How to steal and pickpocket in Crimson Desert

Knowing how to steal in Crimson Desert is absolutely essential if you want to get your hands on belongings that are owned by, well, anyone at all. Problem is, the prompt to steal is greyed out until you get your hands on a specific item, and the game does not explain how or why. It’s a stark difference to other open-world RPGs, where stealing is commonplace, and you can do it from the very start.

Here’s a complete explainer on how to steal and pickpocket in Crimson Desert, along with the consequences for doing so.

How to get a mask and steal in Crimson Desert

To steal in Crimson Desert, you must be wearing a mask. Without one, you’ll only be able to pick up items that have the “take” prompt, and “steal” will always be greyed out. So how do you get a mask?

Masks can primarily be acquired by killing bandits, and early on, these basic enemies can be found in the surrounding areas outside of Hernand. If you can’t find any, continue with the main story a little; in Chapter 2, you’ll need to take out multiple groups of bandits. Loot their corpses and you’ll find a mask in no time. Once you equip it, you can steal to your heart’s content.

Image: Pearl Abyss via Polygon

As for the consequences of stealing, you’ll receive -5 reputation in whatever region you’re committing the crime. If you stay hidden while stealing, that’s the only repercussion. Additionally, a short timer will appear on the right-hand side of the screen, and if you’re not spotted for the duration, you’ll be free to go.

Image: Pearl Abyss via Polygon

However, if you are seen, a search area will appear on your minimap, indicated by a red circle, and anyone who saw you commit the crime will be marked with a red eye icon on the map. The boundaries for the search area are also visible in the world itself. You need to get out of the area as quickly as possible without being seen by any nearby guards, again, until the timer expires.

Image: Pearl Abyss via Polygon

If the guards catch you without you putting up a fight, you’ll be fined, but if you try to escape or fight back, you’ll be up against the full force of the law. Nearby guards will come to their aid, and once your health is almost fully depleted, you’ll be arrested and put in jail. Once you’ve served your sentence — aka, the loading screen has passed — you’ll be freed, with a more expensive toll to pay than if you’d just accepted the fine.

Now that you know how to steal, you’re free to head to the Hernand bank, where you can quickly make a lot of money.

Just starting out in Crimson Desert? We have guides to help you learn the basics and refresh your memory on how some of its systems work. The world of Pywel is huge, so you might have a hard time deciding where to go first, but you can make your journey a little easier with the help of our interactive map. Along the way, make sure to learn a few life skills like fishing, logging, cooking, and mining.

We also have walkthroughs for main story quests like “Abyss Without Balance” and “Familiar Curses,” and puzzles in the Abyss like the Root’s End.