Crimson Desert: The Complete Guide to Thievery, Pickpocketing, and Other Crimes

Are you embarking on your adventure in Crimson Desert, drawn to a life of crime but unsure where to begin? This quick guide will equip you with the fundamentals to commit various offenses and evade capture.

The expansive world of Crimson Desert is brimming with opportunities, including the chance to steal, pickpocket NPCs, and raid homes. However, many mechanics are only briefly explained. If you've noticed the "steal" prompt greyed out and inactive, don't worry – this is normal. Below, we'll explain how to initiate your criminal career, acquire essential tools, and offer tips to become a master thief.

How to Start Stealing in Crimson Desert

The absolute prerequisite for any criminal activity is wearing the Mask. Without this simple item covering the lower part of your face, you won't be able to steal, pickpocket, or lockpick, even if the command appears on screen.

Fortunately, acquiring the Mask is straightforward. Early in your adventure, the quickest method is to visit the clandestine shop of the smuggler Grimrak, located just outside Hernand, southeast of the church. Here, you can purchase the Mask for a mere 10 copper coins. Grimrak also sells the Key, an indispensable item for aspiring thieves, costing 30 copper coins and capable of opening most locked doors.

Alternatively, at the beginning of Chapter 2, you can accept the Bounty for the miscreant Jeffrey, also in Hernand. Jeffrey, easily identifiable by his dark blue hooded vest, roams the city. Capturing him and delivering him to the authorities will net you a Mask and a monetary reward. It's also possible to obtain a Mask as a random drop by defeating bandits. Once acquired, simply equip the Mask via your weapon radial menu whenever you feel the urge to commit a crime.

Theft, Pickpocketing, and Other Illegal Activities

Crimson Desert features various categories of crimes, some of which strictly require the use of the Mask. To steal items, approach chests, dressers, or shelves and interact with the object (often while holding a lantern); the theft command will appear. Some homes hide safes with small puzzles to solve. Be aware: every theft will decrease your city reputation, even if you are not caught.

Pickpocketing is a direct action: run towards an NPC, bump into them, and press the button that appears immediately after impact. You can also adopt a bolder approach by stealing carts and livestock. Carts must be delivered to a specialized fence, the sole buyer, while livestock can be sold on the black market.

Vandalism is a common, often unintentional, offense, such as destroying fences or posts while galloping at high speed, or even using movement abilities like a double jump. Assault involves tackling a character or attacking them unarmed after stowing a two-handed weapon. Murder, naturally, represents the most severe crime of all.

How to Evade Capture or Clear Your Criminal Record

After committing a theft, a red circle will appear on your mini-map around your location, and the type of crime, accompanied by a slowly depleting bar, will be displayed in the top right. If no one spots you before the bar empties, you're safe. While it's not strictly necessary to exit the circle, if guards see you, a confrontation is inevitable; killing them will make you wanted for murder.

A red circle also appears after pickpocketing and other minor crimes. In these cases, your goal is to exit the circle as quickly as possible: if you remain inside, the victim will notice the theft and raise the alarm. A useful trick is to call your horse just before pickpocketing, ensuring an immediate escape. If caught, you'll incur a fine or a bounty on your head, depending on the severity of the offense. Being wanted is unpleasant: vendors might raise prices or refuse to trade with you, NPCs (including those tied to quests) might flee at your sight, and guards and bounty hunters will relentlessly pursue you.

To clear your criminal record, you have two options: pay for absolution of your sins at a church, or allow yourself to be captured. In the latter case, you'll end up in prison, and a sum equal to your bounty will be deducted. If you don't have enough money, your finances will go into the negative, preventing you from earning anything until your balance returns to zero. Based on our experience, a bounty should not exceed 100 silver coins, regardless of how ruthless or impulsive your actions were.