Rogue: Arcane Trickster or Thief?

[Quadsword]

I like Arcane Trickster because it's always nice to have access to more CC abilities, but I wonder if Thief's extra bonus action is more useful. With that, you can dash, hide, and sneak attack all on the same turn (and sneak attacks are kinda the rogue's main draw).

[A Sociopath]

I think you answered your own question.

[Ghost]

More use out of thief. The spells are limited and situational whereas the extra bonus action is always useful.

[WeenerTuck813]

Thief, not close. Next question

[Lord Adorable]

Thief is just straight up better. Arcane Trickster is too situational in my experience.

[Crimsomrider]

I prefer the Thief. So many actions, plus they're a beast with dual hand-crossbows.

[dolby]

Arcane Trickster is a joke you want to play like that just use scrolls. the only half decent thign about the subclass is Magical Ambush and that's only a thing at level 9 i guess half of the game will be over by that point.

[sevensided]

If the blade cantrips were in the game, and sneak attack was properly implemented, I would say Arcane trickster as it would out damage a thief, even with Larians adding an extra bonus to it.

As it stands, thief by a country mile.

[Popsicles]

I'll go against the grain and say I like Arcane Trickster better. If Larian would stop homebrewing certain spell, AT sub would be more viable. I don't need the extra bonus action, my rogue does just fine without it.

[Lightning Mcree]

Originally posted by Balltin:

I'll go against the grain and say I like Arcane Trickster better. If Larian would stop homebrewing certain spell, AT sub would be more viable. I don't need the extra bonus action, my rogue does just fine without it.

I'm curious what spell are you talking about?

[Mosey]

Arcane Trickster is fine. It's biggest drawback is the amount of spell slots you get and the few good ones you do get are somewhat situational.

Fact is, an Arcane Trickster can hideous laughter someone then get an automatic crit sneak attack the next round which is basically a one shot kill on most creatures. If you're a race that can use longbows, slot in Spellthief and you extend your spell slots by up to 3 per long rest. Obviously, you need to be point blank for that to work but so what they can't act.

Thief is 'better' generally, I won't deny that, but Arcane Trickster isn't as far behind it as people pretend it is. It just requires that you play smarter and that's going to shave off a lot of players right there all on it's own.

[Farsha]

Thief is mechanically better in combat, 2 bonus actions are almost busted.
Arcane trickster can be more fun and is better for exploration and out of combat situations, if you take the right spells.
Game is not hard, any average build is absolutely fine on any class.

[Farsha]

Originally posted by Mosey:

Arcane Trickster is fine. It's biggest drawback is the amount of spell slots you get and the few good ones you do get are somewhat situational.

Fact is, an Arcane Trickster can hideous laughter someone then get an automatic crit sneak attack the next round which is basically a one shot kill on most creatures. If you're a race that can use longbows, slot in Spellthief and you extend your spell slots by up to 3 per long rest. Obviously, you need to be point blank for that to work but so what they can't act.

Thief is 'better' generally, I won't deny that, but Arcane Trickster isn't as far behind it as people pretend it is. It just requires that you play smarter and that's going to shave off a lot of players right there all on it's own.

problem with offensive spells on hybrid characters (paladins, tricksters, rangers, eldrich knights) is that casting stat is your secondary stat, so on higher lvls, you are better using proper casters with 20 in their casting stat, than a hybrid who will have 16 at most.
I would not get offensive spells that can be saved or need spell attack rolls on these classes.
If anything sleep and color spray are better than Tashas on half casters, they can't be saved.
Better are spells that buff you, give you extra mobility or can be used out of combat.

[IgnatiusJ.Reilly]

I don't think there's any real contest, Larian has turned this sub-class comparison on it's head relative to tabletop. The trickster focuses on control and illusion, both of which are nerfed heavily in BG3. The spell picks they have outside of illusion and enchantment are meager to say the least.

[Mr. Monster]

Originally posted by dolby:

Arcane Trickster is a joke you want to play like that just use scrolls. the only half decent thign about the subclass is Magical Ambush and that's only a thing at level 9 i guess half of the game will be over by that point.

Magical ambush makes the arcane trickster a more powerful controller when maxed for DC than any other spellcasting class. Spell selection means nothing. Steal scrolls. Also persistent mage hand that starts combat invisible is far more powerful than people seem to understand, game breaking if used to its limits.

[FunkyMonkey]

I find Arcane trickster to be an excellent melee rogue, actually. Better than pure Thief. Pure Thief is better at ranged with hand crossbows.

Arcane trikcster gets spells like Shield, Blur, Mirror image, Misty step... All great for melee. It also requires no INT, so you can focus on DEX and CON with little WIS to give a bonus to Will saves and WIS skills.