Guild Wars 2

I don’t use the F1 Skill .
Sometimes I forget it even exist…Not that I hate the idea of stealing stuff from your enemy’s . But environmental weapons seem to have the same effect…As a special skill i find it lacking some kind of more interesting approach when you compare it with other classes. When I am playing an different class I have more feeling for the f1 skill that I don’t simply forget this skill . Or is it just me …? Don’t get me wrong for the rest its my main character…….How do you feel about this skill?

I love steal, the skills you can steal, especially in pvp, can turn the way a battle goes…and if you spec your traits to work with steal, it get’s even better. Not to mention that it “shadowsteps” to the target!
Play with steal a bit more, you’ll use it on every cd available after that.

I would say that Steal at first isn’t one of the most useful skills since there are usually environmental weapons around to pick up, but it becomes very useful once you add the Trait which allows you to deal damage and even apply poison while Stealing from an enemy.

I love steal. You gain a lot of utility abilities and can build your character to do quite a bit (Gain boons, steal boons, deal extra damage, ect.) each time you steal. It’s also a shadowstep directly to your target. Who doesn’t love that?

The shadowstep is really useful and some of the stolen skills are great. Most of them are at least good. The only one I think is a really useless piece of crap is the 60s bleed that requires melee range and barely does any damage.

I’ve only seen 4 good stolen items (hairs for stealth, glob for buffs, mud for confusion and axe for crazy damage). It doesn’t exactly help that the stolen items can all be acquired somewhere in the world as an environmental weapon so our F1 skill doesn’t define our character where it does define the character on every other class, because every other class has access to the abilities we get on our F1.
Also the shadowstep is horrible if you’re using a shortbow or pistols.

Steal only becomes good if you spent traits on it, which is mindboggling.

Steal would work great as just a teleport, but the fact it changes into other random abilities makes it too much of a hassle to ever use.

Daegranos.7451:

I’ve only seen 4 good stolen items (hairs for stealth, glob for buffs, mud for confusion and axe for crazy damage). It doesn’t exactly help that the stolen items can all be acquired somewhere in the world as an environmental weapon so our F1 skill doesn’t define our character where it does define the character on every other class, because every other class has access to the abilities we get on our F1.
Also the shadowstep is horrible if you’re using a shortbow or pistols.

Steal only becomes good if you spent traits on it, which is mindboggling.

Only 4 good items? You’re joking me. How is a nearly instant 3s stun not good? 10 seconds of all buffs? Invulnerability? Ten seconds of chill, when most chill effects in the game are like 2 seconds? A 360 degree AoE for significant damage on a class that depending on weapon setup can be very lacking in melee AoE? Refilling all of your initiative, which is something you steal all thekittentime underwater and allows you keep using spear #5 and remain invincible pretty much forever?

These are all great, and they aren’t even especially random. You eventually start to learn what targets will get you specific items.

I can apply those debuffs myself with other skills, which makes the steal items unimaginative and boring to boot in my book. And the “10 seconds of all buffs” is the glob.
Other classes get something at their F1 which they can’t do with other abilities, why don’t we?

The most annoying however is Stealing from Bosses.

Love it when the Net comes up or Mace. practically useless, or in case of net 100% useless in that encounter.

You should never steal something that wont effect what you stole it from.

I use it more for the gap closing and poison than for the random skill it gives back.

Although some of the skills you get are great in certain situations the randomness kind of makes this more of a gimmick than something you can strategize for.

Maurier.6094:

The most annoying however is Stealing from Bosses.

Love it when the Net comes up or Mace. practically useless, or in case of net 100% useless in that encounter.

You should never steal something that wont effect what you stole it from.

And then you’re not even mentioning that at some bosses it’s instant death if you stand in melee range for just a second, making steal a suicide button.
It shouldn’t shadowstep you towards the mob if you have a ranged weapon attached (throw a claw to steal?).

In PvE, I use Steal whenever it’s up. In a group situation, I am also traiting for “Bountiful Theft” which is a pretty awesome buff to bring to the group, imho.

I find overall in PvE it provides another great tool in our arsenal and some much needed variation to our combat options (with so few weapons).

In PvP, well it’s situational, but also pretty powerful. During beta I didn’t have huge issues with it though haven’t played extensively in PvP since the game went live as I’m enjoying the pve while the initial wave of balancing passes over.

