Community Thief Guide

From FFXI Wiki
This article is a community collaborative guide.
Please keep in mind that guides are works of opinion.
The editing of collaborative guides should keep the overall direction and general opinions the same.
If major changes are required or equipment sets are being altered, please utilize the "Discussion" tab or Discord.

Forum Discussion

Feel free to ask questions about Thief or the guide in the Forum Discussion.

General Information

Thief is a Light Armor Damage Dealer, shortened to "Light DD" in FFXI. Thief provides non-buff support in combat, through its enmity control capabilities and Treasure Hunter traits.

Roles

The most common roles of Thief is as damage dealer whose signature weapon is dual wielded daggers, enmity control mechanics, and high Treasure Hunter trait. Thief can control the flow of battle by placing hate on players, as well as stealing hate from other players within their direct party or alliance. Thief also provides the trait Treasure Hunter, increasing the chances of sought after spoils from various foes.

Food & Medicine

Food

Accuracy Options:

  • HP+20, STR+2, VIT+3, Acc./R.Acc.+10% (Max. 80), Att./R.Att.+10% (Max. 50), MAB+3.
    • Purchased from the Curio Moogle for 4,000 gil, 48,000 a stack.
  • DEX/MND+7, Acc./R.Acc.+20% (Max. 70), Eva./M.Eva.+12% (Max. 60).
    • Purchased from the Auction House. Crafted only.
  • DEX/VIT/AGI+5, Acc./R.Acc.+5% (Max. 90), Eva.+5% (Max. 90).
    • Purchased from the Auction House. Crafted only.
  • HP+40, MP+20, STR/CHR+6, DEX+7, MND-3, Acc./R.Acc.+10% (Max. 100), Resist Slow+1.
    • Purchased from the Auction House. Crafted only.

Attack Options:

  • Att./R.Att.+23% (Max. 150), Demon Killer+4.
    • Purchased from the Curio Moogle for 7,000 gil, 84,000 a stack.
  • Att./R.Att.+20% (Max. 130), Eva./M.Eva.+12% (Max. 60).
    • Purchased from the Auction House. Crafted only.

Specialty Options:

  • Acc./R.Acc+14% (Max 90), Att./R.Att+18% (Max. 80), Amorph Killer+5.
    • Purchased from the Auction House. Crafted only.
  • HP+90, Acc./R.Acc/M.Acc.+90.
    • Purchased from the Auction House. Crafted only.
  • Double Attack+5%, Weaponskill Damage+5%.
    • Purchased from the Auction House. Crafted only.

Defense Options:

  • HP+11% (Max. 150), VIT/MND+7, Acc.+11% (80), Def.+11% (120), Enm.+4.
    • Purchased from the Auction House. Crafted only.

Medicines

Abilities, Traits, Merits and Job Points

Abilities and Traits

Your high damage will be from using the tried and true Sneak Attack and Trick Attack. In the old days you would stack them and use both at the same time. Nowadays it's better to use each with a weapon skill since you can build TP quickly and help the tank maintain hate.

Job Traits
Lvl. Name
5 Gilfinder
10 Evasion Bonus
15 Treasure Hunter
20 Resist Gravity
30 Evasion Bonus
40 Resist Gravity
45 Treasure Hunter
50 Evasion Bonus
55 Triple Attack
60 Assassin
66 Resist Gravity
70 Evasion Bonus
75 Resist Gravity
75 Merit Points Ambush
75 Merit Points Aura Steal
76 Evasion Bonus
78 Crit. Atk. Bonus
81 Resist Gravity
83 Dual Wield
84 Crit. Atk. Bonus
88 Evasion Bonus
90 Dual Wield
90 Treasure Hunter
91 Crit. Atk. Bonus
95 Triple Attack
97 Crit. Atk. Bonus
98 Dual Wield
Job Ability
Lvl. Name Noteworthy Equipment
1 Perfect Dodge Plunderer's Armlets
5 Steal See Steal
15 Sneak Attack
25 Flee Pillager's Poulaines
30 Trick Attack
35 Mug Plunderer's Bonnet
45 Hide Pillager's Vest
65 Accomplice Skulker's Bonnet
65 Collaborator Skulker's Bonnet
75 Merit Points Assassin's Charge Plunderer's Poulaines
75 Merit Points Feint Plunderer's Culottes
77 Despoil See Despoil
87 Conspirator Skulker's Vest
93 Bully
96 Larceny

