Baldurs Gate 3 Rogue Build Guide Subclasses Feats Stats and Race Options

Cunning, deadly, and irresistibly adaptable-the Rogue in Baldur’s Gate 3 can turn any skirmish into a showcase of precision and misdirection. Here’s how to choose the subclass, feats, and build that make your sneak attacks hit harder than ever.

There’s no single best class in Baldur’s Gate 3, and the game gives you as many opportunities for creative problem solving as it does for punching. Finding the best class really just boils down to how you want to play. Even when playing solo, you’ll still manage the rest of your party, so you’ll get to experiment with multiple classes at once.

Read on to find out everything you need to know about the Rogue class in Baldur’s Gate 3, and learn all about the best Rogue subclass, feats, and build.

Update (April 15): Added details of the new subclass introduced in Patch 8, which also adds cross-play support and a photo mode.

Is Rogue the best class for you in BG3?

Rogue is a strong choice if you enjoy precision, agility, and high burst damage. The class rewards stealthy tactics, careful positioning, and smart use of skills both in and out of combat. Whether you prefer sneaking behind enemies for deadly critical hits or handling tricky locks and traps, Rogues offer flexibility and excitement in every encounter. However, their reliance on positioning and stealth can make them less forgiving for players who prefer a straightforward combat style.

Rogues are just a really cool class. In head-to-head combat, they’re not going to deal as much damage as melee classes like Fighters or even caster classes like Sorcerers. But Rogues have Sneak Attack that deals extra damage whenever they have advantage on an attack. And that means if you have (or create) the opportunity, Rogues can deal a lot of damage. The trick is maneuvering yourself and your allies into positions that grant that advantage – like having allies within 5 feet, controlling the high ground, or staying hidden.

And that means Rogues need you to have some familiarity with movement rules and how advantage works before you can get the most out of the class. They might not be the best class for beginners, but they’re a great class once the rules make more sense to you.

Rogue class features

Rogues rely on precision, agility, and cunning to dominate combat and exploration. Their class features include Sneak Attack for massive burst damage, Cunning Action for unmatched mobility, and Expertise to excel in key skills like Stealth, Sleight of Hand, or Persuasion. Evasion and Uncanny Dodge allow them to evade or reduce incoming damage, making them surprisingly durable despite lighter armor. Combined, these traits create a character built for quick strikes, stealth missions, and tactical advantage in every encounter.

Hit Points

• Hit Dice – 1d8
• Hit Points at 1st level – 8 your Constitution modifier
• Hit Points at higher levels – 5 your Constitution modifier per rogue level after 1st

Actions

Rogues can perform Sneak Attacks from melee and range. Sneak Attacks will allow you to deal extra damage to a foe you have Advantage against. It’ll also work if you have an ally within 1.5m of the target and you don’t have Disadvantage.

Proficiencies

• Weapons – Simple Weapons, Hand Crossbows, Longswords, Rapiers, Shortswords
• Armor – Light Armor
• Skills – Choose four from Acrobatics, Athletics, Deception, Insight, Intimidation, Investigation, Perception, Performance, Persuasion, Sleight of Hand, and Stealth
• Saving Throws – Dexterity, Intelligence

Rogue subclasses

Rogue subclasses in Baldur’s Gate 3 offer distinct playstyles that cater to different approaches to combat and stealth. The Thief focuses on agility and item use, gaining an extra Bonus Action for increased mobility and damage potential. The Assassin rewards precise planning, dealing massive damage from surprise attacks. The Arcane Trickster blends magic with subterfuge, using spells to control the battlefield and outsmart enemies. Each path suits a different strategy, from pure stealth to magical trickery, allowing players to shape their Rogue’s progression to match their preferred tactics.

The Rogue has a total of four subclasses, which are unlocked at level three. Rogue subclasses follow your approach to combat and preferred techniques.

Thief

Thieves are slightly different than your typical purse-snatching criminal as they’re professional treasure seekers and delvers. They’ll use their prowess in stealth and larceny to get whatever their heart desires. As a Thief, you’ll gain two subclass features:

• Fast Hands – Gain an additional bonus action.
• Second-Story Work – You’ve mastered the art of falling and gain resistance to Falling damage.

Arcane Trickster

Arcane Tricksters use magic to improve on their ability to lurk in the shadows. They use enhancement and illusion magic to surprise their opponents. As an Arcane Trickster, you’ll gain a multitude of cantrips and spells.

Cantrips

You’ll gain Mage Hand, which will allow you to create a spectral hand that can interact with objects, and you can choose two additional cantrips from the table below.

