Thief

job · THF

The Thief hits for huge damage from behind the monster, steals items and gil, and improves what a party finds when a fight ends.

THF · two-hour Perfect Dodge · 15 job abilities · 29 trait ranks · 122 spells · 30 weapon skills

What the job does:
Thief is the precision job. Its whole kit is built around position: strike a monster from behind with Sneak Attack, or from behind a party member with Trick Attack, and the next hit does far more damage. Stack the two together and follow with a weapon skill and you get the single biggest hit a Thief can make, which is called a SATA. Between SATAs it fights with daggers, dual wielding as soon as it can, and picks up Triple Attack, which makes extra hits.

On top of the damage, the Thief is the item collector. Steal and Despoil take items off monsters, Mug takes gil, and the Treasure Hunter trait (and later Treasure Hunter II and III) raises the chance that a defeated monster leaves something good behind.

What it is good at: a big opening hit, steady dagger damage, drops, and shifting hate on to a tank. What it is bad at: it has to be behind the monster to do its best, it is soft (low HP and defense, and relies on evasion), and it has no healing or party buffs beyond Conspirator.

From the Thief's seat a fight is a pattern: wait until the monster's attention is on someone else, move behind it, use Sneak Attack, Trick Attack, then a weapon skill; while those recast, melee, and use your TP on a skillchain with the party.

Role in a party:
Damage and drops. A party expects the Thief to hit hard from behind, keep Treasure Hunter on every monster, and not pull hate. The tank is the person the monster faces; the Thief stays behind.

What it brings that nothing else does:

- Treasure Hunter on every hit, so the party's drops are better. Gifts raise it further.
- Trick Attack, which lets you land the same big hit from behind a party member, so you can use it when the monster is facing the tank and you are stuck beside it.
- Steal, Despoil and Mug for items and gil.
- Conspirator, an accuracy and Subtle Blow boost for the party (not on whoever the monster is hitting).
- Larceny, an hourly ability that removes a beneficial effect from the monster.

How the abilities work together:
Base recasts and durations as the server has them. Job ability recasts on Vanadreams are 15% shorter than shown.

Ability | Level | Lasts | Recast | Notes |
Perfect Dodge | start | 30 s | 1 hour | Dodges all melee attacks |
Steal | 5 | instant | 5 min | Takes an item |
Sneak Attack | 15 | 1 min or until used | 1 min | Extra damage from behind |
Flee | 25 | 30 s | 5 min | Faster movement |
Trick Attack | 30 | 1 min or until used | 1 min | Extra damage from behind a party member |
Mug | 35 | instant | 5 min | Takes gil (and, with job points, HP) |
Hide | 45 | 30 to 300 s | 5 min | Makes you unseen |
Accomplice | 65 | instant | 5 min | Takes 50% of a party member's hate |
Collaborator | 65 | instant | 1 min | Takes 25% of a party member's hate |
Assassin's Charge | 75 | 1 min | 5 min | Triples your next attack |
Feint | 75 | 1 min | 2 min | The monster's evasion drops sharply |
Despoil | 77 | instant | 5 min | Takes an item and applies a debuff |
Conspirator | 87 | 1 min | 5 min | Accuracy and Subtle Blow for the party |
Bully | 93 | 30 s | 3 min | Intimidates (Doubt) |
Larceny | 96 | instant | 1 hour | Steals one beneficial effect |

The SATA.

- Wait for the tank to have the monster's attention (it faces them).
- Move behind the monster, with the tank or a party member between you and the monster's face.
- Use Sneak Attack, then Trick Attack, then immediately the attack or weapon skill (Evisceration, Exenterator, or Mandalic Stab when you have it).
- Both effects are used up by the first hit you land, so do not use them until the weapon skill is ready. A hit made with either one active cannot miss.

Sneak Attack and Trick Attack each recast in 60 seconds, so you can SATA once a minute. Between them, melee as normal and build TP.

No way round the back? Sneak Attack also counts as being behind the monster if you are hidden (Hide) or the monster is under Doubt from your Bully. Hide first, and you can open from the front.

Boost the hit. Before the SATA, use Feint (it drops the monster's evasion for a minute) and Assassin's Charge (triples your next attack: send it into the SATA). Use Conspirator if the party is struggling to hit. These last about a minute, so line them up with a SATA, then repeat on the next one.

