The Thief may not be an advanced Vocation in Dragon’s Dogma 2, but it’s certainly one of the best in my definitely-not-biased opinion. To really excel, you’ll need the best of everything to hand.
Best Thief Skills in Dragon’s Dogma 2
The core of any Vocation build is the Weapon Skills you’re running. I’ll neglect to mention any Core Skills, as there is no choice needed – just grab them all.
There are many Weapon Skills for the Thief, however, so choosing the best set is a tricky task. But with my experience, I have nailed down the best handful of skills for you to use.
Implicate
This Weapon Skill is an upgraded form of Ensnare. It is unlocked much later, but Ensnare is available early. Implicate honestly is a Weapon Skill you’ll be using the most. You will launch out a grappling rope that snatches onto an enemy and pulls them toward you.
For smaller enemies, this will not only launch them toward you but will make them prone, rendering them easy targets for your Twin Fangs attack to finish them off. Tougher foes may resist being launched toward you, but if you Implicate them a couple more times, they’ll give in.
It is also an incredible attack for bringing Harpies out of the sky and interrupting their sleep song.
This makes fights trivial, as you can merely Implicate most enemies before taking them down. Alternatively, you can pick them up and throw them off a cliff.
For larger enemies, this aids in knocking them off balance and making them fall prone, which is when everyone can deal incredible amounts of damage. After a larger enemy has made an attack, quickly Implicate them to send them topping over.
Skull Splitter
Skull Splitter is an upgraded form of Helm Splitter. It is the most powerful attack a Thief can have. Sure, it may not be objectively as damaging as Gut and Run, but the fact that it can quickly be repeated again and again makes it overpowered very quickly.
When performing Skull Splitter, you will launch into the air and spin with your daggers, effectively making you a saw blade. If you duck under a larger creature and perform this attack, you will deal huge damage as it strikes their head repeatedly again and again.
The moment you land – you can do it again.
I have melted through Minotaurs and Cyclopes with this attack. They never stood a chance.
Draw and Quarter
Draw and Quarter is an advanced form of Gut and Run. When mounted on an enemy, travel to a weak point. Performing Gut and Run will deliver a dastardly blow before flinging you off, delivering huge damage.
This is a great finisher as well as a great way to safely launch off a giant creature.
Although you must travel to the beast’s weak spot, the blow is worthwhile.
The reason I won’t personally be using it is because I see far more DPS with the Skull Splitter. But that’s just me.
Formless Feint
Formless Feint is a Weapon Skill that you learn from the Thief Maister. Well, not exactly, but one of the members in their secret hiding spot. You will encounter them during the main quest, so I won’t spoil it.
Once Formless Feint is active, your character will dodge and evade attacks automatically, which is a huge boon to the lightly armored vocation. It does consume stamina whilst active, but you can cancel it at any time.
This is incredibly useful, and I’d recommend it for the majority of builds. Personally, however, I find that dodging by myself is desirable to have a Weapon Skill that deals damage.
Ignited Blades
The Thief learns how to ignite their blades very early on, but it’s so good that it has a rightful place in advanced builds. Fire is a fantastic element to bestow upon foes – even ones who aren’t especially vulnerable to fire. I find that it deals a good deal of extra damage, and a good portion of foes will go up in flames.
This can be substituted for another if you have a spell-caster on your team that will buff you with an elemental attack. You simply won’t need to grant youself fire if you’re already getting elementally buffed. But if not, then you can never go wrong with igniting your blades before every encounter.
Best Thief Augment in Dragon’s Dogma 2
The Thief has a lot of Augments, but honestly, they’re not all that great. You will find better Augments from other Vocations that you’d probably want instead. However, there is one Thief Augment that every single build could do with.
Gratification allows you to restore a little health after every kill. Considering the quick flaying Thief will be killing lots of enemies in a swift fashion, you can keep your health up when dealing with a horde.
It unlocks very early on, so will be worth even non-Thief builds getting a couple levels in.
Best Thief gear in Dragon’s Dogma 2
The Thief is only as good as the gear it brings into battle, however, so you’ll need to know of the best great to have by your side at all times.
Please note that all of the following information has been gathered through my own playtime, effectively making this the best Thief equipment for the early game.
As more information about the best armor and weapons for the Thief becomes more public, I’ll be sure to amend my gear recommendations. But for now, keep an eye out for these ones. I have also upgraded my gear to one to two degrees, so the stats shown are slightly elevated from their base stats.
The Peltflayers are the most powerful Daggers I’ve come across. I’ve come across them in my travels in Vermund, so make sure to loot and keep an eye out on your adventures.
The Unseen Shadow is the best Head armor I’ve found. It can be bought from Bjorn’s Armory for a good price. I’ve been unable to find a better one – so certainly pick it up the first chance you get!
The Scaled Jacket is the best Thief Armor I’ve come across. It did cost a somewhat large sum from Bjorn’s Armory in Vernworth, and it is pretty heavy, but it’s solid.
The Thief’s Gaiters make for good leg armor. I found this in a chest in the Thief Maister’s secret chamber. Again, no spoilers as you’ll find it in the quest, but it’s worth remembering to loot all the chests you can find there.
And there we have it. The best Thief Skills, Augments, and early-game gear. I’ll update this guide as more information about gear choices becomes public knowledge. Although I adore the Thief build, another member among us swears by the Mystic Spearhand Vocation.
