A life that we can’t really have in real life without the fear of being prosecuted, but a life that we can have in Skyrim. And even join a guild of those who share our own shady beliefs. Playing as a thief has to be one of the most entertaining ways to play the game, offering the chance to create unique builds and a character that lets you take role-playing to the next level. As great as all of this might sound, that still doesn’t mean that being a thief is easy. In fact, it’s quite the opposite! From deciding who to rob and what to wear so you look good doing it, there are some big choices you’ve gotta make. That’s why I’ve organized this list ranking some of the best gear you can use for a thief playthrough. You’ll notice that most of these pieces of equipment have also been mentioned in my list of the best pieces for assassins, but hey – playthroughs are rather similar, which means that assassin equipment tends to be useful for thieves as well!
10. Thieves Guild Armor
How To Get: found after completing the two first missions of the Thieves Guild. You don’t need to fight in any of these quests, which means you can get it very early in the game! This fantastic set of leather armor comes enchanted with a few spells that make the life of a thief much easier, starting with extra carrying capacity. It’s also the official outfit of the Thieves Guild, so role-players will be happy dressing up with this beautiful set of leather armor. The set also has a ton of pockets, which does seem like something that a thief would appreciate having.
9. Ebony Mail
How To Get: Complete Boethiah’s Calling and slay the Champion of Boethiah if you wish to get your hands on the Ebony Mail. It can be looted from the man’s corpse. The Ebony Mail is a unique set of armor, which is also the artifact of the Daedric Prince himself. It’s a piece of equipment that might be better suited for an assassin, but the fact that it lets you move quietly is enough for me to recommend it. Besides, if things go south during one of your missions, you can always count on the Ebony Mail to deal poison damage to your victims. Don’t get caught by the guards – kill any witnesses to your thieving crimes!
8. Dragonscale Armor Set
How To Get: Reach level 50 and loot as many chests and boxes as you can find. The Dragonscale Armor has a very low spawn rate Arguably the best set of light armor in the game, the Dragonscale set can only be worn after you reach a high level. Or by being lucky enough to get it by parts before then. It doesn’t come enchanted, but it does provide you with very good defending stats and the ability for you to enchant it yourself. Again, this might be a set of armor better suited for an assassin. But it’s one that a thief can rely on if things go badly for you.
7. Krosis Dragon Priest Mask
How To Get: Kill Krosis at the Shearpoint lair and loot the mask from his body This Dragon Priest mask fortifies your lockpicking skills by 20, making it one of the most reliable pieces of equipment that a thief could wear. You’ll also look like a Maori carving, which is an added aesthetic bonus. Seriously a bad ass look, no?
6. Shrouded Armor
How To Get: Shrouded Armor can be found by joining the Dark Brotherhood. You will be given a set upon visiting the Sanctuary for the first time Shrouded Armor, or specifically the Shrouded Boots, are a thief & assassin’s best friend. They allow you to move without making any noise, which can obviously help you rob enemies without them even noticing. However, the set itself is meant to be used by assassins. So the rest of the bonuses will serve a better purpose to help a killer rather than a thief.
5. Ancient Shrouded Armor
How To Get: Complete the “Locate the Assassin of Old” to get the entire set of Ancient Shrouded Armor The Ancient Shrouded Armor is a version of the Shrouded Armor, but on steroids. Every single enchantment is boosted and feels four times as strong as the ones from its original counterpart. With that said, I do have to tell you that this armor serves a better purpose worn by an assassin (to a degree). You’ll find it useful depending on how aggressive your playstyle is!
4. Nightingale Set
How To Get: Undergo the Trinity Restored quest to get this set as part of its progression Now this is a set of armor that every thief needs to have. It’s the set worn by the followers of Nocturnal himself, which means that special thieving boosts are expected. It gives you better lockpicking abilities and the skill to move without making noise. Basically a must-have to push your thievery to new heights.
3. Cicero’s Hat
How To Get: You need to kill Cicero to get his hat. What a shame, right? Cicero’s Hat gives you a staggering 35% boost to your sneaking abilities. You might look like an absolute fool wearing it. But no one will see you if you’re really a great thief, so who cares?
2. Blade of Woe
How To Get: Finish the quest “Death Incarnate” to get the blade Since I’ve gone all-out when it comes to being an aggressive thief in this guide, I might as well tell you to get the Blade of Woe. This piece of weaponry makes stealth kills a much easier thing to do. End some lives if things get too difficult, and avoid detection at all costs!
1. Skeleton Key
How To Get: You’ll get it from Mercer Frey at the end of the Thieves Guild questline Arguably the best thieving item in the game, the Skeleton Key is a must-have. Any thief worth their salt should be chasing after this bad boy. It acts as an infinite lockpick source, which will help you crack open even the most difficult of safes. Talk about handy!
