PSA - How I stole the pig without getting caught

Feric51 · March 2018

So I've seen a lot of concern over only getting four shots to get the achievement for stealing the pig without getting caught. For last year's event, I was able to get the achievement on all 8 of my characters (all I had at the time) - including a mule.

Step 1: Stealing the apple
You're going to get caught. Understand this and life will be easier. Sure, there are a few tiny percentage ways you can get around this, but it doesn't affect the achievement, so why bother? Clear your inventory of stolen items first (or they will be confiscated). Walk up and steal the apple. Turn and run to the nearest guard (there's usually one who walks a path near the center of the courtyard). Pay off your bounty now so you don't get stopped later.

Step 2: Entice the pig
You will be tasked with enticing the pig with the apple. Here's where the technical part begins. As soon as you interact with the pig you must begin your escape. For magicka characters, this means mounting up, stamina characters probably have enough pool to sprint, but I always mounted just to be sure. Whichever your choice, immediately head back the way you came at full speed. The chef will spawn and start calling out for her pig - you need to put some distance between you and the spawn point. Do not wait for the pig's animation to start following you. As soon as the quest arrow vanishes, you should be moving.

Step 3: The escape route
As you make your way back, there will be an intersection of trails in front of a large Argonian structure - this played a part in the main Stonefalls story quest if you've already done it - GO TO THE LEFT! The city of Ebonheart has two sets of stairs that lead from the main level down to the coastline, you want to go back up the stairs on the East side of the town. As you approach the top of the stairs there will be a structure (inn, enchanting house, something....) on your immediate left. This is the second spawn point for the Chef on this side of town, and she will emerge from the door yelling, "Hey! has anyone seen my pig?" or one of her other phrases. Veer towards the center of the courtyard - I think there's some sort of fountain/statue/garden circled by stone - you'll want to hug this, but not collide with it. As long as you're moving at sprint speed, you will stay out of the Chef's detection window.

Step 4: Almost there
As you come through the courtyard, avoid any NPCs with collision (this is why you immediately stop and pay your bounty when you steal the apple) and head towards the gate near the two guild traders. I think there might be a third chef spawn point here, but my memory is a little foggy. Either way, once you clear the gate you should be home free. The quest might not complete until you set foot on the bridge, but I do know I never got caught once I made it out the gate.

Important notes - Every time I tried the west stairs (going to the right side of town on return) I got caught. The only time I got caught going up the east steps was because I got hung up on scenery or an NPC and the chef closed in. Rapids aren't necessary, because the chef's spawn is based on proximity and not time. Rapids tended to make me a little reckless behind the halter and I often missed jumps or ran into things that slowed me down after she spawned. Just a leisurely sprint was all I needed.

If you choose to sprint on foot, I would advise slotting a trash stam pot and popping it as you approach the top of the stairs, this will ensure you make it out of the gate without slowing down.

I was even able to do this on a level 4 mule with an untrained mount. So it should work on any alts you may have, if you care about achievements on alts.

Good luck, and enjoy!

Edit for clarification on step 1.

Spacemonkey · March 2018

Feric51 wrote: »

Step 3: The escape route
As you make your way back, there will be an intersection of trails in front of a large Argonian structure - this played a part in the main Stonefalls story quest if you've already done it - GO TO THE LEFT! The city of Ebonheart has two sets of stairs that lead from the main level down to the coastline, you want to go back up the stairs on the East side of the town. As you approach the top of the stairs there will be a structure (inn, enchanting house, something....) on your immediate left. This is the second spawn point for the Chef on this side of town, and she will emerge from the door yelling, "Hey! has anyone seen my pig?" or one of her other phrases. Veer towards the center of the courtyard - I think there's some sort of fountain/statue/garden circled by stone - you'll want to hug this, but not collide with it. As long as you're moving at sprint speed, you will stay out of the Chef's detection window.

Step 4: Almost there
As you come through the courtyard, avoid any NPCs with collision (this is why you immediately stop and pay your bounty when you steal the apple) and head towards the gate near the two guild traders. I think there might be a third chef spawn point here, but my memory is a little foggy. Either way, once you clear the gate you should be home free. The quest might not complete until you set foot on the bridge, but I do know I never got caught once I made it out the gate.

or you can just go behind the buildings on the left of the east (left) stairs so you avoid the 2nd chef spawn point alltogether.
just sayin....

just hug the city wall (eastern side) all the way to the gate. *It may happen that something lags and you lose the pig and have to restart etc... thats why I normally make sure the pig isnt more than 15m behind etc... the only times ive ever been detected on this quest is when it lagged bad.

Waffennacht · March 2018

Spacemonkey wrote: »

Feric51 wrote: »

So I've seen a lot of concern over only getting four shots to get the achievement for stealing the pig without getting caught. For last year's event, I was able to get the achievement on all 8 of my characters (all I had at the time) - including a mule.