Triple Attack, Assassin and Ambush. Triple Attack (level 55, and II at 95) raises the chance of three hits. Assassin (60) improves Trick Attack. Ambush (75) adds accuracy while you stand behind the monster. Critical Attack Bonus (78 and up) turns yo [cut off]

Working with other jobs:
Skillchains. Use the Skillchains page: close at least 3 seconds after the opener and inside 10 seconds. Chains a Thief can build with daggers:

- Level 1: Wasp Sting (Scission) then Gust Slash (Detonation) makes Detonation. Gust Slash then Viper Bite (Scission) makes Scission. Cyclone then Wasp Sting makes Scission.
- Level 2: Evisceration (Gravitation, Transfixion) then Exenterator (Fragmentation, Scission) makes Fragmentation. Evisceration then Aeolian Edge (Scission, Detonation, Impaction) makes Distortion.
- Level 3: Mandalic Stab (Fusion, Compression) then Shark Bite (Fragmentation) makes Light. Exenterator then Mandalic Stab makes Light. Rudra's Storm (Darkness, Distortion) then Evisceration makes Darkness.

As a partner.

- Open with Exenterator or Shark Bite (Fragmentation) and a Monk or Samurai closes with a Fusion weapon skill (Shijin Spiral, Tachi: Kasha) for Light.
- Close a Samurai's Tachi: Kasha with Shark Bite for Light.
- A Dancer's Wild Flourish or a Samurai's Konzen-ittai readies the monster for 10 seconds, so your Thief weapon skill chains without an opener.

Magic bursts. Light chains burst with Light, Fire, Wind or Thunder; Darkness chains with Dark, Earth, Water or Ice; Fragmentation with Wind or Thunder.

Trust Thieves. Aldo, Jakoh (UC), Romaa Mihgo and Ark Angel MR use Sneak Attack and Trick Attack only when they will land from behind. They set up chains for you, but they stay out of your way if you SATA first.

Bards and Corsairs. March, Minuet and Madrigal stack with your attack. A Corsair's Rogue's Roll adds critical hit rate, and your SATA is a critical hit machine.

What it needs from the healer. Haste and a Cure when a monster turns. Because the Thief stands behind, the tank takes the damage, so it needs little healing, but its defense is low: a stray hit on a Thief hurts.

The tank. Stay behind the monster and let the tank build hate for a few seconds before your SATA. If you pull hate, stop attacking and let the tank Provoke. Accomplice (50%) and Collaborator (25%) take hate from a party member and put it on you, so only use them when you want to hold the monster yourself.

Levelling it:
Level | What you get |
start | Perfect Dodge |
5 | Steal, Gilfinder |
15 | Sneak Attack, Treasure Hunter |
25 | Flee |
30 | Trick Attack |
35 | Mug |
45 | Hide, Treasure Hunter II |
55 | Triple Attack |
60 | Assassin |
65 | Accomplice, Collaborator |
75 | Assassin's Charge, Feint, Ambush, Aura Steal |
77 | Despoil |
83 | Dual Wield |
87 | Conspirator |
90 | Treasure Hunter III, Dual Wield II |
93 | Bully |
95 | Triple Attack II |
96 | Larceny |

- 1 to 30: daggers, Sneak Attack and Wasp Sting. With Trusts, get a tank first (Curilla, Invincible Shield (UC)) so you always have someone to stand behind.
- 30 to 60: Trick Attack changes your damage. Dual Wield from a subjob brings you to the damage level of other melee.
- 60 to 75: Triple Attack, Assassin and Accomplice. Pick up Evisceration (the quest Cloak and Dagger).
- To 99: your level cap starts at 70. Win Shattering Stars from Maat in Ru'Lude Gardens (level 66 or higher) to open 99. Levelling uses standard experience, Records of Eminence and Trusts. Classic mode keeps you at 75, then 90; Moogle Mode runs at faster rates.

At 99 and endgame:
Merits (five levels each):

- Group 1: Flee and Hide recasts (10 seconds a level), Sneak Attack and Trick Attack recasts (2 seconds a level), Triple Attack rate (+1% a level).
- Group 2: Assassin's Charge (a critical hit boost), Feint (more evasion down and a Treasure Hunter proc), Aura Steal (a better chance that Steal strips a beneficial effect), Ambush (accuracy from behind).
- Weapon skill merits: Exenterator and Last Stand for a Thief.

Job points. Master the job at 2,100 job points. Worthwhile gifts:

- 10: Attack +7. 20: Physical Evasion +10. 80: Treasure Hunter bonus. 100: maximum Treasure Hunter value +1.
- 125: Triple Attack +2. 150: Critical Damage +2. 550: Dual Wield effect +5.
- 1,200: maximum Treasure Hunter value +1 again. 2,100: Perfect Dodge and Larceny come back 15 minutes sooner.
- Spend category points on Mug (HP steal), Despoil (steals TP), Conspirator and Triple Attack.

Master levels. Maat or the Nomad Moogle in Ru'Lude Gardens gives Job Breaker at 99, and Master Breaker on a mastered level 99 job.

