Initiative

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  Initiative point icon.

Initiative is a skill cost mechanic unique to the thief profession. It replaces recharge on the thief's weapon skills with a pool of twelve points which are spent when the skills are used and gradually returns over time. Using initiative the thief is able to tactically attack an opponent with their own chains and bursts of damage until they run out of the resource. Initiative is represented by twelve diamond-shaped indicators above the weapon skill slots.

Whenever a weapon skill is used, it will consume a certain number of initiative from the available pool. Initiative will replenish naturally at one point every 1.33 seconds.

Thieves have a base of 12 initiative. The initiative pool can be expanded up to 15 points through the primary trait line Trickery.

Skills which use initiative

Weapon	Equipped in	Skill	Initiative cost
Dagger	Main hand	Double Strike
		Heartseeker
	Off hand	Dancing Dagger
		Cloak and Dagger
Pistol	Main hand	Vital Shot
		Body Shot
	Off hand	Headshot
		Black Powder
Sword	Main hand	Slice
		Infiltrator's Strike
		Shadow Return
Shortbow	Both hands	Trick Shot
		Cluster Bomb →  Detonate Cluster
		Disabling Shot
		Choking Gas
		Infiltrator's Arrow
Harpoon gun	Aquatic	Piercing Shot
		Deluge
		Escape
		Disabling Shot
		Ink Shot
Spear	Aquatic	Stab
		Flanking Strike
		Nine Tailed Strike
		Tow Line
		Shadow Assault

Dual skills

Main weapon	Off-hand weapon	Skill	Initiative cost
Dagger	Dagger	Death Blossom
	Pistol	Shadow Shot
	None	Twisting Fangs
Pistol	Dagger	Shadow Strike
	Pistol	Unload
	None	Repeater
Sword	Dagger	Flanking Strike
	Pistol	Pistol Whip
	None	Stab

Stealth Attacks

Weapon	Stealth Attack	Initiative cost
Dagger	Backstab
Pistol	Sneak Attack
Shortbow	Surprise Shot
Sword	Tactical Strike

Related traits

Critical Strikes

• Opportunist: Critical hits have a 20% chance to restore one initiative (1-second cooldown).
• First Strikes: 10% increased damage when initiative is over 6.
• Signet Use: Gain 2 initiative when activating a signet. Reduces signet recharge by 20%.

Shadow Arts

• Infusion of Shadow: Gain 2 initiative when using a skill that stealths you.
• Patience: Regain initiative faster while in stealth.

Acrobatics

• Quick Pockets: Gain 3 initiative on weapon swap while in combat.
• Quick Recovery:Gain 2 initiative every 10 seconds.

Trickery

• Kleptomaniac: Stealing gives you 3 initiative.
• Preparedness: Increases maximum initiative by 3.
• Lead Attacks: Increases damage by 1% per initiative.
• Hastened Replenishment: You receive 4 initiative when using a heal skill.
• Initial Strike: Attacks with the first weapon-skill slot have a 7% chance to regain 1 initiative.