OSRS Thieving training begins with pickpocketing men or women. The [Thieving training guide](https://oldschool.runescape.wiki/w/Thieving_training) estimates that it takes 49 successful pickpockets to get from level 1 to level 5. Thieving is a members-only skill in Old School RuneScape, and you train it by stealing coins and items from market stalls, chests and non-player characters. In the early game, the goal is cheap, safe experience, so your first levels carry very little risk.
Expect a slow start on a brand new account. Early levels are about building up coins and experience, not chasing big numbers. Think of this stage as a warm-up, where every coin you bank now helps you pay for supplies and gear later. Once you reach level 5, you can move on to stalls and other routes, but the best choice depends on your level, your quest progress and how much time you want to put into each session. Keep reading to compare your options and find the route that fits your account.
Key Takeaways
- You can start Thieving in OSRS by pickpocketing men or women in towns like Lumbridge or Varrock, and you need about 49 successful pickpockets to reach level 5.
- Bakery stalls are the faster route for you at level 5, while two Hosidius fruit stalls give you a steadier session with up to 42,750 Thieving XP per hour from level 25 to 50.
- You need level 45 Thieving, partial completion of The Feud, and a blackjack in your inventory before you can start blackjacking in Pollnivneach in OSRS.
- Pyramid Plunder is the best high-level choice in OSRS if you have reached level 91 Thieving, with the training guide listing up to 270,000 XP per hour.
- You can raise your coin pouch limit from the default 28 to 84 with the hard Ardougne Diary, which saves you trips back to the bank when stealing artefacts in Port Piscarilius.
How Do You Start Thieving in OSRS?
You start Thieving in OSRS by pickpocketing men or women in towns. This early stage is cheap, safe and needs very little gear. Thieving is a members-only skill, so you need a members account. You train it by stealing coins and items from market stalls, chests and non-player characters. If you have a brand-new account, the [Old School RuneScape Wiki’s Thieving page](https://oldschool.runescape.wiki/w/Thieving) is a good place to learn about the skill before you start.
Pickpocketing men or women takes 49 successful pickpockets to get from level 1 to level 5. Each attempt is a click on a townsperson. A success gives you coins and a small amount of experience. A failure stuns you for a moment and takes a few hit points, so keep an eye on your health. Lumbridge and Varrock are popular places to find crowds of these townsfolk.
Expect a slow start. Early experience comes in small amounts, so the first few levels can feel like a long grind. The upside is that the XP is cheap in both coins and risk. You do not need to spend money on supplies, and you are not putting your gear on the line.
Keep your coins in the bank as you go. Every coin you earn now helps you pay for food and equipment later, so the early levels are as much about building a coin stack as they are about the skill itself.
Once you reach level 5, you can move on to bakery stalls or fruit stalls. These are the other early routes, and each one asks for a bit more planning than pickpocketing does. The next section looks at which of them pays off faster. For now, focus on getting your first five levels done and watching your coins build up.
Bakery Stalls or Fruit Stalls: Which Early Route Pays Off?
Bakery stalls are the faster choice at level 5, and Hosidius fruit stalls are the steadier route once you reach level 25. Both are worth knowing about before you commit your time.
Bakery stalls are the quickest option right after your first five levels. Each successful theft from a bakery stall gives you 16 Thieving XP, as the [bakery stall page](https://oldschool.runescape.wiki/w/Bakery_stall) explains. The training guide estimates up to 19,200 XP per hour at the East Ardougne bakery stall, which is a big jump from pickpocketing townsfolk. That speed comes with a cost. You need to stay focused, keep clicking and watch your health, because a failed theft hurts and slows you down.
Bakery stall training asks for a lot of attention. You are stealing often, and each attempt carries a small risk. If you enjoy a fast, active session and don’t mind keeping an eye on your hit points, this route rewards you well.
