The Rogue class in BG3 specializes in stealth, sleight of hand, and deception. They have a rebellious soul and are cunning in nature. As you level up, you can pick subclasses, including the Arcane Trickster. These characters use trickery-based magic to fool their opponents, remain unseen, and escape. An Arcane Trickster build will work to hide themselves and their allies in Baldur’s Gate 3.
This subclass can use different spells to enhance their stealth and cunning nature. They will not be as powerful as a pure caster’s spells. But they can help you sustain yourself if the caster is occupied elsewhere or cannot cast spells for whatever reason.
Is Arcane Trickster Rogue any good in BG3?
Arcane Trickster Rogues are specialized thieves and excel in stealth. They can deal massive amounts of damage via stealth attacks and are avid spellcasters with the help of the Intelligence modifier. Their main spells include crowd control and immobilization. They are adept in lockpicking and can use Mage Hand like no one else.
However, they lack Armor Class, making them vulnerable against stronger foes. Unlike Thief Rogues, Arcane Tricksters lack extra bonus actions, making them useless for utility actions. You can’t use Dash, Hide, or Mage’s hand in one turn, which takes away the element of surprise. They are superior when compared to Assassin Rogue builds due to more sneak attack damage.
For Arcane Tricksters, we don’t recommend multiclassing, as it will take away all the benefits of sneak attacks. The only good multiclass option is with Bard (10/2).
Starting abilities and skills for Arcane Trickster Rogue in BG3
The Arcane Trickster build focuses on utilizing their stealth and arcane ability simultaneously. You must make specific choices during the character creation phase to make this build for yourself. These will grant you proficiencies and bonuses for your skills. This will bring out the full potential this build has to offer.
| Class | Rogue | – |
| Sub-Class | Arcane Trickster | – |
| Race | High-Elf | The best Race for an Arcane Trickster is High Elf. Their natural talents, such as Darkvision, Fey ancestry, and Elven Training, best suit a rogue class. One of your party companions, Astarion, is a rogue and a high elf. He enjoys several bonuses from his race that contribute to his class. |
| Ability Points Distribution | 8 STR, 16 DEX, 14 CON, 16 INT, 10 WIS, 10 CHA | Dexterity helps with stealth, sleight of hand, and even combat. Intelligence will be your main spell-casting ability, and you will need this max to use your spells. |
| Skills | Sleight of Hand and Stealth | – |
Best Background
The best background for an Arcane Trickster is Charlatan. Their natural +1 Deception and +5 Sleight of Hand bonuses will add to the already vast skills of Arcane Trickster build in Baldur’s Gate 3. Plus, the Charlatan background is very rogue-like. So, this adds to the overall essence of the character’s backstory.
Best feats for Arcane Trickster Rogue in Baldur’s Gate 3
Feats can enhance your gameplay experience by giving special maneuvers, attacks, bonuses, and the like to enhance your build further. You may choose a feat to cover a weakness that may have been left while making your character. They have various uses. As such, we recommend you pick the following feats.
| Level | Feat | Description |
| 4 | Ability Improvement | Invest both ability points into Intelligence to increase it to 18. |
| 8 | Ability Improvement | Max your Intelligence to 20 by investing both skill points in it. |
| 12 | Warcaster | Improves concentration for spells like Sleep and Hold Person. |
Best Spells for Arcane Trickster Rogue in Baldur’s Gate 3
As a Rogue, you need magic and stealth-based abilities to blossom. By using this dual approach, Arcane Trickster builds to become a force to be reckoned with in Baldur’s Gate 3. We recommend you pick the following spells that are best for the Arcane Tricksters.
| Level | Spell(s) Name | Description |
| Cantrips | Poison Spray, Ray of Frost | Poison spray deals 1-12 Poison damage to enemies with a poisonous mist. Ray of Frost deals 1-8 Ice Damage and slows down the enemies. |
| 1 | Tasha’s Hideous Laughter, Sleep, Thunderwave | Makes an intelligent enemy prone to laughter for up to 10 turns. Sleep puts multiple enemies into slumber until the next attack. Thunderwave deals 2-16 thunder damage and pushes away all the enemies. |
| 2 | Hold Person | Makes a humanoid enemy immobile, and every attack against them within the 3m range is critical. |
Best armor and weapon
Use the following armor and weapon on your Arcane Trickster
Head: Shadow of Menzobberranzan. Makes you become invisible for two turns if you avoid confrontation.
Armour: Drow Studded Leather Armour. This rare light armor provides 12 AC and grants a +1 bonus to stealth.
Gloves: Gloves of Archery. They provide proficiency with long and short bows. You also deal 2 extra damage from ranged weapons.
Boots: Disintegrating Night Walkers. You get Misty Spell and can no longer be entangled, ensnared, or enwebbed. You have a sturdy footing on grease and ice.
Necklace: Amulet of Selune’s Chosen. You restore 0-7HP to anyone you touch, but they fall asleep as a result.
Ring: Caustic Band. You deal an additional 2 Acid damage to enemies.
Main Hand Weapon: Sword of Screams. Deals 1-8 piercing damage + 1-4 psychic damage.
Off-hand Weapon: Rupturing Blade. You get a +1 weapon enchantment and deal 2-9 piercing damage with this uncommon rapier.
Ranged Weapon: Titanstring Bow. Deals 2-9 piercing damage + your STR modifier.
Arcane Trickster Rogue Build level progression in Baldur’s Gate 3
| Level | Unlocks | Description |
| 1 | Race, Background, and Ability Points Distribution. One Cantrip and Backstab class action also unlocks. | Follow our recommendations above. |
| 2 | Cunning class actions unlock. They include Disengage, Dash, and Hide. | These actions will help you get out of combat without giving the enemy a chance to use the opportunity to attack. You can use them once per turn. |
| 3 | More Cantrips and spells, Mage Hand Legerdemain sub-class action | Select from our recommendations above. Arcane Tricksters have a special action that makes their mage hand invisible and can be used to lockpick or pickpocket later. |
| 4 | The first Feat unlocks | Ability Improvement to increase intelligence to 18. |
| 5 | Uncanny Dodge class action | This helps you protect yourself from enemy damage by evading it. Also, their damage will be reduced by half for all successful hits on you. |
| 6 | New skills available | Choose Perception and Deception |
| 7 | Evasion class feature, Level 2 spell slot | You can avoid incoming damage and gain an advantage on Dexterity saving throws. |
| 8 | The second Feat unlocks | Ability Improvement to max intelligence ability. |
| 9 | Magical ambush class feature | Enemies get a disadvantage on their spell-saving throws if you are in hiding. |
| 10 | Level 3 spell slot and two more cantrips. | Choose the Hold person spell. |
| 11 | Reliable Talent class feature | When you make an ability check with a proficient skill. The lowest number of dice that you can roll is increased by 10. |
| 12 | The final Feat unlocks | Warcaster to improve concentration on your spells. |
