Guild Wars 2

I know thieves can “rob” opponents to gain temporary use of an item/skill that can be used against their opponents. But do people really do this regularly, and to any effect? Can you “rob” a player in PvP or WvW? Personally, I think it would be a pain to shadowstep in, take something, and then have to quickly study what you have to know what it does and how you can deploy it.

I never hear anything about Thieves doing any thieving. All I hear is Glass Cannon this. Permanent stealth that. Fastest. Biggest spike. Etc.

Is the “thieving” aspect a wasted ability? Should they be renamed “Assassin”?

Call me odd. I use it. Lol.

Steal is incredible in PvP for the actual stealing ability. Most thieves don’t know how to use it properly, though.

There aren’t that many items you steal so everything is easily recognizable. And each time you steal it gives the same thing basically. Warriors give whirling axe, mesmers give ectos and necros give fear. You’re right though, lots of thieves don’t use it. The long recharge time makes it almost impossible to use more than once per fight and lots of thieves using it are just traited for mug.

I don’t like steal. The lack of options and the cooldown makes this mechanic just an extra thing to play with. I consider stealthing more of the thief’s main mechanic.

btw… WHAT KIND OF THIEF ONLY STEALS ONE THING?! STUFF YOUR POCKETS AND BOOK IT!

I use steal almost every time it’s available.

Creeper.9360:

I use steal almost every time it’s available.

Not me, when fighting another thief I try to save it for when they are down, or to just plain get hair. I love having ice shard stab too. Its one of the harder bundles to land but what some dont know is that if you have a bundle (ice shard) and steal is off CD, you can dbl tap steal so that way you port AND land the stab

Steal is just a means to teleport to your target. Honestly its the most boring class mechanic ever. We should of gotten venoms as a class mechanic not steal.

I once stole a tree from a ranger…

I use it quite a bit. At this point, I’ve memorized what all the skills/items are and when to use them. Steal only seems to be used in conjunction with the Mug trait, which basically means you’ve got 10 trait points tied up in a useless trait line. Steal/mug is also really only used as 1) gap closer or 2) initial strike. It is so good that it can no longer crit, because it was possible to crit 6k on a fully geared lvl 80. Total BS.

I dont play a thief, but from seeing everybody play its quite clear that letting go of the 2 key means you loose 90% effectivness and cant kill anything.

I use steal whenever its available. I am traited so it gives me extra initiative, plus another attack I can use while my #3 is too low on initiative to use.

I use steal 100% of the time i can. It’s a amazing gap closer and i have 2 seconds of stealth after stealing so it’s Really useful

When you are a berserker thief and using “Mug” steal adds a nice 5k crit

Garret from the Thief games, now that is a true Thief. In this game they should rename the profession to Mugger because it’s not a thief.

They used to be able to steal orbs in WvW.

Paul.4081:

Garret from the Thief games, now that is a true Thief. In this game they should rename the profession to Mugger because it’s not a thief.

It’s been said that there is thieving to be had in ESO, taffer.

wait… there’s people who DON’T use the Steal item? . _.

It’s the strongest collection of moves in the game! A PBAoE+reflect+Whirl, a 4s Daze, a 10s Chill, that sweet sweet heal+condi remove…

Like the other guy said, I memorized the stolen item from each class and steal from specific opponents in specific situations. If I’m fighting a Mesmer and a Guardian and the Mesmer is low, I’ll Steal from the Guardian to daze the Mesmer for 4 seconds, enough for me to finish him off usually. Or if I’m getting bursted by a Mesmer and a Ranger, I’ll steal from the Ranger if I’m taking heavier condis or from the Mesmer if the burst is looking to hit soon.

Lopez.7369:

Steal is incredible in PvP for the actual stealing ability. Most thieves don’t know how to use it properly, though.

Well, yes, steal might be great if you Spec Deadly arts +Trickery…. But to my Crit/Shadow/Acro spec steal doesn’t offer a kitten.

Dawdler.8521:

I dont play a thief, but from seeing everybody play its quite clear that letting go of the 2 key means you loose 90% effectivness and cant kill anything.

That joke was funny 6 months ago – everyone has moved on since. The new meta is spamming 3.

EDIT: until the patch nerfs the proverbial out of sword/dagger

Steal is an excellent gap closer and comes with awesome utility if traited. It is also an instant cast so you can use it during any skill with a cast time to ensure you hit your target or make a quick getaway.

Additionally, all of the stolen items are extremely useful and easily predicted (a particular class will ALWAYS give you the same item).

Guardian – 4s daze, what’s not to like?

Necro – our only access to fear, perhaps the most useful CC in the game. Can also be used in stealth (ensures the the enemy’s back is facing you for an easy backstab)

Thief – A free blinding powder, awesome.

Ranger – The regeneration is pretty bad but try leaping through it or using some blast finishers in it, this can make for some excellent self and group healing

Warrior – Repels projectiles (good for a getaway) and extreme melee damage, a no brainer.

Ele – TEN seconds of chilled is just plain awesome (can be hard to land though)

Mesmer – This is excellent for a getaway (swiftness, vigor), ensuring a stomp (stability) as well as some extra healing, damage and condition buffers. All around awesome.

Engie – Heartseeker through the gunk for chaos armour, provides lots of condition buffers and supplementary damage. Very useful.

So in summary: Yes, I do use steal regularly, and to great affect. You should too!

I do. More footage to come!