List of thief skills

This is a list of core thief skills. For additional skills available to thief's elite specializations, see:

• List of daredevil skills
• List of deadeye skills
• List of specter skills

Note that after you've unlocked Weaponmaster Training, you can use all weapons that are normally tied to an elite specialization even if you don't have it active.

Profession mechanic

The thief has 4 profession mechanics.

Stealing is the main mechanic, with Steal occupying the F1 slot above the skill bar, and the stolen skill occupying the F2 slot. For a list of the available secondary skills related to stealing, see stolen skills.

#	Skill			Description
F1	Steal		25	Shadowstep to your foe and steal from them.

Stealth Attacks are the second mechanic, with a distinct stealth skill for each main hand weapon. While in stealth, the skill in slot 1 is replaced by a stealth attack skill and hitting an enemy with it will break stealth. These skills are listed in the weapon tables below.

Dual Wield skills are the third mechanic, with a distinct Dual Wield skill for each possible combination of main- and off-hand weapons. These skills are always in slot 3, and are listed in the weapon tables below. A table with the various combinations can be seen on the Dual Wield page.

Initiative is the fourth mechanic. Unlike most other classes, a thief's weapon skills have no recharge; instead, they are activated by spending one or more points of initiative, which is passively generated over time. The Initiative page has a full breakdown of initiative costs and skills/traits that can restore or increase maximum initiative.

Weapon skills

indicates a main-hand weapon's Stealth Attack. All stealth attacks have 1 .

Two-handed

#	Skill				Description
Short bow
1	Trick Shot	0.5½			Fire an arrow that bounces between nearby foes and inflicts bleeding when striking poisoned enemies.
1	Surprise Shot	0.25¼		1	Stealth Attack. Shoot an arrow that bleeds and immobilizes your foe.
2	Cluster Bomb	0.5½	3		Fire a cluster bomb at the target area. Detonate in midair for multiple explosions.
2	Detonate Cluster	1			Detonate your cluster bomb in midair.
3	Disabling Shot	0.25¼	4		Leap away from your foe while firing a crippling shot.
4	Choking Gas	0.5½	4		Fire an arrow that dazes enemies on impact and poisons the target area.
5	Infiltrator's Arrow		6		Fire an arrow and shadowstep to the target area, blinding nearby foes.
Staff					(requires Weaponmaster Training or Daredevil)
1	Staff Strike	0.5½			Strike your enemies with your staff.
1	Staff Bash	0.5½			Swing your staff a second time, striking multiple enemies.
1	Punishing Strikes	1			Whirl your staff around, striking nearby enemies.
1	Hook Strike	0.75¾		1	Stealth Attack. Attack your foes with stealth, knocking enemies down.
2	Weakening Whirl	0.5½	3		Deliver multiple strikes, weakening foes.
3	Debilitating Arc		4		Strike enemies in front of you and roll backward, breaking immobilizing effects. Gain access to Helmet Breaker.
3	Helmet Breaker	0.5½	2		Leap at your target with an overhead strike that dazes them.
4	Dust Strike	0.75¾	4		Spin your staff in the air, creating a vortex of dust around you that blinds enemies and reflects projectiles.
5	Vault	0.75¾	5		Leap toward your destination, damaging foes upon impact.
Rifle		(requires Weaponmaster Training or Deadeye)
1	Brutal Aim	0.75¾			Fire a shot that inflicts vulnerability on your target. Applies additional vulnerability when used against your marked target.
1	Deadly Aim	0.75¾			Kneel. Fire a shot that inflicts vulnerability on your target. Applies additional vulnerability against your marked target.
1	Malicious Death's Judgment	0.5½		1	Stealth Attack. Reveal yourself and fire a powerful shot at your target that pierces but deals less damage to unmarked foes. If this attack hits your mark, it consumes all malice and deals increased damage for each malice consumed.
2	Skirmisher's Shot	0.5½	3		Fire a bullet that inflicts conditions on your target and grants you a boon.
2	Spotter's Shot	0.75¾	3		Kneel. Fire a bullet that grants you boons and inflicts conditions on your target.
3	Double Tap	0.75¾	4		Fire two bullets that grant might if they hit your target.
3	Three Round Burst	1	4		Kneel. Fire three bullets that grant might if they hit your target.
4	Death's Retreat	0.25¼	4		Shadowstep away from your target and lose conditions. Poisons foes at your starting location.
4	Sniper's Cover	0.25¼	4		Kneel. Create a barrier of shadows that blocks incoming missiles. Kneeling while within the barrier allows you to use Death's Advance.
4	Death's Advance	0.25¼	2		Kneel. Shadowstep forward while granting yourself stealth.
5	Kneel	0.5½	1	0.5½	Your base and maximum movement speed is reduced. Gain access to kneel skills, which have increased projectile velocity. You can still dodge roll while kneeling. Kneeling is canceled if you swap weapons or use Free Action.
5	Free Action				Kneel. Stop kneeling and move freely. If you used at least one kneel skill, gain swiftness.
Spear		(requires Lowland Spear Training or Lowland Spear Unlock)
1	Barbed Spear	0.75¾			Swing your spear. If your enemy is far away, throw your spear instead.
1	Ashen Assault	10.5½			Stealth Attack. Attack foes in front of you with a series of strikes, making the vulnerable. The final strike inflicts damaging conditions. If this skill follows a Finisher skill, it grants initiative.
2	Mantis Sting	0.5½	3		Lead Attack. Cripple your foe with a quick strike.
2	Entangling Asp	0.75¾	2		Follow Up. Poison your foe with a sweeping strike. Movement impaired foes are immobilized.
2	Falling Spider	0.75¾	1		Finisher. Strike nearby enemies, inflicting multiple conditions. Deal more damage and inflict additional conditions against controlled and immobilized foes.
3	Unsuspecting Strike	0.75¾	3		Lead Attack. Leap at your foe and inflict conditions. Inflict additional stacks against foes above the health threshold.
3	Vampiric Slash	0.5½	1		Follow Up. Strike your foes and siphon health from them. Siphon additional health from vulnerable foes. Striking an enemy with a follow-up attack enables finisher attacks.
3	Shattering Assault	0.5½	1		Finisher. Strike foes in front of you and remove boons from them, then enter stealth. Remove additional boons from weakened foes.
4	Distracting Throw	0.5½	2		Throw a spear that inflicts conditions on your target. If this strikes a movement-impaired foe, it also inflicts daze. If this skill follows a Finisher skill, it counts as a lead attack and grants a bonus to outgoing damage for a duration.
5	Shadow Veil	2	3		Block the next incoming attack. If you block an attack, heal yourself. If this skill follows a Finisher skill, it blocks additional attacks.

