A FFXI Theif's vocation is a great option for those who want to live well without worrying too much about the expenses, they earn well. Not the way Mommy would approve, but what's the use of gaming if you can't be sneaky!
Thieves are agility personified in Final Fantasy XI. They are melee fighters that use quick as well as sneak attacks to deal swift damage to their opposition. Once a FFXI Theif hits an enemy, don't expect him to hang around till the opponent lands a blow in reply. The high evasion skill of a FFXI Theif allows him to get away as quickly as he came.
Their forte is their finesse; they can cause massive damage through sneak attacks, pick pockets, hide, evade aggression, be an out and out thug or a treasure hunter, the options are varied.
The betrayal attack is enjoyable as well, especially when you kill two birds with one stone by causing massive damage to the enemy, and making a pestering team member skip a few beats when his 'hate' hikes up!
In the earlier levels the attack isn't too strong but the strong defense makes them fare well enough. Along with their ability to evade attacks, the thieves have both the standard defensive skills of shield and parry. So effectively the Final Fantasy XI Theif can block with his shield as well as ward off attacks with his weapon.
They have no Mana points, so they need healers form time to time. Plus, they are not front line attackers, thieves use indirect attacks to smash up the enemy. This makes them a big target when they are without a party.
A Final Fantasy XI Theif is more effective with parties rather than solo. Mainly because, party members can divert the opposition's attention while the FFXI Theif can be sneaky, and harass the enemy full time.
Ideally a thief wants to be in a party where there are good melee fighters around, and tanks who know their job. Expecting an FFXI Theif to lead an offensive up front wouldn't be a wise option until or unless there is no other melee fighter around. Though thieves can land powerful blows in the later levels, when well equipped with good weapons.
The most versatile job is that of the thief, he can choose any sub job and still make it big. The Thief/Red Mage combination is widely used, and it seems decent enough for the lower levels though it gets tough after 30.
Combining FFXI Theif with melee jobs is an interesting option as well. Especially the Thief/Warrior combination strikes as just about the best available, as it increases the strength and vitality of the thief. Though 'provoke' isn't very useful with thieves, but this combo can seriously deal some severe damage to the adversary.
If you seriously belong to this planet you'd know Humes can be good thieves. Mithra are also really a special race when it comes to this profession. Galka and Elvaan could make good thieves as well, but choosing a thief sub job would be better than an all out FFXI Theif job for those races. Tarutaru aren't too bad as thieves, in fact, with their stats they can be very good at it.
| Race/Specs | HP | MP | STR | DEX | VIT | AGI | INT | MND | CHR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hume | 28 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 5 |
| Elvaan | 30 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 |
| Galka | 33 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 4 |
| Mithra | 28 | 0 | 6 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 4 |
| Tarutaru | 24 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 5 | 5 |
Job abilities mean special strengths which are unlocked after the required number of levels are completed. These can be reused after a specific amount of real-life time has passed (re-use time for each ability is different).
| Ability | Level | Re-use Time (min) | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Complete Dodge | 1 | 120 | Invulnerability to attacks for 30 seconds. |
| Steal | 5 | 5 | Steals item from the target |
| Sneak Attack | 15 | 1 | Inflicts major damage (not active in combat) |
| Sprint | 25 | 5 | Doubles the movement speed, sprint! |
| Betrayal Attack | 30 | 1 | Lofty damage to enemy, but massive hate to a comrade |
| Pick Pocket | 35 | - | Pinches money from the poor target |
| Hide | 45 | - | The enemy is unable to see you |
