Baldurs Gate 3: How to steal? Baldurs Gate 3 guide, walkthrough
Stealing can lead to the acquisition of valuable loot in BG3, but it comes with the risk of detection. This theft guide explains how to steal things on sight and based on pickpocketing and how to reduce the risk of detection.
Last update: 24 July 2023
This page of the Baldur's Gate 3 guide has the most important information about stealing. You will learn how to steal items lying in plain sight and stored in chests, how to pickpocket, how to avoid detection and how to recognize items owned by someone.
How to sneak and steal?
- Activate stealth mode before trying to steal something. In the PC version, it is activated by default with the C key. The character will start to move in a crouched position.
- The Agility ability is linked to the effectiveness of sneaking - it's best if it's as high as possible. Always make sure that you are not in the field of view of the NPCs. Wait until the characters from the area turn around or go in a different direction, or position yourselves behind them.
- In locations where traditional stealth is difficult, you can try to experiment with, for example, invisibility spells. This will help you pass through a guarded area or steal a protected artifact.
How does pickpocketing work?
- You can use pickpocketing to rob living characters. Use a hero with the Sleight of Hand skill. It is available as a class skill for the Bard and the Rogue and is associated with the Dexterity ability.
- Always start by hiding behind and obstacle with the stealth mode enabled. Approach the selected target and stand behind their back.
- After selecting the pickpocketing option, you will see the inventory of the person you want to rob. You can choose which items you want to steal. However, you cannot steal all the items with one action. Try to steal the most valuable items, such as quest items (keys, etc.) or rare gear.
- Each attempt to pickpocket is a skillcheck - the dice must roll a value higher than or equal to the required value (in the example in the picture the requirement is 6 points). Failure means detection.
Save the game before each theft attempt. Detection may mean that your party can get attacked (by the robbed person and other people in the vicinity) or impose some penalty on the character (e.g. negative reputation points). If that happens, simply load the save.
Red color while stealing something
- Red outlines around characters and objects can be helpful while stealing. They symbolize restricted actions, including stealing items in plain sight or from various types of containers (example in the picture). Make sure no one is looking your way before you steal something. Once you are safe, try to steal the items.
- Red circles around the doors are restricted areas. Even attempting to enter such a location will be considered a crime. You must be doubly careful if you want to steal something from this type of places.
- The red color can also relate to robbing corpses. Stealing from friendly characters, such as dead inhabitants of the Druid Grove, is prohibited. Other NPCs can stop you from looting corpses or attack immediately. Wait until the area is safe. This restriction does not apply to enemies or monsters.
If there is no red outline around the object/container then this means that it is not someone's property. You can loot the chest or take the item without any risks.