As for during boss fights — we have a lot of ways of getting out of melee range in a blink after stealing, so I’ve never found that much of an issue.

Daegranos.7451:

I can apply those debuffs myself with other skills, which makes the steal items unimaginative and boring to boot in my book. And the “10 seconds of all buffs” is the glob.
Other classes get something at their F1 which they can’t do with other abilities, why don’t we?

You cannot do all of those other things with your usual skills, and even if you could, the stealing versions cost no initiative and don’t trigger any cooldowns. You’re seriously going to argue that a super quick, free 3s stun is totally useless just because you can spend 5 initiative on pistol whip for a 1/2 second stun with a long cast time and only while going S/P?

It can be use full .
But that these skill are also found in the world and are random..
It just doesn’t feel special

Its worth it just for the shdowstep, but if you trait it like i have, its a shadowstep opener that poisons the target stealths me, gives me 2 initive and lets me backstab the target before they even get to do anything.

oh and then the item is just a bonus

Freya Valentin.1839:

It can be use full .
But that these skill are also found in the world and are random..
It just doesn’t feel special

When I played in beta I felt the exact same way. However, you’ll start to recognize the abilities you’re getting and how they’re used, and that’s when it’ll start to make sense to you. Keep using steal. It’s a shadowstep and a free ability that is never useless. Once you learn to recognize what abilities do what, you’ll start to realize how good steal is.

It grows on you. It just takes some time and a little effort. Keep at it.

start using it. its way better than you think it is. its not just about the stolen abilities (though some of those are very good). its about the traits that make your Steal have some spectacular side effects. its also a free shadowstep. its really strong.

I’m a hater of steal. I use it a little bit, it does have some power and usefulness, but I don’t find it a fun mechanic. Possibly the most boring class mechanic.

I’ve found that steal is fantastic. I use it at every opportunity. Its random nature has proved a little annoying, but generally it’s provided me with a good “charge” as well as given me some good items. It allows the thief access to fulfill roles from any of the professions depending on the item you get.

Wow, I love steal. The randomness is honestly kinda fun.

You have a point. Steal really only does like.. 3 things.. Which all seem to be status effects that we have other(better/more reliable)ways of inflicting,. At VERY least, the cooldown is WAY too high for it (and no, the skill isn’t useful enough to warrent wasting trait points on it… not that that significantly lowers it.) It would be really cool if they replaced it with something useful, or at least gave it a % chance to steal silver or something, or at least some items. But its pretty pointless right now, probably the worst F1 skill in the game.

Steal is great. To everyone saying “you can get that in an environment weapon”, tell me what environment weapon still allows you to use your own skills, while having this random skill at your disposal, to utilize straight away or save for another encounter?

How Not To Die When Utilizing Steal

Step 1: Target foe, hit F1
Step 2: Dodge backwards
Step 3: Examine shiny new toy
Step 4: Profit.

Seriously , I’m loving the hell out of steal. Hair for an instant stealth, Mud for stacking status effects, the glorious axe spin, the shard that gives instant 5 stacks of bleeding, etc. All the steal abilities have a pretty nice use and greatly shortens most battles, ’cept maybe boss events.

I ignored Steal for a long time, having only used it once or twice in low levels and not liked it. Then around mid levels I gave it another chance and it has, literally, been a game changer for me. The Steal skill not only gives you – yet another – movement ability, but it can pop up with some fantastic single use powers that are costing you nothing; AND it can be statted to trigger additional effects when you use it.

The other day I got ambushed by a champion Ettin while I was fiddling with my inventory, (wrong place, wrong time, obviously) used my Steal power to grab a weapon from it that did 75% of its health in one blow, and finished the sucker off without breaking a sweat.

Steal is my new favorite ability; give it more of a chance.

Trait steal to give initiative to do more heartstrike spam. also you can hold onto what u stole even after steal is off of cd again so u can use the item, steal, then use another like all within a sec.

Freya Valentin.1839:

I don’t use the F1 Skill .
Sometimes I forget it even exist…Not that I hate the idea of stealing stuff from your enemy’s . But environmental weapons seem to have the same effect…As a special skill i find it lacking some kind of more interesting approach when you compare it with other classes. When I am playing an different class I have more feeling for the f1 skill that I don’t simply forget this skill . Or is it just me …? Don’t get me wrong for the rest its my main character…….How do you feel about this skill?

