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Thief is one of the five MapleStory Adventurer/Explorer jobs that has 2 subclasses which are Assassin and Bandit. Bandit uses dagger (close-combat) while Assassin uses Claw and Throwing Stars (range-combat). Both Assassin and Bandit will share some common skills while having their own unique skills in each job advancement. Thief has the highest dodge rate among all MapleStory Classes, avoiding enemy attacks while dealing massive damage especially against single enemies but fairly strong with mobs of enemies. Thieves are a perfect blend of luck, dexterity, and power that are adept at surprise attacks against helpless enemies. A high LV of avoidability and speed allows Thieves to attack enemies from various angles.

Thief Related Guides

MapleStory Thief AP Stat Build
MapleStory Thief Training Spots LV1-200

Thief 1st Job Skills

Common Skills

Lucky Seven (Active)
[NOTE] Skill not affected by Claw Mastery.
Attack 1 enemy 2 times with throwing-star.
LV1: -8 MP, 114% Damage.
LV20: -14 MP, 190% Damage.

Double Stab (Active)
Attacks 1 enemy 2 times with dagger.
LV1: -8 MP, 89% Damage.
LV20: -14 MP, 165% Damage.

Haste (Supportive)
Temporarily increases party members move speed and jump.
Permanently increases self maximum move speed.
LV1: -10 MP, +2 Speed, +1 Jump, Lasts 10 sec. +1 Max Speed.
LV20: -20 MP, +40 Speed, +20 Jump, Lasts 200 sec. +20 Max Speed.

Self Haste (Supportive)
Temporarily increases move speed and jump.
LV1: -8 MP, +2 Speed, +1 Jump, Lasts 10 sec. +1 Max Speed.
LV20: -16 MP, +40 Speed, +23 Jump, Lasts 200 sec. +20 Max Speed.

Dark Sight (Supportive)
With Dark Sight active, you can neither attack nor be attacked.
Also, move speed will be slightly reduced while moving in shadow.
LV1: -23 MP, -17 Speed, Lasts 20 sec.
LV1: -5 MP, -10 Speed, Lasts 200 sec.

Nimble Body (Passive)
Permanently increases Accuracy and Avoid.
LV1: +22 Accuracy, +22 Avoid.
LV10: +220 Accuracy, +220 Avoid.

Rogue Skill Build: Everything maxed except Double Stab and Self Haste.
1. Add 1 SP into Lucky Seven.
2. Max Haste followed by Lucky Seven, Nimble Body and Dark Sight.
3. Dump remaining SP into Double Stab or Self Haste.

Explanation:
It is faster to train with Lucky Seven (claw and throwing-star) instead of Double Stab (dagger) since you can reach far-end monsters without walking much but the drawback is you will need to refill throwing-stars at potion/equip shop. Purchase a few set of throwing-stars (approximately 3-4 sets of throwing-stars) to get started. For those who are funded, get high-end throwing stars such as Tobi, Steely, Ilbi or Balanced Fury. Otherwise, start with Subi and save meso to purchase these throwing-stars from FreeMarket or hunt from monsters.

Thief 2nd Job Skills

Common Skills

Flash Jump (Active)
[NOTE] Can also be used with the jump key.
Use in the middle of a jump to jump even further.
Jumping distance increases as the skill level increases.
LV1: -40 MP, jumps a certain distance
LV10: -22 MP, jumps a certain distance

Physical Training (Passive)
Permanently increases LUK and DEX.
LV1: +3 LUK, +3 DEX.
LV10: +30 LUK, +30 DEX.

Assassin Skills

Claw Mastery (Passive)
Permanently increases claw mastery, accuracy and total throwing-stars per set.
LV1: 12% Mastery, +6 Accuracy, +10 Throwing Stars.
LV10: 50% Mastery, +120 Accuracy, +200 Throwing Stars.

