Summary
- The Rogue in D&D is a high-damage class with sneak attacks, best paired with other classes for optimal damage output.
- The Kobold Assassin build optimizes sneak attacks with high damage and critical hit chances, perfect for high initiative.
- The Swashbuckler/Hexblade combo synergizes well for high damage output with dual weapons and Hexblade magic.
Dungeons and Dragons is, without a doubt, the most popular tabletop roleplaying game in the world. Its broad appeal, generally easy-to-understand rules, and the popularity of video games like Baldur's Gate 3 have cemented this game of imagination as the most visible in a market that is full to the brim with exceptional roleplaying systems. Part of what makes Dungeons and Dragons so incredibly loved, beyond its ease of use, is the variety of classes on offer for players.
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Among the many classes in D&D that are fun and satisfying to play, none can dish out burst damage and frequent bouts of DPS quite like the Rogue can. Their sneak attack ability, cunning actions, and expertise can make them terrifying and versatile on the battlefield, and it's quite hard to make a Rogue that doesn't deal some serious damage. For those looking to optimize their Rogue, there are some builds that can truly take them over the top. For the sake of keeping things more or less within player control, these builds won't focus too much on specific items, and will instead stick to class, species, or multiclass synergies that can turn the Rogue into a truly overpowered force of destruction.
5 Assassin Champion Kobold
Giving An Advantage For Getting Advantage
- Race Requirements: Kobold
- Class Requirements: Level 3 Assassin Rogue, Level 3 Champion Fighter
- Recommended High Stats: Strength, Dexterity
The job of the Kobold Assassin is to maximize sneak attack uses, overall damage, and critical hit chances. This is an especially good class for players sitting at tables with homebrew critical hit rules, such as critical hit cards or all-around more effective crits. The Assassin has Advantage on attack rolls against creatures that haven't yet had a turn, meaning a high-initiative Kobold will be striking with sneak attack damage in the first round. Consider taking the Alert feat for an even higher initiative that almost guarantees a first turn that comes before an enemy's.
The Kobold's racial ability lets them Roar and, with no need for a saving throw, grants Advantage against all enemies within 10ft that heard the roar until the end of the next turn, giving players another immediate advantage and the ability to use Sneak Attack. This class should be predominately focused on Rogue levels after the 3/3 split into Rogue and Fighter, but boosting up to level 5 in Fighter for the extra attack is a good idea. Finally, the champion subclass grants crits on natural 19 rolls, acting as the cherry on top for a high-damage, high-critical build that can annihilate enemies swiftly.
4 Hobgoblin Mastermind, College Of Swords
A Powerful Supportive Foundation For The Rogue Class
- Race Requirements: Hobgoblin
- Class Requirements: Level 3 Mastermind Rogue, Level 3 College of Swords Bard
- Recommended High Stats: Dexterity, Charisma
This build focuses on an immediate synergy between the Hobgoblin race and the Mastermind subclass that helps the build be far more supportive than most Rogue builds, and then, to balance things out, specializes in a Bard subclass that further enhances the Rogue's offensive and supportive capabilities. The Hobgoblin is able to use their Fey Gifts to take the Help action as a bonus action a few times per rest, and furthermore, is able to buff the Help action to heal party members, boost movement speed, or give enemies Disadvantage.
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This already makes the Hobgoblin an incredibly fun species to play, but the Mastermind subclass lets the Help action extend to 30 feet if the receiver is attacking an enemy, meaning that the Rogue can now buff friends from afar. Finally, specializing in College of Swords gives the Rogue more options for damage dealing on their turn alongside the powerful Sneak Attack, and they can use bardic inspiration for even more support. Players can change the Bardic subclass to any of their choosing for a more niche build.
3 Swashbuckler/Hexblade
High Charisma, High Damage, High Chaos
- Race Requirements: Any
- Class Requirements: Level 5 Swashbuckler Rogue, Level 5 Hexblade Warlock
- Recommended High Stats: Dexterity, Charisma
The powerful Warlock class is always a great option for a subclass, as it is a 'front-heavy' class that grants a lot of benefits in the first initial levels. Players will unlock a subclass at level 1, a Pact Boon at level 3, and a few high-quality invocations in their belt by level 5. Charisma as a spellcasting stat is also a great boon due to its many social applications outside of combat, bolstered further by the Swashbuckler's panache.
This offensively inclined subclass thrives on dual weapons, able to hit thrice in one turn and bolster damage with Hexblade magic. The Hexblade curse, similar to the Champion ability, gives critical hits on a 19, which synergizes well with Rogue's sneak attacks, and the Swashbuckler thrives on high charisma, which means that the enhanced Warlock magic is, simply put, a must-have.
2 Scout/Arcane Archer
Sneak Attacks Are Augmented By Magical Arrows
- Race Requirements: Any
- Class Requirements: Level 9 Scout Rogue, Level 3 Arcane Archer Fighter
- Recommended High Stats: Dexterity, Intelligence
The Scout tends to get lost in the shuffle of Rogue subclasses, unable to compete with the enhanced abilities of classes like Soulknife or Phantom, nor with the renewed focus and dedication to high damage that a subclass like the Assassin brings to the table. However, Scouts have unparalleled maneuverability, even compared to other Dexterity-based classes like the Monk, and this works to their advantage when paired with a ranged subclass.
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The Arcane Archer has plenty of options to enhance their sneak attack damage, including Curving Shot, which can apply sneak attack damage to another foe if the first attack misses, even with Advantage. Many of the Arcane Shot options, including Enfeebling or Grasping Arrow, are already powerful debuff attacks that become incredibly strong when paired with the Scout's knack for sneak attack damage and unfaltering accuracy.
1 Barbarian/Rogue Multiclass
Direct, Intense Damage
- Race Requirements: Any
- Class Requirements: Level 5 Rogue (any subclass), Level 5 Barbarian (any subclass)
- Recommended High Stats: Strength, Dexterity
The volatile Barbarian class is already a potent high-damage force on the battlefield, but when this class is used to complement the Rogue's abilities and skillset, the result is incredibly overpowered. The subclass choice for this class is really up to the player's discretion, but any of the non-magical Rogue subclasses, such as Assassin or Scout, will mesh well with the main focus of this class, which is using Reckless attacks for near-constant sneak attack damage.
Reckless is a Barbarian ability that gives Advantage on attacks but also allows enemies to have Advantage on attacks against the Barbarian. Using a cunning action to disengage from foes can be a way to get some distance after each attack, with a feat like Mobile also allowing the player to get some distance from enemies and focus on closing in, dealing huge damage, and then moving away again.
- Original Release Date
- 1974
- Publisher
- Wizards of the Coast
- Designer
- E. Gary Gygax, Dave Arneson
- Franchise
- Dungeons & Dragons