MapleStory/Thief

Thieves are a very popular but expensive class. They have their likenesses with archers and warriors. Though probably being the most expensive to handle, they gain the most money in the process after magicians. They are very good at killing enemies quickly. They get quite a bit of Mesos this way. These guys and gals are no joke! Unfortunately, they are a very complicated class; thief stats can be screwed up very easily.

There are 2 types of thieves - Assassins and Bandits. Assassins are quick ranged attackers. They are quite Meso efficient and have good damage potential, but cost a heck of a lot more than bandits. Bandits are quick melee attackers and are quite powerful among the 2nd jobs. They aren't as Meso efficient as Assassins and do not have the benefit of ranged attack but make up for it in much greater raw power (after around level 90, there is no way that any assassin can catch up with Bandits' damage), although dagger scrolls have a potential to cost quite a bit.


 * Pros:
 * Both bandits and assassins get some cool and useful skills such as Savage Blow, Haste, Assaulter, Triple Throw and Flash Jump.
 * They have the second highest avoidability and accuracy after archers.
 * Assassins can take out mobs efficiently with Avenger.
 * Assassins are extremely mobile and have good range.
 * Both are good at bossing at 4th job.
 * "DEXless" assassins can easily hit the highest damage of all classes between levels 20-70.
 * Because of their damage, Thieves are popular choices in Party Quests.
 * Cons:
 * Low HP and MP, getting 2-hit-killed by monsters at high levels.
 * Assassins (especially "DEXless" ones) are comparatively unpopular due to their stereotyped KSing.
 * Very unstable damage until mastery in 2nd job.
 * Good stars and armours are extremely expensive. Claw and Dagger ATT scrolls are some of the most expensive in the game.

If you are new to MapleStory or starting on a new server, you should consider skipping armor once or twice a level. Thief items are pricey, so save for future armor. Dexless thieves, Hybrid sins, and str bandits cost more for scrolls, weapon, etc. Becoming one of these as your first character will be challenging to keep up with buying armor and weapons on your own. If you like a challenge, definitely choose one of these paths.
 * Equipment

I Formally Declare I Like Big Butts and I Cannot Lie

TWO OTHER BROTHERS CANT DENY!

Third Job
Go to El Nath, and head to the house on the big hill (Chief Residence). Head to Arec, and talk with him. After a chat, head back to Victoria, and head to Dark Lord in Kerning City. Talk to him to get knowledge on where you have to go next. Head to Monkey Swamp II, and go to the Door Of Dimension. It will be marked as a NPC on the minimap. Head inside, and power up and put on your best gear. Fight the Dark Lord's evil side, and head out with the Black Charm.

The next step is simple. Go back to the Dark Lord, and exchange the Black Charm for a Necklace of Strength. Give this item to Arec, and then head to Sharp Cliff II, and go inside the door at the top-right corner. Talk to the big rock, and answer the 5 questions. (Note: You need a Dark Crystal). Once you answer the 5 questions, you get a Necklace Of Wisdom. Head back to Arec and give him this item.

Hermit Armor/Weapon Guide

 * Level 71-80: At this point you should have illbis or atleast 5 sets of steelie. At this lvl you should have or get a 6+ atk Wg. Stay with your Dark/White Identity and get a 40+ atk Scarab and scroll it. After all that go and train at Wind Raiders to make some fast leveling and good exp. Try not to buy any other equips at this point, because you will need it for future claws, which are very expensive.
 * Level 81-90: If you got your 90 stuff before, great, if not... well go buy full red osfa (best bonus) including the hat. Stay with the Scarab, its' luck bonus will do wonders while Black Mamba and Casters are overpriced plus Zakum exclusive.


 * Level 91-100: Stick with the 90 stuff, the 100 gear is only available from Pianus and at this level he'll be way too hard to fight. Start saving up for the Criven and prepare to sell your Scarab. Keep your money high around these levels, you can go broke fast. At level 91~92, if you have the money it's definitely worth buying some Casters with a weapon attack of 52+, especially if your scarab is below 50 weapon attack. A 10 attack glove is a must at this level, otherwise you'd be out damaged by hermits 5 levels, maybe even 10 levels below you.


 * Level 101-110: Now go get the 100 armor. Don't bother getting the Dragon Geshuda for its bonus of dex. Get the Garina stuff or stick with osfa just don't use the katinas but you can use the level 100 gloves and boots if you can find them.