Critical Throw (Passive)
[NOTE] Requires LV3 Claw Mastery.
Enhances Critical Attack Rate and Minimum Critical Damage.
LV1: +5% Crit Rate, +1% Min Crit Damage.
LV30: +50% Crit Rate, +15% Min Crit Damage.

Claw Booster (Supportive)
[NOTE] Requires LV5 Claw Mastery.
Temporarily increases claw attack speed.
LV1: -30, Lasts 10 sec.
LV20: -11, Lasts 200 sec.

Shuriken Burst (Active)
Attack 4 enemies with exploding shuriken. Cost 2 throwing stars.
LV1: -12 MP, 206% Damage.
LV20: -18 MP, 320% Damage.

Gust Charm (Active)
Knockback 4 enemies with gust of shuriken. Cost 2 throwing-stars.
LV1: -15 MP, 205% Damage.
LV20: -21 MP, 281% Damage.

Assassin Skill Build: Everything maxed except Gust Charm
1. Add 1 SP into Shuriken Burst and Gust Charm.
2. Add 5 SP into Claw Mastery followed by 6 SP into Claw Booster.
3. Max Flash Jump, Claw Mastery and Shuriken Burst.
4. Max Physical Training, Critical Throw and Claw Booster.
5. Dump remaining SP into Gust Charm.

Explanation:
Assassin primary skill will be Shuriken Burst (orange spinning tornado) cast from your claw. It attacks multiple monsters instead of 1 like Lucky Seven. However, this skill damage is highly dependent on Claw Mastery, so max Claw Mastery. Speed is the key to leveling fast, so Flash Jump is maxed early. Otherwise, train in a fairly tight spot where you can snipe tons of mobs spawning around you without moving from your safe strategic position. Hidden-streets are best place for these kind of training. Next, boost your damage with Physical Training and Critical Throw. Finally, max Claw Booster to lengthen the buff duration. Use Gust Charm to make some personal space between you and monsters. Assassins should be attacking monsters from far without getting bumped and losing health in the process.

Bandit Skills

Dagger Mastery (Passive)
Increases dagger mastery and accuracy.
LV1: 12% Mastery, +6 Accuracy.
LV20: +50% Mastery, +120 Accuracy.

Dagger Booster (Supportive)
[NOTE] Requires LV5 Dagger Mastery.
Temporarily speeds up dagger attack speed.
LV1: -29 MP, Lasts 10 sec.
LV20: -10 MP, Lasts 200 sec.

Savage Blow (Active)
Attack 1 enemy 6 times quickly.
LV1: -11 MP, 75% Damage.
LV20: -21 MP, 94% Damage.

Steal (Active)
Attacks 4 enemies while stunning them and stealing in the process.
You can attempt to steal multiple times, but each monster will only give 1 item.
LV1: -12 MP, 294% Damage, Stun Lasts 2 sec. 31% Steal Chance.
LV10: -24 MP, 330% Damage, Stun Lasts 5 sec. 49% Steal Chance.

Shield Mastery (Passive)
Permanently increases Weapon/Magic DEF and Avoid when shield is equipped.
LV1: +11% Defense, +2% Avoid.
LV10: +110% Defense, +20% Avoid.

Meso Guard (Supportive)
Uses meso to absorb a portion of damage taken.
LV1: -12 MP, 77% Damage, Lasts 127 sec
LV10: -27 MP, 50% Damage, Lasts 190 sec

Channel Karma (Supportive)
Temporarily increases weapon attack.
LV1: -15 MP, +1 Weapon ATT, Lasts 66 sec
LV20: -22 MP, +30 Weapon ATT, Lasts 180 sec

Bandit Skill Build: Everything maxed except Savage Blow.
1. Add 1 SP into Steal.
2. Add 5 SP into Dagger Mastery followed by 6 SP into Dagger Booster.
3. Max Flash Jump, Dagger Mastery and Steal.
4. Max Channel Karma, Physical Training and Dagger Booster.
5. Dump remaining SP into Savage Blow.