Swashbuckler

Added in April 2025’s Patch 8, the Swashbuckler allows you to embrace your inner charismatic pirate. Make use of your Fancy Footwork and melee attack enemies to ensure they can’t make opportunity attacks against you. Also, you wouldn’t be a Swashbuckler without your bag of Dirty Tricks. You can disarm targets, toss cantrips, or blind enemies with your pocket sand.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Arcane Trickster Cantrips

Arcane Tricksters rely on their magical edge to enhance stealth and combat. The best cantrips to prioritize are Mage Hand, Minor Illusion, and Ray of Frost. Mage Hand allows for creative use of the spectral version unique to the subclass, such as disarming traps or distracting enemies. Minor Illusion pairs perfectly with a sneaky playstyle, creating diversions or hiding spots. Ray of Frost adds utility by slowing targets, helping control the battlefield while keeping distance from melee threats.

Spells

You can choose two spells from the table below.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Arcane Trickster Spells

Arcane Tricksters blend rogue stealth with wizard magic, channeling spells through weapons via Sneak Attack synergy. Mage Hand Legerdemain lets you pick locks and pockets from afar, invisible and unheard, while Find Familiar summons a scout for reconnaissance or combat distraction. True Strike sharpens your first attack each turn, and Arms of Hadar pulls enemies into melee range for easy shivs. Later picks like Haste boost speed for extra actions, and Mirror Image dodges hits to keep you untouchable in the shadows. These spells turn a simple backstabber into a battlefield manipulator.

In addition to the two spells, you can choose one spell from the Wizard spell list.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Wizard Spells

Wizard spells can greatly enhance a Rogue’s versatility, especially for Arcane Tricksters who rely on cunning and precision. Spells like Mage Hand and Disguise Self boost stealth and deception, while Shield and Mirror Image offer valuable protection in combat. Offensive options such as Magic Missile or Chromatic Orb provide reliable ranged damage when sneaking isn’t possible. Balancing defensive, utility, and attack spells allows this hybrid build to adapt to both stealth missions and direct battles.

Assassin

Assassins hone their craft of efficiently eliminating their targets. Those under the Assassin archetype are bounty hunters, spies, and hired killers. Assassins gain three subclass features:

• Assasinate: Initiative – You have Advantage on Attack Rolls against creatures that haven’t taken a turn yet.
• Assassinate: Ambush – Any successful Attack Roll against a Surprised creature is a Critical Hit.
• Assassin’s Alacrity – You immediately restore your action and bonus action at the start of combat.

Best Rogue subclass and build in BG3

Thief stands out as the strongest Rogue subclass in Baldur’s Gate 3 for its extra Bonus Action, enabling rapid application of poisons, Sneak Attacks, and disengages in combat. Pair it with the Dual Wielder feat at level 4 to wield two rapiers, maximizing attacks per turn while boosting AC by 1. Prioritize Dexterity to 17, then Constitution, and take Ability Improvement for more Dexterity at level 8; gear includes the Risky Ring for advantage on attacks and medium armor like Scale Mail for balanced defense. This setup shreds bosses with consistent 4d6 Sneak Attacks plus off-hand strikes, outperforming Assassin’s burst reliance or Arcane Trickster’s slower scaling.

Baldur’s Gate 3 races don’t really have any direct impact on your class, but certain races and subraces come with features that play well with certain classes like extra movement or proficiency with certain weapons. For Rogues, it’s best to focus on movement and padding out your skill list:

• Wood Elves and Wood Half-Elves get 5 extra feet of movement and have proficiency in Stealth
• Duergar Dwarves might not be the most obvious choice, but they get the ability to turn Invisible at level 5
• Lightfoot Halflings get advantage on Stealth checks
• Deep Gnomes also have advantage on Stealth checks

When you’re creating and leveling up your Rogue, Dexterity (both for attacks and for Stealth) is your most important stat. Your second most important stat kind of depends on how you play outside of combat. Wisdom is slightly better because of skills like Insight and Perception (which is good for spotting traps).

That said, Charisma is great for skills like Deception and Persuasion. Or, if you’re going to go with the Arcane Trickster subclass (more on this in a second), Intelligence is your spellcasting ability. Make Dexterity your highest stat and (probably) Wisdom your second highest.

You’ll pick your Rogue subclass at level 3. Thief is the easiest to understand and get use out of. You’ll get an extra bonus action (great for disengaging and running away) and reduce your falling damage.