At first I hated it.

Now I can’t live without it. Dealing 3k damage, shadowstepping, gaining 3 initiative, being stealthed, putting you into position of a great backstab and / or saving your life, letting you escape? All that, for pressing F1. AND you get a great item most of the time.

I’d say it’s just you – you’ll get addicted to it once you learn its usefulness.

Stealing is awesome

To be honest the steal skill doesn’t even seem remotely interesting to me as “special skill” Ive had over 100 hours of game play already and have only used the skill 2-3 times just to see what it did. Just the positioning on the screen as well, i just forget it completely.

I’ve traited myself into trickery and I use steal whenever I can as that it gives me back initiative. With what I’m currently doing I am able to apply 20+ bleed stacks and whatever steal gives me.
If you don’t use steal a lot as a Thief you should start learning to do it because it could just save you.

I will try to use it more and I don’t have any doubt it is not use full.
But it i guess it doesn’t feel like an special skill and it exist as environmental weapons too. And still I like the thief class but i am wondering does the skill feel special to you? Like the special skill feels on the other profession? Ow and Thanks for reply’s I appreciate them .

hmm I see what you mean but in WvWvW when I was being chased, I used steal on an animal and got away xD. Little things like this make steal feel a lot better

I found stealing is fun, hehe kinda like a challenge when you get random items in some situations.

Aside from the Necromancers Spectre thing, Steal is my favorite class ability in the game precisely because of how versatile it is.

Syanda.3047:

How Not To Die When Utilizing Steal

Step 1: Target foe, hit F1
Step 2: Dodge backwards
Step 3: Examine shiny new toy
Step 4: Realize you’ve stolen an item that requires you to be in melee range
Step 5: Cry

Fixed.

I almost only use steal on 2 situations, 1st if I need a teleport (and not using sword+pistol for some reason), 2nd with “bosses” (veteran or higher) for extra damage/protection

Forgot to say, I allways use F1 twice every time, steal and use whatever I stole instantly, then roll backwards if I’m on pistols/shortbow

its so funny to read all the thiefs who play sword pistol / shortbow cause they not good enought to play meleethief and this game hates melee….. it always makes me laugh….. learn your class and you can do dagger dagger in pve even against bosses that hate melees …. oh and btw f1 is a must for thiefs that know their class …..

You have to start stealing. You can set traits that give you boons, conditions, rip boons off players, increased range etc. Also you get some relay useful items. Stealth, cc, every boon n the game, fear, poison, snare etc which used at the correct times can help you alot.

Steal gives me initiative plus a special. I use it whenever it’s up and the Big I runs low.

Daegranos.7451:

Syanda.3047:

How Not To Die When Utilizing Steal

Step 1: Target foe, hit F1
Step 2: Dodge backwards
Step 3: Examine shiny new toy
Step 4: Realize you’ve stolen an item that requires you to be in melee range
Step 5: Cry

Fixed.

If you can’t get back into close range you’re doing it wrong.

My biggest problems with steal (in PvE) involve the absurdity of the things I’m stealing. 60%-80% of the time I steal feathers. What’s that, you’re a golem? Yeah, let’s steal feathers from you. The rarest PvE steal is the one that would be most useful (the axe spin). I suppose it’s part of their, “We hate AoE farming, so kitten everything that would make it almost bearable!” design approach, but that still sucks. The bleed is kind of bad, the chilled thing is kinda nice, actually. The stun is nice, I think I’ve stolen the net twice ever (PvE and PvP; I never get the net. :( ). Really, I just wish I got more variety out of PvE stealing. Maybe give mobs more stuff to steal? I don’t know. Not sure there’s a good solution. In PvP it’s excellent (unless you get that useless scepter thing).

hex.3218:

Daegranos.7451:

Syanda.3047:

How Not To Die When Utilizing Steal

Step 1: Target foe, hit F1
Step 2: Dodge backwards
Step 3: Examine shiny new toy
Step 4: Realize you’ve stolen an item that requires you to be in melee range
Step 5: Cry

Fixed.

If you can’t get back into close range you’re doing it wrong.

Sb + P/P thieves would have a word with you. Ah, and i would love to see you going into the zerg in WvWvW to use your class mechanic, because without any doubt “i’m doing it wrong”, since i don’t want to be in melee range.

