What is the best Baldur’s Gate 3 Rogue build? Sometimes, you just need stuff. Sometimes, that stuff belongs to someone else. Well, not with a BG3 Rogue – the master of larceny, the menace that skulks in the shadows, the Robin Hood who steals from everyone and gives to themselves.
If you’re deliberating on your BG3 character class and race, you may have begun to theorycraft your perfect build for one of the more devious Baldur’s Gate 3 classes; a deadly Rogue who has a penchant for robbing folk blind, and a razor-sharp blade waiting for a home in some poor soul’s back. If you are, here is the best Baldur’s Gate 3 Rogue build for all your dodgy needs.
Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Rogue build
The best Baldur’s Gate 3 Rogue build is:
- Subclass – Thief
- Race – Drow
- Background – Urchin
- Skills – Dexterity
- Weapon – Dagger
Best Rogue subclass
The best subclass for Rogue is Thief due to the massive sneak attack damage, and unique out-of-combat abilities.
While the Arcane Trickster adds spellcasting to your box of tricks, the Thief subclass is the purest form of Rogue you can be. Its abilities allow you to gain power both inside and outside of combat; you’ll be untouchable wherever you go.
Best Rogue abilities
Here are the best abilities for the Rogue:
- Strength – 8
- Dexterity – 17
- Constitution – 14
- Intelligence – 12
- Wisdom – 13
- Charisma – 11
The driving force of this build is the dexterity ability. Not only does this improve your combat effectiveness, but also your ability to pick locks, avoid and disarm traps, and avoid getting caught when you’re somewhere you shouldn’t be. You could opt to increase your charisma stat if you think you may have to talk your way out of a situation or two, but with this build, you shouldn’t have to.
Best Rogue race
The Drow BG3 race gives us the dexterity, sleight of hand, and general slinkiness that suits the Rogue right down to the ground. The plus two to dex out of the gate, bringing it to a base of 17, is invaluable; there won’t be a door or trap that can stand in your way, even when you’re just starting out.
Best Rogue background
The best background for Rogue is the Urchin.
Perhaps not the most glamorous of starts, but a life on the streets has taught you to be cunning, and that the only person you can rely on is yourself. It’s the perfect background for roleplaying as a Rogue and gives you stealth and sleight-of-hand proficiency.
Best Rogue spells and leveling
If you do opt for the Thief subclass, you won’t be able to use any spells, but you will have an improved dodge, a second action in battle, resistance to fall damage, and an improved sneak attack.
The best feats for BG3 Rogue are:
- Crossbow Expert
- Mobile
- Alert
- Actor
Best Rogue equipment
The best equipment for the Thief Rogue is:
- Shadow of Menzoberranzan
- Gives Shrouded in Shadow class action. Allows you to turn invisible.
- Shade-Slayer Cloak
- While hiding, the number you need to roll a critical hit while attacking is reduced by one.
- Crimson Mischief
- This weapon deals an additional 1-4 piercing damage against targets with 50% of their hitpoints or fewer. When you make an attack with advantage, the target takes an additional seven piercing damage.
- Hellfire Hand Crossbow
- Possibly inflict burning when hitting a creature with this weapon while hiding or invisible.
Baldur’s Gate 3 Rogue character creation overview
The Rogue class is the true master of the dark arts in BG3; they wait in the shadows, looking for the perfect opportunity to pounce. They rely on deception, concealment, and cunning to succeed in their endeavors. There are two subclasses to choose from when playing as a Rogue, both of which become available at level 3.
Class features
- Dexterity saving throw proficiency
- Intelligence saving throw proficiency
- Light armor proficiency
- Simple weapon proficiency
- Hand crossbow proficiency
- Longsword proficiency
- Rapier proficiency
- Shortsword proficiency
Thief subclass
Doubling down on the larceny angle, the Thief subclass gives you bonus actions in battle, resistance to fall damage, and an enhanced dodge, to guarantee you won’t be caught, no matter what kind of sticky situation you find yourself in. The features of this subclass are:
- Fast Hands
- Second-Story Work
- Uncanny Dodge
- Upgraded sneak attack
Arcane Trickster subclass
The Arcane Trickster utilizes magic and illusions to perform their underworld actions. They gain a small armory of spells to use both in, and out, of a fight. This, coupled with the spectral Mage Hand means that can carry out all manner of unsavory behavior without lifting a finger. The features of this subclass are:
- Spell slots
- Mage Hand
- Uncanny Dodge
Now that you have the best Baldur’s Gate 3 Rogue build under your belt, there’s nothing stopping you from robbing every city blind. If you’re into a more direct approach, we have the best Baldur’s Gate 3 Fighter build, or if you’re more of a lover than a fighter, we have everything you need to know about the Baldur’s Gate 3 romance options.