Blades are the lethal counterpart to the Blackjack. There are two variants: the Sword and Dagger. Both are default weapons and thus cannot be dropped or lost.
Uses
- Deals damage to almost every enemy
- Distracts enemies when struck against objects
- Delivers a lethal strike to unaware enemies
- Can be used to break down wooden doors (TDP)
Tactics
The Sword is Garrett’s blade of choice in Thief: The Dark Project and Thief II: The Metal Age and it allows for three different attacks.
The first is a quick horizontal Slash that deals 2 damage while the second is a Harder Slash that deals 4 damage and requires holding the attack button slightly longer.
The Overhead Swing is the strongest of the three and deals 6 damage, but takes the most time to execute. The most lethal option is the Backstab which only works if you’re positioned behind an enemy that is unaware of Garrett.
Blocking is another valuable Sword technique to be mastered and, if timed correctly, can successfully repel an enemy’s assault. An attack can even transition into a Block when two weapons clash mid-swing, resulting in an automatic parry from both combatants.
In Thief: Deadly Shadows, Garrett opts for a Dagger which, while stealthier than the Sword, deals less damage in combat and is incapable of blocking.
Always remember that while Garrett can usually hold his own against a single enemy, it is inadvisable to fight several at once as they will almost certainly overwhelm him.
And if stealth is key, using the Sword or Dagger is inadvisable as an enemy killed by either will scream and leave behind a puddle of blood which can attract unwanted attention from other nearby enemies.
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