Gloomstalker/Rogue build ideas Character Build

[aramintai]

First things first, this build is all about ranged supernova opening in the first turn and utilizes busted stealth mechanics. It's also a pretty reliable DPS build. Speaking mechanics you always want to try to get into combat while in stealth to be able to perfectly position yourself. You open up your first turn with Dread Ambusher and Sneak Attack. Then go back to stealth with bonus action Hide, or invisibity potions or skills. If you prebuffed with Haste through spell or potion before combat then you'll be able to deal even more Sneak Attacks. Be sure to move away from your known location when going into stealth as enemies are dumb and will often waste their turns searching for you, utilize Gloomstalker's Misty Step to reposition yourself if you must. This build can abuse fights where you can get in and out of combat by sneakily moving away, allowing you to basically solo most of the fights. And if prebuffed correctly bosses can be downed in one turn.

Starting ability scores for main character:

STR 8 (dump stat)

DEX 17

CON 8 (you're not gonna get hit since you're gonna be in stealth all the time, but if you want to play more safe put 12 here and reduce WIS to 14)

INT 8 (dump stat, you can get a Headband of Intellect that gives +17 to INT in Act 1 to increase this stat if you want to look smart)

WIS 16

CHA 15

For side character/Astarion:

STR 8

DEX 17

CON 15

INT 8

WIS 16

CHA 8



What we're looking for here is to get Gloomstalker 5/Assassin 3 to get this multiclass online. Which class to take first is up to debate. Rogue gives more skill points, ranger gives more weapon and armor proficiencies.

Personally, I'd say go ranger 5 then rogue 1 first. After that respec with Withers to rogue 1 and then ranger 5, then continue taking next 3 levels as rogue and finish with ranger so that at level 12 you'll be Gloomstalker 8/Assassin 4. The reason for this is that in the early game there are no particularly hard skill checks and ranger comes a bit stronger in fights and has more survivability since successful stealth is not quite guaranteed in early levels.

As for this level distribution reason, rangers get an extra attack at level 5. Assassin sublcass is chosen at level 3 rogue and one extra level is needed for another feat.

Speaking of feats:

-At ranger level 4 we get ASI to get DEX to 18 and CHA to 16 for main character/CON to 16 for side character.

-At rogue level 4 get Sharpshooter feat. It's gonna give us a +10 to damage and -5 attack roll malus is negated by previously taking Archery fighting style giving +2 to attack rolls and getting to high ground.

-At level 8 ranger we get another feat and here I'd say just take DEX to 20. Alternatively, take Crossbow Expert and dual wield hand crossbows.

Skills:

Important skills to take for main character would be:

-Stealth

-Insight

-Perception

-Persuasion

For side character/Astarion:

-Sleight of Hand (somebody needs to abuse pickpocketing to amass tons of gold)

-Stealth

-Insight

-Perception



Keep in mind that not taking any skill points into Sleight of Hand will allow you to take benefit of ranger's Natural Explorer: Urban Tracker. Don't take it if you've already invested into this skill as it doesn't stack.

Spells:

In terms of ranger spells most reliably useful I've found are:

-Hunter's Mark

-Enhance Jump

-Long Strider

-Ensnaring Strike

Situationally good are:

-Speak with Animals (there are many other sources for this spell so there's really no use in taking it as a spell)

-Silence (very useful in some fights)



Items of note:

-Springstep Boots (act 1, in a treasure room behind Dror Ragzlin's throne)

-Gloves of Thievery (act 1, trader in Zentharim Hideout in Waukeen's Rest)

-Shadow of Menzoberannzan (act 1, kill duergars for Myconid colony's leader and loot it from a corpse in an opened secret room)

-Fetish of Callarduran Smoothhands (act 1, Grymforge)

-Spidersilk Armor (act 1, loot it from Minthara)

-Penubral Armor (act 2, Ruined Battlefield, in an abandoned house)

-Shifting Corpus Ring (act 2, Last Light inn)

-Ring of Shadows (act 2, House in Deep Shadows, reward from a ghost boy for playing with him)

-Shadeclinger Armor (act 2, Last Light inn, quartermaster trader)

-Shadeslayer Cloak (act 3)

-Deadshot longbow (act 3, Stormshore Armoury, Lower City)



Alternatives:

Alternatively, if you struggle with this build and want more reliable damage for long fights then switch to Thief as it gives an additional bonus action.

More alternatively, you can take the last 2 levels as a Fighter for Action Surge and not get the last feat. Personally, I wouldn't recommend triple classing this build.

[ode2dave]

100% agree and have been having a lot of fun with a similar build:
https://www.denofgeek.com/games/baldurs-gate-3-best-rogue-build/

Definitely makes ranged combat more than just a normal assassin.

[TheBlueFox]

"If you prebuffed with Haste through spell or potion before combat then you'll be able to deal even more Sneak Attacks"

You only get one sneak attack per turn

[Shells]

You can improve stat/ability distribution like this, OP.

Start as wood half elf ranger; this is highly important because of saving throw proficiencies later on. Pick Bounty Hunter for Sleight of Hand proficiency!

STR: 10 (10 is preferable in terms of carry weight, proficiency and jump distance.)
DEX: 17
CON: 16 (if you want to also dual wield, which massively enhances the versatility of your char and yields lots of other benefits like way better concentration checks vs area effects. With Minthara's armor you get advantage on CON saves.)
INT: 8 (17 with headband, as you say; you get profieciency later)
WIS: 14 (more than enough, plus you get proficiency later)
CHA: 8 (dump stat for a ranger/rogue)

At lv 3 pick Gloom Stalker as your subclass.

At lv 4, increase DEX by +2(!). This is highly important since you can get a free +1 in a certain boss fight in act 1, so you have DEX 20 by ~lv 5.

At lv 6, pick the natural explorer, that gives you the Protection from Evil spell. Also pick the background that gives resistance to either fire or cold.

At lv 7 you get saving throw proficiencies in INT and WIS.

Provided you use Minthara's armor, you will have saving throw proficiencies in every single ability except for CHA plus 2-3 elemental/poison (via ranger lv 2 spell) restistances.

At lv 8 you can go for the Sharpshooter feat finally.

From lv 9 go rogue and pick the Thief rogue sub class if you want ranged´+dual wielding or pick Assassin if you want to be a ranged only character.

Just my 2 cents, one can build the ranger/rogue combo in several nice ways. Cheers.