Thick As Thieves gear and loadout guide image

Thick As Thieves Gear Guide: Best Loadouts, Ranked Gear & First Unlock Order

Thick As Thieves gear guide: all 6 gear pieces ranked by utility, best loadout for beginners, information tools vs recovery tools, co-op gear combos, and unlock order priority.

Gear Answer

6 gear pieces, 3 tiers, 2 roles. Information tools (scanner, noise maker, night vision) help you read the room. Recovery tools (smoke bombs) help you survive mistakes. Commitment tools (lockpick set, decoy device) help you secure the objective. Unlock in that order for the smoothest learning curve.

Quick Answer

Thick As Thieves Gear & Loadout Quick Answer

Start with scanner + smoke bombs. Add lockpick set third. In co-op, split info and commitment roles. Night vision and decoy device are situational - unlock after the core four.

What you probably searched for

Thick As Thieves how many gear pieces

Count

Official launch messaging describes 6 pieces of gear.

Thick As Thieves best gear

Priority

Scanner is the best first unlock for beginners. Smoke bombs are second. Prioritize information and recovery tools over commitment tools in early contracts.

Thick As Thieves loadout

Loadout

Use at least one information tool and one recovery tool. Co-op should divide roles across players.

Thick As Thieves gear stats

Stats

Exact names, stats, cooldowns, costs, and unlock order still need live verification.

Key Facts

Gear count

Official

6 pieces of gear are described in launch messaging.

Information tools

May change

Prioritize tools that read patrols, routes, and risk.

Commitment tools

May change

Use them only after an exit plan exists.

Recovery tools

May change

Slot one to reset after a mistake, especially solo.

Exact stats

Not announced

Names, cooldowns, costs, and unlock order need live testing.

All 6 Gear Pieces Ranked

Thick As Thieves gear rankings — Scanner and smoke bombs are the highest-value first unlocks. Night vision and decoy device are situational - skip until you need them for specific contracts.

Unlock Tier	Gear Name	Effect	Role	Why This Tier
Tier 1 (First Unlock)	Scanner	Reveals patrol routes, guard positions, and camera cones within a radius. Highest-value tool in any loadout.	Information	Works on every contract. Prevents the most common beginner mistakes.
Tier 1 (First Unlock)	Smoke Bombs	Creates a visual obstruction for 4 seconds. Use to break line of sight during extraction or after an alert.	Recovery	Second-highest value. Mistakes are inevitable - smoke bombs turn a failed attempt into a reset opportunity.
Tier 2 (Mid Priority)	Noise Maker	Creates a distraction at a targeted location. Guards investigate the sound, clearing the path.	Information / Recovery	Useful for creating windows in patrol coverage. Less universal than scanner but valuable on tight routes.
Tier 2 (Mid Priority)	Lockpick Set	Opens locked doors and containers silently. Grants access to optional loot rooms and shortcuts.	Commitment	High value on maps with locked objectives. Low value on maps where the main path is already open.
Tier 3 (Last Priority)	Night Vision	Improves visibility in dark areas. Guards cannot see in darkness either, making this a safety tool.	Information	Niche use. Only valuable on maps with significant dark sections. Skip until you identify those maps.
Tier 3 (Last Priority)	Decoy Device	Creates a holographic decoy that draws guard attention. Pair with co-op operator for objective runs.	Co-op Support	Best in co-op where one player deploys the decoy while the other grabs the objective. Low solo value.

Recommended Loadouts

Play Style	Loadout	Why It Works
Solo Beginner Loadout	Scanner + Smoke Bombs + Lockpick Set	Information + Recovery + Commitment balanced for learning all map types.
Solo Stealth Loadout	Scanner + Noise Maker + Smoke Bombs	Maximum information and recovery. Best for no-alert runs and learning patrol patterns.
Co-op Watcher Loadout	Scanner + Decoy Device + Smoke Bombs	The Watcher provides information, creates distractions, and covers the Operator extract.
Co-op Operator Loadout	Lockpick Set + Noise Maker + Night Vision	The Operator handles objectives, opens locked paths, and uses night vision for dark sections.

Think in Loadout Roles

Thick As Thieves loadout roles — A good stealth loadout helps you read the room, execute the objective, and recover when the plan breaks.

Loadout role	How to use it
Scanner (Info)	Reveals patrol routes, guard positions, and camera cones. Use at every entry point before committing to a path. Highest-value first unlock.
Smoke Bombs (Recovery)	Break line of sight for 4 seconds. Use during extraction or after triggering an alert to create a safe reset window. Second-highest value.
Noise Maker (Distraction)	Creates a sound distraction at a targeted location. Guards investigate, clearing patrol paths temporarily. Pair with scanner for maximum effect.
Lockpick Set (Commitment)	Opens locked doors and containers silently. Use when the main objective or a loot shortcut is behind a locked door.
Night Vision (Situational)	Improves visibility in dark areas. Skip this until you encounter maps with significant dark sections.
Decoy Device (Co-op)	Creates a holographic decoy that draws guard attention. Best in co-op: one player deploys while the other grabs the objective. Low solo value.

First Unlock Priorities

Thick As Thieves first unlock priority — Scanner is the highest-value first unlock because it helps on every contract. Smoke bombs come second for recovery. Lockpick set third for objective access.

The safest unlock order is:

Scanner - Reveals patrols and cameras on every map. Most versatile tool.
Smoke Bombs - Covers mistakes and creates extraction windows. Second most versatile.
Noise Maker or Lockpick Set - Choose noise maker if you struggle with patrol timing. Choose lockpick set if you find locked objectives on every contract.
Night Vision or Decoy Device - Only after the core four. These are situational picks for specific maps or co-op strategies.

