium or Hard diary cloaks boost pickpocket success.
• Shadow Veil: Cast this spell to improve success rates and XP.
• Weight-Reducing Gear: Graceful or lightweight items help with methods like Pyramid Plunder or Artefacts.

Boosts like Summer Sq’irkjuice (+2 Thieving) or Spicy Stew (+5 Thieving) can help meet level requirements for diaries or quests.

Tips for Efficient Thieving Training

Maximize your Thieving grind with these practical tips:

• Hide NPC Attack Options: In game settings, set NPC attack options to “Hide” to make pickpocketing the default left-click action.
• Use Plugins: For Pyramid Plunder, the CoX Timers and Additions plugin highlights safe chests.
• Join Friends Chats: For Ardougne Knights, join “Thieving Host” or “Splashworlds” to find pre-lured knights.
• World-Hop Strategically: In Civitas illa Fortis or Dorgesh-Kaan, hop worlds to reset NPC interactions for faster XP.
• Take Breaks: Click-intensive methods like Blackjacking can strain your hand. Use a controller or mouse keys to reduce fatigue.

Conclusion

Reaching 99 Thieving in OSRS is a rewarding journey that combines fast XP methods, profitable rewards, and access to high-level content. By following the quest-to-Blackjacking-to-Pyramid Plunder pathway, you can achieve the fastest XP rates, hitting up to 270,000 XP per hour. For those seeking less intense options, Stealing Artefacts, Rogues’ Castle Chests, or Civitas illa Fortis provide excellent alternatives. Equip the Rogue’s Outfit, use Dodgy Necklaces, and leverage diary boosts to optimize your training. With dedication and the right setup, you’ll be flaunting that Thieving skillcape in no time!