Where it shines. Omen, Odyssey, Ambuscade, Vagary, Dynamis - Divergence and Limbus all allow Trusts, so a Thief can bring its own tank to stand behind. Sortie, Nyzul Isle, Einherjar, Salvage and Assault do not allow Trusts, so bring players there.

Gear to aim for:
Band | Weapons | Armor and accessories |
1 to 30 | Federation Knife, Kris | Rajas Ring |
30 to 49 | Bone Knife | Rogue's Armlets (52), Rogue's Bonnet (54) |
50 to 74 | Harpe, Azoth | Rogue's Vest (58), Rogue's Culottes (56), Rogue's Poulaines (60), Assassin's Bonnet (71), Assassin's Vest (72) |
75 to 98 | Batardeau, Mandau, Vajra, Twashtar | Brutal Earring, Mars's Ring, Suppanomimi (72) for Dual Wield |
99 | Aeneas, Mpu Gandring, Acrontica, Sandung (made by Oboro in Port Jeuno), Mandau, Vajra, Twashtar | The sets below |

- Artifact: Pillager's Bonnet, Pillager's Vest +1, Pillager's Armlets, Pillager's Culottes, Pillager's Poulaines.
- Relic: Plunderer's Vest +3.
- Empyrean: Skulker's Bonnet, Skulker's Vest +3.
- Accessories: Moonshade Earring, Telos Earring, Sherida Earring, Eabani Earring, Cessance Earring, Chirich Ring, Petrov Ring, Fotia Gorget, Fotia Belt.
- Weapon skill weapons: Mandau (Mercy Stroke), Vajra (Mandalic Stab), Twashtar (Rudra's Storm), Aeneas (Exenterator).

Common mistakes:
- Sneak Attack from the front. It only works from behind the monster.
- Trick Attack with no one to stand behind. Stand behind a party member who is between you and the monster, or Trick Attack does nothing useful.
- Using Sneak Attack and then wasting the swing. Both effects are used up by your first hit, so have your weapon skill ready first.
- Pulling hate with a SATA before the tank has any. Let the tank build hate for a few seconds.
- Not hitting first. Treasure Hunter applies on your hits, so start the fight with a melee hit, not a spell or ranged attack.
- Wasting Steal. One steal per monster; use it where the item is worth it.
- Leaving Feint and Assassin's Charge out of the SATA. They are a minute long; use them right before.
- Fighting with one dagger. Dual Wield from a subjob is the Thief's baseline.

Job abilities: Perfect Dodge (SP, recast 1h): Allows you to dodge all melee attacks. | Steal (Lv 5, recast 5 min): Steals items from an enemy. | Sneak Attack (Lv 15, recast 1 min): Allows your next melee attack to deal extra damage when striking an enemy from behind. | Flee (Lv 25, recast 5 min): Increases movement speed for the duration of the effect. | Trick Attack (Lv 30, recast 1 min): Allows your next attack to deal extra damage when striking an enemy from behind a party member. | Mug (Lv 35, recast 5 min): Steals gil from an enemy. | Hide (Lv 45, recast 5 min): Allows you to evade enemies by hiding. | Accomplice (Lv 65, recast 5 min): Steals 50% of the target party member's enmity and redirects it to the thief. | Collaborator (Lv 65, recast 1 min): Steals 25% of the target party member's enmity and redirects it to the thief. | Assassin's Charge (Lv 75, recast 5 min): Will triple your next attack. | Feint (Lv 75, recast 2 min): Your next attack will greatly reduce an enemy's evasion. | Despoil (Lv 77, recast 5 min): Steals items from an enemy while inflicting a status ailment upon it. | Conspirator (Lv 87, recast 5 min): Enhances accuracy and "Subtle Blow" effect for party members within area of effect. Does not affect the party member being targeted by the enemy. | Bully (Lv 93, recast 3 min): Intimidates target. | Larceny (Lv 96, recast 1h): Steals one beneficial effect from the target enemy.

Traits: Gilfinder (Lv 5), Evasion Bonus (Lv 10), Treasure Hunter (Lv 15), Resist Gravity (Lv 20), Evasion Bonus II (Lv 30), Resist Gravity II (Lv 40), Treasure Hunter II II (Lv 45), Damage Limit+ (Lv 50), Evasion Bonus III (Lv 50), Triple Attack (Lv 55), Assassin (Lv 60), Resist Gravity III (Lv 66), Evasion Bonus IV (Lv 70), Ambush (Lv 75), Aura Steal (Lv 75), Resist Gravity IV (Lv 75), Evasion Bonus V (Lv 76), Crit. Atk. Bonus (Lv 78), Resist Gravity V (Lv 81), Dual Wield (Lv 83), Crit. Atk. Bonus II (Lv 84), Gilfinder II (Lv 85), Evasion Bonus VI (Lv 88), Dual Wield II (Lv 90), Treasure Hunter Iii III (Lv 90), Crit. Atk. Bonus III (Lv 91), Triple Attack II (Lv 95), Crit. Atk. Bonus IV (Lv 97), Dual Wield III (Lv 98)

