This guide focuses on the Best Rogue class build in Baldur’s Gate 3, the Arcane Trickster Subclass, and includes all components to build a powerful character.
This build page has been updated for thePatch 8 versionof Baldur’s Gate 3.
Everything About the Arcane Trickster Rogue in BG3
In Baldur’s Gate 3 the Arcane Trickster is a subclass of Rogue, and it will grant you access to spells in addition to the typical Rogue stealth advantages. Moreover, the benefit of this build is the ability to cast spells, mainly crowd control, stuns, and immobilization. This adds to the Rogue’s kit while allowing the class to still do great damage and play its natural tendencies. Pick this build up if you want a hybrid casterRogue.
Overall, Rogues are masters of stealth, deception, and precision strikes. They excel in both melee and ranged combat, and theirSneak Attackfeature allows them to deal substantial damage in a single strike. Rogues also possess a wide array of skills, making them exceptional in non-combat situations.
Rogues may not be a front-line tank, but they can dish out a ton of damage in a single turn. This is your prototypical stealth damage dealer and a strong one in Baldur’s Gate 3.
Patch 8 Changes to the Arcane Trickster Rogue Build for BG3
The most significant update to the Arcane Trickster Rogue build in Patch 8 of Baldur’s Gate 3 is the availability of theBooming Bladecantrip at Level 1. This allows you to deal extra thunder damage each action, adding to an overall damage increase for the Fighter. These additions give the assassin playstyle additional options, where you can combine the spellcasting utility of Booming Blade with a more aggressive melee fighting style.
However, going with the Booming Blade route will change some of the traditional rogue playstyle, which tends to be more stealth-based. Even with a melee-focused build, you can still be very effective at initiating combat with stealth strikes. But once enemies are engaged, you’ll need to take more of a frontline melee role. This playstyle may not be to everyone’s taste, but it is a possible option we’ll include in an alternative build below.
Rogue Class Features and Mechanics
The following list presents all essential Arcane Trickster Rogue class mechanics in Baldur’s Gate 3:
Rogue Sneak Attack Explained
In Baldur’s Gate 3, the Rogue’s Sneak Attack ability is vital to do the most damage per turn. The Sneak Attack action allows a Rogue to deal extra damage under certain conditions, representing the character’s ability to exploit an opponent’s vulnerabilities during combat.
Here’s how the Sneak Attack works in Baldur’s Gate 3 Rogue Arcane Trickster Build:
Sneak Attack is a core feature of the Rogue class in D&D 5e and plays a significant role in enhancing the Rogue’s damage output. It encourages tactical positioning and teamwork, as the Rogue benefits from having allies engaged in close combat with the enemy to trigger the Sneak Attack conditions.
Baldur’s Gate 3 Advantage Explained
Advantagein Baldur’s Gate 3 is a mechanic that gives you a bonus to your chances of success on an attack roll, ability check or saving throw. To have advantage, you must meet one of the following conditions:
If you have an advantage, you roll your d20 twice and take the higher result. This means that you have a 50% greater chance of success on your roll. The disadvantage is the opposite of the advantage. If you have a disadvantage, you roll yourd20twice and take the lower result. This means that you have a 50% lower chance of success on your roll.
Here are some additional tips for gaining advantage:
With a little planning and effort, you can gain an advantage on your rolls and increase your chances of success in Baldur’s Gate 3.
Rogue Class and Best Subclasses
The Best Subclass for the Rogue is Arcane Trickster because it provides the ability to cast spells and provide outside-of-combat utility. The Arcane Trickster subclass can be unlocked at level 3 and is great in combat and outside to provide your team with high damage and great group utility.
Here are all the Baldur’s Gate 3 Rogue Subclasses:
For the Best Rogue Build and Guide, we recommend taking the Arcane Trickster Subclass at level 3. You gain three cantrips and three spells and learn more over time as you level.