Merits

Group 1
Name Description Notes Investment
Flee Recast Shorten recast time by 10 seconds. This is not really a needed upgrade and the points are better spent elsewhere. 0/5
Hide Recast Shorten recast time by 10 seconds. This is not really a needed upgrade and the points are better spent elsewhere. 0/5
Sneak Attack Recast Shorten recast time by 2 seconds. If you prefer to SA more than TA. 0/5~5/5
Trick Attack Recast Shorten recast time by 2 seconds. It is sometimes more useful to connect TA than SA or finding the back of the mob is hard. 0/5~5/5
Triple Attack Rate Increase triple attack rate by 1 percent. The most important upgrade in Group 1. 5/5 Always. 5/5
Group 2
Name Description Notes Investment
Assassin's Charge Will triple your next attack.
Recast: 5min. Increase chance of fourfold attack by 5 percent. 		This is not really a needed upgrade and the points are better spent elsewhere. 0/5
Feint Your next attack will greatly reduce an enemy's evasion.
Recast: 2min. Increase chance of Treasure Hunter level up by 25 percent. 		Helps with Treasurer Hunter gains. Good idea to max this. 5/5
Aura Steal Adds a Dispel effect to Steal. Occasionally absorbs dispelled effect.
Increase absorb rate by 20 percent. 		Five merit levels of Aura Steal does not necessarily give a 100% absorb rate 0/5~5/5
Ambush Grants an accuracy bonus to melee and ranged attacks from behind an enemy.
Increase accuracy bonus by 3. 		If you're with a group, you're more likely to be attacking from behind. 1/5~5/5

Job Points & Gifts

Job Points
Job Point Category Effect Total Value
Perfect Dodge Effect Increases magic evasion while under the effects of Perfect Dodge. 60
Larceny Effect Increases the duration of effects stolen via Larceny. 20s
Sneak Attack Effect Increases the DEX bonus to Sneak Attack. DEX+20%
Trick Attack Effect Increases the AGI bonus to Trick Attack. AGI+20%
Steal Recast Reduces the recast time of Steal. 40s
Mug Effect Steals HP when using Mug. 100% of DEX+AGI
Despoil Effect Steals TP when using Despoil. 40%
Conspirator Effect Increases physical accuracy while under the effects of Conspirator 20
Bully Effect Increases the chance of the target becoming intimidated while under the effects of Bully. 20%
Triple Attack Effect Increases the physical attack of Triple Attack 20
Gifts
Gift Category Description Value
Physical Accuracy Bonus Increased physical and ranged accuracy 36
Physical Attack Bonus Increased physical and ranged attack 50
Physical Defense Bonus Increased physical defense 28
Physical Evasion Bonus Increased physical evasion 70
Magic Accuracy Bonus Increased magic accuracy 36
Magic Evasion Bonus Increased Magic Evasion 36
"Treasure Hunter" Bonus Increases the chances that the effects of Treasure Hunter will increase 23%
Triple Attack Chance Increases the chance of attacking thrice 8%
Critical Damage Bonus Increased critical damage dealt 8%
Capacity Point Bonus Increased Capacity Points Earned 330%
Milestone Gifts
Superior 1 (50) Enables the player to equip items marked as Superior 1 (Su1)
Superior 2 (100) Enables the player to equip items marked as Superior 2 (Su2)
Maximum Treasure Hunter Value (100) Increases the maximum value of Treasure Hunter by 1, for a value of 13.
Superior 3 (500) Enables the player to equip items marked as Superior 3 (Su3)
Critical Damage Bonus (500) Increases critical damage dealt by 2%.
Dual Wield Effect (550) Reduces attack delay by 5% when a weapon is equipped in each hand. spells by 5
Superior 4 (1200) Enables the player to equip items marked as Superior 4 (Su4)
Maximum Treasure Hunter Value (1200) Increases the maximum value of Treasure Hunter by 1, for a value of 14.
Superior 5 (2100) Enables the player to equip items marked as Superior 5 (Su5)
★Master! (2100) Reduces the recast of Perfect Dodge and Larceny

Treasure Hunter

Treasure Hunter increases the droprate percentage of items. Here's a few things to keep in mind in regards to how Treasure Hunter works.

  • As main job THF, you must be on the monster's hate/enmity list for TH to be active. It can't just stand there and give the effect.
  • TH is actually a type of debuff. So it is safe to say that the Thief must act offensively against the target to apply the effect.
    • This means you that even if you don't come in to melee, you must use a direct action like Bully or Provoke.
    • Collaborator, Warcry, etc will get you on the enmity list, but not apply TH. Indirect actions (or spells) on a party member is not enough.
      • As an example, this can be seen in Voidwatch, where TH grants a bonus to uncapped lights. The bonus only occurs if the Thief acts offensively against the target, and not for being in party or idly using something on a party member with hate.
  • You may remove TH equipment and retain the current effect.
  • If the monster goes idle then TH is lost.
  • On main job Thief, TH caps at +8.
    • This includes your trait of Treasure Hunter 3.
  • Procs increase TH further to 12. 14 with Job Point Gifts. More on this below!
  • Here is a the official SE post on TH.
    • The table is the best explanation the community has received on how TH works from an internal perspective.