Main-hand only

#	Skill				Description
Sword
1	Slice				Chain. Slice your foe.
1	Slash	0.5½			Chain. Slash your foe again.
1	Crippling Strike	0.5½			Cripple your foe with a final strike.
1	Tactical Strike			1	Stealth Attack. Daze your foe by bashing them with your sword hilt. Daze them for a longer duration if you attack from behind or they are defiant. Applies vulnerability.
2	Infiltrator's Strike		3		Shadowstep to a foe and strike them. Use Shadow Return[sic] to shadowstep back and cure one condition.
2	Infiltrator's Return	0.25¼	2		Return to your original location. Cure one condition.
3	Stab (without offhand)	0.5½	4		Stab your foe.
3	Flanking Strike (with offhand Dagger)	0.5½	4		Dual Wield. Evade and stab your foe.
3	Larcenous Strike (with offhand Dagger)	0.5½	1		Dual Wield. Stab your foe and steal boons from them. Deals increased damage if it hits a foe with no boons.
3	Pistol Whip (with offhand Pistol)	0.75¾	5		Dual Wield. Pistol-whip your foe, stunning them, then slash repeatedly with your sword.
Scepter		(requires Weaponmaster Training or Specter)
1	Shadow Bolt	0.75¾			Chain. Fire a projectile that hinders foes and helps allies.
1	Double Bolt	0.75¾			Chain. Fire two projectiles that hinder foes and help allies.
1	Triple Bolt	10.5½			Fire three missiles that hinder foes and help allies.
1	Shadowsquall	20.5½			Stealth Attack. Unleash a barrage from the shadows towards your target.
2	Shadow Sap	0.75¾	3		Hurl a bolt of unfurling shadows to bolster allies.
3	Triple Threat (without offhand)	10.5½	4		Fire three missiles that hinder foes and help allies.
3	Twilight Combo (with offhand Dagger)	0.5½	4		Dual Wield. Fire a slow-moving projectile, then fire a quick shot that accelerates the first.
3	Measured Shot (with offhand Pistol)	0.5½	3		Dual Wield. Shadowstep and fire a shot that hinders foes and helps allies.
3	Endless Night (with offhand Pistol)	20.25¼	3		Dual Wield. Fire a beam that hinders foes and helps allies.
Axe		(requires Expanded Weapon Proficiency)
1	Spinning Axe	0.5½			Throw an axe that bleeds enemies and leaves a spinning axe on the ground.
1	Cunning Salvo	0.5½		1	Stealth Attack. Throw an axe that explodes when it hits a target, crippling nearby enemies. Gain initiative if you strike an enemy.
2	Venomous Volley	0.75¾	3		Throw a fan of poisonous axes that leaves spinning axes on the ground.
3	Recall Axes (without offhand)	0.5½	4		Pull spinning axes to your target. Axes deal increased strike damage, and enemies struck by a number of axes will be immobilized.
3	Harrowing Storm (with offhand Dagger)	0.5½	4		Teleport behind your target and drag any spinning axes back at your target. Returning axes also inflict torment, and enemies struck by a number of axes will be immobilized.
3	Orchestrated Assault (with offhand Pistol)	0.5½	4		Pull spinning axes to your target. Axes deal increased strike damage, and enemies struck by a number of axes will be immobilized.

