OSRS Varlamore House Keys Ultimate Guide for Thieving Success

OSRS Varlamore House Keys Ultimate Guide for Thieving Success

Welcome to the definitive guide on mastering the Varlamore House Keys Thieving activity in Old School RuneScape (OSRS). Introduced with the Varlamore expansion on March 20, 2024, this engaging activity in Civitas illa Fortis offers a low-intensity, rewarding method for training Thieving while earning decent profits. Whether you’re a seasoned thief or a mid-level player looking to boost your skills, this guide covers everything you need to know about obtaining and using house keys, maximizing experience, and optimizing your loot. Let’s dive into the world of Varlamore’s wealthy citizens and their unguarded homes!

The Stealing Valuables activity in Varlamore is a two-part Thieving endeavor centered in Civitas illa Fortis, requiring level 50 Thieving and completion of the Children of the Sun quest. Players acquire house keys to unlock the homes of wealthy citizens—Lavinia, Victor, or Caius—and steal valuables, which can be sold to the NPC Oriana for profit. This activity is praised for its semi-AFK nature, making it an attractive option for players seeking efficient Thieving training with moderate rewards.

What Are House Keys?

House keys are items dropped by wealthy citizens in Civitas illa Fortis or obtained via Fishing. They’re your ticket to entering one of three designated houses for the Stealing Valuables activity. Each key grants access to a single house, where you can loot for approximately three minutes before the homeowner returns. Keys stack in your inventory, allowing you to bank them for extended Thieving sessions.

Why Choose This Activity?

The Varlamore Thieving method stands out for several reasons:

  • Semi-AFK Gameplay: Pickpocketing and looting require minimal input, especially during urchin distractions.
  • Decent Experience Rates: Expect 70,000–105,000 Thieving XP per hour when looting houses.
  • Profitable Rewards: Valuables sell for 55–65 coins each, yielding 90,000–150,000 coins per hour.
  • Additional Loot: Chance to obtain jewellery (up to diamond) and rare blessed bone statuettes for Prayer training.

How to Obtain House Keys in Varlamore

OSRS Thieving Training Guide 2022 Most Profitable Methods To Level

Acquiring house keys is the first step to plundering the homes of Varlamore’s elite. There are two primary methods, each with its own advantages and considerations.

Method 1: Pickpocketing Wealthy Citizens

The fastest and most popular way to get house keys is by pickpocketing wealthy citizens in the Civitas illa Fortis Bazaar. Here’s how it works:

  • Requirements: Level 50 Thieving.
  • Location: Central Bazaar in Civitas illa Fortis.
  • Drop Rate: Approximately 1/18 chance per successful pickpocket.
  • Urchin Distractions: Every 84–99 seconds, street urchins (Leo, Julia, or Aurelia) distract citizens, granting a 100% success rate and auto-pickpocketing for 24 seconds. Look for the chat message: “You notice an urchin distract a wealthy citizen nearby.”
  • XP and Loot: Each pickpocket yields 96 Thieving XP and 85 coins, with occasional easy clue scrolls.

Tip: Wear the full rogue’s outfit to double the number of house keys received, significantly boosting efficiency. Focus on Leo in the Bazaar center for consistent distractions.

Method 2: Fishing in East Fortis Park

For players who prefer a slower but less click-intensive method, house keys can be fished from a specific spot in the park east of Civitas illa Fortis.

  • Requirements: Big fishing net.
  • Drop Rate: Approximately 1/10 chance.
  • Pros: Completely AFK, ideal for multitasking.
  • Cons: Slower key acquisition compared to pickpocketing.

Tip: Use this method if you’re low on Thieving level or want to stockpile keys passively while training Fishing.

Stealing Valuables: Looting the Houses

Once you’ve got your house keys, it’s time to break into the homes of Lavinia, Victor, or Caius. Only one house is available at a time, marked by a “Locked Door” and a Thieving icon on the minimap.

