What Happens If You Pickpocket the Thieves Guild in Skyrim?
Fast answer first. Then use the tabs or video for more detail.
- Watch the video explanation below for a faster overview.
- Game mechanics may change with updates or patches.
- Use this block to get the short answer without scrolling the whole page.
- Read the FAQ section if the article has one.
- Use the table of contents to jump straight to the detailed section you need.
- Watch the video first, then skim the article for specifics.
So, you’ve got sticky fingers and a thirst for larceny in Skyrim, eh? You’re eyeing the Thieves Guild’s coffers, are you? Well, let’s break down what happens if you try to pickpocket those shifty characters. The immediate consequence is that you will aggravate a member of the Thieves Guild.
Attempting to steal from the Thieves Guild and getting caught will get you this quest for offending the Thieves Guild, usually by assaulting or murdering one of their members, attempting to steal from them and getting caught or murdering someone during a guild quest. Now, assuming you’re not already the Guild Master, things are going to get messy. The Guild doesn’t take kindly to thievery against its own. If caught, you’ll face a severe beating (in-game, of course), a hefty fine to Vex – typically 1000 gold – and a serious drop in your standing within the Guild. You’ll be ostracized until you pay the fine, and all quest progress will be halted, including Additional Quests and City Influence Quests.
Once you’re the Guild Master, you can take whatever you want freely. You are a-okay to steal from the Thieves Guild once you are the guildmaster (haven’t stolen anything pre-darkness returns).
FAQs: Your Guide to Skyrim’s Shadowy Underworld
Q1: What gets you kicked out of the Thieves Guild?
The surest ways to get the boot are:
- Assaulting or murdering a fellow Guild member. They value loyalty, even if it’s of the backstabbing kind.
- Being caught stealing from Guild members or their designated properties before becoming Guild Master.
- Murdering someone during a Guild quest. Discretion is key; blatant murder is bad for business.
Q2: What happens if you wipe out the Thieves Guild?
While tempting for the righteous warrior type, wiping out the Thieves Guild has… interesting consequences. The reward for destroying the Thieves Guild would be, you are instantly Thane, you have max disposition with every vendor in Riften, and who knows what else. Maybe a big cash reward. Maybe the Jarl just gives you Honeyside (the home you can purchase in town).
Q3: What happens if you get caught pickpocketing in general, outside the Thieves Guild?
In the real world, pickpocketing is a felony offense, and the penalties a person could face for a conviction depend on the value of the item taken. If the property was worth less than $3,500, the crime is charged as a category C felony. The individual could face between 1 and 5 years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines. In Skyrim, the law is a bit less severe. You’ll likely face a fine, jail time, or resistance from the victim and potentially guards. The severity depends on the value of the stolen item and your relationship with the target.
Q4: Is there a penalty for quitting Thieves Guild quests?
Thankfully, no. The thieves guild quests are what’s called “radiant” quests, and there’s basically no limit to them and they never run out. You can quit as many as you want to with no bad results. A talking to by Delvin and disappointment from Vex in their speech but nothing that affects the quests.
Q5: How many jobs does it take to restore the Thieves Guild to its former glory?
You have to ask Delvin or Vex for jobs and after 5 jobs in each major city there should be a heist quest. Save before asking them for a job because if you get riften it won’t count towards anything. Reload the save you made if you got riften as the job.
Q6: Can the Thieves Guild help pay off my bounty with their “connections”?
Yes! If players are part of the Thieves Guild and have completed the quest that expands them into the current hold, they can pay half the bounty’s value to clear it. Pay the bounty (Thieves Guild discount). You can also always choose not to pay the bounty and instead spend some time in jail.
Q7: Can I even pickpocket anything with a 0% chance of success?
However, thanks to one particular Alteration spell in Skyrim, pickpocketing can be accomplished at low or even 0% chances of success. The Skyrim spell in question is Paralyze, an Expert-level Alteration spell tome that can be purchased from Tolfdir at the College of Winterhold.
Q8: What exactly is “reverse pickpocketing”?
Planting items, also referred to as reverse-pickpocketing and the Shady Sands Shuffle, is the technique of giving items to NPCs through the usual pickpocket interface. This is performed by pickpocketing an NPC, then adding, rather than removing, from its inventory.
Q9: Can I marry a member of the Thieves Guild? Are there any romantic options within the organization?
Most of the Thieves Guild “aren’t the marrying type.” Nor the Dark Brotherhood, but you can marry Muiri who sent you to go kill her…
Q10: Someone betrayed me in the Thieves Guild questline. Who was it?
I’ve completed Speaking with Silence, and Mercer Frey has betrayed me, which anyone could see coming from a mile away after his “you lead” spiel outside Snow Veil.
Q11: Why did Vex demand 1000 gold from me? What happens if I don’t pay?
She requires the sum of 1,000 gold to be paid to the Guild as reparations. Pay up, and you become frim friends again. Refuse, and expect to be ostracized until yo pay the fine. NOTE: This will halt all quest progess, including Additional Quests and City Influence Quests.
Q12: Are Thieves Guild jobs endless, or will I eventually run out of things to steal?
Once you join the guild, you can speak to Delvin and Vex to receive radiant Thieves Guild quests. These jobs can be repeated indefinitely, and you can have one active job per quest-giver, but you must complete or quit your current job before you can receive another one from that particular quest-giver.
Q13: What’s the best way to steal without being noticed?
One trick is to just simply sneak and stick to the shadows. Go near the target item, crouch and move slowly around until you are no longer noticeable. From this sweet-spot you can steal anything within reach, without moving, thus remaining undetected.
Q14: Can I achieve a 100% success rate in pickpocketing?
Once you get to level 50 in pp, grab the perk and rob people when they sleep, which gives you close to 100% chance. You can get to the barracks and get lot of potions from guards, jewerly from jarls, etc. There it is easy to get to 100 pickpocket level, where the last perk gives you 100% chance with everything.
Q15: How much can I potentially earn as a master thief in Skyrim?
Pickpocketing higher risk targets often give better reward. You can make upwards of 20k~ a day maxing your fence limit for the day.
Remember, even in a virtual world, actions have consequences. While the thrill of the steal is undeniable in Skyrim, consider the potential pitfalls of crossing the Thieves Guild. Plan your heists carefully, hone your skills, and maybe, just maybe, you’ll become a legend whispered in the shadows.
Understanding the intricacies of in-game actions and consequences can be a valuable lesson in strategic thinking, which is something the Games Learning Society advocates for. For more on the educational benefits of gaming, visit GamesLearningSociety.org.