Fruit stalls suit a different kind of player. From levels 25 to 50, stealing from two Hosidius fruit stalls can yield up to 42,750 Thieving XP per hour, compared with 34,200 XP per hour from one stall. Working two stalls means you alternate between them, so you are rarely standing still waiting for a single stall to be ready. The hourly rate is lower than the bakery stall peak, but the session feels more even, and it is easier to keep going for a long stretch without burning out.
So which one should you pick? Choose bakery stalls for speed when you are at low levels and want experience quickly. Choose fruit stalls when you want a steady, mid-level route you can run for longer sessions without constant focus. Either way, keep your coins banked as you go, because you will need them for the next routes.
Is Blackjacking Worth It in Pollnivneach?
Blackjacking is worth it in Pollnivneach if you are a higher-level Thieving player who wants a lot of experience per hour. You need level 45 Thieving, partial completion of The Feud, and a blackjack in your inventory before you can start.
The Feud is the quest that unlocks this route, so check your quest journal before you plan a session. You do not need to finish the whole quest, but you do need to be partway through it. Without that progress, you won’t be able to start, so confirm your quest status before you spend hours traveling there.
Pollnivneach is the place to train. Once you arrive with a blackjack, you stun targets and steal from them, and each successful theft adds to your experience. Keep your blackjack in your inventory at all times, since you will use it again and again.
The numbers are the big draw. At level 99, the training guide lists up to 265,000 XP per hour when you use Saradomin brews, and up to 261,000 XP per hour using wines. The gap between the two setups is small, so your choice often comes down to which supplies are easier for you to get and afford.
Those rates are maximum-efficiency estimates, not what a casual session will show. They assume a level 99 Thieving player, the right supplies and a focused, steady rhythm. If you are working toward level 99 and playing for an hour after dinner, your results will look much lower. Treat the top rates as a goal to work toward rather than a promise for your first visit.
Master Farmers and Artefacts: Money Routes Compared
Master Farmers are a good middle-level choice once you reach level 38 Thieving. Each successful pickpocket gives you 43 Thieving XP, and failed attempts cost you hit points, so plan your health before you start. Head to the [Master Farmer page](https://oldschool.runescape.wiki/w/Master_farmer) for the full details on where to find them. The biggest comfort upgrade is the hard Ardougne Diary. With it, you stop failing at level 94, which keeps your session steady when you are close to 99.
Stealing artefacts in Port Piscarilius is the fastest Thieving route from level 49 to 65. Each safely delivered artefact pays 500 to 1,000 coins, and the training guide lists a rate of 150,000 XP per hour at level 49. The coins are a big part of the appeal, since each delivery adds to your stack quickly. Your profit depends on getting artefacts back to the right place without losing them, so take your time on your first few runs.
Your coin storage matters more than you might think. [Coin pouches](https://oldschool.runescape.wiki/w/Coin_pouch) stack to 28 by default, and the Ardougne Diaries raise that limit:
- Default: stacks to 28
- Medium Ardougne Diary: stacks to 56
- Hard Ardougne Diary: stacks to 84
- Elite Ardougne Diary: stacks to 140
A higher limit means you can hold more of your artefact money before you need to bank it. If you plan to earn 500 to 1,000 coins per artefact, finishing the Ardougne Diary tiers can save you a lot of trips back to the bank.
The diary tiers also differ in where they help. The medium-tier pickpocketing bonus only applies within Ardougne, while the hard-tier bonus works throughout Gielinor. That makes the hard tier the more useful target if you plan to train Master Farmers in different areas. Think about which route you want to finish first, then match your diary goals to it.
Which High-Level Thieving Method Is Best for Your Goals?
Pyramid Plunder is the best high-level choice if you want the most experience per hour and you have reached level 91 Thieving. The training guide lists up to 270,000 XP per hour from that level, and it estimates about 335 games to climb from level 91 to 99. It takes patience, but few routes reward you as well once you are close to the top of the skill.
