In which game does "steal" feel most rewarding to you?

[Lone Wolf Leonhart]

Basically, which game do you have the most fun playing as a thief?

For me it's Final Fantasy IX. You can steal an upgraded dagger before the opening credits are done rolling and I think that sets the stage pretty well. So many boss fights afterwards have unique items or at least items that are an upgrade compared to your current inventory, and it feels great to equip a stolen item and start learning its skill earlier than you would have had you got it from a shop.

[Lord Golbez]

It's definitely FFIX. It really shows that the main character is a thief because so much more revolves around it. The enemies generally have multiple steals (which is the only FF game I'm aware of that has this, except I guess FFT where you can specifically steal different equips) and bosses often have good equipment steals. Success rate is still frustrating, but you'll at least probably get something pretty quickly, while in other games you can fail slot just to get the one steal.

[Vermachtnis]

X because of the crafting. It's a good way to get some mats. Also Rikku can take about some robots with it.

[Sefie1999AD]

FFIX's Steal felt the least rewarding for me, since you'll spend most of the boss fights just turtling until the lousy RNG decides to give you the items, which often have terrible drop rates. FFX's Steal was pretty useful, not to mention it has tactical uses for breaking Machina and stopping enemies from using Auto-Potions. FFXII is the one where I used Steal the most, and it really makes a difference in the amount of sellable Loot you obtain.

[Shiva95]

I would say FFX. It succeeds quite often, and I love how Rikku can destroy the machines using it.

[Karifean]

FFX yeah

[CimminyCricket]

I wanted to say FFVII because of Siren, but yeah - it's X. Defeating Machina is where I used it the most.

[Wolf Kanno]

Probably any FF post IV. Though for me, FFTactics and FFTA would be my top choices since stealing gear from enemies is the ultimate debuff you can pull. There is a good reason FFTA2 completely nerfed the thief class.

[Jiro]

FFIX's Steal felt the least rewarding for me, since you'll spend most of the boss fights just turtling until the lousy RNG decides to give you the items, which often have terrible drop rates. FFX's Steal was pretty useful, not to mention it has tactical uses for breaking Machina and stopping enemies from using Auto-Potions. FFXII is the one where I used Steal the most, and it really makes a difference in the amount of sellable Loot you obtain.

These are some really good points that immediately made me change my mind on what I was gonna say. Even if the rewards are super satisfying and regular in IX, the fact that you spend every boss fight stealing and trying to both live + not kill the boss really takes the momentum out of it.

[qwertysaur]

Gotta go with Tactics. I made extensive use of Steal: Heart in one playthrough.

[Lord Golbez]

The criticism of FFIX's stealing are valid, but don't make me change my mind because stealing is barely satisfying at all in most of the other games. The success rate is still typically low, it just doesn't matter as much if you succeed and bosses often carry nothing.

[Raistlin]

I agree with those who said Tactics; stealing was pretty useful there and could reward you with powerful gear. From the main series, I'd say XII.

[Vermachtnis]

Is it too late to change my vote to Tactics?

[Del Murder]

Steal was most rewarding for me in FF Tactics. You actually stole their real equipment and it made a difference in their ability to battle. I still remember the challenge I put before myself each time to steal all of the Genji equipment from Elmdor.

I agree with Sefie on FFIX. The RNG was so bad it made me hate the boss music from the game since I spent so much time stealing from bosses.

[Christmas]

OMG, I WOULD NEVER STEAL. WHY WOULD ANYONE DO THAT INGAME!??