Dual-wielding daggers and dashing around the battlefield in Dragon's Dogma 2 is the best way to deal as much damage as possible, especially in the early game. With the Thief Vocation, your Arisen gains unparalleled agility to dance and leap around to target an enemy's weak points. They also get access to a number of useful abilities to help the party in combat, like employing a smoke bomb to blind nearby targets or laying down an explosive to deal tons of extra damage. If you're looking to learn how you can play as the Thief and some basic tips about the core Thief toolkit, then you've come to the right place.
Dragon's Dogma 2 Thief Vocation Guide
Arguably the single best starting class in Dragon's Dogma 2, Thief is recommended by Game Director Hideaki Itsuno alongside Archer. Mage is a bit too vulnerable. Fighter is balanced and vital to any party, but it's better suited to one of your pawns. Here's a look at how to unlock Thief as well as the best abilities and ways to play it.
How to Unlock Thief in Dragon's Dogma 2
Along with Fighter, Archer, and Mage, Thief is one of the four starting Vocations in Dragon's Dogma 2. If you did not select it to start with, then you'll have to spend 100 Discipline Points (Dcp) at a Vocation Guild to unlock it. These are often located near Inns in town centers. The Vernworth Vocation Guild, for instance, is in the basement of Shakir’s Inn. Simply enter the guild hall, speak to Klaus, and you'll see the option to "Change Vocation." You gain Dcp from every combat encounter, so if you don't have enough, go on some adventures and slay enemies. It shouldn't take too long to collect enough Dcp to unlock it.
Thief Tips
- Use Helm/Skull Splitter to surprise enemies as often as you can, diving onto them for big damage. Then use Swift Step to dance around the battlefield, but don't spam it.
- Manage your stamina wisely, and always prioritize going in for a kill while your allies distract enemies.
- Pin smaller enemies to finish them off and cling to the big ones to deal big damage.
- If you're adept at parrying, use Easy/Masterful Kill as often as possible.
- Otherwise, focus on Gut and Run/Draw and Quarter or Concussive Step/Leap to deal big damage to single targets.
Thief Core Skills
In Dragon's Dogma 2, the Core Skills of any Vocation represent the fundamental abilities that make up that class's core toolkit. For Thief, that's a lot of agile maneuvers with quick attacks, including the Controlled Fall that sees them spin around like a dangerous bladed ball. There's also Bump and Lift, which grants a chance to steal an item from the enemy it hits.
| Rank | Core Skill | Description | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Carve | Delivers a flurry of dagger blows. | 0 |
| 0 | Twin Fangs | Performs a deadly double strike forward, followed by a powerful successive strike if target is knocked off balance. Hold down to cling to larger targets or to pin down smaller flinching targets. | 0 |
| 0 | Swift Step | Lowers stance and renders movement swift and light. Effective as an evasive maneuver. | 0 |
| 1 | Scarlet Kisses | Unleashes a flurry of forward slashes. | 150 |
| 2 | Controlled Fall | Tucks the body into a tight roll when hitting the ground after being knocked down, allowing the user to swiftly regain their feet. Reduces damage taken upon impact. | 250 |
| 3 | Bump and Lift | Robs the target of an item when an attack connects. Activates when using Carve, but has a low success rate. | 400 |
| 4 | Footpad | Kicks off a wall, allowing the user to launch themselves a great distance. | 600 |