Main- and off-hand

#	Skill				Description
Dagger
1	Double Strike				Chain. Strike your foe twice.
1	Wild Strike				Chain. Strike your foe again, bleeding them. Gain endurance with a successful strike.
1	Lotus Strike	0.25¼			Strike your foe and inflict Poison.
1	Backstab	0.25¼		1	Stealth Attack. Attack your foe from the shadows, striking for double damage if you hit from behind or they are defiant.
2	Heartseeker	0.75¾	3		Leap and strike your foe. The less health your target has, the more damage you cause.
3	Twisting Fangs (without offhand)	0.5½	4		Spin in place, hitting nearby foes. Each hit causes bleeding.
3	Shadow Shot (with offhand Pistol)		4		Dual Wield. Fire an unblockable shot at your foe, which blinds them, and then shadowstep to them for a dagger strike.
3	Death Blossom (with offhand Dagger)	0.5½	4		Dual Wield. Do an evasive attack over your target, striking nearby foes three times. Each hit causes bleeding.
4	Dancing Dagger	0.25¼	3		Throw a dagger that cripples nearby foes and returns to you.
5	Cloak and Dagger	0.5½	5		Stab your foe and vanish in stealth, leaving them vulnerable.
Pistol
1	Vital Shot	0.5½			Bleed your foe with a shot to the vitals.
1	Sneak Attack	1		1	Stealth Attack. Sneak attack with rapid fire from your pistol and make your foe bleed.
2	Bola Shot	0.5½	4		Fire a set of immobilizing bolas at your foe.
3	Repeater (without offhand)	10.25¼	3		Blast your foe with rapid fire from your pistol.
3	Shadow Strike (with offhand Dagger)		4		Dual Wield. Stab your foe, then shadowstep away and shoot them. Unlock Repeater at reduced initiative cost for a short time.
3	Repeater (with offhand Dagger)	10.25¼	3		Dual Wield. Blast your foe with rapid fire from your pistol.
3	Unload (with offhand Pistol)	10.5½	3		Dual Wield. Blast your foe repeatedly with both pistols. Gain initiative if all attacks hit.
4	Head Shot		4		Daze your foe with a head shot.
5	Black Powder	0.5½	6		Fire a black-powder shot, blinding your target and nearby foes with smoke.

Aquatic

#	Skill				Description
Harpoon gun
1	Piercing Shot	0.25¼			Bleed multiple foes in a line with a piercing shot.
1	The Ripper	0.75¾		1	Stealth Attack. Fire a shot from stealth to bleed your target.
2	Deluge	10.25¼	5		Fire four shots at your foe.
3	Escape	0.5½	4		Shoot a harpoon and retreat, leaving a trail of poison.
4	Crippling Shot	1	4		Fire a harpoon that cripples your foe.
5	Ink Shot	0.25¼	5		Shoot an ink shot that blinds foes in a line. Detonate the shot and shadowstep to it.
5	Smoke Trail				Detonate your ink shot and shadowstep to it. Gain stealth if enemies are struck by this skill.
Spear
1	Stab	0.5½			Chain. Stab your foe.
1	Jab	0.75¾			Chain. Strike your foe again.
1	Poison Tip Strike	0.75¾			Poison your foe with a final attack.
1	Deadly Strike	0.5½		1	Stealth Attack. Attack from stealth, bleeding and weakening your target.
2	Flanking Dive	0.75¾	3		Evade your foe and then strike, dealing increased damage from the side or behind.
3	Nine-Tailed Strike	10.5½	5		Block your foe and counterattack with a series of strikes. Gain initiative if you are not attacked.
3	Break Stance		2		Spend initiative to break your blocking stance and immediately initiate the nine-tailed strike.
4	Tow Line	0.5½	4		Throw a spear that pulls enemies to you. Gain stealth and access to Hooked Spear if this skill hits.
4	Hooked Spear	0.75¾	3		Spin around quickly, bleeding enemies caught in your spear's path.
5	Shadow Assault	0.5½	5		Strike your foe repeatedly with a shadowy assault. Evades while active.

