In Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, you can have various playstyles depending on the role you want to play. You can play the law-abiding good citizen, the vigilant anti-hero, or a ghost working in the shadows. Almost each quest in the game can be completed in these three routes, but they usually result in different solutions and access to valuable resources. In this article, we will take you through the entire playstyle of the thief.
How To Sneak & Steal In Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
You need to make fine use of your stealth mechanics to successfully steal and most importantly – get away with it. Stealth in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is influenced by three primary factors: noise, conspicuousness, and visibility.
- Noise refers to the sound you make while moving/performing an action, which is affected by the type of armor and equipment worn. Heavy armor is durable and protects you from attacks, but it also increases noise levels, making it easier for NPCs to detect you.
- Conspicuousness is how much attention your appearance and behavior draw. If you act suspiciously in a region with low reputation, and a NPC notices something missing, they will be quick to blame you, even though you aren’t caught red-handed.
- Visibility measures how easily you can be seen. Sticking to the shadows and using cover to navigate while using distractions to disrupt patrols can help you get in and out without being seen.
Thankfully, the game offers you three outfit presets that you can change on the fly. I recommend one outfit solely dedicated to combat, one for being a regular charismatic civilian, and one for sneaking around when you need to.
Understanding Important Mechanics
Generally, if you’re caught trespassing on private property, the owners or guards ask you to leave and will give you several warnings before being hostile if you fail to do so. If you don’t comply, you can still talk your way out of it, but you will lose your reputation since you were seen committing a crime.
You should also try to get into illegal activities during night. Nighttime offers low visibility, which makes it perfect for you to sneak around where you need to go. However, you must still carry a torch as walking around without it during the night is considered to be an offence.
Additionally, beware of dogs on private properties. They act like semi-guards, and will continuously bark and follow you until you leave the property. If a guard happens to hear it, he will come to investigate it and blow your cover. Also, if you try to steal something or knock someone out, the dog starts attacking you and attracting everyone’s attention, sometimes also waking up the owner.
The Lockpicking Mini-game
Similar to a lot of games, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 also requires a successful mini-game in order for you to unlock doors. However, you need to have a lockpick in your inventory to attempt it, which you can get through exploration or buying from merchants. Once you have acquired a lockpick, approach a locked door and start the mini-game.
The way it works is you have to first find a “sweet spot” where the circle glows yellow. Once you do that, start rotating the lock in an anti-clockwise direction until you reach the end of the path, while keeping the circle yellow. Some locks are more difficult to pick, and will require your lockpick level to be higher.
Too many failed attempts will result in a broken lockpick, and its sound will alert nearby NPCs.
The Pickpocket Mini-game
The pickpocket mini-game is complex, and requires you to think quickly. There are two phases while you are pickpocketing
Phase 1
In the first phase, you must choose the amount of time you get to rob someone before they notice you. It starts with a blue circle, and you are safe until it turns completely red. If you don’t pull out before it turns red, the victim will catch you and start causing a scene. The time to turn red can be delayed with your lockpicking skill and perks.
Phase 2
In the second phase, you need to select which items you want to rob. Some items are revealed, while some aren’t. Each item you choose will decrease the time you have, and if you don’t reach the door icon before the timer runs out, you will get caught. We recommend keys and Groschen as the top priority. Keys allows easy access to areas, while also opening chests. You can even steal keys of high level chest locks, which gives you items you wouldn’t otherwise get with a low lockpicking skill. If you didn’t get all the items you wanted from an NPC, you can rob them again provided they haven’t noticed you.
General Gameplay Tips
Remember to keep an eye to the bunny icon. It perfectly showcases the current state of an NPC, with different colors like red for ‘hostile’, orange for ‘alert’, and white for ‘searching’. If you manage to stop the crime or leave the area while the icon is orange, the matter does not escalate further. If the icon is white and they can’t spot you, the NPCs will eventually give up and return to what they were doing.
People will take note of things out of the ordinary, like a door left open, or an item gone missing. Remember to cover your tracks accordingly if you want to get in and out without notice. Additionally, if you haven’t had a bath in a long time, you start smelling which also gives away your position.
Here are a few perks that will enhance your thievery playstyle:
- Creeping Phantom
- Locksmith
- Totally Legit
- Ordinary Man
- Nimble Fingers
- Bushman
- Tool Master
- Mischief Artist
We also recommend getting the following starter items, which serve you excellently well into the mid-game.
- Standard Coif
- Servant’s Hood
- Padded Collar
- Merchant’s Coat
- Milanese Gauntlets
- Simple Shoes
- Godwin’s Ring
- Noble’s Quilted Hose
All of these items can be bought at Tailor Bartoshek in Troskowitz. The only exceptions are Milanese Gauntlets and Godwin’s Ring, which can be found in a picnic bag near a pond, north of Semine. While you are here, you may want to check our guide on how to play dice in KCD 2 as well.