Step 1: Stealing the apple
You're going to get caught. Understand this and life will be easier. Sure, there are a few tiny percentage ways you can get around this, but it doesn't affect the achievement, so why bother? Clear your inventory of stolen items first (or they will be confiscated). Walk up and steal the apple. Turn and run to the nearest guard (there's usually one who walks a path near the center of the courtyard). Pay off your bounty now so you don't get stopped later.

Step 2: Entice the pig
You will be tasked with enticing the pig with the apple. Here's where the technical part begins. As soon as you interact with the pig you must begin your escape. For magicka characters, this means mounting up, stamina characters probably have enough pool to sprint, but I always mounted just to be sure. Whichever your choice, immediately head back the way you came at full speed. The chef will spawn and start calling out for her pig - you need to put some distance between you and the spawn point. Do not wait for the pig's animation to start following you. As soon as the quest arrow vanishes, you should be moving.

Step 3: The escape route
As you make your way back, there will be an intersection of trails in front of a large Argonian structure - this played a part in the main Stonefalls story quest if you've already done it - GO TO THE LEFT! The city of Ebonheart has two sets of stairs that lead from the main level down to the coastline, you want to go back up the stairs on the East side of the town. As you approach the top of the stairs there will be a structure (inn, enchanting house, something....) on your immediate left. This is the second spawn point for the Chef on this side of town, and she will emerge from the door yelling, "Hey! has anyone seen my pig?" or one of her other phrases. Veer towards the center of the courtyard - I think there's some sort of fountain/statue/garden circled by stone - you'll want to hug this, but not collide with it. As long as you're moving at sprint speed, you will stay out of the Chef's detection window.

Step 4: Almost there
As you come through the courtyard, avoid any NPCs with collision (this is why you immediately stop and pay your bounty when you steal the apple) and head towards the gate near the two guild traders. I think there might be a third chef spawn point here, but my memory is a little foggy. Either way, once you clear the gate you should be home free. The quest might not complete until you set foot on the bridge, but I do know I never got caught once I made it out the gate.

Important notes - Every time I tried the west stairs (going to the right side of town on return) I got caught. The only time I got caught going up the east steps was because I got hung up on scenery or an NPC and the chef closed in. Rapids aren't necessary, because the chef's spawn is based on proximity and not time. Rapids tended to make me a little reckless behind the halter and I often missed jumps or ran into things that slowed me down after she spawned. Just a leisurely sprint was all I needed.

If you choose to sprint on foot, I would advise slotting a trash stam pot and popping it as you approach the top of the stairs, this will ensure you make it out of the gate without slowing down.

I was even able to do this on a level 4 mule with an untrained mount. So it should work on any alts you may have, if you care about achievements on alts.

Good luck, and enjoy!

Edit for clarification on step 1.

or you can just go behind the buildings on the left of the east (left) stairs so you avoid the 2nd chef spawn point alltogether.

just sayin....

Don't even have to take the stairs, walking along the side until guards are gone.

Also waiting for someone else to get the guards' attention and then go when the path is clear lol

DieAlteHexe · March 2018

Thank you all for taking the time to post this.

Jhalin · March 2018

Occasionally I'll go into the apple area and kindly relieve the problem NPCs of their life force to make the first bounty a nonissue for newer players.

After that, you can walk out the whole escape with the pig by navigating around buildings. Important thing to know, once she yells about her pig, you've probably already lost the challenge. You also cannot stealth or sneak to avoid her automatic "caught you" range.

You can cut through a portion of the water to circumvent some of the pathway travel as you take a path behind the argonian buildings. The pig will follow.

After avoiding the first spawn and going up the set of stairs, go behind the dark elf style buildings just like with the argonian buildings.

The chef spawns outside the crafting area coming from the nothern side, facing the wall, so move closer to the middle of town as you pass the building. Then you're home free.

Feric51 · March 2018

Waffennacht wrote: »

Don't even have to take the stairs, walking along the side until guards are gone.

Also waiting for someone else to get the guards' attention and then go when the path is clear lol

Guards aren't the ones who catch you with the pig. It's only the chef. Guards will just slow you down if you still have the bounty from stealing the apple.

Pink_E_808 · March 2018

You can steal the apple without getting caught. Jump up onto the cart where the basket is and wait a few seconds while crouched for all the NPC's to walk or turn away to make sure you're hidden. I got caught the first two times I did it last year, then not once after I discovered that.

Feric51 · March 2018

Bump Since this seems to still be causing headaches to so many...

Edit - Just found out there's a rule against bumping. Forgive me.

Tasear · March 2018

I just Sprint and use stamina potion on pig

swippy · March 2018

the advice in this thread is sound. i haven't failed once (apples or pig) even on a L1 character.