 * Level 111-120: Use Garina and take the purple dragon sleeve. Congratulations on becoming a Night Lord!

Alternative Assassin armor/weapon guide
This guide is for a funded assassin or one who has a lot of money by level 25-30 please note that this version is much more offensive so stationary bosses with area affect skills (zakum, pianus) with probably be to hard to take on until level 100. Overall this path is quicker to level with. (By the time you start here you should have tobis)


 * level 30-34: Buy all luck bonus armor and get the gloves fully upgraded or stick with dark wolfskin. Buy snowshoes and scroll it 7 times with jump 100% scrolls.


 * level 35-39: Buy the green knucklevest and blue pants get the arbion from john's present quest. Ludi pq all the way until 40.


 * level 40-49: Buy 5 luk cleave and dark shadow and buy 2 luk pants get an avarice that has at least 23 atk and 3 luk. Get a dark or red pilfer that gives +3 luk if you have bought all the other stuff.


 * level 50-59: Buy a maximum powered dark slain and a +4 luk sonata buy pants that give at least +3 luk then you have to save save save! (Buy steelies during this time period if you have enough).


 * level 60-69: Buy a 6 luk Identity that’s probably all you have money for now anyways. (get steelies if affordable).

Hermit training guide

 * level 71-80: Stay on STD's or Zombies and even H/Voodoos Would be great! Maybe team up on Werewolfs (WARNING: Do not use Avenger on Werewolves, being swarmed with attacks that do up to 20% of your HP is least thing you would want), until you max out avenger don't go for anything stronger than you are. At level 77~78ish you can head to Death Teddies if you have been only putting points into Shadow Partner (or if your shadow partner is level 21+, since at that point it will last for 3 minutes), which are godly exp but deal over 1000 damage physical and around 1400 damage with their magic attack.


 * level 81-90: This period of time is known as Assassin hell due to the fact that at these levels monsters are hard to train on for the experience they give, and the fact that you will be spending millions for just a couple levels. Try to team up with a Fighter and take on Lycanthropes (that’s what I did but you might have your own idea so follow this guide at your own risk/will), or head over to Death Teddies (Go to Ludi, enter toy factory, keep going down until you reach a map called, then go in the portal on the right. Go through 2 maps, the first filled with soul teddies and master soul teddies and the second filled with clocks and dark clocks, then you'll be at my personal favorite map for Death Teddies (DTs)).


 * level 91-100: Finally break the link of hardness and go mad at the ludi clock tower on vikings and pirates. Dark yeti-pepe isn’t a bad idea either, along with heading to aqua road to murder squids. Zakum pq wouldn't be to harsh if you can take on Bains, but Zakum itself not recommended until level 110+ due to low health levels.


 * level 101-119+: It’s whatever you want from here on out. Although I suggest Balrogs and Pianus, Balrogs if you want some quick money especially, though generally bossing for training isn't the best idea. You can stick with squids until level 108~110 (recommended), or you can head over to the mushroom shrine for Dreamy Ghosts. At level 110 these are absolutely amazing with 3200 exp per kill. You can also go to Jr. Newties and use the famous sniping spot to train but finding a spot is not easy.


 * level 120+: The best places to train is at Jr. Newtie and Nest Golems (Newties hit about 2k, and Nest Golems hit about 2.8-3k). If you feel like it, you can also go to Skelegons and try training there (you will need over 3.2k-3.4k hp depending on your defense to survive a hit from them). Easy money at these levels are Pap and Zak, you can easily survive a hit from any of them with hyper body.

Chief Bandit Armor/Weapon Guide

 * Level 70: Definitely keep your Silver or Dark Identity, as both have the same or more luk than the Bloodfox respectively. Get the Dark armor set, as they give the maximum amount of luk, and get a decent level 70 weapon, with at least 3 luk and 83 weapon attack, or if you have a low meso amount, stick with your deadly fin, although training will be slower, and there will be a big difference in attack.


 * Level 80: If you have a Dark Pirate Hat with more than 4 luk, then switch hats. If you don't, stick with your Dark Identity. Change your entire armor set, and consider getting a 10-15 attack work glove if your wallet is full. Scroll your level 80 weapon to +4 or more (93 weapon attack and 4 luk).