Spells by level: Shantotto 1, Naji 1, Kupipi 1, Excenmille 1, Ayame 1, Nanaa Mihgo 1, Curilla 1, Volker 1, Ajido-Marujido 1, Trion 1, Zeid 1, Lion 1, Tenzen 1, Mihli Aliapoh 1, Valaineral 1, Joachim 1, Naja Salaheem 1, Prishe 1, Ulmia 1, Shikaree Z 1, Cherukiki 1, Iron Eater 1, Gessho 1, Gadalar 1, Rainemard 1, Ingrid 1, Lehko Habhoka 1, Nashmeira 1, Zazarg 1, Ovjang 1, Mnejing 1, Sakura 1, Luzaf 1, Najelith 1, Aldo 1, Moogle 1, Fablinix 1, Maat 1, D. Shantotto 1, Star Sibyl 1, Karaha-Baruha 1, Cid 1, Gilgamesh 1, Areuhat 1, Semih Lafihna 1, Elivira 1, Noillurie 1, Lhu Mhakaracca 1, Ferreous Coffin 1, Lilisette 1, Mumor 1, Uka Totlihn 1, Klara 1, Romaa Mihgo 1, Kuyin Hathdenna 1, Rahal 1, Koru-Moru 1, Pieuje (UC) 1, I. Shield (UC) 1, Apururu (UC) 1, Jakoh (UC) 1, Flaviria (UC) 1, Babban 1, Abenzio 1, Rughadjeen 1, Kukki-Chebukki 1, Margret 1, Chacharoon 1, Lhe Lhangavo 1, Arciela 1, Mayakov 1, Qultada 1, Adelheid 1, Amchuchu 1, Brygid 1, Mildaurion 1, Halver 1, Rongelouts 1, Leonoyne 1, Maximilian 1, Kayeel-Payeel 1, Robel-Akbel 1, Kupofried 1, Selh'teus 1, Yoran-Oran (UC) 1, Sylvie (UC) 1, Abquhbah 1, Balamor 1, August 1, Rosulatia 1, Teodor 1, Ullegore 1, Makki-Chebukki 1, King of Hearts 1, Morimar 1, Darrcuiln 1, AAHM 1, AAEV 1, AAMR 1, AATT 1, AAGK 1, Iroha 1, Ygnas 1, Monberaux 1, Cornelia 1, Matsui-P 1, Excenmille [S] 1, Ayame (UC) 1, Maat (UC) 1, Aldo (UC) 1, Naja (UC) 1, Lion II 1, Zeid II 1, Prishe II 1, Nashmeira II 1, Lilisette II 1, Tenzen II 1, Mumor II 1, Ingrid II 1, Arciela II 1, Iroha II 1, Shantotto II 1

Weapon skills: Combo (Hand-to-Hand 5; Impaction), Shoulder Tackle (Hand-to-Hand 40; Reverberation/Impaction), Backhand Blow (Hand-to-Hand 100; Detonation), Spinning Attack (Hand-to-Hand 150; Liquefaction/Impaction), Wasp Sting (Dagger 5; Scission), Viper Bite (Dagger 100; Scission), Shadowstitch (Dagger 70; Reverberation), Gust Slash (Dagger 40; Detonation), Cyclone (Dagger 125; Detonation/Impaction), Energy Steal (Dagger 150; ), Energy Drain (Dagger 175; ), Dancing Edge (Dagger 200; Scission/Detonation), Shark Bite (Dagger 225; Fragmentation), Evisceration (Dagger 230; Gravitation/Transfixion), Mandalic Stab (Dagger; Fusion/Compression), Aeolian Edge (Dagger 290; Scission/Detonation/Impaction), Rudra's Storm (Dagger; Darkness/Distortion), Fast Blade (Sword 5; Scission), Burning Blade (Sword 30; Liquefaction), Flat Blade (Sword 75; Impaction), Shining Blade (Sword 100; Scission), Circle Blade (Sword 150; Reverberation/Impaction), Spirits Within (Sword 175; ), Shining Strike (Club 5; Impaction), Brainshaker (Club 70; Reverberation), Starlight (Club 100; ), Skullbreaker (Club 150; Induration/Reverberation), True Strike (Club 175; Impaction/Detonation), Last Stand (Marksmanship 357; Fusion/Reverberation), Exenterator (Dagger 357; Fragmentation/Scission)