Summary
- Having a Rogue in Baldur's Gate 3 is essential for unlocking locked doors and chests and for delivering powerful Sneak Attacks.
- The Deep Gnome and Lightfoot Halfling races are ideal for Rogues due to their natural enhancements to stealth.
- Rogues should prioritize a high Dexterity score and focus on skills like Sleight of Hand, Stealth, Deception, and Persuasion for both combat and non-combat situations.
With the sheer number of locked doors and chests scattered around the Sword Coast in Baldur's Gate 3, having a Rogue on the team is definitely a necessity. This stealth-focused Baldur's Gate 3 class is perfect for delivering powerful Sneak Attacks, robbing merchants and civilians of their hard-earned savings, and more. With utility both in and out of combat, Rogue is one of the most versatile classes in Baldur's Gate 3. It also pairs well with many other classes for those who prefer multi-class builds.
The recruitable NPCs in Baldur's Gate 3 include one character who starts out as a Rogue, the vampire elf Astarion. However, players should keep in mind that the unwritten rules for building a custom character as a Rogue are slightly different than for building Astarion. This is because he comes with some unique quirks, such as his Vampire Bite attack. A custom Rogue should prioritize a high Dexterity score, but not neglect Charisma for when they need to get out of a sticky situation. Sleight of Hand and Stealth are the most crucial skills, but "social skills" like Deception and Persuasion can be worth picking up as well.
Baldur's Gate 3: The Unwritten Rules of Playing an Origin Character Explained
When selecting an Origin character to play as in Baldur's Gate 3, players should follow these unwritten rules as they journey through Faerun.
The Best Race And Background For A Rogue
When building a Rogue, players should start by selecting a race and background that will best benefit their chosen class. Notably, NPC rogue Astarion is a High Elf Charlatan, which is a solid background but less-than-ideal race.
Deep Gnomes And Lightfoot Halflings Are Masters Of Stealth
Two of Baldur's Gate 3's races, the Deep Gnome and the Lightfoot Halfling, provide natural enhancements to stealth that can greatly benefit a Rogue. Lightfoot Halflings have the ability Naturally Stealthy, which grants them advantage on Stealth checks. They're also Lucky, allowing them to re-roll natural 1s. Deep Gnomes have a Superior Darkvision of up to 24 feet and also gain advantage on Stealth checks due to Stone Camouflage. All Gnomes also have advantage on Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma saving throws.
Duergar Gain Natural Invisibility
Another race with Superior Darkvision, Duergar also have the benefit of gaining access to Invisibility at Level 5. This Invisibility can be cast without a spell slot, so Rogues can use it without needing to multi-class. Duergar also gain advantage in saving throws against illusions, Charm, and Paralysis.
Wood Elves Move Swiftly
Players who want to build a rogue that gets in and out as quickly as possible should consider the Wood Elf. They gain an increase in movement speed as well as proficiency in Stealth, standard Darkvision, and proficiency in many ranged weapons that can help a Rogue stay away from danger.
A Stealthy Background Is Best
The following Baldur's Gate 3 backgrounds are recommended for a Rogue because of their useful skill proficiencies.
- Charlatan - Deception, Sleight of Hand
- Criminal - Deception, Stealth
- Urchin - Sleight of Hand, Stealth
Unwritten Rules For Rogues In Combat
A Rogue in BG3 should be mobile during battle, able to deliver attacks and then hide or disengage using a Cunning Action so that other, bulkier characters can bear the brunt of damage. For this reason, many Rogues are built using the Thief subclass, which grants an extra bonus action. This second bonus action can be used to run or hide or even do a little extra damage with an off-hand attack if the Rogue is dual wielding.
Rogue equipment tends to include anything that boosts dexterity or makes it easier for the Rogue to pull off sneak attacks. Some good options include:
- Deathstalker Mantle - Turn invisible after killing an enemy. Only available to Dark Urge players.
- Stalker Gloves - Sneak Attacks deal 1d4 additional Force damage. Sold at Rivington General.
- Risky Ring - Grants advantage on attack rolls and disadvantage on saving throws. Sold by Araj Oblodra in Moonrise Towers.
- The Graceful Cloth - Increases Dexterity by 2, grants advantage on Dexterity checks, increases jump distance. Sold by Lady Esther in the Mountain Pass.
- Knife of the Undermountain King - Grants advantage against obscured targets. Lowers the number needed to score a Critical Attack by one. Sold by A'jak'nir Jeera in Crech Y'llek.
Baldur's Gate 3: The Unwritten Rules of Playing a Bard Explained
Bards are the storytellers and performers of Baldur's Gate 3 and can slip into any role needed of them, making them the perfect protagonists.
Roleplaying As A Rogue
Rogues do not necessarily have to be evil schemers. A Rogue is someone who values discretion and always considers the profits to be made or the rewards to be earned in a situation. Rogues should also be unafraid to steal from merchants and civilians who have things they want, and willing to lie should they get caught in the act. A few specific Rogue-focused actions and decisions include:
Help Mol Against Raphael
A Rogue might have a lot of respect for the tiefling child Mol, a natural conwoman who runs various schemes and scams in the Emerald Grove and ultimately hopes to join the Thieves' Guild in Baldur's Gate. In Act 2 of the game, Mol becomes involved with the cambion Raphael, and can ultimately make a contract and sell her soul to him. A Rogue would likely want to help Mol by rigging the lanceboard game she plays against Raphael and later stealing her contract back from the House of Hope.
Get To Know The Thieves' Guild
Whether a Rogue is an independent agent or a loyal Thieves' Guild member, they likely want to ingratiate themselves with the local underworld. They can befriend Nine-Fingers Keene, the Underduke of Baldur's Gate, by siding with the Thieves' Guild against the Zhentarim and ending the threat of rival kingpin "the Stone Lord" by rescuing Minsc. Rogues who earn Nine-Fingers' support as an ally should definitely call on her and her Lady's Court during the final battle.
In general, a Rogue develops a mastery of all things stealthy and an interest in getting "a peek behind the city's mask," as Jaheira says of Astarion. They will be effective both in combat and out, and will be an invaluable part of any Baldur's Gate 3 party due to their ability to acquire valuable items without spending huge amount of gold. A world filled with chaotic plots and secret organizations like Faerun is a perfect place for a Rogue to explore.
Baldur's Gate 3
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 96 /100 Critics Rec: 97%
- Released
- August 3, 2023
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Larian Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Larian Studios
- Engine
- Divinity 4.0
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op, Local Co-Op
- Cross-Platform Play
- Full cross-platform play.
WHERE TO PLAY
- Franchise
- Baldur's Gate
- Number of Players
- 1-4
- Split Screen Orientation
- Vertical Only
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, macOS
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- How Long To Beat
- 100+ Hours
- Metascore
- 96
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- Local Co-Op Support
- 1-2 Players
