Guild Wars 2

Steal is amazing if even slightly traited. There’s so many ways to trait it too, so it can fill so many different functions depending on what you want it to do. Do you want more damage? Another stealth? boon removal? All, and more are possible without needing to use another utility slot.

If you choose not to trait it at all, then yea its just a shadowstep….. but that’s your choice to make.

Shrack.8013:

I don’t see how any thief can sit here and argue that Steal is a bad class only skill… it gives you access to some of the best skills in the game (hello Whirling Axe and Consume Plasma). Of course I am talking pvp here. You can’t just sit here and be all “oh well it’s basically just a shadowstep!!!!111” because it isn’t. Depending on the situation, it gives you some pretty overpowered options to choose from for that class skill. Likewise it allows you to use 2 stolen skills by saving one from a previous fight.

Now what I won’t argue about is the fact that the thief class itself is just relatively boring. The steal mechanic itself is BORING. It really feels like they didn’t know what to do for f1 skills for the class (outside of the initiative system) so they just threw something in. And honestly, the whole thief class design as a whole is a bit lacking.

Fiction case (though it’s what I do when saving allies)
Playing 5v5 in wvw
An ally of your’s get downed
You see a 4 of them running to him to finish him, one is a necro
You steal necro, use fear, stealth and revive your ally
In the meanwhile 3 of your other teammates are bashing on the one person that didn’t run to your ally. Probably finishes him on time.
Fight becomes a 5v4. You are on the winning side, just don’t screw it up now

Yes, steal is probably my favourite skill