“Five-finger discount” Walkthrough

For Disgaea Hour of Darkness

Version 1.0 

Updates 

12/20/03: Created FAQ and wrote Version 1.0. 

Copyright 

Kim Harvey writes this guide.  I spent over 300 hours playing this game, and this was not the easiest guide I have written.  Reproduction of this guide is prohibited without written permission from the author.  The author may be reached on kim#kharvey.dreamstation.com or by AOL IM at littleharv78. 

Basic Requirement 

When starting the game, this is the minimum party you will need 

Larharl
Etna
Warrior
Brawler 

Keep fighting until your Warrior and/or Brawler attains Level 5.  At this level, you unlock the Thief class. 

Why this “five finger discount” challenge? 

All your weapon/item gains will come either from bonus gauge or from stealing.  There are several reasons for this: 

  1. You can’t purchase the item at the store (which includes some consumables).
  2. You haven’t attained product rank for that item to buy at the store.
  3. You can’t afford to buy it.

All Rank 39 and higher weapons will require stealing if you want your hands on them.  In addition, some unique items must be stolen if you want to use them, like Horse Weiner and some of the emblems.  You cannot steal consumables – they either must be bought or gained from bonus gauge prizes. 

Now I got the Thief class unlocked, what do I do? 

First of all, create 3 or 4 rogues.  I prefer to create them as “Average”.  I have Larharl create 2, Etna create 1, and someone else creates the other. 

After all the creating is done, assign the ability bonus to HIT.  Your rouge needs as high as HIT as he can get. 

Now go to the store and obtain some stealing hands.  If you have any glasses or guns in your inventory from the fighting, give them to the rouges.  Glasses and Guns increase HIT, which increases their chances of stealing. 

Major places to steal 

Chapter 1 

Corridor of Love 

The Ghost has Bulletproof Vest and Muscle Brawn, the Warrior has Iron Lance, and Red Mage has Light Staff.  If you haven’t bought them yet, it is time to do some serious stealing.  Make sure that your Rouges are level 6 or 7, and load them up with Stealing Hands.   

Hall of Caresses 

The ninja has Battle Axe, the Green Mage has another Light Staff, and the Warriors have Short Swords.  The armor isn’t worth stealing at this point. 

Chapter 2 

Forsaken Land 

The archers have Longbows, and the Cleric has Witch’s Staff.  If you have archers/clerics in your party, it is wise to start stealing those items.  Otherwise, don’t waste your time stealing. 

Chapter 3 

Gaudy Entrance 

Steal the Rock Fists from the brawlers for your fighter, and the battle-axe for the warrior.  Don’t waste time with the armor. 

Golden Courtyard 

The priest has some good items to steal.  Make sure to take Chain Mail and Smiting Rod before attacking it.  If you still have stealing hands left, do your brawlers a favor and take some Double Slaps as well. 

Flashy Passage 

The Level 10 Pugilist has a spear worth stealing.  Stealing that Bushido Lance would look very good on Etna.  This enemy also has another Chain Mail up for stealing.  If you have any archers/clerics, steal the Big Arrow from the Level 7 Pugilists. 

Lavish Hall 

Steal Chain Mail from the Pugilists, and Leather Jacket from Rich Demon.  After this first battle, come back for a second time, and you will notice a Blue Mage in the Rich Demon’s spot.  Steal those Hibernal Staffs. 

Chapter 4 

Blazing Field 

The Nightmare has very good items up for grabs including Cat’s Claw for Hoggmeiser, and Dimensional Cape for your best fighter. 

Molten Labyrinth 

First, steal the glasses and armor from Mid-Boss.  Next, steal the Dimensional Capes from the Nightmares.  Don’t worry about stealing weapons unless they are rare or legendary. 

Chapter 5 

Endless White 

The scouts have KLZ900 for taking.  Your Rogues would have a splendid time with those guns.  Don’t hesitate in stealing from the Ninja as well.  Etna will thank you for the Bushido Lance and Larharl would look good in Bushido Armor. 

Chapter 6 

Ritual Site 

Make sure that your rouge(s) are Level 50-55 before entering this level.  If they aren’t, level up at 5-3 until they reach this point.  Before you beat the crap out of the Demonslayer, steal all of his equipment.  After you beat this enemy, 2 Rune Knights will replace it.  The Rune Knights also have good equipment that is worth stealing.  Spend the time here, as you won’t get any good items to steal until the last part of Chapter 7. 

Heart of Evil 

Steal the Lizard Tail for your monsters.  The armor isn’t worth stealing, considering that you went shopping at the Rune Knight’s expense. 

