How to pickpocket in Crimson Desert

Crimson Desert pickpocket - Kliff behind a guy — (Image credit: Pearl Abyss)

Working out how to pickpocket in Crimson Desert might have you a bit stumped. After all, the system in this game is very different to any I've seen before—you can't simply sneak up behind someone and have a rummage about in their rear compartment. Nope, there's a trick you need to pickpocket beyond simply crouching and trying to look sneaky.

You'll also need a mask to commit any petty crimes, so I'll explain how to get one of those down below, too.

How to pickpocket in Crimson Desert

Crimson Desert pickpocket - Back Alley Shop location — You can buy a mask at any Back Alley Shop (Image credit: Pearl Abyss)

Just like stealing in Crimson Desert, you'll first need a mask in order to pickpocket. You can buy these from Back Alley Shops such as the one in Hernand, though you can also earn one through your first bounty mission to capture Jeffrey in Chapter 2, or sometimes loot them from enemies and bandits.

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Once you have a mask, you simply have to bump into someone to pickpocket them. When you do, you'll spot a little prompt that appears, either E on mouse and keyboard or X on controller, which lets you quickly pilfer an item from them. This is random, so you'll often end up with somewhat useless stuff, but you'll get better loot if you pickpocket nobles. You can even pickpocket gold bars from them, so it can be lucrative, RNG willing. You can find a load of nobles around the bank in Hernand, or at the various manors in the city limits, so be sure to try your luck.

Crimson Desert pickpocket — You have to bump into people for the pickpocket prompt to appear (Image credit: Pearl Abyss)

The only problem with pickpocketing is that you'll be detected doing unless you have a special item (explained in the paragraph below). Guards won't arrest you, per se, but you will have to run outside of the red witness circle or wait for the timer on your crime to run out. You'll also slowly accrue a fine and lose Contribution, though only the same five points you lose for stealing items.

Crimson Desert pickpocket - Great Thief's Gloves — You can pickpocket without being detected if you get the Great Thief's Gloves (Image credit: Pearl Abyss)

That is, unless you acquire the Great Thief's Gloves by completing the rather elaborate Secret of the Lost Seal faction quest for House Serkis. These gloves have a special buff called Great Thief which prevents you being detected when you steal stuff, though they do have a 30 minute cooldown between uses. If you don't have this quest unlocked yet, you need to progress the other house questlines in Hernand, including House Roberts and House Alfonso.

Sean's first PC games were Full Throttle and Total Annihilation and his taste has stayed much the same since. When not scouring games for secrets or bashing his head against puzzles, you'll find him revisiting old Total War campaigns, agonizing over his Destiny 2 fit, or still trying to finish the Horus Heresy. Sean has also written for EDGE, Eurogamer, PCGamesN, Wireframe, EGMNOW, and Inverse.

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