Finding the Right House

To locate the vacant house:

  • Check the Minimap: Look for the Thieving icon at Lavinia’s (south-west of Bazaar), Victor’s (south-western city corner), or Caius’ (north-west of western bank).
  • Street Urchins: Pay 15 valuables to urchins (Lucia, Oli, Rufus, or Ava) for information on the vacant house. This is free if you’ve earned the Gladiator rank (8,000 glory) at the Fortis Colosseum.
  • Plugin Support: Use the “House Thieving Varlamore” RuneLite plugin to highlight empty houses and track homeowner return times.

Looting Mechanics

Inside the house, click on furniture (chests, wardrobes, or jewellery cases) to start looting. Key details:

  • Duration: You have about 2–3 minutes before the homeowner returns.
  • Golden Arrows: Every 30 seconds, a golden arrow appears over a specific object, offering 630 Thieving XP and 14 valuables when clicked. Don’t miss these!
  • Exit Strategy: Leave through the open window before the homeowner returns to avoid losing 90% of your loot from that house.

Tip: Turn up sound effects to hear notifications for golden arrows and homeowner return warnings, ensuring you never miss a beat.

Optimizing Your Thieving Experience and Profits

To get the most out of the Varlamore House Keys activity, follow these strategies to maximize XP, loot, and efficiency.

Equipment and Setup

Your gear and inventory setup can make a significant difference:

Item Purpose
Full Rogue’s Outfit Doubles house keys from pickpocketing
Food (e.g., Lobsters) Prevents death from failed pickpockets (low risk)
House Keys 20+ for an hour of looting
Chisel Break down blessed bone statuettes for Prayer XP

Tip: Bank valuables frequently if you’re not a Gladiator to avoid holding onto them until you can sell at the higher rate (65 coins vs. 55 coins).

Experience and Profit Rates

Here’s what you can expect per hour:

  • Pickpocketing Only: ~50,000 Thieving XP, ~50,000 coins.
  • Looting Houses: 70,000–105,000 Thieving XP, 90,000–125,000 coins (105,000–150,000 with Gladiator rank).
  • Valuables per Hour: 1,600–2,300 from 18–19 houses.
  • Additional Loot: Jewellery (high-alch value ~584,295 for 1,000 keys) and blessed bone statuettes (Prayer XP).

Note: At higher Thieving levels (80+), pickpocketing may yield more XP due to lower failure rates, but looting remains more AFK and profitable.

Avoiding Common Pitfalls

Steer clear of these issues:

  • Fatigue Debuff: If you see “You feel tired and can’t grab as many valuables,” pickpocket a key to reset.
  • World Hopping: Hopping worlds while looting slows pickpocketing and may prevent loot drops for 15 seconds.
  • Missing Arrows: Always click golden arrows for maximum XP and loot.

Tips and Tricks for Advanced Thieves

For those looking to push their Varlamore Thieving to the next level, consider these advanced strategies:

Stacking Keys for Efficiency

Spend a few hours pickpocketing to amass 100+ keys, then dedicate a session to looting. This minimizes downtime and maximizes looting time. Some players report banking 5,000+ keys for millions of XP!

Leveraging Plugins

The “House Thieving Varlamore” RuneLite plugin is a game-changer, marking distracted NPCs, empty houses, and exit windows. It also tracks Leo’s distraction timer, making AFK pickpocketing seamless.

Maximizing Prayer XP

Blessed bone statuettes, obtained rarely while looting, can be broken down into blessed bone shards using a chisel. These shards offer Prayer XP at Ralos’ Rise, comparable to the Chaos Altar but without the risk.

Community Insights

Reddit users on r/2007scape note that house looting feels “annoyingly active” for some due to the 30-second arrow clicks, but the XP and loot make it worthwhile. One player gained 5.5M Thieving XP from 1,000 keys, reaching level 91!

With this guide, you’re ready to tackle the Varlamore House Keys activity like a pro. Stock up on keys, equip your rogue’s outfit, and start plundering Civitas illa Fortis. Happy thieving!