Dispelling Superstitions

  • If an item shares the same drop slot then Treasure Hunter will not increase drop rate.
  • A THF doesn't need to land the last hit.
  • Dying on THF doesn't reset TH value.
  • No special "Luck" item(s) helps with TH or drop rates other than TH+ items.
  • Moon phases affecting droptates are tinfoil hat territory.

Treasure Hunter+ Gear options

TH Gear Options  
  Caps at +5
  • See also: Volte Armor Set
  • During Dark Matter campaigns, Herculean armor may also commonly receive TH+ augments of +1-2.

Proc'ing Treasure Hunter

  • TH only procs on the first hit of an attack round.
  • There is an increased chance to proc TH while using Sneak Attack or Trick Attack.
    • Proc chance increases when stacking them within an active Feint window.
  • TH may proc on a WS, but you won't receive a message.
  • Multiple Thieves may work in tandem to each proc and raise the same TH level of a foe.
  • No matter how much TH+ equipment you wear, you may not proc higher than TH 8 → 9 for the first proc.
  • Wearing a total Treasure Hunter level equal to or lower than the current TH level on an opponent decreases the chance of procing TH.
    • You must have at least a level higher than the current level applied to increase the rate of TH procs.
  • Proc occurrences caps at a set rate [1].
    • Wearing more than TH8 will not further increase the rate it increases.
    • This fixed proc rate of TH increase is not static for all levels. TH proc rates are capped at a fixed rate per tier, and that set rate decreases with each level increase on TH. [2]
      • Those two official posts are a perfect example of why players are confused. SE's messaging has lead to confusion, but now that we know, it is simple.

Support Jobs

  • Dancer
    • /49: Spectral Jig, Curing Waltz, Healing Waltz, Quickstep, Box Step, Haste Samba, Accuracy Bonus I, Skillchain Bonus I, Subtle Blow II
    • /50+: Contradance, Skillchain Bonus II
    • This sub offers sufficient utility, as well as healing, should you be doing an event where trusts are not allowed or there are some shall we say— issues.
    • Dancer provides Sneak and Invisible, and eventually the most important bonus from any sub, Chocobo Jig. Haste Samba is mediocre while lacking buffs, but a Box Step right before you go to WS is a nice contribution to the group. Skillchain Bonus is generally underrated, and can really make the sub worthwhile in the right hands. Speaking of which: Subtle Blow.
    • This is one of the main subs for "soloing" as a Thief. While leveling, the time to start using Dancer as your Support is at 40 so you have access to Dual Wield.
  • Ninja
    • /49: Shadows, Max HP Boost II, Subtle Blow II
    • /50+: Subtle Blow III
    • Sometimes you just need damage or TP move mitigation. This sub also offers Sneak and Invisible.
    • Since Thief doesn't get native Dual Wield until Level 83, subbing Ninja starting at Level 20 is the best option until you reach 40. You may then use Dancer as your support.
    • From 50+ onwards, /NIN will still provide another tier of Dual wield until 90/98 when a third is granted and then natively gained.

Notes on Skillchains

Thief is one of few jobs with access to all four level 2 skillchain properties, and as such has various options for both building Light and Darkness, as well as rapidly chaining in a loop. Please see below flow charts for various dagger-based skillchain combos that can be built up solo.


Equipment

Weapons

Main-Hand Options

Homestead Dagger366px link=


Atoyac366px link=
Acc+30
OAT
Acc+15


Sandung366px link=
Acc+50
Crit+5%
TA+3%


Shijo366px link=
Path D) TA+2
DW+5%
DEX+15


Taming Sari366px link=
DMG+15
STR/DEX+10
TH+1


Ipetam366px link=
DMG+
Acc/Atk+
Crit Dmg+
DEX+


Skinflayer366px link=
DMG+
Acc/Atk+
Crit Dmg+


Tauret366px link=

Off-Hand Options

Jugo Kukri +1366px link=
DMG+13
Acc+40
Eva+20


Ternion Dagger +1366px link=
DMG+17
Acc+40
WSD+5%


Gleti's Knife366px link=
DMG+10
Atk+40
Acc+10


Crepuscular Knife366px link=


Centovente366px link=
TP Bonus+1K

Ultimate Weapons

Item Level 119 III Non-Augmented
Mandau (Level 119 III)366px link=


Vajra (Level 119 III)366px link=


Twashtar (Level 119 III)366px link=


Aeneas366px link=


Mpu Gandring (Level 119 III)366px link=
Item Level 119 III Augmented
Mandau (Level 119 III)366px link= R15: DMG+7, Mercy Stroke+20%, TA Damage+10%