Explanation:
Bandit primary attacking skill will be Steal instead of Savage Blow because it can attack several mobs at once. It will allow you to level up quickly while training on mobs of monsters. Before maxing this skill, speed up your movement with Flash Jump to reach monsters quickly and stabilize your damage with Dagger Mastery. Add some SP into Dagger Booster to reduce delay of slashing enemies. Savage Blow will be replaced by Midnight Carnival (Thief 3rd Job Skill) that deals more damage and more hits on a single enemy. Therefore, save your SP for other skills. Once Steal is maxed, rocket up your damage with Channel Karma and Physical Training. Lastly, max Dagger Booster to lengthen the buff duration.

Thief 3rd Job Skills

Common Skills

Shadow Partner (Supportive)
Temporarily summons a partner that mimics all your skill attacks, but damage dealt is less than original. The partner is not affected by monster attacks nor have HP.
LV1: -40 MP, 13% Damage, Lasts 60 sec
LV20: -64 MP, 70% Damage, Lasts 180 sec

Dark Flare (Supportive)
Temporarily summons Dark Lord’s throwing star statue that reflects enemy damage inflicted to you and your party members. Cannot reflect more than half of enemy’s Max HP.
LV1: -60 MP, Reflects 350% damage, Lasts 22 sec. Cooldown 260 sec.
LV20: -100 MP, Reflects 1300% damage, Lasts 60 sec. Cooldown 60 sec.

Enveloping Darkness (Passive)
Permanently increases Abnormal Status and Elemental Resistance.
LV1: +1% MaxHP, +5% Resistance.
LV20: +20% MaxHP, +30% Resistance.

Venom (Passive)
Has a chance to poison enemies with each attack.
Poison does not stack. It does not kill enemies but reduces their HP to 1.
LV1: 11% Poison Chance, 52% damage every 1 sec for 3 sec
LV20: 30% Poison Chance, 90% damage every 1 sec for 6 sec

Hermit Skills

Shadow Web (Active)
Temporarily binds 6 enemies in a poisonous web while preventing them from moving. Poison damage deals damage every second. Attacking enemy while they are bind by web allows them to break free.
LV1: -10 MP, 44% Bind Chance, 114% Damage, 64% Damage/Sec for 5 sec.
LV10: -25 MP, 80% Bind Chance, 150% Damage, 100% Damage/Sec for 8 sec.

Triple Throw (Active)
Attack 1 enemy 3 times with throwing-stars.
LV1: -8 MP, 166% Damage.
LV20: -20 MP, 223% Damage.

Shade Splitter (Active)
Attack 6 enemies 2 times with shadow clone technique. Cost 3 throwing-stars.
LV1: -16 MP, 165% Damage.
LV20: -28 MP, 241% Damage.

Alchemic Adrenaline (Passive)
Permanently increases the effect of potions such as potion buff duration and HP/MP recovery potions but does not include percentage-based recovery items such as Elixirs.
LV1: 116% Potion Effect.
LV10: 170% Potion Effect.

Expert Throwing Star Handling (Passive)
[NOTE] Requires Spirit Javelin.
Permanently increases damage of Lucky Seven, Shuriken Burst, Gust Charm, and Triple Throw. Has a chance to use skill without any cost and recharge 1 throwing-star. If chance obtained, the next attack will be Critical. Does not recharge throwing-star if Shadow Stars is active.
LV1: +2% Damage Bonus, 2% Chance.
LV10: +20% Damage Bonus, 20% Chance.

Shadow Stars (Supportive)
Temporarily use no throwing-stars by offering them to Star Spirit upfront.
LV1: -6 MP and 190 throwing stars, Lasts 108 sec
LV10: -16 MP and 100 throwing stars, Lasts 180 sec

Hermit Skill Build Everything maxed except Shadow Web.
1. Add 1 SP into Shadow Partner, Triple Throw and Shade Splitter.
2. Max Expert Throwing Star Handling, Shade Splitter and Shadow Partner.
3. Max Shadow Stars, Enveloping Darkness and Alchemic Adrenaline.
4. Max Triple Throw, Venom and Dark Flare.
5. Dump remaining SP into Shadow Web.