If you are at level 65 or higher, the Sorceress’s Summer Garden is a strong option. Each summer sq’irkjuice you use gives 3,000 Thieving XP, and realistic rates sit near 140,000 XP per hour. The maximum is 150,000 XP per hour, so the gap between a typical session and the best possible one is small.
Stealing valuables in Varlamore needs level 50 Thieving and the Children of the Sun quest. Pickpocketing distracted wealthy citizens gives you about 65,000 XP per hour with low effort. If you put in more effort and world hop to find the best targets, the rate can climb to around 95,000 XP per hour. This route suits you if you want steady progress without staying glued to your screen.
The newest addition is Port Roberts stall training. Jagex released these stalls on 19 November 2025, and you need level 50 Sailing before you can use them. The stalls run on a repeatable cycle timed around guards. The cycle of four primary and two secondary stalls lists up to 255,437 XP per hour between levels 87 and 99. Each route has its own strengths, so compare them like this:
- Pyramid Plunder: level 91, up to 270,000 XP per hour
- Sorceress’s Summer Garden: level 65, around 140,000 XP per hour in practice
- Varlamore valuables: level 50 plus Children of the Sun, about 65,000 to 95,000 XP per hour
- Port Roberts stalls: level 50 Sailing, up to 255,437 XP per hour in the level 87 to 99 cycle
Port Roberts needs the most care. At level 87, the Cannonball stall gives 223 Thieving XP per successful theft. Stealing from a stall while a guard is watching can get you sent to jail, so time your thefts around the guards rather than rushing them.
Start by checking your Sailing level, since that requirement decides whether Port Roberts is open to you at all. Then look at your quest log for Children of the Sun if you want the Varlamore route. Your current levels and your comfort with focused, guard-watching play will narrow your choice more than any single rate in this list.
Which Gear and Settings Make Thieving Easier?
Gloves of silence, the dodgy necklace and the Ardougne Diary bonuses make Thieving easier in OSRS. Each one does a different job, so pick the ones that fit your account.
Gloves of silence are a common early purchase for pickpocketing because they support the stealth side of the skill. If you are working through your first five levels, they are one of the first upgrades many players look for. Ironman players need to earn them through their own drops or effort, since Ironman accounts cannot trade with other players.
The dodgy necklace is worth knowing about if you want safer, cheaper stealing. It is known for helping you avoid getting caught, which matters more once you move from townsfolk to stalls. Shadow Veil is another stealth option to read about before you spend anything, so check its exact effect on the wiki first.
Rogue’s outfit and Rogue’s Den are linked gear and location options for Thieving players. Look up the outfit pieces and the Den’s location before you plan a trip, because the requirements decide whether you can use them yet.
The Ardougne Diary bonuses depend on where you train. The medium-tier pickpocketing bonus only applies inside Ardougne, so a player pickpocketing in Lumbridge gets no help from it. The hard-tier bonus works across Gielinor, so it is the better target if you move between towns.
Picking Your Thieving Route Step by Step
Start by checking two things: your Thieving level and your quest log. Below level 5, stay on townsfolk and keep building your coin stack. From level 5 to 24, bakery stalls are your fast option, and from level 25, the two Hosidius fruit stalls give you a steadier session.
Next, look at your gates. For blackjacking in Pollnivneach, you need level 45 Thieving, partial progress in The Feud, and a blackjack in your inventory. For Varlamore valuables, you need level 50 and Children of the Sun. Port Roberts stalls are locked until you have 50 Sailing, so check that skill before you plan around them.
Then choose one goal for your next few sessions. Pick speed if you like an active, focused rhythm, steady play if you want to keep your attention low, or coin growth if you are saving for gear. Write that goal down, and let it decide which route you start with.
Finally, get set up for that route before you go. If you plan to carry artefact money, work toward the Ardougne Diary tiers that raise your coin pouch limit, so you spend less time walking back to the bank. If you are heading to Port Roberts, practice watching the guards before you rush any thefts.
Pick your route, run it for a few sessions, and see whether it still feels right. If it doesn’t, switch to the next option on the list.