Chapter 7 

Ember of Dreams 

The Level 27 Zombie has some special items that you must have.  Horse Weiner, Hercules Body, and Mahogany’s Brain.  Make sure to finish your five-finger discount before you start the beatings.  Before this battle, increase the product rank to permit you to purchase Bandit Hands.  You will need to be able to steal from a distance, considering that the zombies can poison you with their attacks. 

Chapter 8 

Freezing Souls 

Steal the equipment from the battlers, especially the ones with Tridents.  Don’t worry about stealing the armor unless you really need it.  If you do, steal the Power Jackets. 

Under the Moon 

Steal the Magic Vests from the Shades.  If you need cash or something to go through the Item World with, steal the Star Orbs. 

Chapter 9 

Sphere VIII 

There are 3 Black Belts on this map.  Steal their equipment before you defeat them.  Steal the sword first, and then the axe, and the rest of the equipment should follow.  If your rouges are at high level, you will only need 3 turns to finish your shopping. 

Cross Point 

If you want the money or something to go through the Item World, steal the orbs.  Otherwise, don’t worry about stealing. 

Primordial Soup 

Before you defeat Gordon, steal his gun.  Let the second Rouge equip it and steal Thursday’s weapon.   

Chapter 10 

River of Lava 

The Sentinel has Stealth Cape and King Orb for grabs.  If you still need good monster weapon after that, steal the Spiked Shell.  I’d wait on monster weapons, though. 

Inferno 

Steal the shoes from Mid-Boss and get it to Hoggmeiser.  The rest of the weapons aren’t worth taking, considering you have already swiped better weapons by now. 

Chapter 11 

Ghostly Whisper 

Swipe Pixie Staff from the Skulls, if you have magic users. 

Rising Fear 

It is time to do some shopping for monster weapons.  The scarecrows have Electric Eels.  Before finishing this level, make sure to steal the weapon from the Rune Knight, along with Ghost Cape. 

Hero’s Tomb 

If you didn’t’ swipe monster weapons earlier, you have Cobra Fangs available for swiping.  Make sure to steal Stinky Jacket from the 1st Defender. 

Chapter 12 

Embryon 

Steal those guns for your rogues and Gordon.  The armor is worth taking as well. 

Core Point No. 4 

Again, the recruits have items worth stealing, especially Silver Tux and Silver Axe.  Load up on Bandit Hands and go shopping. 

Star Cluster 

Steal the items from the Level 48 Officers.  Ignore the recruits unless you still need armor. 

Sidereal Rift 

Both Officers and Rival has equipment that should be stolen before anything else is done.  Watch out for Pringer Beam.  I suggest throwing Rival in the base panel after you bring out key members of the party to drain his MP.  One of the Officers has a H30K, Gold Tux, and Crosshair Scope for taking.  The Rival has Hero Cape and Panda Claw for grabs.   

Chapter 13 

Main Corridor 1 

Steal the armor from Cyborg.  Don’t worry about the weapons since you are about to swipe even better ones very shortly. 

Main Corridor 2 

Steal that Light Saber from the Psi-Solider.  Larharl should equip it ASAP.  Steal the Crosshair Scope from the Level 50 Cyborg for your rogues.   

Main Corridor 3 

The Psi-Solider has more Light Sabers for taking.  The Rival has Demon’s Hand for swiping.  After clearing this stage, return.  The Level 60 Psi-Solider will replace Rival, and will have Platinum Tux for taking.  You must steal the Platinum Tux now, because this level isn’t available after you clear the next part of Chapter 13. 

Bridge 

Make sure that your rogues are strong.  You only get one chance to steal the goods on this level.  The Angels have very good stuff to steal.  Steal at least one spear for Etna, arrows for your archers/clerics if you have any, and spend the rest of your stealing items on the armor, especially Jupiter’s Armor. 

Chapter 14 

Field of Virtue 

The Strigoi have Reaper’s Cloaks for stealing.  Steal the Black Armor and Fiendish Claw from Mid-Boss.  For the Neuntotner, follow the same plan you had for Mid-Boss. 

Paradise 

Make sure to steal from the Angel Cadet and Angel Solider during this battle.  The cadets have weapons for your brawler, and the solider has an axe.  Both have good armor for taking. 

Angelic Choir 

If you have archers/clerics in your party, make sure to steal from the Valkyrie.  Make sure to steal from the Angel Cadets as well.  Angel Solider has Prophet’s Robe. 

Coliseum 

Steal those staffs from the Soliders.  Steal the sword from the Crusader, along with Nine Tail Fur. 

Seraphic Sanctuary 

Steal all the equipment from the Avengers except for Gold Tux (unless you need armor that bad). 