Best Rogue feats in BG3

Feats that boost Dexterity and mobility are perfect for Rogues in Baldur’s Gate 3. Alert helps you strike first in combat, while Sharpshooter turns ranged attacks into deadly blows for Thief or Assassin builds. Mobile adds flexibility for hit-and-run tactics, and Lucky provides reliability when every roll matters. For melee Rogues, Dual Wielder pairs well with two short swords to keep damage high without sacrificing defense.

Every four levels, you’ll get the option to either increase your stats or choose a Feat. Feats are special talents that add features to your character. If you’re happy with your stats and start taking Feats, Rogues can benefit from:

• Crossbow Expert. When you make crowssbow attacks within melee range, the Attack Rolls do not have Disadvantage. Your Piercing Shot also inflicts Gaping Wounds for twice as long.
• Dungeon Delver. You gain Advantage on Perception Checks made to detect hidden objects and on Saving Throws made to avoid or resist traps. You gain Resistance to the damage dealt by traps.
• Mobile. Your movement speed increases, and difficult terrain doesn’t slow you down when you Dash. If you move after making a melee attack, you don’t provoke Opportunity Attacks from your target.
• Sharpshooter. Your ranged weapon attacks do not receive penalties from High Ground Rules. Ranged weapon attacks with weapons you are Proficient with ahve a -5 penalty to their Attack Roll, but deal an additional 10 damage.

Compare Thief vs Assassin Rogue subclasses

Thief and Assassin are the top Rogue subclasses in Baldur’s Gate 3, with Thief favored for versatility and Assassin for burst damage. Thief shines in sustained fights and utility through extra actions, while Assassin excels in surprise ambushes but tapers off later. Choice depends on playstyle: frequent exploration favors Thief; quick kills suit Assassin.​​

Core Features

Thief gains Fast Hands at level 3 for an extra Bonus Action, enabling double Sneak Attacks, off-hand attacks, item use, or Cunning Actions per turn-ideal for multi-attacks and tricks like potions or traps. Assassin instead gets Assassinate: advantage on initiative, auto-crits on surprised enemies, and advantage against foes who haven’t acted, perfect for opening bursts.​

Combat Performance

Thief dominates prolonged battles with higher action economy, scaling Sneak Attack frequency (e.g., dual-wield rapiers for 2-3 procs/turn), and Supreme Sneak at level 9 for reliable invisibility. Assassin bursts hardest early via Initiative and Ambush (critical Sneak Attacks on surprises), but lacks Thief’s consistency without surprise.​​

Utility and Exploration

Thief’s extra actions boost lockpicking, trap disarming, and item shenanigans (e.g., scrolls, alchemical brews), plus Second-Story Work for climbing. Assassin offers infiltration tools like Impostor at level 9 for disguises, but fewer everyday uses.​

Comparison Table

Pure Thief edges out for most BG3 campaigns due to reliable output.​

Compare Thief and Arcane Trickster Rogue subclasses

Thief outperforms Arcane Trickster as a Rogue subclass in Baldur’s Gate 3 for most players, prioritizing combat damage and utility. Thief leverages an extra Bonus Action from Fast Hands for frequent Sneak Attacks, off-hand strikes, and Cunning Actions, making it ideal for sustained fights and exploration tasks like lockpicking. Arcane Trickster adds spells for ranged options and tricks but sacrifices action economy, limiting its melee burst compared to Thief.​​

Core Features

Thief unlocks Fast Hands at level 3, granting a second Bonus Action for double Sneak Attacks (up to 6d6 at max level), item use, or mobility without spell slots. Arcane Trickster introduces Mage Hand Legerdemain for invisible utility (pickpocketing, disarming from afar) and wizard spells like Invisibility or Tasha’s Hideous Laughter, but with only 4 cantrips and limited slots by level 12.​​

Combat Performance

Thief excels in prolonged encounters via action economy, enabling Hide + multi-attack + Dash sequences for consistent high damage output. Arcane Trickster offers Versatile Trickster at level 3 for bonus-action Mage Hand shenanigans and Magical Ambush at 9 to debuff saves on hidden attacks, but its lower Sneak Attack uptime and spell dependency make it less reliable up close.​​

Utility and Exploration

Thief boosts everyday rogue tasks with extra actions for traps, climbing (Second-Story Work), and consumables like potions or arrows. Arcane Trickster shines in creative spell utility (illusions for distractions, levitate for access), enhanced Mage Hand for safe Sleight of Hand, appealing to magic-flavored play.​​

Comparison Table

Thief suits aggressive builds, while Arcane Trickster fits hybrid casters.​