Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - Help Tips & Tricks Tips for robbing people blind?

My question is in the title, tips for robbing NPCs blind? (Perhaps literally— would darkness or fog cloud spells work well in this context?) I’m currently playing a wood (half-)elf bard with sleight-of-hand and stealth proficiencies, and high charisma/persuasion to talk myself out of trouble. I’m planning on picking up the gloves of thievery and smuggler’s ring.

So, what strategies do you use to make your pickpocketing as effective as possible? Who are some of the best NPCs to pickpocket?

Apart from going maximum Dexterity, the utilities I recommend having are;

• Always Disguise yourself first because then you won't lose attitude if you're caught stealing.
• Always enter Turn-based Mode if you plan on stealing more than one item at once.
• Have [Potions of Invisibility] or Invisibility at the ready so that NPCs who temporarily become hostile if you're caught will abandon pursuit immediately.
• [Arrows Of Darkness], Darkness or Fog are essential if the target you plan to steal from is visible by a ton of NPCs from a ton of angles (don't drop it on top of them, but slightly next to them).

Equipment;

• Save the [Gloves Of Power] from the Grove's introductory battle as these will become essential later.
• [Silver Pendant] is a free Guidance amulet if one is not playing a Cleric or using Shadowheart.
• [Smuggler's Ring] is essential and will be with you forever.
• [Gloves Of Thievery] will be the main early-game gloves for pickpocketing, until you meet Lady Esther in the Mountain Pass.
• [Cat's Graceful Cloth] obtained from Lady Esther is an essential piece and after obtaining it the [Gloves Of Power] also become an essential piece.
• [The Mirror Of Loss] in ACT 3 allows you to increase your Dexterity by +2 (maximum 22).
• [Shapeshifter's Boon Ring] obtained from the Ox although claims it gives 1d4 to all checks while Disguised, does not work for pickpocketing (it's bugged).

Extra helpful tips & bonuses for stealing high-risk items (especially on Honour Mode);

• Guidance (1d4) is available from an amulet or from Shadowheart since she's a Cleric
• Bardic Inspiration (1d6) is available by multiclassing anyone into Bard (I like to give Shadowheart 1 level in Bard because it's incredibly helpful)
• Bolstering Magic: Boon (1d4) is available from Karlach as a Wild Magic Barbarian

With this you will accomplish +17 into Sleight Of Hand, with the minimum roll being 19. The highest I ever rolled was 47 and the chances of failing a pickpocket are nigh impossible unless your dice really have a thing against you, like they sometimes do against me;



On top of all this I recommend placing the pickpocketing equipment in the Custom hotbar for quick-'n-easy access when wanting to indulge in pickpocketing shenanigans;



As for which targets to pickpocket, anyone and everyone for whatever you want or need.

I personally never give vendors a single penny, I just steal their every single unique item and whichever consumable I think I may need (usually darkness arrows, invisibility potions). Other NPCs which may have something great that can't be pickpocketed, like Kagha's unique [Broodmother's Revenge] necklace, I knock-out while Disguised. No unique shall be left in the hands of peasants!

Hopefully some of this helps. enjoy your five-finger discounts

With 11+ levels of rogue you get Reliable talent, which basically means you auto-succeed for certain DCs. I think I have Astarion auto-succeed with 13's and lower.

In my current play through I'm slightly less optimized than Crimsonrider's setup, but very similar - including hotbar arrangement.

This said, I probably won't do pickpocketing next playthrough, I'm ridiculously OP. I've got 6x Disintegrate and 11x Globe of Invulnerability scrolls.