Chief Bandit Skills

Pickpocket (Supportive)
[NOTE] Requires LV3 Meso Explosion.
Toggle on/off this skill to allow your attacks to have a chance to force monster drop their meso. This meso can be use for Meso Explosion Skill.
LV1: 15% Meso Drop Chance.
LV10: 60% Meso Drop Chance.

Meso Explosion (Active)
Attack 6 enemies by exploding your own meso left on the ground. Higher skill level increases the number of times of each enemy takes damage.
LV1: -20 MP, 110% Damage per Meso, Attack 5 times per enemy.
LV20: -30 MP, 186% Damage per Meso, Attacks 15 times per enemy.

Phase Dash (Active)
Dashes in at blinding speeds, damaging and knocking back enemies.
LV1: -18 MP, Damage: 282%, Max Enemies Hit: 4, Number of Attacks: 2
LV20: -45 MP, Damage: 358%, Max Enemies Hit: 4, Number of Attacks: 2

Meso Mastery (Supportive)
Increase the amount of mesos that drop. Skills that use mesos become more efficient.
LV1: Mesos Dropped (by monsters): 2%, Pick Pocket Meso Drop Rate: 2%, Meso Guard Damage Guard Rate: 1%, Mesos Consumed by Meso Guard: -2%, Meso Explosion Damage (per shot): +6%
LV10: Mesos Dropped (by monsters): 20%, Pick Pocket Meso Drop Rate: 20%, Meso Guard Damage Guard Rate: 10%, Mesos Consumed by Meso Guard: -20%, Meso Explosion Damage (per shot): +60%

Midnight Carnival (Active)
Attacks 1 enemy 8 times.
LV1: -16 MP, 65% Damage.
LV20: -26 MP, 122% Damage.

Chief Bandit Skiill Build: Everything maxed except Pickpocket.
1. Add 1 SP into Phase Dash and Shadow Partner.
2. Add 3 SP into Meso Explosion and 1 SP into Pickpocket.
3. Max Phase Dash, Shadow Partner.
4. Max Midnight Carnival, Meso Explosion and Meso Mastery.
5. Max Enveloping Darkness, Dark Flare and Venom.

Thief 4th Job Skills

Common Skills

Maple Warrior (Supportive)
Increases all players’ stats within a team by a certain percentage. Mastery Book is required to master the skill to LV30.
LV1: -10, All Stats: +1%, Lasts 30 sec
LV30: -70, All Stats: +15%, Lasts 900 sec

Hero’s Will (Active)
By focusing your mind, you can ignore some abnormal status effects. However, this will not work on all abnormal status effects.
LV1: -30, Cooldown: 600 sec
LV5: -30, Cooldown: 360 sec

Shadow Shifter (Passive)
Grants a chance to summon a wooden doll to take damage in your place.
LV1: Proc Rate: 16%
LV30: Proc Rate: 45%

Toxic Venom (Passive)
Pre-requisite: LV20 Venom
Increases Venom’s poison chance and permanently increases poison damage.
LV1: Poison Chance: 32%, 115% damage every 1 sec for 8 sec, Can be stacked 2 times
LV10: Poison Chance: 50%, 160% damage every 1 sec for 8 sec, Can be stacked 3 times

Sudden Raid (Active)
Calls in a horde of friends to set the stage on fire.
LV1: -290, Damage: 715% to up 15 enemies, Damage Over Time: 94% damage every 1 sec for 5 sec, Cooldown: 60 sec
LV30: -290, Damage: 1150% to up 15 enemies, Damage Over Time: 210% damage every 1 sec for 10 sec, Cooldown: 30 sec

