If you want to know how to steal in Crimson Desert, you'll need to make some outfit changes. That's because, unless you equip a mask, the 'steal' button will be grayed out. Getting a mask is essential, then, to pickpocket so you want to locate one as soon as you can - not only to open a new and potentially lucrative career opportunity, but also to stop any backtracking if you found something you really want that you can't take yet.
Stealing does have consequences, however, and stolen goods can only be sold at select locations in Crimson Desert, so it's not the easiest path to the life of riches it might seem at first. To help you understand what you need to do, my guide explains exactly how to steal in Crimson Desert, the consequence, the easiest ways to get a mask, and where to sell your stolen goods once you have them.
Stealing in Crimson Desert explained
Before you can steal anything in Crimson Desert you need to find and equip a mask, which you can get quickly if you visit Grimrak in the Back Alley Shop located just southeast of Hernand Town. A mask only costs 10 copper here, so unless you went on a spending spree recently, you should have enough to buy it.
With a mask you can now either go to the inventory tab from the main menu to equip it, or bring up the shortcut wheel and toggle the mask on from there. Be careful where you put a mask on though, as looking suspicious inevitably draws attention. That said, you have to equip a mask before the grayed out 'steal' button becomes available, so you gotta do what you gotta do when the time comes. Although if you want to make a more legal living then I can also tell you how to farm money in Crimson Desert, with methods that are all above the law!
To bring up the 'steal' prompt you need to look at the item you want to take, then hold down the button you use to zoom in and focus/observe – this is L1/LB if playing on a PlayStation or Xbox controller. You can also do this when behind somebody to steal something they're carrying, or after bumping into someone to pickpicket in search of smaller loot, like money.
Consequences of stealing in Crimson Desert
Even if nobody sees you do it, you'll always lose EXP for the region you're in if you steal something in Crimson Desert. It's always been -5 EXP when we've nabbed a single item, but it's possible this number may be higher if you steal something really big, or from someone important.
The other consequence of stealing depends on if you're caught or not. If you steal and nobody sees you, simply walk out of the red circle that appears and you'll get away with it. But if somebody does see, you'll have to try and get out of the red circle without being spotted by a guard. If you don't escape successfully you'll be caught and fined a bounty. If you don't pay the fine, you'll be tossed in jail and made to pay even more money.
Where to get a mask in Crimson Desert
These are the three easiest ways to get a mask in Crimson Desert:
- Purchase from the Back Alley Shop in Hernand (and others around the map)
- Complete the 'Jeffrey' Bounty Notice
- Loot from bandits
If you've already had a few fights it's worth checking your inventory to see if you already have a mask without realising, from looting a few bandits. If that's not the case the next easiest way to get a mask is to pay a visit to Grimrak's Back Alley Shop. This is located just southeast of Hernand town, at the end of the main road closest to the river.
The last method is get a mask to pick up the tutorial 'Jeffrey' Bounty Notice from the Constabulary, located in the very northwestern tip of Hernand town. Speak to Pedro beside the bounty notice pinned to the entrance post of the Constabulary, follow the quest marker, apprehend Jeffrey by tackling and tying him up, then bring Jeffrey back to the Constabulary to complete the bounty and get your free mask.
Where to sell stolen goods in Crimson Desert
You need to visit a Black Market vendor to sell your stolen goods in Crimson Desert. Fortunately, there's one in the starting area of Harnand: our good friend Grimrak. As a reminder, you can find Grimrak's very humble pop-up shop at the end of the road closest to the river, just southeast of Hernand town. Later on in the game, you can also sell your stolen items via Black Market vendors at Goldleaf Tradeposts.
However, if you've stolen an animal, you'll need to take it to a Livestock Fence to sell instead. Just make sure you're actively carrying or riding the animal in order to sell it. The earliest Livestock Fence is located opposite Grimrak at the end of the path just southeast of Harnand town.
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