How to pickpocket in Baldur’s Gate 3

If you want to be a devious thief in a fantasy world, you’ll want to pickpocket in Baldur’s Gate 3. The process is quite simple, but do you have the stats to pull it off?

Step-by-step process on how to pickpocket in Baldur’s Gate 3

To start pickpocketing in the game, you’ll need to first crouch. Press the C key on your keyboard for PC or whatever you have sneaking assigned to in your settings. You’ll immediately see the sightlines of nearby characters on the ground. You can’t sneak in red areas. You’ll get spotted, and other characters will be suspicious of you. Try to find someone that is by themselves.

Get close to the character you’re stealing from, and click on them to pickpocket. If an item is red, you’ll get in trouble for stealing it if you’re caught. If the color isn’t present, it’s fair game.

There will be a sleight of hand roll check. Depending on the item, the minimum required number will change. If you’re caught in a town or settlement, you’re arrested for theft. Of course, you can fight off the character to get all their loot, but it can be a bit more civil if you offer a bribe.

Tips for pickpocketing and stealing in BG3

Here are some tips to improve your pickpocketing and stealing skills in BG3.

Get a high sleight-of-hand trait

To improve your pickpocketing in Baldur’s Gate 3, pick a character that has a high sleight-of-hand trait. Astarion is perfect for these situations. In my party, this high-elf Rogue has +11 sleight of hand and +11 stealth. That makes him near-perfect for the job. My wizard, in comparison, only has +1 sleight of hand and +1 stealth.

Use turn-based mode

Did you know the action in Baldur’s Gate 3 doesn’t have to be in real time? You can slow the game down by turning on the turn-based mode. This gives you more time to consider your options for stealth and pickpocketing. However, you can only steal one item per turn, annoyingly. The sightlines are also clearly marked on the floor. Red means that they can see your characters far clearer. If you’re caught, you’ll likely be in a fight.

If you’re on PC, you can head out of the slower-paced turn-based mode by pressing Shift and Space together.

Turn off light sources

At night and in some indoor areas, turning off any light sources like lanterns is a great way to be more effective at pickpocketing in Baldur’s Gate 3. For example, if a brazier is a light source, you can interact with it by clicking the left mouse button. Once the lights are out, your enemies’ sightlines diminish.

Quick save before pickpocketing

If you want a safe and secure way to continue your journey in Baldur’s Gate 3 after pickpocketing, you should use a quick save. Press F5 on your keyboard to perform it and then F8 to quickly load back to the last save you’ve made. It’s that easy!