Rogue is among the 12 lessons you possibly can select from in Dungeons & Dragons 2024βs revised Participantβs Handbook (beforehand often known as One D&D, 5.5e, and some different names). Rogues are sneakiness-focused characters, and their main Skill is Dexterity.
Earlier than we get began, a fast disclaimer: Thereβs no βgreatestβ something in D&D. Lessons are usually well-balanced on the subject of injury output. Extra importantly, although, D&D is a roleplaying recreation in addition to a fight recreation, so thereβs extra to it than stabbing monsters. And that variety of conditions β from choosing locks to punting kobolds to seducing dragons β means βgreatestβ is completely subjective.
Our D&D Participantβs Handbook (2024) Rogue information will stroll you thru the category and speak about a few of the adjustments from D&D 5e.
Is Rogue the very best class for you in D&D?
Rogues are equal elements sneaky and stabby, and thereβs truly a bit of labor that goes into ensuring youβre getting probably the most out of your character. Discovering methods to get your Sneak Assault injury with each assault means youβll be transferring round so much and enjoying throughout the complete battlefield. Outdoors of fight, Rogues are a celebrationβs go-to for selecting locks and discovering traps, and their ability proficiencies are inclined to make them good talkers (or liars).
Inspiration on your Rogue
There are such a lot of well-known Rogue archetypes in fiction that it may be simple to only persist with the dagger-brandishing, cape carrying, hunched-over goober you see on the quilt of fantasy novels all over the place. Thereβs nothing incorrect with that type of hero, in fact, however thereβs a large world of inspiration so that you can draw from:
- The scoundrel is an apparent pull, and you may take inspiration from characters like Han Solo. Whereas that may conjure the picture of a βdown on their luck, all the time in-debtβ type of character, you might do a enjoyable twist on it by pulling from Hanβs good buddy Lando Calrissian, and present how the wealthy and profitable can nonetheless cling to their thieving methods.
- The darkish and quiet kind of rogue conjures up Strider, AKA Aragornβs βrangerβ identify in Lord of the Rings. This may be extra of that basic fantasy Rogue, who listens moderately than speaks and brews within the nook of darkish taverns with a stiff drink and quite a lot of tales to inform.
- Thereβs additionally the noble rogue, who makes use of dastardly technique of subterfuge to additional their targets of serving to others. Take into consideration Robin Hood, Zorro, and even the Dread Pirate Roberts from Princess Bride.These are all swashbuckling, sword-fighting heroes who break the legislation however have hearts of gold.
- The educated skilled is a enjoyable twist on the basic fantasy rogue, and lets you draw inspiration from characters just like the smooth-talking James Bond to the devastatingly quiet John Wick. These are Rogues which might be superb at what they do, whose meer point out strikes worry into the hearts of their enemies.
Whatβs new for Rogues in One D&D?
It doesn’t matter what Class you find yourself choosing, One D&D adjustments the way in which characters are created. Particularly, the Background you select now comes with an Skill Rating enchancment (one level every in three Talents, or two factors in a single Skill and one level in one other). As well as, each character will get an Origin Feat. Weβll cope with each of these adjustments under.
One D&Dβs Rogue class will get the weapon mastery class characteristic. You get to decide on two weapons with which to make use of the Mastery Property whenever you assault.
At stage 3, Rogues get the Regular Goal characteristic. This bonus motion offers you benefit in your subsequent assault throughout that flip (do not forget that you should utilize your bonus motion at any level), offered you havenβt moved but and in addition reduces your motion to 0. That is particularly helpful for guaranteeing a Sneak Assault.
Sure actions β like Crafty Strikeβs Poison or Journey at stage 5 β have a Sneak Assault value related to them. Every of these value 1d6 of your Sneak Assault injury, that means you take away them out of your Sneak Assault pool earlier than you roll them (making it 2d6 at stage 5) after which set off the impact after your assault.
Rogue class options overview
- Main Skill: Dexterity
- Hit Level Die: d8 per stage
- Saving Throw Proficiencies: Dexterity and Intelligence
- Ability proficiencies: 4 of: Acrobatics Athletics, Deception, Perception, Intimidation, Investigation, Notion, Persuasion, Sleight of Hand, Stealth
- Weapon Proficiencies: Easy, Martial with Finesse or Mild property
- Armor Coaching: Mild
Experience grants you Experience in two of the abilities youβre already proficient in, which lets you primarily double your proficiency bonus for a given ability. This stage 1 class characteristic isn’t distinctive to Rogues, however it may be used to emphasise both fight or social abilities. From the get-go, Rogues can turn out to be an knowledgeable in two extra abilities once more at stage six.
This characteristic is extraordinarily potent, and simply components into the βrogues are by no means OK at something, theyβre both unimaginable or horribleβ mentality.