Hall of Justice 

Make sure to steal at least one sword from a Crusader, the Mirage from one of the angels, and the staffs from the Angel Cadet.  When Archangel comes down, steal all of his equipment and begin beating the crap out of them.  Make sure that your rogues are level 100 or higher before entering. 

Sacred Altar 

Steal some of the equipment from the Avenger – especially the weapons.  When Seraph comes knocking, steal the Testament and Celestial Armor, and then let him have it.  Beware of Armageddon. 

Other Maps 

Prinny Land 3 

Steal the Testament from the Prinny God.  What is nice is that you can enter this map as many times you want, therefore you got an unlimited supply of Testaments for stealing.  Make sure that your Rogues are at a very high level before entering.  Beware of Pringer Beam unless your Rogue has a lot (and I mean a lot) of HP.  The Prinny God has Destroy for stealing as well. 

Cave of Ordeals 5 

Make sure the Rogues are at least level 900-1100.  You will need 2 of them to throw the entire party to meet the Zombie King.  The others should be ready to steal Nirvana and Amon Force.  Tiamat has Infernal Armor for stealing. 

Human World 

Central City 

If you been through the item world (namely the Testament), most of the items won’t be worth stealing.  If you haven’t, then start stealing the Odyssey. 

Neo Eden 

Make sure to steal from the Level 110 Psi-Solider before clearing this map.  Steal the Foresight.  The Fujiyama is worth swiping as well. 

EDF Headquarters 

You only get one shot to steal here.  Make it count.  Your Rouge should be Level 300 at the very least.  Steal the Astro Suit from the General.  Do this level after you beat the crap out of Baal, since you will access an alternate ending if you clear this stage, and thus go into New Game+. 

Alternate Netherworld 

Malefic Seal 

If you don’t have good monster weapons, steal El Dorado from Tiamat.  You should have been stealing Lucifer Forces from the Rank 38 and Rank 39 Item Worlds by now. 

Warrior’s Maiden 

Steal from the Overlord.  Arcadia must be the top priority on the stealing list, since it is rank 40.  Steal the rest of her equipment as well.  Make sure the Rogues are level 3000-3500 before stealing. 

Beauty Castle 

Beauty of Evil 

The Witch has must-steal items.  The Rank 40 Nyanko Soul would look good on Pierre.  The other items must be stolen.  Your Rouge should be level 3500 before this level. 

Baal Castle 

Patriarch's Seal 

If you haven’t been stealing Lucifer’s Forces, make a habit to steal them from the surts.  (Even better, capture some of those surts.)  Keep an eye out for legendary equipment as well. 

Lord of Terror 

You only have one shot when you face Baal for the first encounter.  Your rogues should be approximately level 5000-9999 before entering, depending on equipment.  Use Awesome Hands if you got them.  Steal his equipment, and then let your hard hitters finish off Baal.  For Uber-Prinny Baal, again steal the equipment first, and then beat the crap out of it.  The best news is that you can repeat the second battle with Uber-Prinny Baal as many times as you wish, so you can swipe infinite Prinny Costumes. 

Item World 

Rarity 0 Legendary Item World 

Work your way to Floor 100.  Item God 2 should have good items to steal.  Look for various Rank 39 and /or Rank 40 products including Hyperdrive, Yoshitsunas, Glorious, and Nyanko’s Souls.  Make sure to steal Etoiles if you can find them because your Rouges will thank you.  Level 2500-3000 is the level you need to be at when you get to Floor 100. 

Rank 38 and Rank 39 Item Worlds 

Look out for various Rank 39 items, including Cosmic Blades, Longinus, Infernal Guns, and Nirvanas.  If you have monsters, look for Lucifer’s Forces as well.  Pay special attention for legendary items. 

Optimal Equipment 

By the time you face Baal or Item God 2 in a Rarity 0 item world, at least one of your rouges (which should been transmigrated to Space Pirates) should have this equipment: 

Weapon: Etoile, Rank 0, Level 100
Item 1: Legendary Rank 0 Providence, Level 100
Item 2: Legendary Rank 0 Nirvana, Level 100
Item 3: Legendary Rank 0 Arcadia, Level 100 

All 4 items should have Marksman 19000, which is the maximum for a given product.  Marksman increases HIT, which in turn increase the chance of stealing.  You must go through Rank 38 and/or Rank 39 item worlds to get this bonus that means you will be spending your time.  Late in the game, money will no longer be an issue and you can be a free spender as long you keep a good track of inventory.

This equipment should give you the best chance of stealing from Baal or Item God 2.  You will need to be at least level 3500 before you will receive success of stealing, even when these items are at the maximum.