Night Lord Skills

Claw Expert (Passive)
Pre-requisite: LV20 Claw Mastery
LV1: Claw Mastery: +56%, Weapon ATT: +1, Accuracy: +1%, Avoidability: +1%
LV30: Claw Mastery: +70%, Weapon ATT: +30, Accuracy: +15%, Avoidability: +15%

Quad Star (Active)
Masterfully unleash four throwing stars.
LV1: -11, Damage: 177%, Number of Attacks: 4
LV30: -26, Damage: 293%, Number of Attacks: 4

Frailty Curse (Active)
Curses the area around you, decreasing the Attack, Movement Speed, and DEF of enemies in range.
LV1: -21, Lasts 21 sec, Attack and DEF of enemies inside: -11%, Movement Speed of enemies inside: –41, Cooldown: 59 sec
LV30: -41, Lasts 40 sec, Attack and DEF of enemies inside: -30%, Movement Speed of enemies inside: –60, Cooldown: 40 sec

Taunt (Active)
Pre-requisite: Shadow Shifter Lv. 10
Provokes up to 6 enemies, increasing EXP and item drops.
LV1: -20, EXP Earned/Item Drop Rate: +11%
LV20: -30, EXP Earned/Item Drop Rate: +30%

Dark Harmony (Supportive + Passive)
Become one with the darkenss to deal more damage.
LV1: -15, Weapon ATT: +11, Lasts 93 sec, Passive Effects – Enemy DEF Ignored: 1%
LV30: -25, Weapon ATT: +40, Lasts 180 sec, Passive Effects – Enemy DEF Ignored: 30%

Night Lord Skill Build: Everything maxed.
1. Add 1 SP into Dark Harmony, Toxic Venom and Quad Star.
2. Max Claw Expert and Dark Harmony.
3. Add 10 SP into Shadow Shifter and max Taunt.
4. Max Quad Star, Maple Warrior and Shadow Shifter.
5. Max Frailty Curse and Hero’s Will.
6. Dump remaining SP into Sudden Raid.

Shadower Skills

Dagger Expert (Passive)
Pre-requisite: LV20 Dagger Mastery
Increases Dagger Mastery, Weapon Attack, Accuracy, and Avoidability.
LV1: Dagger Mastery: +56%, Weapon ATT: +1, Accuracy: +1%, Avoidability: +1%
LV30: Dagger Mastery: +70%, Weapon ATT: +30, Accuracy: +15%, Avoidability: +15%

Boomerang Stab (Active)
Quickly slashes multiple enemies twice, with a chance to Stun them. Permanently enhances all attack skills before your 3rd job that can be connected with Boomerang Stab.
LV1: Active Effects – -22, Damage: 594%, Number of Attacks: 2, Max Monsters Hit: 3, Stun Chance: 32%, Stun Lasts 1 sec; Passive Effects – Damage: +5% for Savage Blow, Steal, Phase Dash, and Midnight Carnival
LV30: Active Effects – -40, Damage: 710%, Number of Attacks: 2, Max Monsters Hit: 6, Stun Chance: 90%, Stun Lasts 4 sec; Passive Effects – Damage: +25% for Savage Blow, Steal, Phase Dash, and Midnight Carnival

Smokescreen (Active)
Throws a smoke grenade. All parties in range will avoid damage while the smokescreen is up and enemies within will receive increased critical damage.
LV1: -16, Critical Damage: +2%, Lasts 31 sec, Cooldown: 358 sec
LV30: -46, Critical Damage: +20%, Lasts 60 sec, Cooldown: 300 sec

Assassinate (Active)
Strikes an enemy’s vital spot 4 times for extreme damage. The last hit will always be critical. Use during Dark Sight to deal additional damage. Use when your Body Count reaches 5 for even more damage.
LV1: -30, Damage: 508%, Number of Attacks: 4, Additional damage while using Dark Sight: 34%, x2.5 damage when you have a Body Count of 5
LV30: -44, Damage: 740%, Number of Attacks: 4, Additional damage while using Dark Sight: 150%, x2.5 damage when you have a Body Count of 5