Vajra (Level 119 III)366px link= R15: DMG+15, Mandalic Stab+15%, Acc/MAcc+30


Twashtar (Level 119 III)366px link= R15: DMG+4, Rudra's Storm+10%, DEX/AGI+20


Aeneas366px link= R15: DMG+6, Exenterator+10%, Acc/MAcc+30


Gandring366px link=
Check Description 		Offers a choice of three augment paths. Augment Rank goes to level 30. All three paths give DMG+5.
Augments are as follows:
  • Chance of Double Damage+50%, STP+25
  • Follow-up Attack+50%, Subtle Blow (II)+25
  • EVA+100, Evade = TP+50

Job-Specific Armor

Artifact Armor


Artifact Armor
Item Upgrade? Notes

Pill. Bonnet +4366px link= 		Maybe Best for some stacked Weapon skills, but don't use otherwise unless Nyame Helm is lacking the Weapon Skill Damage + to overtake.

Pill. Vest +4366px link=
Hide Duration +100 		Yes Highest Triple Attack body piece available.

Pill. Armlets +4366px link=
Trick Attack +20 		Meh Min/Maxer piece as it needs to be on during the time of attack. Best for Trick Attack stacked auto-attacks, but would advise against using on a stacked Weapon skill.

Pill. Culottes +4366px link= 		Maybe Good TP piece if Gleti's Breeches isn't augmented with Triple Attack yet. Can be substituted by Samnuha Tights with high Triple Attack Augments.

Pill. Poulaines +4366px link=
Steal +15
Flee Duration +18 		Yes Steal+15 alone makes this worth making if you use THF for gathering Impish Box.Movement Speed +18%

Relic Armor

Relic Armor
Item Upgrade? Notes

Plun. Bonnet +4366px link=
Aura Steal 		Maybe Skulker's Bonnet +3 has better TP set synergy. Useful for Min/Maxing Mug & Aura Steal.

Plunderer's Vest +4366px link=
Ambush 		Yes This piece has a niche spot: it will likely be better with a stacked Sneak Attack or Trick Attack weapon skill. When going unstacked, use Skulker's Vest +3 or Nyame MailR25. Best for Sneak Attack or Trick Attack auto-attacks. It also has 5% Triple Attack from 5/5 Ambush Merits, making it a solid competitor for Pillager's Vest +4, especially when under attack cap.

Plun. Armlets +4366px link=
Perfect Dodge 		Maybe With Skulker's Poulaines +3, Treasure Hunter is capped at 8 already. However, can be worked into a build with AF+3/4 Feet with one extra piece of TH+1 gear for enhanced movement & tagging.

Plun. Culottes +4366px link=
Feint 		Yes Fits in well as a stop-gap between Odyssey RP.

Plun. Poulaines +4366px link=
Assassin's Charge 		Yes Thief's Go-to TP feet slot. Don't leave home without them.


Divergence Weapon
Item Upgrade? Notes

Gandring366px link= 		N/A Treasure Hunter+ gear tests have concluded anything over +8 treasure hunter equipment total is a waste. Shines on Path C for Evasion builds, and while niche, has some uses for Paths A & B.


Divergence Neck Accessory
Item Upgrade? Notes

Asn. Gorget +2366px link=
DEX & AGI +15
Evasion +25
Trip. Atk. +4% 		N/A HQ1 and HQ2 are pretty close, worth the expenditure if you enjoy playing Thief. Nearly full-time necklace. Great TP and WS slots, just need your idle piece to have your neck slots fulfilled.

Empyrean Armor

Empyrean Armor
Item Upgrade? Notes

Skulker's Bonnet +3366px link=
Collaborator & Accomplice +21% 		Yes If you like triple attacks and capped attack situations, this is the piece for you. +10 Phys. Damage Limit coupled with +5 Triple Attack make this a great TP piece and situational WS Best in Slot. Bonus Points for Augmenting Collaborator and Accomplice.

Skulker's Vest +3366px link=
Conspirator 		Yes +12% Weapon Skill Damage makes this an amazing piece for WS's, especially when wielding a Dagger with the whooping +38 Dagger Skill. Bonus Points for Augmenting Conspirator.

