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Summary
- Gloomstalker Assassin build excels in physical damage and versatility in combat.
- Dexterity is key for Rangers and Rogues; Wisdom is essential for Rangers’ spellcasting abilities.
- Choose racial abilities, backgrounds, and gear that boost Dexterity, Wisdom, or Constitution.
Multiclassing in Baldurs Gate 3 is part of the fun that players have when creating unique, customized characters. The Ranger and Rogue combo is already a popular combination and is even better when the subclasses of Gloomstalker and Assassin are also integrated into one lethal package.
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Each of these classes depends on Dexterity for their main ability and has essential skills related to Stealth, lockpicking, and trap-disarming to fill more than one party role. Rangers have additional weapon skills and support spells, while Rogues have some devastating melee skills, and together their Stealth abilities are impressive.
Updated on December 24, 2024, by Kristy Ambrose: Larian Studios won’t be making any DLCs or sequels for BG3, but Patch 8 is coming out in 2025, which includes the addition of several new subclasses. That means new possibilities for players who are still having fun with creative and perhaps broken character builds. For the Ranger and Rogue, Dexterity is the important ability score, but there’s also Wisdom to consider when it comes to the Ranger’s spellcasting abilities, and each class needs to choose other details like Backgrounds, Feats, weapons, and Gear.
The Gloomstalker Assassin Build
Savage & Stealthy Damage In Any Environment
- A dedicated hunter and vicious killer combined into a lethal survivalist and hardened mercenary.
The Gloomstalker Assassin is one of physical damage in either melee or ranged form, and yet another parallel between Rogues and Rangers is they’re equally effective from a distance as they are in melee damage. Whether they fight at close or long range depends on the exact build the player chooses, which also includes their skills, abilities, and gear choices.
Stealth, Sleight of Hand, and proficiency in Dexterity are just a few of the details that Rogues and Rangers share, making them a natural choice for a multiclass build.
Rangers have some support spells at hand, and certain races have Cantrips available, so depending on those choices during character creation it’s also possible to integrate some limited spellcasting abilities into this build.
Ability Scores
Dexterity For Rogues, Wisdom For Rangers
- Focus on physical damage and resilience as opposed to casting abilities, but don’t abandon spells entirely.
The Ranger and Rogue both share Dexterity as their most important statistic. This would also be the spellcasting modifier if not for the Ranger, who uses Wisdom instead.
- Dexterity: Both classes depend on Dexterity for their Sleight of Hand, Stealth-related abilities, and weapon proficiency.
- Wisdom: Great for Perception checks, and if the Ranger is also throwing an off-heal or a de-curse they need a high Wisdom for accurate casting.
- Constitution: A higher Constitution means more hit points, and this is a fighting class, so it’s a medium priority.
- Strength: One of the less important Ability Scores depending on the build. If this character is more of a melee DPS fighter it can go up a few points.
- Intelligence: The “dump stat,” neither Rangers nor Rogues have much use for Intelligence because it’s connected to arcane casting power.
- Charisma: Another less important stat for this build because Rangers and Rogues are often found in the shadows or wilderness, but a creative player can make this work.
