KCD2 Lockpicking & Pickpocketing Guide: Level Up Fast!

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Whether you're roleplaying a cunning criminal or a righteous Henry in Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, stealth, lockpicking, and thievery are skills you'll inevitably need. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about living the life of a thief in medieval Bohemia.

Why Embrace the Shadows?

There are numerous reasons to delve into the criminal underworld in Kingdom Come Deliverance 2:

  • Quest Completion: Many quests require you to obtain items, sabotage targets, manipulate locations, or eliminate enemies. Stealth often provides the easiest and sometimes only way to achieve these objectives.
  • Early Game Survival: In the early stages, Henry's resources are limited. Thieving and poaching can significantly boost your finances and food supplies.
  • Tactical Advantage: Overwhelming odds in combat can be turned in your favor by silently eliminating enemies, stealing their gear, or poisoning their campfire cauldron.

A Thief's Starting Point

A great early opportunity to hone your criminal skills presents itself during the "Wedding Crashers" quest. You'll have two main choices:

  1. Seek help from the blacksmith Radovan in northwest Troskowitz.
  2. Visit Miller Kreyzl at the mill in southwest Troskowitz.

While Radovan's task is straightforward, Kreyzl's mill is a hotbed of illegal activity, offering a perfect training ground for pickpocketing and lockpicking without attracting too much attention.

For those seeking organized crime, head to the "Hole in the Wall" tavern in eastern Kuttenberg. Gang leader Chények offers various jobs. Both the Rat at the Hole and the Mill also have trainers to teach you the tricks of the trade.

Mastering Stealth: The Foundation of Thievery

Stealth is paramount for any aspiring thief. A high Stealth skill reduces noise while sneaking and makes you harder to detect. It also influences your chances of encountering trouble while fast traveling.

  • How to Increase Stealth: Practice makes perfect. Stealth improves by:

    • Picking pockets
    • Lockpicking
    • Quietly eliminating enemies
    • Sneaking into restricted areas

  • Key Stealth Factors:

    • Agility: Directly impacts your Stealth skill.
    • Conspicuousness: Determines how noticeable you are. Wear inconspicuous clothing.
    • Visibility: Lower visibility makes you harder to spot. Dark, matte clothing is ideal for nighttime.
    • Noise: Move quietly. Sneaking is quieter than walking or running. Soft materials are quieter than metal.

  • Essential Stealth Perks:

    • Bushman: Reduces noise in bushes.
    • Fleeting Shadow: Boosts Stealth, Agility, and Vitality when suspected or wanted.
    • Rodent: Reduces noise indoors and when opening doors.
    • Escape Artist: Shortens guard search time.
    • Quickhand: Reduces conspicuousness while thieving.
    • Natural Camouflage: Harder to spot when dirty.
    • Weasel Boy: Reduces noise sneaking outdoors.
    • Silent Fiddler: Makes lockpicking nearly silent.
    • Mischief Artist: Boosts Thievery and Stealth after successful thieving.

  • Stealth Tips:

    • Avoid sneaking in broad daylight in busy areas.
    • Use disguises to blend in.
    • Distract guards with stones (default key: G).
    • Distract guard dogs with meat.
    • Use consumables like Nighthawk Potion (night vision) or Nimble Fingers Potion (thieving).

KCD2, Lockpicking
Lockpicking: Opening Doors to Opportunity

The Stealing skill is crucial for thieves, improving both lockpicking and pickpocketing. Higher levels allow you to tackle complex locks and provide more room for error.

  • How Lockpicking Works:

    1. Obtain lockpicks (find, steal, or buy them).
    2. Approach the lock unseen and select "pick lock."
    3. Find the "sweet spot" (golden yellow ball) with your cursor or analog stick.
    4. Turn the mechanism (D key or left analog stick) while keeping the pick on the sweet spot.
    5. If the pick isn't in the correct position, the lock will jam and possibly break your lockpick.

  • Helpful Lockpicking Perks:

    • Silent Fiddler: Makes lockpicking nearly silent.
    • Quickhand: Reduces conspicuousness while lockpicking.
    • Tool Master: Makes lockpicks more durable.
    • Master Thief: Allows automatic picking of simple locks.
    • Locksmith (Crafts): Increases Stealing skill and grants extra lockpicks.
    • Drunk's Luck (Drinking): Boosts Stealing skill when drunk.

  • Improving Thieving Skills:

    • Use Nimble Fingers Potion for temporary boosts.
    • Find skill books like "The Rule of St. Dismas" (These books can be found in various locations, such as libraries, monasteries, and traders' shops) for permanent increases.

Pickpocketing: The Art of the Light Finger

Pickpocketing requires stealth and is an excellent alternative to direct confrontation.

  • How Pickpocketing Works:

    1. Approach your target quietly.
    2. Target their bag or pockets.
    3. A circular symbol with a timer appears. Act quickly!

  • Leveling Up Pickpocketing:

    • Practice on sleeping or drunk targets.
    • Find trainers and skill books.

  • Useful Pickpocketing Skills:

    • Quick Hands: Reduces conspicuousness.
    • Nimble Fingers: Increases timer speed.
    • Rapid Flight: Prevents detection if you fail the mini-game.
    • Inconspicuous: Allows stealing from front pockets.

  • Alternative: Search dead or unconscious bodies without the mini-game. Requires a dagger and the Assassination skill.

Selling Stolen Goods: Turning Profit from Thievery

Stolen items are marked with a red hand. Getting caught with them can have consequences.

  • Where to Sell Stolen Goods:

    • Some traders buy stolen items at lower prices.
    • Fences (like Whitebeard, Rassius, and Thomel) specialize in stolen goods.

  • Perks for Selling Stolen Goods:

    • Trafficker: Speeds up the "stolen" status decay.
    • Hustler: Increases the chance of selling to regular merchants.
    • Partner in Crime: Allows selling to regular merchants without risk.

  • Other Tips:

    • Stolen items lose their "stolen" status after a few in-game days.
    • Traveling to distant cities can make it easier to sell stolen goods.
    • Thief's Eye Allows you to see if items are considered stolen in your current location.

Avoiding Punishment: Staying Out of Trouble

Crimes have consequences.

  • Possible Punishments:

    • Pillory
    • Beatings
    • Branding
    • Execution (for repeat offenders)

  • Avoiding Punishment:

    • Pay a fine.
    • Persuade or intimidate guards.
    • Escape or fight.

  • Helpful Skills:

    • Law: Aids persuasion in legal situations.
    • Law II: Allows favorable interpretation of the law.
    • Fleeting Shadow: Provides bonuses when suspected.

  • Other Factors:

    • Reputation can influence suspicion.
    • Stealth and luck can sometimes help you get away with it.

Conclusion

This guide provides a comprehensive overview of thievery in Kingdom Come Deliverance 2. Embrace the rogue lifestyle, but remember that the law is always lurking. Practice your skills, choose your perks wisely, and you'll become a master thief in medieval Bohemia.

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