Character Creation for Rogue Arcane Trickster Build
Recommended Backgrounds for the Arcane Trickster Rogue
Criminal is the bestbackgroundfor theArcane TricksterRogue in Baldur’s Gate 3 because it gives you Deception and Stealth Proficiency. This choice mostly influences roleplaying and dialogue options aspects and allows you to create unique characters. Additional choices are:
Best Race Choice for the Arcane Trickster Rogue
Wood Elfis the bestracechoice for the Arcane Trickster Rogue build in Baldur’s Gate 3 Rogue because you gain Longbow proficiency, highest movement, stealth proficiency,Fey Ancestry,and Darkvision.However, the second best racial choice isGithyankidue to increased movement abilities, skill proficiency, and free Misty Step spell at level 5.
The Rogue’s racial choice will not influence the ability score, as everyone should get a +2 and +1 to spend regardless. The most important aspect you want to keep in mind is, thatHalf-Elfcan equip Longbows. This is our preferred loadout because of the range damage and ease. You can select another race, but it will come without equipping Longbow.
Recommended Skills for for the Arcane Trickster Rogue
Insight,Stealth,Persuasion,Acrobatics, andSleight of Handare the best skills for the Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Rogue Arcane Trickster Build Guide because they give you the Best Assassin Build for detecting traps, sneaking, and avoiding detection. In Baldur’s Gate 3, skills represent the abilities and proficiencies of your character that allow them to perform various actions and interact with the game world. Skills are associated with specific attributes and are used to determine the success or effectiveness of certain actions or abilities. They can be edited during character creation or with companions, during respec or reroll screen.
Here are the bestskillsfor Rogue in Baldur’s Gate 3:
While these skills are well-suited for the build, it’s important to consider your character concept and the specific challenges you may face in Baldur’s Gate 3. The selection of skills should align with your intended playstyle, complement your party composition, and reflect the narrative and roleplaying aspects of your character.
Best Ability Scores for the Arcane Trickster Rogue
The best Arcane Trickster Rogue BuildAbility scoreis 16 Intelligence, 16 Dexterity, and 14 Constitution.Arcane Trickerster’s spell-casting ability comes from the Wizard spell list and uses Intelligence for rolls. Below is our recommended ability score for the Arcane Trickster:
After you choose the Rogue, Arcane Trickster Subclass, race, and background, the game will automatically distribute your abilities in the character creation abilities tab. You will need to reprioritize the stats for the chart for the Best Rogue build. Simply use the plus-minus in the character creator and make sure you have the suggested race, or the numbers will be off.
You can increase your ability score via a quest in Act 1, Act 2, and Act 3. Make sure to check out ourPermanent bonus guideon how you can boost your ability score through quests.
Best Companions for Arcane Trickster Rogue Build
The bestcompanionfor a Rogue Build in Baldur’s Gate 3 is Lae’zeal because she’s a melee-focused damage dealer. She will engage enemies and take the pressure off your ranged-focused build, allowing you to free-cast spells and ranged attacks. Heavy focus on melee will keep you in the distance while applying pressure, snaring, and debuffing the opposition.
It’s important to note that party composition and synergy play a significant role in determining the effectiveness of your companions. Consider the strengths and weaknesses of each companion and how they align with your main character’s abilities and playstyle.
Arcane Trickster Spell Slots
Here’s a chart that shows the levels and spell slots unlocked for the Rogue Arcane Trickster subclass in Baldur’s Gate 3:
Arcane Trickster Rogue Illithid Powers
Illithid Powersare unlocked later in the game when you learn more about theMind Flayersand Tadpoles. you’re able to gain jars of Mind Flayer Parasite Specimens, and consume them to gain one point. If you decide to advance this skill line, these are the choices we suggest.
Here are the best Illithid Powers for the Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Rogue Arcane Trickster Build Guide:
Arcane Trickster Rogue Level Progression
Alternative Arcane Trickster Rogue Build
For our alternative Arcane Trickster Rogue build, we’re focusing on a more aggressive, melee-oriented playstyle. While you can still open fights with ranged sneak attacks for a strong burst of damage, the core of this build puts you up close and personal, relying heavily on melee combat once the fight begins.
