With various classes to choose from, Baldur's Gate 3 doesn't make it easy to pick one. One contender for my character was Rogue, as I do enjoy playing stealthy. Rogue has many options and playstyles, from the silent burglar to the cunning assassin, but I wanted to play the best Rogue. With the best Rogue build, no door or chest could keep me from claiming what lies behind it.
Best Rogue Build in BG3
Rogues are the sneaky character, and what people think of when they think of thieves. They have other expertise as well, whether it's conjuring up illusions as distractions or making deadly strikes as assassins. That said, there is a clear way I suggest when creating the best Rogue build in Baldur's Gate 3.
Best Stats and Race for Rogue in Baldur's Gate 3
Dexterity is, without a doubt, the most important stat for a Rogue in Baldur's Gate 3. Many of their skills and combat abilities rely on this stat, so prioritize it when creating your character. Having a good score in Constitution, Charisma, Wisdom, and Intelligence are also good choices, depending on if you prefer to be in combat more, discover traps, or talk your way out of trouble.
Related: Baldur’s Gate 3: Should you let Astarion Drink Your Blood?
Note: With the stat spread below, you can adjust points in Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma to make your Rogue better at one or more of these areas.
- Race - Wood Elf/Half-Elf, Drow, Lightfoot Halfling
- Strength - 8
- Dexterity - 16-17
- Constitution - 14-16
- Intelligence - 12
- Wisdom - 12
- Charisma - 12
When choosing a race, I recommend Wood Elf, Half-Elf, Drow, or Lightfoot Halfling. All of these provide bonuses to this class's strengths, whether that be skill proficiencies, increased movement, or being able to reroll dice. My personal favorite is Wood Elf or Half-Elf Wood, but I enjoy playing as Elves.
Best Subclass for Rogue in Baldur's Gate 3
One look at the Rogue subclasses and Thief is easily the best. Having an additional bonus action is absolutely broken, especially on a Rogue. This allows you to use a bonus action to disengage and then another to run away and hide. If you play combat tactically and stealthily, you can ensure your Rogue gets an opportunity to use sneak attack each turn. This becomes especially dangerous if you can cast Haste on your Rogue.
Best Skills for Rogue in Baldur's Gate 3
Rogues are experts at Dexterity, especially when it comes to being stealthy and committing crimes. For this reason, you should prioritize Stealth, Sleight of Hand, and Acrobatics. Charisma is always a good backup, especially if you get caught in a crime, so Persuasion, Deception, and Intimidation good choices for Rogue as well. Having a good Perception and Investigation is handy when looking for traps.
Best Rogue Features and Feats - Baldur's Gate 3
Rogues can benefit from many feats in Baldur's Gate 3. Ability Score Improvement is always handy to raise your Dexterity and secondary stats, and I can recommend Mobile to provide additional movement in combat and the ability to disengage for free. Alert allows you to move first, which is especially important for Assassins, while Defensive Duelist and Dual Wielder are great choices for Rogues that fight with a melee weapon.
Level | Class Feature |
Level 1 | Sneak Attack Expertise |
Level 2 | Cunning Action (Hide, Dash, Disengage) |
Level 3 | Subclass Choice |
Level 4 | Feat/ASI |
Level 5 | Uncanny Dodge |
Level 6 | Expertise |
Level 7 | Evasion |
Level 8 | Feat/ASI |
Level 11 | Reliable Talent |
Level 12 | Feat/ASI |
For more information on Baldur's Gate 3, check out Baldur’s Gate 3 Ranger Build Guide – Best Stats and Subclass and Baldur’s Gate 3 Druid Build Guide – Best Stats and Subclass on Pro Game Guides.