Shadower Instinct (Active)
Awakens the Shadower’s merciless instincts to increase Attack and ignore enemy DEF. As a passive effect, this skill allows you to rack up a Body Count with each attack, which can be used to further enhance your other attacks.
LV1: -10, Lasts 41 sec, Weapon ATT: +1, additional 6 each point of Body Count (uses entire Body Count); Passive Effects – Enemy DEF Ignored: 1%, Accumulate Kill Point upon attack
LV20: -22, Lasts 60 sec, Weapon ATT: +20, additional 6 each point of Body Count (uses entire Body Count); Passive Effects – Enemy DEF Ignored: 20%, Accumulate Kill Point upon attack

Shadower Skill Build: Everything maxed.
1. Add 1 SP into Boomerang Stab and Toxic Venom.
2. Add 1 Sp into Shadower Instinct and Assassinate.
3. Max Dagger Expert, Boomerang Stab and Shadower Instinct.
4. Max Toxic Venom and Assassinate and Shadow Shifter.
5. Max Maple Warrior, Smokescreen and Hero’s Will.
6. Dump remaining SP into Sudden Raid.

Thief Hyper Skills

Common Thief Hyper Skills

Epic Adventure (Level 200)
Call upon the bravery deep within to increase damage output and max damage. MP Cost: 100, Duration: 60 sec, Damage: +10%, Max Damage: +50000 Cooldown: 120 sec. Applies to any Explorer class within the party

Night Lord Hyper Skills

Shade Splitter – Reinforce (Level 143) +20% Damage.
Shade Splitter – Extra Target (Level 162) Attack +2 monsters.
Shade Splitter – Bonus Attack (Level 183) Attack +1 time per monster.
Frailty Curse – Enhance (Level 149) -10% Enemy’s Attack and Defense.
Frailty Curse – Slow (Level 168) -10% Enemy Movement Speed.
Frailty Curse – Cooldown Cutter (Level 189) -50% Cooldown Duration.
Quad Star – Reinforce (Level 155) +20% Damage.
Quad Star – Boss Rush (Level 177) +20% Damage vs Boss.
Quad Star – Extra Strike (Level 195) Attack +1 time per monster.

Bleed Dart (Level 150)
Applies a deadly poison that makes enemies hemorrhage. Not a pretty sight. Level 1: MP Cost: 300, Max Enemies Hit: 8, Damage: 250%, Number of Attacks: 10. Cooldown: 8 sec, Max Damage: 3000000

Death Star (Level 170)
Summons 4 shurikens that combine into one giant shuriken. MP Cost: 300, Max Enemies Hit: 8, Damage: 250%, Number of Attacks: 10. Cooldown: 8 sec, Max Damage: 3000000

Shadower Hyper Skills

Meso Explosion – Reinforce (Level 143) +20% Damage.
Meso Explosion – Spread (Level 162) Attack +2 monsters.
Meso Explosion – Enhance (Level 183) Attack +1 time per monster. +20% Meso Drop Rate.
Boomerang Stab – Reinforce (Level 149) +20% Damge.
Boomerang Stab – Spread (Level 168) Attack +2 monsters.
Boomerang Stab – Extra Strike (Level 189) Attack +1 time per monster.
Assassinate – Reinforce (Level 155) +20% Damage.
Assassinate – Extra Strike (Level 177) Attack +1 time per monster.
Assassinate – Limit Break (Level 195) Max damage set to 2,000,000.

Flip of the Coin (Level 150)
Flips a lucky coin to conjure up a blessing of awesomeness. Can only use when you land a critical attack. MP Cost: 50, Duration: 120 sec, Damage: 5%, Critical Chance: 10%, Max Damage: 20000, Max Stacks: 5

Shadow Veil (Level 170)
Summons a shade to deal continuous damage to nearby enemies. Level 1: MP Cost: 300, Max Enemies Hit: 15, Damage: 800%, Duration: 12 sec. Cooldown: 90 sec, Max Damage: 9999999