Amadis001 · March 2018

Make sure you have Rapids slotted, and use it immediately after stealing the pig. Just gallop at full speed, ingore everything, and don't stop until you're back at the Jester's pavilion. Easy peasy.

driosketch · March 2018

Thanks for these tips. This has made this the easy achievement and quest quest to farm of the festival.

I start by loading into each character to grab the apples and maybe get a bounty. Than I crouch them in the conner and log out. After the last character I log back into the first but now I have no bounty. I ride to the pig, turn around and grab it while mounted. I sprint off as soon as the quest marker becomes a follower icon.

If I still need the achievement, I'll run at normal speed and cut behind the inn on the east side to avoid the chef. Then I pause at the arch and stairs and wait for the npcs to start cheering so I know the pig is right behind me before contining to the bridge and then the jester. If I already have the achievement, I'll cut through the fighter's guild area going at full sprint the whole way. I do need to wait at the jester for a bit for the pig to catch up.

Peekachu99 · March 2018

Or use your NB—invisibility pots are good too for other classes.

anadandy · March 2018

These instructions are spot on. And honestly - speed is not necessary. My slow as heck MagPlar got the achievement doing this - even if it did take her 10 stam rest stops along the way.

<shadow bump>

GreenhaloX · March 2018

I'm just intrigued or humored as how much efforts or emphasis are being placed into the event of not getting caught while stealing the apple or pig. So much so as there has to be a PSA type post/thread about it. It's all good, though. Ha ha

Syncronaut · March 2018

Step 1: Murder the anoying npc and steal apples

Step 2: Crounch -- give a pig a apple and go -- dont wait for a pig

Step 3: Go left stairs (on right side npc spawns) , then just go behind all the buildings hugging the wall

Step 4: Watch the Cat to kiss a pig

Also -- dont swim, pig hates swiming

Aleris · March 2018

I just used clemency with the guard when they caught me

ANGEL_BtVS · March 2018

Just hug the wall on the left.

Feric51 · March 2018

GreenhaloX wrote: »

I'm just intrigued or humored as how much efforts or emphasis are being placed into the event of not getting caught while stealing the apple or pig. So much so as there has to be a PSA type post/thread about it. It's all good, though. Ha ha

There's an associated achievement if you don't get caught by the chef after you steal the pig. Getting caught stealing the apple is a non-issue that has no effect (aside from the bounty incurred).

I created the PSA simply due to the concern levied by people who wanted the achievement but worried about the short event duration and only having 4 potential attempts at it.

Syncronaut · March 2018

Feric51 wrote: »

GreenhaloX wrote: »

I'm just intrigued or humored as how much efforts or emphasis are being placed into the event of not getting caught while stealing the apple or pig. So much so as there has to be a PSA type post/thread about it. It's all good, though. Ha ha

There's an associated achievement if you don't get caught by the chef after you steal the pig. Getting caught stealing the apple is a non-issue that has no effect (aside from the bounty incurred).

I created the PSA simply due to the concern levied by people who wanted the achievement but worried about the short event duration and only having 4 potential attempts at it.

You can abandon the quest and try again. So its more than 4 attempts.

Enemoriana · March 2018

1. Steal apple
2. Pay that tiny bounty/use edict (or steal without bounty)
3. Feed apple to pig, start moving to that stairs
4. Just avoid few possible places where butcher spawns.
You don't need mount, stamina potions or speed at all, I did it without sprint or horse. I just got achievement on one of first-taking-part-alts with no bounty and walking all the way.

woe · March 2018

You can literally walk up to the pig give it the apple and then ride your horse directly through the middle of town right back to the tent.

xaraan · March 2018

I didn't get caught at all stealing apples yesterday on various characters, it's do-able. I get behind the cart where you can barely click the apples and steal them and the cart blocks you from walking forward.

You are right on going left with the pig, the times I tried other side this year and last I was always spotted, even when invis on my NB, but left side was fine.

Enemoriana · March 2018

Spawn places:

Left stairs:

Right stairs:

So left are easier.
You can just walk near this stone:

Be careful enough not to go too much right (go close to stone) and she will not notice you.

Thevampirenight · March 2018

Well game npcs were not as loaded up. Just ran with the pig not really paying attention because I didn't even know they had npcs out there to look for you. If you steal the pig. So just ran back to the quest giver and didn't get caught with the pig at all. Was not worried the apples yeah did get a bounty for stealing those. I'm sure taking the pig without getting caught can be easy to some and hard for others.

swirve · March 2018

Ive never been caught at pig stage even with brand new 0 horse speed char... is this a joke?

Scorpiodisc · March 2018

Is getting caught more of an issue on PC and Xbox?

Because on PS4 I have not been caught by the butcher once and I did it on 8 characters both days so far. I did not even know that the Butcher could catch you until reading this thread.