Thief

Let it be known. The thief, except in philosophy and essence, is not played like your general mmo rogue.

Our resource, inituative, you should know how it works as its explained up there, there are however multiple abilities that increase resource regeneration over time or add a static amount of resource when used. Use them well.

Stealth lasts only for a few seconds but this is offset by the fact that

1. Stealth is set off by multiple abilities off all types* and alters our spam (skill 1) ability into something more powerful (eg a backstab for daggers and a volley salvo for pistols) if used within those seconds. So we can keep shifting in and out of stealth in combat. We are constantly dropping target.

2. There is no stealth detection even in-front of the target, they can still hit us by shooting where we are or aoe-ing the entire area. but the former is avoidable and the latter is ineffective as aoe solo damage is usually lower, it does not break stealth, its expensive both resource and CD-wise for most classes to use on just 1 target for something that lasts a few seconds (even less since we should quickly use our special #1 ability) and occurs often.

(* Certain weapon combinations, steal, a heal skill thieves can choose, certain class skills (7-9) and combo/finishers)

Our 2nd, but not lesser, great ability is our shadowsteping. we have multiple abilities of all types* that teleport us either to and/or from an enemy, sometimes even combined with entering stealth.

(* Certain weapon combinations, steal, certain class skills (7-9) and combo/finishers)

This combination of constant shifting in and out of stealth along with shadow-steping back and forth (sometimes at the same time) greatly confuses enemy players . We have as much deception potential as mesmers. This also greatly enhances our abilities to avoid damage along with the usual dodging, combat dancing, stepping out of the damn way (we also have abilities that make us roll or jump away from danger a great distance much further than dodging can)

The shadow-stepping type often coincides with what is most advantageous to the weapon combination like (pistol/dagger can shadowstep you away and the reverse is vice versa, sword MH lets us mark a spot of ground for a limited time and teleports us to it when we use it again).

We can inflict conditions through our weapon and class skills such as bleeding, poisons, all sorts of movement immobilizing or slowing-effects, vulnerability. Poisons can come from weapon skills or the more CD-like poison class skills that imbue our next few weapon hits with a damaging poison that adds a condition like chill, reduced healing, vulnerability, etc.

Thieves do have support functions like party stealth/healing/cloud abilities that aid your allies and ofcourse cross-profession combo field generations (we can make smoke/dark/poison field types of both circle and wall shapes) that cause blindness, dark effects, poisoning, stealth as per the finisher used (read more on different combo fields and finisher combinations to know more). s,

Thieves, take note, almost ALL our weapon abilities are finishers of various types. Learn your finisher skills and how they interact with different fields! You shall be a GOD in a team.

And i haven't even started with traits, which can either boost or add an extra effect to our various abilities. But i wont get into that with this post.

Thank you Tenjen for that well-written look into the thief profession. It takes a lot of skill to play a thief well (despite what some might claim in PvP). You can't just stand and tank most enemies like some of the other professions. You have to dodge, maneuver, and use stealth to gain an advantage.

I've posted links in the comment section of each stealth skill.
Just like your other "1" weapon skills, these don't cost initiative, so always try to use them to break out of stealth!
Dagger: Backstab
Sword: Tactical Strike
Pistol: Sneak Attack
Shortbow: Surprise Shot

Spear: Deadly Strike
Harpoon Gun: The Ripper