Sneak assault is the technique to do injury as a Rogue, and βhow do I put together to sneak assault this goal subsequent flipβ ought to undergo your head each time you make a transfer.
Mainly, youβre in a position to deal 1d6 bonus injury as soon as per flip to a single creature you probably have Benefit in your assault roll and also youβre utilizing a Finesse (like daggers or rapiers) or a Ranged weapon. The caveat to that’s that you could additionally sneak assault you probably have any ally inside 5 ft of the goal.
Simply needless to say you could declare your intent to sneak assault to your DM. So whenever you assault with benefit, say youβre spending your sneak assault and roll that bonus injury cube!
Thievesβ Cant is mainly the language of the streets in D&D. Youβll be capable of talk secretly with others who know Thievesβ Cant, like individuals within the native thieves guild, avenue toughs, vagabonds, and so forth. If you happen to stroll right into a shady space or are speaking to a suspicious individual, ask your DM should you can talk with them in Thievesβ Cant to both hold secrets and techniques out of your get together or simply add some enjoyable taste to the scene. Possibly the NPC will even belief you extra!
You are also in a position to study an extra language of your selection without cost.
You might be well-trained in two weapon sorts, permitting you to make use of the mastery properties of every. Youβre in a position to change out which two weapons you could have mastery with every Lengthy Relaxation.
The best way to construct an efficient Rogue
If you first make your character, youβll must assign your attribute factors. For many non-magical Rogues, right hereβs your precedence checklist:
- Dexterity
- Structure
- Knowledge
- Charisma
- Intelligence
- Power
If you happen toβre an Arcane Trickster Rogue, youβll need to prioritize Intelligence after Dexterity with a view to improve your spellcasting means, however the remainder of the order doesnβt change.
Finest Rogue Backgrounds and Origin Feats
Backgrounds in One D&D are a technique to codify your characterβs private historical past into their stats. Backgrounds provide you with a bump to your stats, a few abilities, software proficiencies, and an Origin Feat.
For Rogues, letβs begin with something that allows you to bump Dexterity β Artisan, Charlatan, Legal, Entertainer, Information, Sailor, Scribe, Soldier, Wayfarer. Past that, it is determined by what sort of Rogue you need to make.
- If you wish to be good at mendacity, youβll need to additionally bump Charisma with Charlatan, Entertainer, or Wayfarer
- If you wish to be good at investigating, youβll need Intelligence with Artisan, Legal, or Scribe
Legal is an effective fallback should you canβt determine. The Alert Origin Feat you get will bump up your Initiative, and it will get you proficiency in Sleight of Hand and Stealth β opening up extra choices on your Class-granted ability proficiencies.
You donβt decide a Rogue subclass till Stage 3, however youβll need to take into consideration the place youβre heading fairly early on β particularly by way of Background and Origin Feat (above).
The Arcane Trickster is among the strongest subclasses within the recreation, because it lets you mix the excessive injury of a dagger or crossbow-wielding Rogue with the utility of a Wizard.
At stage 3, you achieve entry to spellcasting, together with three Cantrips and a few spell slots. Notably, this offers you entry to Mage Hand, which lets you pilfer pockets magically and from a distance, in addition to any variety of fascinating issues.
Youβll proceed to achieve spell slots and entry to extra highly effective spells as you develop in stage. Finally, at stage 17, youβll be capable of steal spells from different spellcasters. You possibly can then solid that spell for the subsequent 8 hours.
Murderer is about what youβd assume it’s, and is all about dealing large injury earlier than your targets even know youβre there.
Your important software as an murderer is β¦ Assassinate, which provides you Benefit on all Initiative rolls and also youβre in a position to deal bonus injury throughout the first spherical of fight.
At stage 17, you should utilize Loss of life Strike to deal double injury in your first sneak assault of a fight.
The Soulknife trades out regular blades for particular psychic blades and cube. You can even do some fairly wild stuff with these vitality cube you get β like reroll a capability examine β however the coolest characteristic listed below are the knives themselves. As an alternative of utilizing conventional weapons, you possibly can manifest physic blades in your arms whenever you assault, which deal injury after which disappear as in the event that they had been by no means there.
If thatβs not cool sufficient, at stage 9 you achieve the power to throw one among your Psionic blades after which teleport to it.
The Thief might be probably the most well-known archetype of the Rogue, and is targeted extra on the out of fight abilities that include being a Rogue. Youβre in a position to climb, and leap very effectively, and you may steal stuff simpler than the typical character.
At stage 17, youβre in a position to transfer so rapidly that you simply get a second activate the primary spherical of any fight, permitting you to dish out quite a lot of injury or full an goal earlier than most characters are in a position to even transfer as soon as.