OSRS Thieving Guide 1-99 Fastest and Most Profitable Methods

OSRS Thieving Guide 1-99 Fastest and Most Profitable Methods

Thieving in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a members-only skill that lets you steal coins, items, and access restricted areas by pickpocketing NPCs, looting chests, or stealing from stalls. It’s a profitable skill, with methods like pickpocketing Master Farmers yielding over 1M GP per hour at high levels. This guide covers the fastest path to 99 Thieving, profitable alternatives, essential unlocks, and AFK methods to make your grind efficient and engaging.

Thieving is essential for many quests, such as Desert Treasure and Monkey Madness 2, requiring up to level 64 for a Quest Cape. It’s also a top money-making skill, with high-level pickpocketing offering consistent gold without market fluctuations. Plus, Thieving unlocks shortcuts, disarms traps, and provides access to unique areas like the Rogues’ Castle chests. Whether you’re an Ironman or a main, Thieving is a must-train skill for both utility and profit.

Key Benefits of Thieving

  • Quest Requirements: Needed for 26+ quests, including high-level ones like Legends Quest.
  • Money Making: Pickpocketing Vyres or Elves can net millions per hour.
  • Ironman Utility: Provides seeds, gems, and other resources without trading.
  • Fast 99: The fastest methods take around 50 hours to reach 99.

Essential Thieving Unlocks and Equipment

Before diving into training, grab these unlocks and items to boost your XP rates and success chances. They’ll save time and make your grind smoother.

Recommended Equipment

Item Effect How to Obtain
Rogue’s Outfit Doubles pickpocketing loot Rogues’ Den minigame (50 Thieving/Agility)
Ardougne Cloak (Medium/Hard) +10% pickpocket success in Ardougne (Medium) or globally (Hard) Ardougne Diary
Dodgy Necklace 25% chance to avoid stun on failed pickpocket Grand Exchange
Gloves of Silence +5% pickpocket success (doesn’t stack with Ardougne Cloak) Grand Exchange or craft with 64 Crafting

Useful Quests for Thieving XP

Complete these quests early to skip low-level grinds:

Settings to Optimize Thieving

Adjust these in-game settings for efficiency:

  • Hide NPC Attack Options: Prevents accidental attacks while pickpocketing.
  • RuneLite Plugins: Use “Menu Entry Swapper” for one-click pickpocketing and “House Thieving Varlamore” for AFK methods.

Fastest Pathway to 99 Thieving

This is the quickest route to 99 Thieving, taking around 50 hours with focus. It’s click-intensive but maximizes XP per hour. If you prefer less intensity, check the alternative methods below.

Levels 1-5: Pickpocketing Men/Women

Start by pickpocketing Men or Women in Lumbridge or Varrock. Each success gives 8 XP, and you need 49 pickpockets to reach level 5. This takes about 5-10 minutes. Use the RuneLite plugin to set left-click to pickpocket for faster clicks.

Levels 5-25: Bakery Stalls

Steal from the bakery stall in East Ardougne market. Stand under the baker to avoid guards, yielding ~19k XP/hour. Cakes looted can be used as food for later pickpocketing. This takes about 2 hours to reach level 25.

Levels 25-45: Fruit Stalls

Move to Hosidius fruit stalls (requires 15% Hosidius favor). Steal from the stall east of the market for ~28k XP/hour. Use the cakes from earlier for healing. This takes ~4 hours to hit level 45. Alternatively, complete quests like The Feud to jump to 45.

Levels 45-91: Blackjacking

Blackjacking in Pollnivneach (requires partial completion of The Feud) is the fastest XP method, offering up to 275k XP/hour at level 99 with practice. Knock out Bearded Pollnivnian Bandits (level 45), pickpocket twice, and knock out again. Use Saradomin brews or jugs of wine for healing, and bring noted food to unnote at the Banknote Exchange Merchant. This takes ~30 hours to reach level 91.

Levels 91-99: Pyramid Plunder

Pyramid Plunder in Sophanem is the fastest method from 91, yielding up to 280k XP/hour. Loot golden chests and urns in the final two rooms, using a Pharaoh’s Sceptre for teleports. Bring stamina potions and a lockpick. It takes ~15 hours to reach 99, assuming solo play. For Ironmen, this also provides decent loot like gems and jewellery.

Alternative and Profitable Thieving Methods

If Blackjacking feels too intense, these methods offer decent XP and profit, balancing engagement and efficiency.

Stealing Artefacts (Levels 49-65)

In Port Piscarilius (75% favor required), steal artefacts with a lockpick for ~150k XP/hour at level 49, scaling to 260k at higher levels. This method is less click-intensive and pairs well with alching or fletching. Expect ~10 hours to go from 49 to 65.

Pickpocketing Ardougne Knights (Levels 55-99)

Pickpocket Knights of Ardougne for ~120k XP/hour at level 99 with the Ardougne Hard Diary and Rogue’s Outfit. Trap a knight in a house for easier clicks. This is profitable (~200k GP/hour) and less intense than Blackjacking, taking ~80 hours to 99.

Pickpocketing Vyres (Levels 82-99)

After completing Sins of the Father, pickpocket Vyres in Darkmeyer for 120k-180k XP/hour and up to 4.2M GP/hour at 99 with Rogue’s Outfit and Dodgy Necklaces. Use Redemption prayer with prayer potions for healing. This takes ~70 hours to 99 but is highly profitable.

Pickpocketing Elves (Levels 85-99)

Post-Song of the Elves, pickpocket Elves in Prifddinas for ~150k XP/hour and 3.7M GP/hour at 99. Loot includes enhanced crystal teleport seeds, making it a great money-maker. This takes ~65 hours to 99.

AFK Thieving Method: Stealing from Houses in Varlamore

For a relaxed grind, steal from houses in Varlamore (level 50 Thieving required). Pickpocket wealthy citizens for keys, then loot houses for 60k-110k XP/hour. With the “House Thieving Varlamore” plugin, you get 20-60 seconds of AFK time per action, making it ideal for multitasking. This takes ~140 hours to 99 but requires minimal focus.

Tips for Varlamore Thieving

  • Use the Plugin: Highlights key NPCs and loot spots.
  • Bring Food: Heal from occasional damage when caught.
  • Optimize Inventory: Drop low-value loot to extend trips.

Tips and Tricks for Efficient Thieving

Maximize your Thieving grind with these strategies:

  • Use Shadow Veil: The Arceuus spell (level 47 Magic) gives a 15% chance to avoid stuns, boosting XP rates when paired with Dodgy Necklaces.
  • Complete Ardougne Diaries Early: The +10% pickpocket success is a game-changer.
  • Stock Up on Food: Pies, cakes, or Saradomin brews prevent deaths during pickpocketing.
  • Minimize Risk in Wilderness: For Rogues’ Castle chests (level 84+), bring only a knife and food to avoid PKer losses.

With this guide, you’re set to hit 99 Thieving in OSRS efficiently while raking in profits. Whether you go for the intense Blackjacking route, the lucrative Vyre pickpocketing, or the chill Varlamore method, Thieving offers something for every playstyle. Start stealing today and claim that Thieving Cape! For more tips, check out our OSRS skill guides.