Skulk. Armlets +3366px link=
Sneak Attack +30 		Optional Need to do more testing on these, so far appears to apply bonus upon Job Ability usage. Will update at a later time.

Skulk. Culottes +3366px link=
Despoil +13% 		Optional So much lost potential... Too bad no Triple attack mods. Despoil +11% and DT-13%. Completionist's piece.

Skulk. Poulaines +3366px link=
Despoil +8% 		Yes All the Treasure Hunter! Definitely worth upgrading, especially if the Relic Hands have not been made yet. Despoil+8% for the min/maxer's, paired with DT-11%.


Empyrean Armor Accessories
Item Upgrade? Notes

Skulker's Earring366px link= 		N/A Even though this is NQ, it still has a nice home in TP sets, though depending on your TP set, you could consider Dedition Earring Telos Earring, or Cessance Earring if you prefer more Store TP over Triple Attack. Not vey beneficial for WS or Idle.

Skulk. Earring +1366px link=
[1] Accuracy &
Magic Accuracy +11 ~ 15
[2] Store TP +3 ~ 5 		N/A You'll likely be rocking the +1 for a while unless you're extremely lucky top pop a +2 from your Old Case +1. With the Store TP augments, this should live full time in your earring2 slot for your TP set over other options

Skulk. Earring +2366px link=
[1] Accuracy &
Magic Accuracy+16 ~ 20
[2] Store TP +6 ~ 8
[3] DEX & AGL +7 ~ 15 		N/A Absolutely amazing for Thief. This has everything you need all one one earring except DT. Can be used in WS sets with DEX and AGI modifiers.

Ambuscade Cape Builds

The Ambuscade Cape Toutatis's Cape is very versatile when augmented, and it's recommended to build multiple capes for different purposes.

Ambuscade cape builds
Augments Purpose/Uses Notes

+20 DEX
+20 Accuracy/Attack
+10 Accuracy
+10 “Store TP”
-10% Physical damage taken

TP standard (Acc)

  • Can swap 10% PDT for 5% DT

+20 DEX
+20 Accuracy/Attack
+10 DEX
+10 “Dual Wield”
-5% Damage taken

TP Dual Wield

  • Can swap 10% PDT for 5% DT

+20 AGI
+20 Evasion/Magic Evasion
+10 Evasion
+10 “Store TP”
+15 Evasion

Evasion

  • Can swap 15 Evasion for 5% Parry

+20 DEX
+20 Accuracy/Attack
+10 DEX
+10% Critical Hit Rate
-5% Damage taken

DEX Crit

  • Evisceration
  • Also works as general TP
  • Can swap 10% PDT for 5% DT

+20 DEX
+20 Accuracy/Attack
+10 DEX
+10 “Store TP”
-5% Damage taken

DEX STP

  • Dancing Edge
  • Externator
  • Sneak Attack
  • Also works as general TP
  • Can swap 10% PDT for 5% DT

+20 DEX
+20 Accuracy/Attack
+10 DEX
+10% Weaponskill Damage
-5% Damage taken

DEX WSD

  • Rudra's Storm
  • Mandalic Stab
  • Ruthless Stroke
  • Shark Bite
  • Can swap 10% PDT for 5% DT

+20 INT
+20 Magic Accuracy/Magic Damage
+10 INT
+10% Weaponskill Damage
-5% Damage taken

INT Magic WSD

  • Aeolian Edge
  • Can swap 10% PDT for 5% DT

+20 STR
+20 Accuracy/Attack
+10 STR
+10% Weaponskill Damage
-5% Damage taken

STR WSD

  • Savage Blade
  • Can swap 10% PDT for 5% DT

Equipment Sets

Notes on Prioritizing Equipment

  • There are two main sets a THF needs:
    • The first major one is the TP set in which you first want to cap your delay reduction.
    • The next are your WS sets, and obviously increasing your survivability through DT sets and other defensive gear should be an ever present third priority.
      • So, make some defensive sets for physical, magical, magic evasion, evasion, etc. As long as you cap Damage Taken you can always go back later and min/max & customize your sets, while having something worthwhile to resort to. Fortunately, there are sets below for you!
  • So your TP set on THF generally requires 26% Equipment Haste, 44% Magic Haste, and a certain amount of Dual Wield based on the buffs you have. You can go to Attack Speed for the more intricate numbers. If you're fully buffed, you need DW+11, or DW+6 if you've acquired 550+ JP, respectively.
    • After you've reached that (or very close) you need to stack accuracy until you are around the accuracy cap for the content you're doing. This is going to vary, but sometimes other players or pages on the wiki will explain the accuracy required. Parsing with third party tools is the best way to get this right otherwise.