Read More:Baldur’s Gate 3 Bard College of Valour Build
By multiclassing into just the Fighter class, you’ll gain access to the Battle Master subclass and 3 manoeuvres at Level 7. Staying in this class until Level 12 also unlocks key Fighter features like Action Surge, Extra Attack, and three additional Feats, giving you a powerful mix of offense and versatility.
At Level one follow our character creator to pick all correct background, race, skills, and ability distribution focusing on Dexterity and intelligence.The Arcane Trickster subclass at level 3 will use Intellgence for spellcasting Modifier. You want to find two a ranged weapon and use light armor. Levels two and three will start getting more utility and damage so just level up from here.
Longbow Ranged Weapon
It is important to note that the Rogue doesn’t have Longbow proficiency built in. Thus, it’s optimal to pick a Wood Elf (or any Elf) for this benefit. Moreover, theGloves of Archeryitem gives you Longbow proficiency as well. Keep this in mind if you are unable to effectively use a longbow early.
Read More:Baldur’s Gate 3 Shadow Magic Sorcerer Build
Class Feature and Mechanic
At level one, your main goal is to get into stealth, before a fight or during and use a sneak attack. The advantage mechanic can be tricky to understand. In essence, you need to attack targets engaged with others or use hide to get in stealth. You will have more options and easier use of this when you’re able to use a bonus action to hide. For now, engage with a bow or melee and seek high ground and targets with advantage. I suggest playing this build at range, it’s just much easier, and sneaking, and gaining an advantage is much simpler.
Arcane Trickster Rogue Gameplay & Priorities
In the early levels of BG3, the Rogue should equip a shortsword for melee, with a dagger in the offhand, and a bow for ranged combat. Additionally, your other primary goal is to find the Gloves of Archery at the start of the game, which will grant you bow proficiencies. Rogues have great mobility but not a lot of defense, so bows are vital until you reach higher levels and access movement-enhancing armor. Moreover, look to acquire Elixir of Bloodlust and Oil of Accuracy. you’re able to combine these two for massive damage increases and your Rogue will feel very powerful immediately.
Your overall priority with the Arcane Trickster Rogue build is the following:
Following these steps ensures a strong foundation, especially if you plan on playingsoloor onHonour Modedifficulty.
At level two, you will unlock the Cunning Action class feature, more health, and one more level until subclass choice.
Rogue Class Feature
This gives you the ability to use Dash, Hide Disengage as a bonus action. Bonus actions are the theme of the build, using attacks and Cunning Actions to free up your action for Sneak Attack. Dash is useful to create space or close the distance, while disengage allows you to flee a fight without an opportunity attack. Use these to either move in and out of fights and the hide bonus action at the end of the turn to go into stealth.
Gameplay you want to now use your bonus action hide to get in stealth gain an advantage and use sneak attack. That’s essentially the gameplay loop to open up for simple big damage. You also want to do your best to start encounters FROM stealth. You will not be able to dictate the terms of every fight. But even during dialogue, you may select the character to select the screen and move the non-talking party members to your ideal area. Buff up, get in stealth, and get ready to open for a big stealth attack.
At level three, you may pick your subclass and we recommend the Arcane Trickster. You will get to pick three spells, and two cantrips and automatically granted Mage Hand.
Below are the recommended Arcane Trickster Spells in Baldur’s Gate 3:
At this level, your spells are designed to help crowd control and do a small amount of damage. Primarily use these spells for CC and rely on damage from stealth attacking.
At level four you get an important decision, between afeator ability improvement. We recommend forgoing the ability improvement to select the Sharpshoot feat.
Alternatively, you may use Dual Wielder feat here and play a double Rapier dual-wield build. I played that until level 8, but found my damage was the same as a range build, and my survivability was significantly diminished. The premise behind the dual-wield build is using your off-hand attack with a bonus action for multiple attacks. And yes, in theory, this works. But in reality, your bonus action often goes for hiding to get a sneak attack, which you can do at range. It’s MUCH easier to hide behind a bush, bonus action hides, and snipe with a sneak attack at range than playing melee and trying to time it all.