Slot skills

Healing

Skill				Description
Hide in Shadows		1	25	Deception. Vanish in stealth and cure conditions. Then gain regeneration and heal yourself.
Signet of Malice		10.25¼	12	Signet Passive: Heals when you attack. Signet Active: Gain health.
Withdraw			18	Trick. Cure conditions, then roll backward while healing and evading attacks.
Skelk Venom		1	25	Venom. Heal yourself. Your next few attacks heal you.

Utility

Skill				Description
Deception
Blinding Powder		0.25¼	20	Deception. Blind nearby foes and grant stealth to nearby allies.
Shadow Refuge		0.25¼	35	Deception. Create a pulsing refuge at the target area that heals allies and cloaks them in stealth.
Shadowstep			30	Deception. Shadowstep to target area. Becomes Shadow Return, which returns you to your starting area and cures three conditions.
Shadow Return				Deception. Return to your starting location, and cure three conditions.
Smoke Screen		0.5½	25	Deception. Create a smoke screen that blocks missiles and blinds foes.
Preparation
Prepare Pitfall		0.5½	25	Preparation. Mark your current area with controlling magic, readying the location to crush enemies when Pitfall is released.
Pitfall			3	Unleash your pitfall on the area, knocking down foes and delivering constant damage over time.
Prepare Thousand Needles		0.5½	30	Preparation. Mark your current area with inhibiting magic, readying the location to poison enemies.
Thousand Needles			3	Unleash a hail of needles that immobilizes enemies on impact and poisons the ground, inflicting conditions over time.
Prepare Shadow Portal		0.5½	60	Preparation. Mark your current area with shadow magic, which can be detonated.
Shadow Portal			3	Unleash shadow magic at your prepared location, creating a one-way portal for you and your allies. Allies traveling through the portal gain stealth. Weakens foes around the portal's exit.
Prepare Seal Area		0.5½	35	Preparation. Mark your current area with stifling magic, readying the location to seal enemies in.
Seal Area			3	Create an area that blocks projectiles and prevents enemies from entering or leaving.
Signet
Assassin's Signet			20	Signet Passive: Grants increased power. Signet Active: Power is massively increased for a short duration.
Infiltrator's Signet			20	Signet Passive: Regenerates one extra initiative every ten seconds. Signet Active: Shadowstep to your foe.
Signet of Agility			30	Signet Passive: Grants increased precision. Signet Active: Refill endurance and cleanse conditions from nearby allies.
Signet of Shadows			16	Signet Passive: Grants a 25% increase in movement speed. Signet Active: Apply conditions to foes near your target.
Trick
Caltrops		1	24	Trick. Scatter caltrops that bleed and cripple foes.
Haste			20	Trick. Gain quickness, fury, and swiftness.
Roll for Initiative			25	Trick. Evade backward to regenerate initiative and recover from crippled, chilled, and immobilized.
Scorpion Wire		0.5½	1	Trick. Throw a scorpion wire and pull your foe to you.
Venom
Devourer Venom			40	Venom. Your next few attacks immobilize foes.
Ice Drake Venom			36	Venom. Chill foes with your next few attacks.
Skale Venom			30	Venom. Apply vulnerability and torment with your next few attacks.
Spider Venom			30	Venom. Poison foes with your next few attacks.

Elite

Skill				Description
Thieves Guild		10.5½	120	Deception. Call more thieves to support you in combat.
Basilisk Venom		1	40	Venom. Your attacks are unblockable and turn foes to stone.
Dagger Storm		20.75¾	60	Trick. Spin around, reflecting projectiles and throwing daggers that cripple and bleed nearby foes. You can move while spinning.

Downed and drowning skills

#	Skill			Description
Downed
1	Trail of Knives	0.25¼		Throw a knife that bounces off nearby foes, crippling them.
1	Venomous Knife			Stealth Attack. Throw a knife, bleeding and poisoning your target.
2	Shadow Escape		15	Teleport to the target location.
3	Smoke Bomb	0.5½	20	Drop a smoke bomb and vanish in stealth.
4	Bandage	490.25¼	5	Call your allies for help. Restores health while you channel it.
Drowning
1	Diving Knife			Throw a knife at your foes, bleeding them.
2	Cheap Shot	0.75¾	5	Knock back your foe with a kick.
3	Vanish in the Deep		20	Stealth into the depths.
4	Bandage	490.25¼	5	Call your allies for help. Restores health while you channel it.

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Thief