Planting items Planting items , also referred to as reverse - pickpocketing and The Shady Sands Shuffle , is the technique of " giving " items to NPC s through the usual pickpocket interface . This is performed by pickpocketing an NPC , then adding , rather than removing , from its inventory . As with pickpocketing , this action can be detected and prevented . " Fallout " and " Fallout 2 " . Item planting plays a minor role in these games , particularly in Adytum in " Fallout " . By planting items , the Adytowners ( or any other non - hostile NPC ) can be equipped with weapons to revolt against the Regulators . As certain NPCs are unable to use certain types of weapons ( due to lacking sprites for specific weaponry ) , it is necessary to plant appropriate weapon types . Arming NPCs via reverse - pickpocketing is possible in any area with non - hostile NPCs , but its usefulness is limited by the few areas with opposing NPCs . Reverse - pickpocketing explosives will make an NPC explode according to the timer . This will turn nearby NPCs hostile , even if not having been caught doing anything . If the first explosion did not kill the NPC outright , it will turn hostile . Killing an NPC in this way can often make the game crash . Reverse - pickpocketing is the only way to sneak - attack using explosives , as deploying and dropping armed bomb will cause hostility . If a bomb cannot be planted without being detected , it can be planted on another NPC near the target , or in a container , making sure the blast is lethal to the intended target , or that the NPC is standing in front of a wall . When planting a bomb on an NPC , do not save the game before it explodes . Doing so will corrupt the file , making it impossible to load as a result . " Fallout 3 " . In " Fallout 3 " , pickpocketing and reverse - pickpocketing of non - Evil NPCs drains Karma , but the technique can be used to obtain weapons and armor currently equipped by essential or otherwise important NPCs . Planting for exploding pants . An explosive device , such as a frag grenade , frag mine , plasma grenade or pulse variant , can be planted on an NPC via pickpocketing . The explosive will then appear as ' Live ' , and cannot subsequently be removed or used by the NPC . Immediately after closing the inventory window , the target will become aware of the planted explosive and panic , slowing or stopping movement and sometimes looking around ( possibly catching the pickpocket if nearby ) , before exploding . This will always kill the NPC , regardless of health or the Explosives skill . This action will gain some bad Karma , except for super mutants and other non - human NPCs . Once the explosive is in an NPCs pocket , anything in their inventory can be taken without being caught . Reverse - pickpocketing explosives should be performed at maximum possible distance to allow moving out of the blast radius , or by using a pulse explosive which does minimal damage to the player . This technique is best performed on seated NPCs , as they will not have time to get up or run around , and it is easier to remain undetected so that friendly NPCs do not turn hostile . There are some exceptions , such as the slavers of Paradise Falls : killing any faction member in this way , even if not witnessed , will make the entire faction permanently hostile . Children cannot be injured or killed in " Fallout 3 " , and reverse - pickpocketing an explosive will simply add it to their inventory . Kills by reverse - pickpocketing explosives will be recorded as Pants Exploded towards earning the Achievement / Trophy Psychotic Prankster . The famous adventurer sidekick Argyle was adept at this maneuver . According to the " Daring " Dashwood radio plays on Galaxy News Radio , the Ghoul once saved Dashwood and Penelope Chase by planting a grenade on a threatening super mutant . He referred to it as " the Shady Sands Shuffle " and claimed that it " takes me back " ; suggesting he had used it before . Planting items to obtain gear . Some very powerful and unique gear can only be obtained by reverse - pickpocketing . To make an NPC switch armor , an item that occupies the same slot must be reverse - pickpocketed onto the NPC ( e . g . metal helmet to obtain hat and glasses , or raider blastmaster helmet to obtain just the hat , not glasses ) . Upon the next cell reload , ( which can be triggered by waiting a few in - game hours , exiting and entering an area , or otherwise passing through a load screen ) , they will equip the replacement item , putting the target item into their inventory . The desired item can then be pickpocketed as normal . If the autosave option is on , a particularly easy way to trigger a cell reload is to leave the cell ( area ) , forcing an autosave , immediately load that autosave and turn right back around and re - enter the original cell . This ensures that the character pickpocketed will be in the same spot as when last they were seen . Reverse - pickpocketed armor must have a higher DR value than the target item for the AI to equip it . That means that NPCs cannot wear sexy sleepwear if they have armor with a higher DR value equipped . ( PC users have console commands to get around this limitation . See Mesmetron for non - quest NPC alternatives . ) Reverse - pickpocketed weapons usually must have higher DMG / DPR , although this may vary from NPC to NPC depending on their skill levels and other factors . The NPC will switch armor / weapons upon the leaving of the area for a long time , or leaving the area and saving , then returning to the area with the NPC again . By reverse - pickpocketing a radiation suit , NPCs can be made to place masks , glasses and other headgear in their inventory without changing their worn armor . This works even if the worn armor has a higher DR than the radiation suit , and usually works even if the DR is lower than the one of the radiation suit . This method is particularly useful for obtaining Three Dog ' s , Lucas Simms ' , or Sonora Cruz unique headwear without giving them another piece of equipment or forcing them to wear other armor . The radiation suit can then be re - planted for no Karma loss , making the NPC wear their original headgear again . Examples . Items that are not available through other means : " Fallout : New Vegas " . Planting for exploding pants . By remaining hidden for the full duration of the reverse - pickpocket action and subsequent NPC panic , the attack is considered stealthy ; no friendly NPCs will turn hostile and no will be gained . As in " Fallout 3 " , there are some exceptions - killing important faction NPCs such as Caesar , Lucius , or Ambassador Crocker in this manner will always be considered murder and award appropriate faction Infamy . All exploding pants kills count as normal kills with the currently - equipped weapon type , and count towards the associated weapon type achievements . Planting for defense . This tactic is less useful than in " Fallout 3 " as none of the towns or wandering merchants are near particularly dangerous spawns . However , it is sometimes useful to plant superior armor on , who wanders inside the Red Rock Canyon training arena setup by the Great Khans . His pathing often takes him near the generic Great Khan NPCs attacking the training dummies , sometimes getting hit and killed after repeated blows . This can cause some difficulty when attempting to complete Cry Me a River . Planting to obtain gear . Some items such as the Cram Opener , La Longue Carabine and Caps can only be obtained by killing an NPC , However to avoid having that NPC die , they can be reverse pick - pocketed to obtain the item . Planting ammo . Most NPCs , excluding companions ( but not the NCR radio companions ) will NOT consume consumables from their inventory when they should . This means that their regular ammo can be stolen , and have one max charge / magnum / AP round planted and they will fire improved ammo indefinitely . This also applies to automated healing items ( auto - stim , auto - superstim , snakebite tourniquet ) . This can be used quite easily in favor if the need is to win a faction battle without fighting , or if the NCR emergency radio is available for use . " Fallout 4 " . While reverse - pickpocketing is still allowed in Fallout 4 , live explosives can only be planted on enemies once the Pickpocket perk has reached level 2 . Other than that , the mechanics are similar to those of Fallout 3 . Dog equipment . It is the only way to give items to junkyard dogs who , unlike Dogmeat do not have a trade system similar to settlers and companions that can be used to equip items . " Fallout Tactics " . Item planting is also possible in " " though its usefulness is questionable because players rarely level the Steal skill . Only explosives with a timer such as dynamite or plastique can be planted , but not the remote detonator trap which needs a detonator ( once the frequency is set , the trap is automatically laid on the ground ) . To plant an explosive , a player should take it in a hand , set the timer , then take it back to the inventory and planted it in the NPC inventory via pickpocketing .