You also get one spell to select at this level. Charmed Person is an obvious choice at this level, though it only affects human characters. You should have a lot of crowd-control ability at this point.
At level five, you gain access to Gain Uncanny Dodge when an attack hits you, you only take half the usual damage. This will help with your survival and sneak attack damage will be increased to 3d6.
At this level, you can “replace spell.” This is useful if you want to try a new spell and replace something you don’t find useful. An example is Sleep – it’s a great spell at lower levels, but beyond 5 becomes a weaker stun.
The gameplay remains unchanged at this point. Look for gear, potions, arrows, and poison to amplify damage.
Level 5 Spells: Mages Hand, True Strike, Acid Splash, Sleep, Tasha’s Hideous Laughter, Find Familiar, Charm Person.
Level 6 you get to add expertise into 2 skills.DeceptionandPersuasionare good choices. This simply helps you in overland, dialogue, and exploration, not combat generally. Remember, you’re able to also replace aspellat every level as an Arcane Thief.
Ending Act 1 with the Arcane Trickster Rogue
Around Leve 6 you should be close to finishing Act 1 content. Be sure to check merchants and stock up on camp and alchemy supplies. Additionally, be sure to check out thebest Act 1 items. There are alsopermanent bonusesto find in Act 1. Lastly,Grymforgehas powerful armor and weapons (Adamantine) that can aid you well into Act 3. Consider taking the time to craft a couple of items there before transitioning to Act 2, where you won’t be able to return.
At level 7 we gain a class feature, an additional level 1 spell slot, and a level 2 spell slot.
Level 7 Spells: Mages Hand, True Strike, Acid Splash, Sleep, Tasha’s Hideous Laughter, Find Familiar, Charm Person, Invisibility.
At level 8, you get access to another feat. Since we took Dual-Wielding at level 4, put +2 into Dexterity. This should get you to 18, allowing for huge damage with sneak attacks in melee range. You also get one more spell and we recommend Misty Step.
Level 8 Spells: Mages Hand, True Strike, Acid Splash, Sleep, Tasha’s Hideous Laughter, Find Familiar, Charm Person, Invisibility, Misty Step.
At level 9 the Arcane Trickster unlocks the Magical Ambush subclass passive.
Magical Ambush: while you are hidden, your targets have disadvantage on saving throws against your spells. This gives us incentive to not only attack from stealth, but use our spells. This will be particularly relevant for stuns where the percentage chance to land is low. You don’t want to burn your one action on a spell to stun the opposition and you miss.
At level 10 the Arcane Tricker gains a cantrip, spell, and a feat.
Firebolt Cantrip: throw a mote of fire for 1-10 damage. If you didn’t get this cantrip from a racial feature it’s still good even at this level. Mainly for lighting things on fire not necessarily the damage. A defensive cantrip would be Blade Ward and a utility cantrip would be Minor Illusion.
Hold Person:Hold a humanoid enemy still. They can’t move, act, or react. Attacks from within 3m are always Critical Hits. This spell can be useful to lock one enemy down and also do big damage. Since every attack in melee is a critical strike, you can crowd control and then unload on turn two. Keep in mind, that you want to cast this while in stealth for the Magical Ambush passive since the percentage to land might be low.
Alert Feat: You gain a +5 bonus toInitiativeand can’t be Surprised. One of the best most slept-on feats in Baldur’s Gate 3. With the Arcane Trickster, this will give you 10 Initiative or so. You are VERY likely to go first and will never be skipped due to Surprise. The idea here is, that you may either stun or sneak attack for huge damage on the opposing team’s most damage-producing target. You want to stun ideally or eliminate the target to prevent incoming damage to your team. Going first on higher difficulty is so important because you can prevent Githyanki with 7 attacks from wrecking your team with “Hold Person.”
