Arcane Trickster - Any reason to choose it over the other subclasses?

[Altonu]

I'm only lvl 4, but, I've tried classing Asterion in Assassin and Trcikster so far, yet to try Thief, but probably will.

Looking ahead, Tricksters will only get access to lvl 2 spells, and while the lvl 9 spell ambush ability sounds neat, most of the good damage spells (Fireball, Lightning etc) are lvl 3+. I don't know what the lvl 2 spell list looks like (maybe there is there some really good self only buff?), but what is the value and use case of a Trickster vs the two alternatives?

If they had not nerfed mage hand to 1 use per rest (I'd like to beleive its a bug, but the timing of the change makes it look intentional), it would be a good feature, but even with that, I just don't see a compelling reason for Arcane Trickster other than RP.

Assassin has been tricky to pull off the special ability (can't seem to do it consistently), but when it works, it shines. Assassin also seems to have good multi-class synergy, but a pure assassin full sneak attack seems like it would be quite good.

I have not tried Thief yet, but the extra actions seem like they could be very good for versatility (can it be used for an extra move for better mobility?), and don't require effort to set up or need a rest to use.

[WuffWabbit]

absolutely not if you have ANY other caster in your group. Thief is hands down the best role otherwise, the extra actions will do more for you than any cantrip.

[Pan Darius Cassandra]

No, not really.

[Nigrescence]

For fun.

[Quillithe]

Originally posted by Altonu:

I have not tried Thief yet, but the extra actions seem like they could be very good for versatility (can it be used for an extra move for better mobility?), and don't require effort to set up or need a rest to use.

I don't think you can dash twice (EDIT I was wrong), but you could dash, run in, hit, disengage, run away.

It's also just useful for something boring like making two offhand attacks per round if you want.

Or any other bonus action you pick up. Items, multiclassing abilities, healing word from the feat giving spells, it's easily the most versatile

[Pan Darius Cassandra]

Originally posted by Quillithe:

Originally posted by Altonu:

I have not tried Thief yet, but the extra actions seem like they could be very good for versatility (can it be used for an extra move for better mobility?), and don't require effort to set up or need a rest to use.

I don't think you can dash twice, but you could dash, run in, hit, disengage, run away.

It's also just useful for something boring like making two offhand attacks per round if you want.

Or any other bonus action you pick up. Items, multiclassing abilities, healing word from the feat giving spells, it's easily the most versatile

You can Dash more than once.

[Quillithe]

Originally posted by Pan Darius Loveless:

Originally posted by Quillithe:

I don't think you can dash twice, but you could dash, run in, hit, disengage, run away.

It's also just useful for something boring like making two offhand attacks per round if you want.

Or any other bonus action you pick up. Items, multiclassing abilities, healing word from the feat giving spells, it's easily the most versatile

You can Dash more than once.

Huh, I stand corrected. I guess I never needed to yet

[Metallicus]

I don’t use Gale so Astarion takes my mage utility spells for the most part. For me that is the main reason to take arcane trickster.

[Alealexi]

Originally posted by Quillithe:

Originally posted by Pan Darius Loveless:

You can Dash more than once.

Huh, I stand corrected. I guess I never needed to yet

Yes. You have your normal movement, main action dash, and bonus action dash from rogue, haste, or expeditious retreat.

[Alealexi]

Originally posted by Altonu:

I'm only lvl 4, but, I've tried classing Asterion in Assassin and Trcikster so far, yet to try Thief, but probably will.

Looking ahead, Tricksters will only get access to lvl 2 spells, and while the lvl 9 spell ambush ability sounds neat, most of the good damage spells (Fireball, Lightning etc) are lvl 3+. I don't know what the lvl 2 spell list looks like (maybe there is there some really good self only buff?), but what is the value and use case of a Trickster vs the two alternatives?

If they had not nerfed mage hand to 1 use per rest (I'd like to beleive its a bug, but the timing of the change makes it look intentional), it would be a good feature, but even with that, I just don't see a compelling reason for Arcane Trickster other than RP.

Assassin has been tricky to pull off the special ability (can't seem to do it consistently), but when it works, it shines. Assassin also seems to have good multi-class synergy, but a pure assassin full sneak attack seems like it would be quite good.

I have not tried Thief yet, but the extra actions seem like they could be very good for versatility (can it be used for an extra move for better mobility?), and don't require effort to set up or need a rest to use.

In 5e Arcane Trickster is a S tier subclass for rogues though that might not be true in BG 3 due to the lack of some interactions so more like an A or B tier in BG3. In a table top situation you can gain the blade cantrips like Green Flame Blade or Booming Blade since they use your weapon to attack it allows sneak attack to go off making for some good combos. Otherwise they are still good for party or self support through spells. Decent at field control if they have a high intelligence.

[sevensided]

Without Booming Blade in particular, and the lack of creative uses for illusion spells in BG3 that Table Top facilitates , Arcane Trickster just isn't a noteworthy subclass in BG3.

Though I will note there is a mod that adds booming blade (and greenflame blade), and if you did use that mod, it does bump the Arcane Trickster up some. Though even then, you could just make a high elf thief and still have booming blade as your HElf racial cantrip.

[Aldain]

If you're not using a Wizard then Arcane Trickster and Eldritch Knight to a lesser extent can be semi-reliable Int skill checkers.

But people really do undersell the utility they provide, using those two classes you're trading raw power for utility, and with how the game seems to be designed utility is far more valuable than people give it credit.

[Poop King]

At level 12 you get a whopping 4 level 1 slots and 3 level 2 slots. What the heck kind of utility os that?

[Clovis Sangrail]

I thinking of trying it just to play with a rogue who can sling Magic Missile.

[felmari]

darkness for instance is great for not becoming a pincushion and this game loves setting up unfair ambushes. it spreads more spells for more utility to where your power house can dedicate to more damage dealing CC and the like.

[Quillithe]

There's some decent utility in getting feather fall, enhance leap, blur, invisibility, hold person, grease, mirror image, etc.

It's pretty bad if you have a wizard, sorcerer or bard, but if you're going very light on magic they can find use.

Although honestly you can also just grab some spells with a feat anyway, which could be an option if you only want one or two of these, especially the ritual spells.

Probably low tier if I had to rank the subclasses, but not useless