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Race
|
Race |
Subrace |
Abilities |
|---|---|---|
|
Drow |
Lloth-Sworn |
Both of the Drow subraces have the same abilities connected to their race, such as Superior Darkvision, Drow Weapon Training, and Fey Ancestry, along with handy spells like Faerie Fire and Darkness. The biggest difference here is the moral alignment. Lloth-Sworn are dedicated to the Drow’s dark spider goddess and are usually evil. |
|
Seldarine |
||
|
Elf |
Wood Elf |
One of the best choices for this multiclass, Wood Elves have improved Stealth Abilities and better movement speed along with Elven Weapon Training, Darkvision, and Fey Ancestry. |
|
Half-Elf |
Drow Half-Elf |
The advantages of a Drow and a human, include better weapon and armor proficiency with the Civil Militia ability. This choice has more weapon options and retains some elvish casting powers. |
|
Wood Half-Elf |
This race has Elven Weapon Training along with Civil Militia, giving them even more power when it comes to their gear choices and party roles. |
|
|
Human |
na |
The Civil Militia Feat originates with this racial choice. Humans also have increased movement speed and carrying capacity than other races. |
|
Githyanki |
na |
An excellent choice for either a Rogue or a Ranger, the Githyanki have improved movement speed along with access to spells like Enhanced Leap and Misty Step that can take them anywhere on the battlefield. Martial Prodigy gives them proficiency in medium armor, shortswords, longswords, and greatswords. |
|
Halfling |
Lightfoot |
In addition to the passive conditions of Brave and Halfling Luck, you also have an advantage on Stealth checks. |
|
Gnome |
Forest |
These Gnomes lean more to the Ranger side with their unique skills that include |
|
Deep |
Deep Gnomes have Superior Darkvision and the Stone Camofalgue ability that give them an Advantage on Stealth checks. |
Speak with Animals
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Backgrounds
The Ranger Rogue Connection
- A mix of the outdoors, a love of animals, and living on the fringe of society.
|
Background |
Skill |
Description |
|---|---|---|
|
Outlander |
Athletics, Survival |
An obvious choice for a Ranger, this character was raised in an isolated outdoor environment and still travels often in the wild. |
|
Charlatan |
Deception, Sleight of Hand |
An upper-class version of the criminal, but with more charm and guile as opposed to violence or intimidation. |
|
Soldier |
Athletics, Intimidation |
The trope of the soldier turned smuggler would work for this build, which combines the discipline of the Ranger with the Rogue’s patience. |
|
Folk Hero |
Animal Handling, Survival |
Rogues and Rangers are often heroes in legends, being the gritty Rogue or Ranger that saves the day despite their gruff appearance. |
|
Urchin |
Sleight of Hand, Stealth |
Common for a Rogue, this indicates they started their thieving career at an early age. |
|
Soldier |
Athletics, Intimidation |
Perhaps this Ranger or Rogue was once a part of an army or local militia, which is also where they learned their survival skills. |
|
Criminal |
Deception, Stealth |
Common for a Rogue, it can also work with a Ranger who works in an urban environment. |
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The Finer Details Of A Unique Build
There are several ways that players can decide to break up their multiclass options. Rangers and Rogues choose their subclass at 3rd level, so make sure you at least go three levels in each. One possibility is 10th-level Ranger and then at least 3rd-level in Rogue.
|
Feat |
Description |
|
Ability Score Improvement |
Increase one Ability Score by 2 or two by 1, which is a nice way to buff up both Dexterity and Wisdom. |
|
Alert |
This Feat prevents the character from the Surprised condition and gives them a +5 bonus to Initiative rolls. |
|
Athlete |
Increase Dexterity or Strength +1, decrease the time needed to recover from Prone, and increase Jump distance. |
|
Crossbow Expert |
Essential for ranged builds, this removes Disadvantage for melee attacks and makes Gaping Wounds last twice as long. |
|
Dual Wielder |
Use two weapons at the same time as long as they aren’t Heavy, and get a +1 to AC while doing so. |
|
Magic Initiate: Cleric |
Give a Ranger a few more handy support or healing spells by giving them a choice of a few choices from the Cleric spellbook. |
|
Mobile |
Movement speed increases by 10, not slowed by Difficult Terrain when using the Dash ability, and doesn’t provoke Attacks of Opportunity in melee combat. |
|
Resilient |
Increase any Ability by one and gain Proficiency in that Ability’s Saving Throws. |
|
Spell Sniper |
For more casting ability at melee or ranged distance, a choice of several cantrips that use the character’s Wisdom or Dexterity as their casting modifier. |
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Gear Recommendations
Anything That Buffs Dexterity, Wisdom, Or Constitution
- Assassin Gloomstalkers can use a wide variety of gear, from regular clothing to medium armor depending on the build.
Rogues in BG3 can only wear clothing and use certain weapons, but there’s virtually nothing the Ranger can’t wear or equip.