At level 11, the Arcane Trickster unlocks a class passive feature one another spell. We are one level from another feat which is helpful. You gain access to another non-combat related skill Reliable Talent.
Reliable Talent: When you make an Ability Check with a Skill you are Proficient with it, the lowest result you may roll on the die is 10.
Mirror Image: Create 3 illusory duplicates of yourself that distract attackers. Each duplicate increases your Armour Class by 3. Whenever you successfully evade an attack, one of the duplicates disappears. This spell is utterly insane survivability giving you 9 AC. Each attack lowers the AC, but with light armor on you will have a massive amount of AC and are likely to avoid most attacks. Use this when you expect incoming damage or you need to survive to the next turn
At level 12 we get to choose another feat. Keep things simple, and take +2 into Dexterity to reach 20. With Sharpshooter and Alert, you should have plenty of damage with sneak attack melee.
Best Gear for Baldur’s Gate 3 Rogue Arcane Trickster Build
In Games like Baldur’s Gate 3, you’ll explore the world, loot chests and your enemies’ dead bodies, and complete quests and all those activities can reward you with useful items, potions, armor, weapons, scrolls, and much more. There are three Acts in BG3, and Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Arcane Trickster Rogue Build Guide includes suggested sets and alternatives for Act 1 and Act 3.
Beginner: Act 1
Here’s the best beginner gear for the Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Rogue Arcane Trickster Build Guide:
Below are the best Act 1 Armor and weapons for Arcane Trickster Rogue in BG3:
Advanced: Acts 2 & 3
Here’s the best-advanced gear for the Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Rogue Arcane Trickster Build Guide:
Below are the best Act 3 Armor and weapons for Arcane Trickster Rogue in BG3:
Best Consumable Items
Consumablesare items that can be used once and then destroyed. They are typically used to restore health or other resources. Some common types of consumables include potions, scrolls, food, drinks, and arrows.
The following list represents the best individual use consumable items that will aid in our Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Rogue Arcane Trickster Build Guide:
Permanent Bonuses for Rogue Arcane Trickster
Throughout Baldur’s Gate 3, you will have the ability to gain permanent bonuses to your character. These can grant additional spells, ability scores, and other bonuses. Permanent Bonuses are not displayed throughout the campaign but are vital to increase overall combat performance. We have all permanent bonuses here in a guide, but the most important ones for you to collect are listed below.
Best Permanent Bonuses for Arcane Trickster Rogue in Baldur’s Gate 3
Ammunition
The strongest Ammunition for the Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Rogue Arcane Trickster Build Guide is listed below:
Arcane Trickster Rogue Build Gameplay Tips and Tricks
The Rouge gameplay revolves around using stealth, sneak attack, and advantage for damage and survivability.
Here are the best Roge build gameplay tips.
Remember, this build guide serves as a foundation, and you can always adapt it to suit your preferences and the needs of your campaign. Enjoy playing as a formidable Arcane Trickster Rogue!
Arcane Trickster Rogue Changes in Patch 7 for BG3
Overall, combat and gameplay for the Arcane Trickster Rogue did not see any changes with the release of Patch 7 for Baldur’s Gate 3. Instead, Larian Studios’ main focus in this patch ismodsand some new cinematic scenes focusing on evil endings.
Therefore, the game now features amodding toolkitand anin-game mod manager, allowing players to create and install mods directly within the game. This update is intended to hand over creative control to the community, enabling players to produce unique content and continue the story in new ways. This best Arcane Trickster Rogue Build Guide remains unchanged, mainly in Baldur’s Gate 3 Patch 7.
Build Summary – Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Rogue Arcane Trickster Build Guide
Q1. What is the best background for the arcane trickster?
Ans. The best background for an Arcane Trickster in BG3 is Charlatan or Urchin.
Q2. What is the best stat for the arcane trickster?
Ans. The best stat for an Arcane Trickster in BG3 is Dexterity.
Q3. What does Arcane Trickster do in BG3?
Ans. Arcane Trickster in BG3 is a Rogue subclass that blends stealth and thievery with spellcasting using Illusion.
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