  • Next step is to stack Triple Attack and Store TP.
    • I'd value +2~2.5 STP similar to 1% Triple Attack. This comparison is going to change based on your gear and buffs; as the more TA+ you get, the more valuable STP becomes, and vice versa. So, try for a general balance around that ratio.
  • If you can't decide between two pieces after all of that is considered, choose the one with more magic evasion or defensive stats. Remember the 5D's:
    • Dead DPS Don't Do Damage.


  • For Dagger Weapon Skills, you largely lean on DEX and Weapon Skill Damage (WSD).
    • In order: Shark Bite, Mandalic Stab, Rudra's Storm, and later on Ruthless Stroke are our strongest single-hit WS and scale extremely well with those two main stats.
      • Rudra's is your bread and butter WS. Strong both stacked and unstacked, but you need attack buffs to really pump out high numbers. In a scenario where you have to deal without attack buffs, Mandalic Stab, which has a native attack boost to it, can outpace Rudra's. This is true in general, but especially is with an augmented mythic.
    • Evisceration needs Critical Hit Rate & Critical Damage+ gear, as well as some more Accuracy+ as it is a multi-hit Weapon Skill.
    • Exenterator is one of THF's other main multi-hit Weaponskills. Stack AGI/ACC/ATT as it doesn't scale well with WSD.
  • If you are a new THF (or gearing a mule) looking to be better:
    • Aim for Tauret/Shijo and spam Evisceration while SC'ing with SA or TA Rudra's.

Progession TP Sets

The best advice I can give for THF Progression:

  • Complete your Ambuscade Armorset(s) first.
    • This includes starting your early PDT/DT sets.
  • After that, work on Reforged Artifact+2 (Omen) & Relic+2 (Dynamis - Divergence), as they give significant boosts to overall functionality.
    • Empyrean+1 (Vagary) going into Empyrean +2 (Sortie) is half decent DT gear but has more niche functional uses.
      • Pepper in Malignance Armor farming when & where you can when you're comfortable with it. Malignance Armor is still incredibly strong and useful.
  • On a personal note: I'm a strong believer in Relic+3 before moving onto Artifact+3, respectively.
    • AF/Relic+4 (Limbus 3.0) would be the long-term goal on the horizon as AF/Relic remains at the core of THF's sets.

--Brahmsz (talk) 10:52, 1 July 2026 (UTC)

Starting Out
Starter Set
Notes: As soon as you can raise enough Bayld, make your way to the Peacekeepers' Coalition in Eastern Adoulin where Vesca is to buy the Thurandant Set +1


Starter Set (Alternative)
Notes: The Heidrek set is a very easy to get new baseline of gear bought with Domain Invasion Points. It's not impressive, but you can basically earn up to 2 pieces a day by just showing up and beating on stuff in Domain Invasion.


Low Mid Tier Progression
  • Both of these sets lean heavily into AF+2 & Relic+2. You may start experiencing some real sticker shock at the expenses required to start upgrading your existing gear. Progress will start to slow down as your gear improves and that's okay.


Low Mid Tier I
  Pre-550 JP
Dual Wield 3
Notes:


Low Mid Tier II
  550+ JP
Dual Wield 4
Notes:
  • By this point, Malignance Attire Set farming is on the horizon.
    • If you already have a piece (or two), feel free to swap them in.
Upper Mid Tier Progression
  • At this point, sets will become less vulnerable and your ability to contribute to groups will really begin to shine.


High-End Tier Progression
High-End Set A
  Aeneas,Tauret
Notes:
  • A TP Bonus+1,000 Centovente may still have a place in this build. At this point, it's personal preference which you prefer to use, honestly. --Brahmsz (talk)
  • With Ambush merits, Plunderer's Vest +4 will be the better body option if you're able to maintain fighting behind a monster.
    • In general, Plunderer's Vest +4 is competitive when not attack capped, and better when making use of the augment.


