Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a game filled with countless ways to earn gold, and one of the most lucrative (yet often overlooked) methods is pickpocketing. While many players focus on methods like slayer, bossing, or skilling, pickpocketing is a unique way to earn OSRS gold that requires patience, precision, and the right tools. Whether you're a beginner looking for an alternative money-making method or a seasoned player seeking to diversify your gold-making techniques, pickpocketing can be a highly rewarding and efficient activity.

In this guide, we will explore how to make lots of OSRS gold through pickpocketing. We'll cover the basics of pickpocketing, best targets, strategies for maximum efficiency, and how to optimize your pickpocketing experience to turn this activity into a significant source of income.

What is Pickpocketing in OSRS?

Pickpocketing in OSRS is a Thieving activity where you steal items (often coins) from NPCs (non-playable characters). While you can train your Thieving skill in a variety of ways, pickpocketing is one of the fastest and most rewarding options, especially when targeting the right NPCs.

To pickpocket successfully, you need to meet the required Thieving level for each NPC, and some NPCs may also have special drops that can significantly boost your earnings. Pickpocketing is also an AFKable activity, meaning you can earn gold while doing other tasks, which adds to its appeal for many players.

Pickpocketing Requirements and Setup

Before you begin pickpocketing for OSRS gold, there are a few prerequisites and setup steps to ensure you maximize your efficiency.

1. Thieving Level Requirements

To pickpocket different NPCs, you need a certain Thieving level. Here are the basic requirements for some of the most profitable pickpocketing targets in OSRS:

Level 1: You can start pickpocketing Men and Women in Lumbridge.

Level 38: You can pickpocket Master Farmers, which offer seeds, and are an excellent method for training Thieving and earning a modest amount of gold.

Level 55: You can pickpocket Guards in Ardougne, which offer decent rewards, and are a staple for Thieving training.

Level 65: You can pickpocket Knight of Ardougne for Coins and special items.

Level 91: At this level, you can pickpocket Elf NPCs at the Prifddinas area, which drops high-value coins and Elf-related items.

While it's certainly possible to start pickpocketing at lower levels, the real gold-making potential starts to show when you can target higher-level NPCs with richer loot pools.

2. Gear and Items to Bring

To ensure maximum success, you'll need a few essential items to assist with your pickpocketing:

Stamina potions: Pickpocketing involves running between NPCs, so Stamina potions will help you maintain your energy for longer.

Thieving Gloves (or Ardougne Cloak): The Ardougne Cloak (obtained from completing the Ardougne Diary) provides a 15% increased chance of success when pickpocketing, which is highly beneficial.

The Rogue Equipment Set: This set increases your chances of stealing extra coins when pickpocketing, and it's incredibly useful for maximizing profits.

Knife or other tools: Some NPCs require tools to pickpocket successfully, such as a knife to pickpocket master farmers for seeds. Make sure you have the right tools in your inventory to avoid wasting time.

3. Completion of Key Quests

Certain quests will also make pickpocketing more effective:

The Ardougne Diary: Completing this task will grant you access to Ardougne Cloak, which increases your chances of successful pickpocketing.

The "Easy Ardougne Diary": This will unlock faster XP and increase your odds of stealing extra rewards.

Best Pickpocketing NPCs for OSRS Gold

There are many NPCs to choose from when training your Thieving skill, but certain ones are particularly profitable for OSRS gold. Here are the best NPCs to target and how they can help you maximize your earnings.

1. Master Farmers (Level 38)

Master Farmers are one of the best early targets for pickpocketing. Located in the Draynor Village and Varrock areas, they provide you with seeds, which can be sold for a reasonable profit.

Items dropped: Master Farmers drop a wide variety of seeds, such as Ranarr seeds, Snapdragon seeds, and Toadflax seeds, all of which are highly sought after by players training Herblore.

Profitability: With the right tools and gear, you can make a steady income from pickpocketing Master Farmers, especially when they drop valuable seeds.

Pickpocketing Strategy: Use Stamina potions to keep your run energy up, and be prepared to deal with the occasional failure of pickpocketing.

2. Guards (Level 40-45)

Guards can be found in several locations, including Varrock, Ardougne, and Taverley. These NPCs are easy to pickpocket, especially when you're working your way up to higher-level NPCs. The Ardougne guards drop valuable coins, and are useful for generating a steady income stream.

Items dropped: Coins, with the chance to steal higher amounts, especially in Ardougne.

Profitability: The Ardougne Guard has a decent chance of dropping coins with every successful pickpocket.

Pickpocketing Strategy: Guards don't drop anything too valuable in terms of rare items, but they are a great source of gold through coins.

3. Knights of Ardougne (Level 65)

Once you reach Level 65 Thieving, you can start pickpocketing Knights of Ardougne. Located in the Ardougne area, these high-level NPCs drop coins and a rare chance at high-value items like Dragonstone.

Items dropped: Coins, Rune items, Dragonstone, and coins.

Profitability: The Knights of Ardougne offer higher-level loot and are especially beneficial if you're looking to pickpocket for items like Rune armor or Dragonstone.

Pickpocketing Strategy: Equip your Ardougne Cloak for added success, and use Stamina potions to extend your pickpocketing session.

4. Elves in Prifddinas (Level 91)

The Elves at Prifddinas offer one of the best gold-making methods when it comes to pickpocketing. To access these NPCs, you'll need to have completed the Song of the Elves quest. The Elves drop coins, Elf items, and a variety of other high-value items.

Items dropped: Coins, Elf-related items, Gems, and various resources.

Profitability: These NPCs drop significant rewards, and pickpocketing them can yield hundreds of thousands of OSRS gold per hour when combined with high-efficiency methods.

Pickpocketing Strategy: Focus on AFKing this activity, as the drops are worth the wait, but don't require constant attention.

Maximizing Your Gold from Pickpocketing

Now that you know which NPCs to target, here are some strategies to maximize your gold per hour through pickpocketing:

1. Efficient Location Switching

Don't waste time standing at one location for too long. If you notice that you're encountering frequent failures or that your energy is running low, consider switching to a more profitable NPC. Locations like Ardougne offer a great variety of pickpocketing opportunities, so take advantage of them.

2. Use the Rogue Gear Set

The Rogue Equipment set increases your chances of stealing extra coins per pickpocket. If you're serious about making gold through pickpocketing, this gear set is invaluable.

3. AFK Pickpocketing

Pickpocketing can be a relatively AFKable activity. While not entirely hands-off, the downtime between pickpockets allows for some level of multitasking. Bring along Stamina potions and focus on higher-level targets that offer valuable drops for a smooth and profitable experience.

4. Keep an Eye on the Market

Pay attention to the market trends. Prices of seeds, Rune items, and rare drops can fluctuate, so it's crucial to know when to sell. If a certain item or seed is in high demand, it may be the perfect time to cash in your pickpocketing gains.

Conclusion

Pickpocketing in OSRS is an often overlooked but highly effective method for earning gold. With the right NPCs to target, a solid strategy, and the proper gear, pickpocketing can generate a steady stream of income. Whether you're training your Thieving skill, or simply looking to make gold, pickpocketing offers a fun and rewarding way to enrich your OSRS experience. Of course, you can also choose to buy cheap RS gold on rsorder to quickly earn gold. So, sharpen your tools, head to Ardougne, and begin the art of stealing your way to riches!