I have read elsewhere that the time to dual-class a thief to mage is at level 6 or 7, but having done it at 7, advice needed.

[WiseGrimwald]

Playing in the Black Pits, my level cap is 600,000.

This means that I believe that I could have dual classed at a higher level than 7.
How high could I have gone with my thief in order to get my thief skills back before leaving the Black Pits?

I am thinking that level 10 would be OK

 

[JustKneller]

If your max is 600k, then you could have done 8 levels of thief to still max out at level 10 fighter (500k). You can't really push it further than that since you'd have to sacrifice a level of fighter for more thief levels, but if you went to thief 9, then you would cap out before fighter 10 and getting the levels back.

 

[WarChiefZeke]

In the Black Pits in particular, you can afford to wait. XP will be granted generously and you can get your class back in just a few fights.

I still think 7 is generally the optimal time regardless, though.

 

[WiseGrimwald]

Thanks for the info. I have just dual-classed to mage at level 10 and will see how it works out in due course.