High-End Set B
  Twashtar &
MPU Gandring
Aftermath Build

Dual Wield TP Sets

  • A Lv.99 Thief starts at Dual Wield Tier III (-25% melee delay reduction), and at 550 Job Points invested, this upgrades to Tier IV (-30% melee delay reduction).
    • When at capped Gear & Magical Haste values, +11% and +7% Dual Wield (respective to DW III and IV) is all that's needed to reach the melee delay cap. However, what your build will look like at suboptimal Haste values is still worth keeping in mind.
    • It's fine to be a percent over or under (depending on your gear) without dramatically affecting performance.
      • For instance: Post-550 JP, DW+6% is all that's required to hit capped melee delay with capped Gear and Magical Haste; however, Reiki Yotai is 7%, and is the best gain to opportunity cost.
  • Dual_Wield_Cheatsheet


Dual Wield
  Pre-550 JP
Haste II
DW+31%


Dual Wield
  Pre-550 JP
Haste I
DW+42%


Dual Wield
  550+ JP
Haste II
DW+26%


Dual Wield
  550+ JP
Haste I
DW+37%

Glass Canon TP Sets

  • Sometimes, you need to hit something as hard as possible, even at your own detriment.
  • Glass cannon = DT-0~30%


Critical Cannon
  Crit. Rate+34%
Crit. Dmg+15%
PDT-7%
DT-5%


Crystal Cannon
  DA+36%, TA+48%
STP+34
DT-30%
Notes:
  • Please Note: Duty Set truly starts to shine at R24.
    • Duty Armor Set's Base Parameter stats, Accuracy and Attack aren't as strong as THF's JSE.
      • However, the combined DA, TA, and STP values when ranked up far surpasses anything else currently available.
  • Possible Swaps:

Hybrid TP Sets

  • Hybrid = DT-30~40%


Hybrid A
  TA+38%
STP+51*
PDT-27%
MDT-17%
Notes:
  • Neither set accounts for
    Skulker's Earring +2 augment.


Hybrid B
  TA+33%
STP+57*
DT-32%
Notes:
  • Admittedly, this is the set I use for farming Impish Boxes. Brahmsz (talk)

Defensive Sets

  • Defensive sets can cover damage taken, evasion, parrying, and varieties of magic evasion options.
DT Sets
  • The aim of a DT-% set is typically to cap the Damage Taken stat to -50% to reduce incoming damage as much as possible when it's not avoidable. This should be obvious, but it bears mentioning anyway. So, let's start from the top on options:
    • For many years, a basic goal of any player has been to obtain a Defending Ring.
      • It offers DT-10% in a single ring slot and has been a main stay staple for many for years.
    • With the recently reimagined Limbus (3.0), the D.Ring has been officially replaced by the Murky Ring.
    • Another accessory of significance obtained via Limbus is the Alabaster Earring.
      • It's strongly suggested to look into obtaining those two items as soon as possible if you don't have them!
    • Additional accessory examples to consider (if you don't have them of course) are Loricate Torque, Odnowa Earring & Tuisto Earring, and Staunch Tathlum for defensive purposes.
  • All said, there is no universal best set, and depending on what content you have access to will determine what gear you should aim for and build up from.


Starting DT Set
  Pre-550 JP (DW 3)
PDT-28%, DT-27%
DEF+559, HP+250
MEva+292
Notes:


Strange Happenings Gear
  Pre-550 JP (DW 3)
DT-50%
DEF+601, HP+722
MEva+534
  • Current community advice is start farming the Malignance Attire Set (see below) immediately after reaching Ambu+2 gear. However, there have been relatively new starter DT sets introduced via RSE+1.1
  1. Short for Reforged Racial Armor through the Strange Happenings in Vana'diel event.
  • Each of the playable races has their own set based on their Lv.30 Racial Gear (with very minor stat differences).
    • As Strange Happenings is currently a seasonal campaign event, it's strongly advised to get a full set while the event is active.


Malignance-Based DT NQ Set
  550+ JP (DW 4)
DT-50%
DEF+629, HP+449
MEva+689


Nyame-Based DT Set
  550+ JP (DW 4)
DT-50%
DEF+814, HP+700
MEva+689


Malignance-Based DT HQ Set
Notes:


Nyame (Magic Focused)


Nyame (Physical Focused)
  • Please take note that the above sets follow a conventional focus/use of 5/5 pieces of a particular set.
  • To reiterate, there is no universal best set, and depending on what content you have access to will determine what gear you should aim for and build up from.
  • Additionally, there is THF's Empyrean armor, the Skulker's Attire Set.
    • Once upgraded to reforged +2/3, three out of the five pieces can offer upwards of a combined DT-30%. So, keep that mind!
  • Please also take note of two particular armors on the higher end of the spectrum: Adamantite Armor & Ashera Harness.
    • Situationally speaking, these two armors are two of the best body armors you can get your hands on..
      allowing for further expansion and experimentation with Defensive sets!
Evasion Sets
  • Evasion as a defensive strategy caps at 80%. Depending on racial choice, your evasion score will vary somewhat (as with most stats). At Job Master with capped merits in both Agility & Evasion Skill, base Evasion should be roughly 600. With that in mind, please below for general stat goals to reach 80% Evasion depending on content:
    • Omen: 1,200 ~ 1,250
    • W1 Divergence: 1,300 ~ 1,400
    • W2 Divergence: 1,500 ~ 1,600+


  • This is where more care and attention needs to be paid to your sets. While THF has the highest native Evasion rating in the game, evasion builds are typically considered a higher end goal to build towards.


