Blackjack

Blackjacks are members' only melee weapons used in the Thieving skill to lure/knock-out certain NPCs located in Pollnivneach. There are three types of blackjack: ordinary, offensive (also known as attack), and defensive. Although the blackjack types are functionally the same and can all be used to lure/knock-out specific NPCs, they each provide different combat bonuses. Ordinary blackjacks provide a small bonus to strength, while offensive and defensive raise both strength and their respective crush types. A Thieving level of 30 is required for wielding blackjacks, however, there is no attack or strength requirement.

A player using a blackjack to knock out a Menaphite Thug.

To obtain blackjacks the player must first complete the blackjack section of the Rogue Trader activity. Once this is completed, the player can either buy ordinary/offensive blackjack or ordinary/defensive ones from Ali Morrisane and, if they want to switch types, can talk to the blackjack seller in Pollnivneach. They can also buy ordinary blackjacks from the trader near the kebab shop. When used in combat there is a slight chance of stunning the victim.

To use the blackjacks the player must first have completed the Feud quest and have the necessary Thieving level to pickpocket either Villagers, Bandits or Menaphite thugs. Once the requirements are met and the player is wielding a blackjack he/she selects 'Lure' on the right-click menu. When away from other NPCs the player should choose 'Knock-out', though there is always a chance they will fail to knock-out the NPC. A successful knockout will reward the player with a small amount of Thieving experience. The player can then safely pickpocket the unconscious NPC.

Strategies

Healing

Bandits and Menaphites cause damage for every failure, which can quickly add up. There is no bank in Pollnivneach, still there are a few options. You can boost your lifepoint regeneration rate with items, familiars, and prayers like Rapid Heal and this will undoubtedly help reduce the frequency you need to eat. There is a kebab store in Pollnivneach which sells Kebabs and Super kebabs at a cheap price, however both are somewhat unreliable and buying from the shop is a slow process. You may also talk to Ali the Barman and purchase wine from him for very cheap prices. There is also a General store you can use to unnote food that you brought, which is the quickest option for obtaining food. Or you can simply use the Magic carpet to return to a bank and withdraw food. Either way the money from pickpocketing will easily cover all expenses. If you have got a ring of slaying, then it should be easy for you. Just teleport to Sumona in Pollnivneach with it. And when you need to restock on food, you can just use a teleport such as an amulet of glory, a ring of duelling or a teletab.

You can also move your Player-owned house to Pollnivneach, and then use the kitchen to heal in for free, or die in your dungeon, which will result in all stats recovered.

Negating the Failure

When you fail to knock-out a victim, you will be attacked. If one was to quickly click pickpocket, the victim will negate the failure and will not attack. This is a great method to use when you are running out of food. Of course there is a failure to pickpocket as well, which causes the victim to take off 50 life points. For this reason, a minimum of at least 100 life points is recommended before trying to knock out the victim. You could also attempt to knock out the victim again to avoid the stunning caused by failing to pickpocket.

'Double Double Hit'

The 'Double Double Hit' is a technique used in Blackjacking. It is achieved when a Bandit/Menaphite Thug has been knocked-out, been pick-pocketed twice and then knocked out. After knocking the victim out, one should instantly right click the victim and pickpocket them. As soon, or slightly before, you hear the confirmation sound, right click on the Bandit/Menaphite Thug and pickpocket again. Then Knock them out again as soon as you hear the second pickpocket confirmation sound. The Victim should lay on the ground still, allowing you to do an infinite 'Double Double Hit' (until the victim accuses you of pickpocketing him). Please note that this method is very difficult unless you have sound turned on. This is some of the fastest, if not the fastest Thieving XP in the game, maxing at 260k-270k/hr at the highest levels.

Where to train

The best place to train with blackjacks is always in a building, with a door and no other NPC. This is so your victim cannot escape to areas you are unable to knock him out, and the less space he has to travel the faster the process will be. Ali the Dyer's tent is a great place for Bandits, as it is small and has a ladder to escape the Bandit if he becomes aggressive.

Another place you can level Thieving at using blackjack is the Thieves' Guild. It is possible after knocking out the trainer to pickpocket a maximum of three times in one knockout, though this is very difficult to achieve but very rewarding in experience. How to obtain triple looting: as soon as you've knocked down the coshing volunteer loot him, during the period when your head is bowing down (this is the important part!) click loot again which will result in an immediate second experience reward then quickly loot a third time for the final exp before the victim regains consciouseness.