Mrbig.8019:

hex.3218:

Daegranos.7451:

Syanda.3047:

How Not To Die When Utilizing Steal

Step 1: Target foe, hit F1
Step 2: Dodge backwards
Step 3: Examine shiny new toy
Step 4: Realize you’ve stolen an item that requires you to be in melee range
Step 5: Cry

Fixed.

If you can’t get back into close range you’re doing it wrong.

Sb + P/P thieves would have a word with you. Ah, and i would love to see you going into the zerg in WvWvW to use your class mechanic, because without any doubt “i’m doing it wrong”, since i don’t want to be in melee range.

How long does it take? I’m not suggesting STAY in there. What are you, nuts?

‘Roll for Initiative’ followed by F1 x 2 = win.
I can take down 4 mobs of the same level most of the time, using steal as part of my rotation.
I didn’t use steal for the first 40 levels until I discovered that combo, and haven’t looked back since.

hex.3218:

Mrbig.8019:

hex.3218:

Daegranos.7451:

Syanda.3047:

How Not To Die When Utilizing Steal

Step 1: Target foe, hit F1
Step 2: Dodge backwards
Step 3: Examine shiny new toy
Step 4: Realize you’ve stolen an item that requires you to be in melee range
Step 5: Cry

Fixed.

If you can’t get back into close range you’re doing it wrong.

Sb + P/P thieves would have a word with you. Ah, and i would love to see you going into the zerg in WvWvW to use your class mechanic, because without any doubt “i’m doing it wrong”, since i don’t want to be in melee range.

How long does it take? I’m not suggesting STAY in there. What are you, nuts?

Against bosses, melee range for a sec means insta death.
In PvP, when i swap sets in order to support, melee range is the last thing i want to bump myself into.

I’m not saying it’s an unbearable issue, but it is an issue.

The worst thing about Steal is the CD , which makes it a forgettable skill, unless you’ve traited it heavily. In PvP it became good only after they made the items freaking OP.

Fact is that Steal is an horribly designed mechanic.

The only issues I have with steal are:

1. The cooldown is JUST long enough that you tend to forget about it since you can’t use it every fight.

2. Anet’s determination of its effectiveness and value as a class skill is heavily based on what you can spec to make steal better. WE look at Steal as a 45s shadow step that gives us a random environmental weapon for 1 use. ARENANET looks at Steal as a 32s shadowstep that does 3000 damage, poisons your target for 10s, weakens them for 3s, and dazes them for 1s. It also stealths you, restores 5 initiative, and grants you (and nearby allies) might, fury, swiftness, and vigor while taking two boons off the target and giving them to you. … However nobody specs for all that (it’s not even possible to spec for ALL of that)

But even as it is, I use it, it puts on poison and weakness (since I’m 20 into deadly arts) and gives me an environmental weapon which usually puts on more conditions.

Steal is the difference between pretty good theives and great theives. Great theives trait steal to work with their weapon combination and stat build, can recognize on sight what every stolen item does, and know exactly when to use it to gamechanging effect, and when to hold it.

The major problem with steal is not that it’s useless. It’s far from useless. It’s that the use you get out of it is largely dependant on how well you trait it to match up with your chosen weapon combo.

This is just like every other class in the game. At level one your profession mechanic is semi-useful. By 80, once you’ve traited that mechanic to fit your weapons and utility skills, it’s a great deal more effective. Theives are not alone in this. Elemental attunement switching sucks without traits. Toolbelt sucks without traits, adrenaline is slow and fairly awful without traits, the list goes on.

The difference is that steal requires you to learn every single thing its capable of, and know these by heart to use it effectively.

PopeUrban.2578:

Steal is the difference between pretty good theives and great theives.

quoted for righteous truth.

i’m astonished to see people saying they don’t use Steal. its easily one of the most powerful abilities ANY class has access to. the stolen abilities it provides are INCREDIBLY POWERFUL. maybe people don’t get this because its semi-random what you actually steal. all of the abilities that you get from stealing are really really really strong though.

the trait bonuses to Steal are equally insane. every single trait build adds at least a couple of powerful bonuses here, and some builds add several.

saying that you don’t use this ability is like saying “i don’t understand how to play this game and i’m confused so i’m nerfing myself because this is too hard for me”

Steal is great for some targets and worthless for most. I almost wish mug was built into it so it would be more useful than a teleport. Or at the very least put us BEHIND the target.