Basic Evasion
  DT-50%
DEF+644, HP+559
AGI+186, Eva+580


Evasion & Parry 1.0
  DT-50%
DEF+679, HP+573
AGI+149, Eva+476
Counter+7%
Parry+9%


High Evasion
  DT-50%
DEF+644, HP+709
AGI+225, Eva+715
Counter+10%


Evasion & Parry 2.0 (/RUN)
  DT-50%
DEF+63, HP+827
AGI+202, Eva+757
Counter+10%
Parry+10%


Maximalist Evasion
  DT-18%
DEF+706, HP+772
AGI+251, Eva+872
Counter+10%

Idle Sets


WS Sets

Evisceration


Evisceration (Pre-Odyssey)
Notes:


Evisceration (Odyssey)
  Ody./Sortie R15+
Notes:


Evisceration Capped (Sortie & Limbus)
  Sort./Limb. R25+
Notes:
Rudra's & Mandalic (Unstacked)
  • Priority: DEX+WSD → Attack/pDIF
  • Please Note: Mandalic Stab caps at 8.5 fTP (comparatively) to 13 fTP from Rudra's Storm. However, Mandalic benefits from a x1.75 Attack Multiplier Bonus.
    • What that means: Mandalic Stab will perform better in Attack Starved scenarios.


Rudra's/Mandalic (Pre-Odyssey)
Notes:


Rudra's/Mandalic (Odyssey)
  Ody./Sortie R15+
Notes:


Rudra's/Mandalic Capped (Sortie & Limbus)
  Sort./Limb. R25+
Notes:
Rudra's & Mandalic (Stacked)
  • "Stacked" means coupling a Weapon Skill with Sneak Attack or Trick Attack.
  • Due to the natural speed of melee combat, Sneak Attack and Trick Attack should be treated as additional damage rather than your primary focus.
    • Sneak and Trick Attack's cool down timers are prohibitive at 60 seconds each (before merits).
  • SA and TA take your total Dexterity (SA) or Agility (TA), and add them to your weapon's base damage.
    • When applied to weapon skills, the extra base damage is applied after the fTP multiplier in the damage formula.


Sneak Attack + Rudra's/Mandalic
  Pre-Odyssey
Notes:


Trick Attack + Rudra's/Mandalic
  Pre-Odyssey
Notes:


Sneak Attack + Rudra's/Mandalic
  Ody./Sortie R15+
Notes:


Trick Attack + Rudra's/Mandalic
  Ody./Sortie R15+
Notes:


Sneak Attack + Rudra's/Mandalic
  Sort./Limb. R25+
Notes:


Trick Attack + Rudra's/Mandalic
  Sort./Limb. R25+
Notes:
Ruthless Stroke


Ruthless Stroke
  Ody./Limbus R20+
Notes:


Ruthless Stroke Capped
  Ody./Limbus R25+
Notes:
Shark Bite


Shark Bite (Pre-Odyssey)
Notes:


Shark Bite (Odyssey)
  Nyame R15+
Notes:


Shark Bite Capped (Sortie & Limbus)
  Nyame R25+
Notes:
Exenterator & Dancing Edge


Dancing Edge/Exenterator I
  Pre-Odyssey
Notes:


Dancing Edge/Exenterator II
  Ody./Sortie R15+
Notes:


Dancing Edge/Exenterator III
  Sort./Limb. R25+
Notes:
  • Please Note: Duty Set truly starts to shine at R24.
    • Duty Armor Set's Base Parameter stats, Accuracyand Attack aren't as strong as THF's JSE.
      • However, the combined DA, TA, and STP values when ranked up far surpasses anything else currently available.
  • Possible Swaps:
Aeolian Edge


Aeolian Edge
Notes:
Savage Blade


Savage Blade
Notes:

Sneak & Trick Attack (Solo)


Sneak Attack


Trick Attack
Notes:

Misc. & Utility Sets


Steal
  +28 Steal
Notes:
  • For modern stealing(ex. Impish Box) do NOT use Thief's Kote or Assassin's Culottes +1.
    • Your main level as THF is part of the equation.
    • SE's comment on this can be found on the bottom of the Steal page. So use i119 stuff.


Despoil
  +24 Despoil


Meme: Mercy Stroke

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