Note:
 * If you have less than 20 million, you could get a workglove and scroll it with 100%s.
 * If you have 20 million to 50 million, I wouldn't recommend one, as unless you use your entire budget, you could probably get a 6-8 attack one.
 * If you have 50 million to 100 million, buy a couple of 60% glove attacks, make a work glove and scroll it yourself, although it will slice a clean cut off your budget.

If you have 100 million+, then get a workglove with at least 12 attack.


 * Level 90: Get the Dark Set again, and get the level 90 dagger (+ 4). You should have a workglove by now, and scrolled capes and shoes. If you don't want to spend your mesos on the top and bottom, at least get 100% scrolls or cheap 60% scrolls and scroll your armor, unless you're planning to sell the level 90 armor off.


 * Level 100+: By this level, you will probably know what armor and weapons you need to get next.

Chief Bandit Training Guide
There are also the Gobies in Deep Sea Gorge II. If you have a lot of money and at least level 1 Meso Explosion, it is great here because it can give about 20% - 40% per hour. Meso Guard is HIGHLY recommended! If your first explosion doesn't kill the Goby House, it will use a lethal magic attack - 2000+ damage. With level 1 Meso Explosion, I would recommend dropping a FEW bags of 4444 mesos, since 4444 deals the most efficient damage when bombing.
 * Level 70-79 - Train at Forest of Golems or Zombies. Those two maps have by far the best spawns. The Forest of Golems is very good with Savage Blow and Band of Thieves. Since the golems are big, they can get hit easily with a jump + savage blow. Also there are compressed or concentrated mobs of Golems, so Band of Thieves or Meso Explosion would do wonders here. As for Zombies, Band of Thieves isn't really used much, but the good thing is the platform is big, and once you kill from left to right, you can go back with the same amount of zombies. Forest of Golems' drops are usually crappy, dropping things such as Blood Snowboards, their most common drop, which only sell for about 50k - 100k. However, they do drop Scroll for Glove for ATT 60%, but it is a rare occurrence. Training in these levels depends on your playing style, although Forest of Golem does seem to give more experience.

A new alternative is at New Leaf City, if you maxed band of thieves first, then wolf spider swarms will give godly exp from heavy grinding with all of your main skills. Plus, if you're a steal bandit you might luck out and get ilbis or a blue screamer. Alternatively you can choose to go to Lower Ascent. On this map there are tons of windraiders. These monsters spawn in large groups making them very efficient to use BoT on. They each give 800 exp and have 16,000 HP. The average chief bandit can kill them in about three hits.

The best place to train at these levels are either Yeti&Pepes or staying at Zombies/Forest of Golems. Yeti and Pepes give nice experience, but if you don't maneuver well, you'll get punished with 1000-damage dealing ground pounds and 700 touch damage. That would be about a few hundred mesos deducted each touch/groundpound. An alternative is Lucidas, and although they have an unavoidable magic attack, they still are decent experience. Gobis here is still faster, but more expensive now.
 * Level 80-85 - If you got meso guard already, then great! Now you can train at Yeti and Pepes and stronger monsters at Ludibrium with almost no risk of dying, although this will be very expensive to maintain.

Gobis are less expensive if you can use assaulter to stun it each time. If that's possible then you can forget about the 11111 mesos used to blow up the house. They’re still good experience
 * Level 85-90 - You should definitely have Meso Guard by now. Go to Phantom Watches or Vikings, and fight there if you can (they might be too strong). Dual Vikings are a good choice too. However, those locations sap A LOT of mesos. You can still stay at Zombies or Forest of Golems, but it will be very slow leveling. Lucidas are a good choice too, but they will use up mesos, unless you can maneuver well and not use meso guard.

If you think your damage is still too low, Gobies are still very effective.
 * Level 90-100 - Train at Vikings/Phantom Watches all the way. Gigantic ones give more experience, but take more hits to kill. Phantom watches give more experience, but drops less money. Experiment on where you want to train. Perhaps Bains or something else gives more experience. It's all up to you.

Zakum, Pianus, gobies or Guild PQ bosses will be ideal for leveling.
 * Level 100+ - You should have a vague idea of where to train. You can stay at Gigantic Vikings or Grim Phantom Watches, or you can try something else.