The thief job class is one that doesn't appear very often in the Final Fantasy series despite being one of the first job classes in the entire franchise. However, that's why the job of the thief is considered such a special one by many fans. Thieves in this iconic video game franchise tend to wear light armor and wield classic thief-like weapons such as dual daggers. They often look somewhat intimidating, but extremely stylish.

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Thieves can make an excellent addition to many players' parties due to their strong and unique abilities. Not to mention, the actual thief characters are some of the most memorable of all Final Fantasy titles. What makes thieves stand out, of course, is their ability to steal from enemies, which can add extra depth to gameplay and tactics. Every thief in Final Fantasy possesses unique stats, but since stats can vary in importance with different entries, one character's stat in one game may not actually outrank another's, even if it seems higher.

8 Cinna (Final Fantasy 9)

An Interestingly Mysterious Clown-Like Thief

• Weapon: Hammer
• Notable Skill: Steal

Cinna appears in the ninth entry of the franchise as a member of the Tantalus Theater Troupe, which is a traveling group of thieves. Cinna is a temporary playable character and is most memorable for his strange appearance. He actually looks quite terrifying when players study his features, and his smile is off-putting, to say the least. The most iconic part of his appearance is the stained chef's hat he constantly wears.

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Cinna is a useful character to have access to when he briefly becomes a party member, and he's important to the story of Final Fantasy 9, as he is the one in possession of the unusual potion that Zidane is looking for at the time of their meeting. Cinna is adept with machinery and deals large amounts of damage with his hammer. The most bizarre aspects of his personality are that he has to sleep with a Princess Garnet doll and that he's a coffee connoisseur. Who would have thought?

7 Blank (Final Fantasy 9)

A Fearsome Red-Haired Warrior

• Weapon: Swords
• Notable Skill: Steal

Blank is a thief character in Final Fantasy 9 who is also part of the Tantalus Theater Troupe and also has a rather peculiar appearance. Blank is a red-haired thief who wears a headband (or belt?) over his forehead and eyes. It's anyone's guess as to how he is able to see well enough to steal anything.

One thing's clear from his appearance: Blank has been through a lot, and as such, he's a highly skilled thief and warrior who will prove adept in any combat situation. He's also incredibly smart, which makes him an even better pick. Blank is Marcus' best friend, and despite him often clashing with Zidane, he proves to be a valuable addition to the player's party.

6 Jed (Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin)

A Powerful Thief Who Needs A Better Dress Sense

• Weapon: Dual Blades
• Other Job Classes: Ninja, Assassin, Samurai, Duelist

Players shouldn't let Jed's appearance fool them. Sure, he looks boring and extremely basic, but this thief from Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin is surprisingly powerful and memorable. Jed is a comedic character who can become a valuable party member and gradually opens up about himself as the game progresses. It turns out he's actually super likable.

Jed is originally perceived as a coward and constantly resists getting into any meaningful conflicts. Yet, as players progress through the story, they discover that Jed has quite a special talent for fighting and especially thieving. Jed has an innately brave nature despite his reservations, and it's great to see his character develop throughout the game.

5 Edge (Final Fantasy 4)

An Awesome Ninja Character With Thieving Origins

• Weapons: Boomerangs, Claws, Daggers, Katana
• Notable Skills: Mug, Ninjutsu, Steal, Throw

So, this one's a bit of a controversial pick because Edge's job class is officially a ninja, but the fact that he (and other ninja characters) has the Steal command does indeed allude to a previous thieving career. Edge can dual-wield his weapons like other thieves and is most proficient at wearing light armor.

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It's hard not to include Edge here simply because he is just an extremely cool character and a fan favorite. His story is genuinely one of the most captivating of any Final Fantasy game and is certainly the best in Final Fantasy 4. Edge is overwhelmingly fast, and whilst his other abilities are decent, it's his speed that brings the most value to any party. He's one of the fastest characters in the series, which, coupled with his awesome looks, makes him an excellent character who can steal from enemies.

4 Yuffie (Final Fantasy 7)

A Thief That Steals From The Player

• Weapon: Shuriken
• Notable Skills: Mug and Steal

Sure, Yuffie can be annoying sometimes, but she's a fan-favorite character from the Final Fantasy 7 series nonetheless. The giant shuriken she wields is iconic and badass, and it turns out it's not too bad in battles either. Yuffie has a great backstory that only deepens with each new Final Fantasy 7 sequel or spin-off, and it's always interesting to find out more about the character.

Despite her iconic nature, Yuffie is actually an optional character in Final Fantasy 7, but players would be remiss not to include her in their party. She deals great damage, her giant shuriken is awesome, and she's adept at stealing, which makes her a great thief. She's got an over-the-top personality, but her optimism will cheer players along.

3 Locke (Final Fantasy 6)

A Thief With A Heart

• Weapons: Boomerangs, Daggers, Swords
• Notable Skills: Mug and Steal

Locke loves to clarify that he's not a thief; he's a "treasure hunter." Despite his thieving nature, Locke is positively good-natured and fights for the good of the world as a member of the Returners. Locke is an interesting character and easily one of the best from Final Fantasy 6 - which is saying a lot because all the characters are great.

Locke is more pragmatic when it comes to combat than most thieves in Final Fantasy games. He boasts great speed and evasion stats and has a few bonuses, like being able to wear heavy armor as well as equip swords and shields. Not only is he one of the coolest thieves, but he's also one of the most versatile and deals some serious damage (more than the average thief), making him an essential party pick.

2 Rikku (Final Fantasy 10)

A Feisty, Independent, And Badass Fighter

• Weapon: Claws
• Notable Skills: Mix, Mug, Nab Gil, and Steal

Rikku is the best female thief in Final Fantasy, but she's also a very important character in Final Fantasy 10 and its sequel, Final Fantasy 10-2. She wields claws as weapons that deal massive damage and is one of the few characters capable of fighting underwater. She's a professional thief who can steal the most valuable items from enemies.

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Rikku is not only great for stealing; her overdrive ability (mix) will also obliterate enemies on the highest difficulty, making her one of the most powerful characters in the game. On top of this, if she steals from an enemy classed as a machina, they instantly die - which is a great way to make short work of some tough enemies.

1 Zidane (Final Fantasy 9)

Fan-Favorite Character And Tantalus' Best Thief

• Weapons: Daggers and Thief Swords
• Notable Skills: Mug, Steal and Thievery

Of course, the best thief in the franchise has to be Zidane from Final Fantasy 9. He's a super strong character with a cool backstory, and he's incredibly charming and charismatic. Even though Zidane is the main protagonist in Final Fantasy 9, he's surprisingly laid back and sensible. He gives orders and suggestions without ever sounding obnoxious, and he's an overall great character.

What makes Zidane the best thief, however, is his flexibility paired with his unique abilities, specifically with the knife/twinblade. Zidane wields daggers or thief swords, which are great for damage but even better for his abilities. Zidane can utilize various abilities, including MP Attack, Killer, and Counter as well as Steal - all of which combine to make him the most versatile thief character in any Final Fantasy. He can even learn more abilities to top things off. No Final Fantasy 9 party would be the same without Zidane's thieving presence.

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