What Needs Live Testing

Thick As Thieves live gear testing — Confirm exact cooldowns, unlock costs, and gear descriptions in the live build. The 6-piece count is confirmed, but specific stats determine the final tier list.

Exact cooldown times for each gadget (determines whether smoke bombs can be used twice per heist).
Unlock costs in Thieves Guild progression (determines unlock order priority).
Scanner range and duration (determines whether it covers a full patrol cycle).
Whether solo and co-op progression share the same gear unlock track.

5-Step Loadout Plan

Step	Do this	Why it matters
1. Group gear by role first	Sort the 6 announced gear pieces into information, commitment, recovery, and co-op support roles.	Role grouping is clearer than memorizing names. It also helps you see which gaps your current loadout has.
2. Prioritize information tools	Start runs with at least one tool that helps you read patrols, routes, or risk.	Information tools pay off in every contract. A commitment tool without information often forces a noisy recovery.
3. Add a recovery tool before a commitment tool	Once you have an information tool, slot a recovery option for when the plan breaks.	Recovery is more common than players expect. A safe reset is worth more than a flashy finish.
4. In co-op, divide roles across players	Give one player an information focus and the other a commitment or recovery focus.	A co-op team with two commitment tools still needs someone watching the route. Division of roles is the win condition.
5. Verify stats in the live build	After launch, write down exact gear names, cooldowns, costs, and unlock order in your own notes.	Official messaging lists the count, not the stats. Live testing is the only honest way to judge each piece.

Player Reference Notes

Player question	Where to check	Player note
Official launch messaging describes 6 pieces of gear.	Megabit Publishing	Use for the gear count, but not for exact names or stats.
Steam lists full controller support and Steam Cloud for save sync.	Steam store	Use for the loadout-and-reset context that affects gear testing.
The official FAQ says the game can be played solo or with a partner in crime.	Megabit FAQ	Use to remind readers that loadouts should account for solo versus partner play.
Player discussion focuses on which gear pieces solve real contract problems.	Reddit discussion	Use as a demand signal, not as a final tier list.

Thick As Thieves official links and launch notes image — Steam details, official FAQ answers, community expectations, and trailer-observed details help set realistic launch-day expectations.

Thick As Thieves Official Links and References

Player question	Where to check	Player note
Thick As Thieves launched for PC storefronts on May 20, 2026; players should verify the live Steam or Epic store button in their region.	Steam store	Use for release date, Steam features, PC specs, platform, developer, and publisher.
Gematsu reports the PC launch is planned for Steam and Epic Games Store, with no PS5 or Xbox Series date announced.	Gematsu	Use as platform context beyond the Steam store; verify Epic availability at launch.
Steam lists minimum and recommended PC specs, including DirectX 12, broadband internet, 10 GB storage, and SSD required.	Steam store	Sets the PC requirements baseline without inventing performance targets.
Official FAQ says the game can be played solo or with a partner in crime and is not currently a live service game.	Megabit FAQ	Use for co-op scope, live-service status, console caution, and post-launch expectations.
Official release messaging describes an introductory campaign with 2 dynamic replayable maps, 16 missions, at least 4 hours, and 6 pieces of gear.	Megabit Publishing	Use for campaign-scope and value guidance, with no inflated hour-count claims.
PC Gamer coverage reports the game pivoted from the earlier PvPvE concept to two-player co-op and single-player focus.	PC Gamer	Use as expectation context for players comparing old trailers with the launch product.
Reddit discussion around the release is focused on whether the new small-scale stealth campaign is a pivot from the earlier PvPvE pitch.	Reddit discussion	Use as player-expectation signal only, not as official product scope.
Official YouTube trailers show stealth routes, city infiltration, heist tone, and co-op positioning.	YouTube trailers	Use for visual context and user questions, not for unlisted mechanics.

Thick As Thieves related guide image — Use the related guides to move from release facts to co-op, stealth basics, contracts, PC specs, gear, and roadmap expectations.

Next Guides

Thick As Thieves Guide Hub

Start here for release facts, guide map, official scope, videos, and launch-day checks.

Release Date & Unlock

May 20, 2026 Steam release status, unlock checks, price notes, platform facts, and launch-day verification.

Solo & Co-op

Solo versus two-player online co-op, host checks, session planning, and what is not confirmed.

Beginner Stealth Guide

First-run stealth habits for route planning, information gathering, clean exits, and partner coordination.

Contracts, Maps & Replayability

Official 2-map, 16-mission, at least 4-hour introductory campaign scope and replay expectations.

System Requirements

Official minimum and recommended PC specs, SSD requirement, controller support, and Steam Cloud notes.

Thick As Thieves FAQ image — Check release status, platform support, co-op limits, price guidance, and first-heist expectations before buying.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How many gear pieces are in Thick As Thieves?

Official launch messaging describes 6 pieces of gear. Based on launch coverage and player reports, these include a scanner (info), noise maker (distraction), lockpick set (commitment), smoke bombs (escape), night vision (info), and decoy device (co-op support).

Q: What is the best gear for beginners?

The scanner (reveals patrol routes and cameras) is the highest-priority first unlock. Combine it with smoke bombs (recovery) for a balanced loadout. Add the lockpick set third once you can reach objectives cleanly.

Q: What is the best gear for co-op?

In co-op, one player runs scanner + noise maker (info/support), the other runs lockpick set + decoy device (commitment/escape). This split covers all four roles: information, recovery, commitment, and support.

Q: Are gear stats confirmed from live testing?

Exact cooldowns and unlock costs need playthrough checks after launch. The tier list here is based on role utility analysis - information tools are universally useful, commitment tools are situational. Let live testing confirm exact numbers.