OSRS Thieving Guide 1-99: The Path of Shadows

Thieving is a fast-paced and often profitable skill in Old School RuneScape. It involves everything from pickpocketing NPCs to looting ancient tombs. The training methods vary wildly from being incredibly click-intensive to one of the most popular AFK activities in the game.

This guide will cover the fastest routes to 99, the best methods for making money, and the strategic importance of Thieving for an Ironman account.

The Fastest Path to 99: High-Intensity Methods

This path is for players who want to get to 99 as quickly as possible and don't mind a high number of clicks per minute.

• Levels 1-25: Quests & Stalls
  • Quests like Fight Arena and Biohazard offer great starting XP. Stealing from cake and silk stalls is also effective.
• Levels 25-45: Fruit Stalls
• Levels 45-91: Blackjacking
  • Location: Pollnivneach.
  • Method: This involves using a blackjack to knock out bandits and then pickpocketing them twice. It's a precise, 3-tick cycle that requires a lot of practice but offers phenomenal XP rates (up to 250k XP/hr). This is the meta for pure speed.
• Levels 91-99: Pyramid Plunder
  • Location: Sophanem.
  • Method: A minigame where you loot urns and sarcophagi in a pyramid. At high levels, focusing only on the final rooms provides the best Thieving XP in the game, rivaling blackjacking but with less intensity.

The AFK & Profitable Path to 99

This path is for players who want a more relaxed experience and want to make a lot of money along the way.

• Levels 55-99: Ardougne Knights
  • This is the most popular AFK Thieving method. After completing the Ardougne Medium Diary, you get a bonus to pickpocketing in Ardougne. At level 95 (or slightly lower with dodgy necklaces), you will stop failing to pickpocket Knights altogether. You can trap one in a house and click away with minimal attention for great XP and a bit of cash.
• Levels 85-99: Pickpocketing Elves
  • Location: Prifddinas (requires Song of the Elves).
  • Method: This is a high-level, high-profit AFK method. It's a great way to make money while training, with profits often exceeding 1.5-2M GP/hr.
• Levels 82-99: Pickpocketing Vyres
  • Location: Darkmeyer (requires Sins of the Father).
  • Method: The king of profitable Thieving. Vyres offer slightly less XP than Elves but can yield up to 3M GP/hr, thanks to the chance of receiving a Blood Shard.

Ironman Thieving Strategy: Seeds for Survival

For Ironmen, Thieving is not just for XP or gold; it's a critical skill for gathering resources, especially seeds for Farming.

• Early Game (1-38): Quests are your best friend. Stealing from cake stalls is also a fantastic way to get a starting food supply.
• The Main Goal (38-99): Master Farmers
  • Your number one priority for Thieving as an Ironman is to get the level required to effectively pickpocket Master Farmers. They are the most reliable source of all types of seeds, especially high-level herb seeds which are crucial for Herblore training. The higher your Thieving level, the less you will fail, making the grind much smoother. The Farmer in the Hosidius house is a popular, easily-trapped target.
• Late Game Profit & Shards: Once your Farming needs are met, moving on to Elves or Vyres can be a great way to get alchables and the highly-sought-after Blood Shard.

Conclusion

Thieving in OSRS offers a fantastic variety of training options. If you crave speed, the high-intensity methods of blackjacking and Pyramid Plunder will get you to 99 in record time. If you prefer a relaxed grind that will fill your bank, Ardougne Knights and Elves are perfect. For Ironmen, a high Thieving level is the key that unlocks the entire Farming and Herblore skill tree.

Don't have the patience for thousands of pickpockets? Let our master thieves handle the work.

→ OSRS Thieving Services
→ Check out our guide on the best Ardougne Knight training method.