When there are so many shiny items to steal in Crimson Desert, it can be tough to resist the temptation. If unsuspecting NPCs are going to leave gold-plated ornaments, skill books and more just laying around, then you’d be silly not to take them, right?
But Kliff is an honorable man. So much so that he simply can’t countenance anyone seeing his face while he’s doing anything naughty. But that’s nothing a magical mask can’t solve!
So you can fully indulge your sticky fingers, here’s how to steal items in Crimson Desert.
How to steal items in Crimson Desert
To steal items in Crimson Desert, you first need to wear a bandit mask.
Once you’ve gotten hold of a mask, you then need to equip it in the neckerchief slot from your inventory. Despite its nefarious nature, there are no adverse effects from wearing a mask, but it will show in cutscenes which looks a little weird.
To get a mask, you can either battle bandits (regular bandits or bleed bandits will do) and loot their belongings. Otherwise you can visit the black market merchant in the fields south of Hernand, right next to the dodgy trader where you sell off stolen livestock.
What are the consequences of stealing in Crimson Desert
So now you know how to grab things which don’t belong to you, then the natural next question is whether you should?
There are two major consequences of stealing in Crimson Desert.
The first is that lawmen and guards are omnipotent to an extent which makes even the Imperial Legion in Oblivion seem oblivious. Whenever you steal anything, regardless of who sees you (or not) a bounty notice will be put out in the vicinity of your crime, meaning if you’re caught you need to pay the fine or do the time.
If you escape without notice though, you will be off scot free. If you do get a bounty placed on you but manage to escape, you will either need to turn yourself in or buy a writ of absolution from a church as a way of penance.
The second consequence, again whether you’re seen or not, is that your hard-earned Contribution level will take a hit for every single item you pinch. Given the quality of the items you can earn by raising your Contribution, this means you should probably only ever steal in the most exceptional circumstances.
For more help on your sprawling adventure in Pywel, check out our pages on the best skills in Crimson Desert, as well as where to unlock all of the fast travel locations. If you’re a new player, here are our best Crimson Desert tips for finding your feet in this massive fantasy world.