Ultimate Swashbuckler Rogue Build: Unleash Your Inner Pirate!

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The Swashbuckler is a fresh addition to the Rogue class in Baldur’s Gate 3, introduced with patch 8. This type of Rogue specializes in cunning and underhanded tactics.

Swashbuckler Rogues excel at sneaking up on foes, delivering significant damage in close combat. They compensate for less raw firepower with remarkable damage mitigation capabilities.

While playing a Swashbuckler Rogue can be challenging, we’ve created a build that allows you to inflict solid damage while serving as a formidable tank. If you can catch enemies off guard, your damage potential will increase dramatically.

Level 1 Choices for Swashbuckler Rogue Build

At level 1, the Rogue subclass is not available yet. However, you can choose the following attributes during character creation:

Race: Half-Elf

Subrace: Drow Half-Elf

Class: Rogue

Skill Points: Strength (11+1), Dexterity (14+2), Constitution (14), Intelligence (12), Wisdom (12), Charisma (10).

With these selections, you gain the following proficiencies:

Weapons: Simple Weapons, Hand Crossbows, Longswords, Rapiers, Shortswords, Spikes, Halberds, and Glaives.

Armor: Light Armor and Shields.

Skills: Acrobatics, Sleight of Hand (x2), Stealth (x2), Medicine, Intimidation, and Persuasion.

Level 2 Choices for Swashbuckler Rogue Build

Upon reaching level 2, your HP will rise from 10 to 17. You’ll also gain the following bonus actions:

Cunning Action: Hide: Conceal yourself from enemies with successful stealth checks. Attacking or casting spells renders you visible.

Cunning Action: Dash: Doubles your movement speed.

Cunning Action: Disengage: Retreat safely without provoking opportunity attacks from enemies.

Level 3 Choices for Swashbuckler Rogue Build

At level 3, your HP will increase to 24. You can now choose your subclass for the Rogue:

Subclass: Swashbuckler.

This grants you the following subclass features:

Fancy Footwork: If you make a melee attack, enemies cannot make opportunity attacks against you until your next turn.

Rakish Audacity: You can trigger a sneak attack without needing advantage as long as you’re within 5 feet of the enemy and don’t have disadvantage.

Level 4 Choices for Swashbuckler Rogue Build

By level 4, your HP will jump to 31. You’ll gain the following bonus actions:

Dirty Trick: Flick o’ the Wrist: Flick your weapon at an opponent to potentially disarm them.

Dirty Trick: Sand Toss: Throw sand at foes, possibly blinding them and dealing 1d6 bludgeoning damage.

You’ll also acquire a new cantrip:

Dirty Trick: Vicious Mockery: Inflicts 1d4 psychic damage, causing enemies to roll with disadvantage on their next attack.

The first feat slot unlocks at this level:

Feat: Ability Improvement. Allocate both points to Dexterity, boosting it to 18.

Level 5 Choices for Swashbuckler Rogue Build

Reaching level 5 enhances your HP to 38. You also gain:

Uncanny Dodge: You take only half damage from an attack that hits you.

Level 6 Choices for Swashbuckler Rogue Build

Level 7 Choices for Swashbuckler Rogue Build

By level 7, your HP will rise to 52. You’ll acquire the following class feature:

Evasion: If you succeed at a Dexterity saving throw against an attack or spell that would normally halve the damage, you will take no damage instead. If you fail, you only take half damage.

Level 8 Choices for Swashbuckler Rogue Build

At level 8, your HP will jump to 59. You’ll gain access to the second Feat slot:

Feat: Ability Improvement. Invest both points into Dexterity, raising it to 20.

Level 9 Choices for Swashbuckler Rogue Build

Once you hit level 9, your HP will grow to 66. You’ll also get the follow bonus action:

Panache: Make a persuasion check to charm a humanoid. If they fail, they become charmed; if they succeed, they incur disadvantage.

Level 10 Choices for Swashbuckler Rogue Build

At level 10, your HP rises to 73. You can select another feat slot now:

Feat: Crossbow Expert: Your crossbow attacks do not have disadvantage when they’re made in melee range. Additionally, your piercing shots leave lingering wounds.

Level 11 Choices for Swashbuckler Rogue Build

Upon reaching level 11, your HP will grow to 80. You will acquire the following class feature:

Reliable Talent: When rolling ability checks with skills you are proficient in, your minimum roll is 10.

Level 12 Choices for Swashbuckler Rogue Build

When you reach level 12, your HP will escalate to 87. You will also unlock the final feat slot:

Feat: Sharpshooter: Ranged attacks you are skilled with take a -5 penalty but deal an additional 10 damage.

Top Gear and Accessories for Swashbuckler Rogue Build

Head: Mask of Soul Perception: Bestows the Detect Thoughts spell and grants a +2 bonus to attack rolls, initiative rolls, and perception checks.

Cloak: Cloak of Protection: Boosts your Armor Class and Saving Throws by 1.

Armor: Shirt(less) of Dastardly Deeds: Provides a +1 Bonus to Dexterity Saving Throws, increases jump distance by 1.5m, and boosts Constitution at levels 4, 8, and 12 (maximum of 24). Adds 2 to armor class at levels 4, 8, and 12 and grants advantage on Persuasion checks starting from level 4. At level 6, gains Cat’s Grace and +2 to Dexterity.

Gloves: Helldusk Gloves: Adds +1 to Strength Saving Throws and +1 to Spell Attack Rolls and Spell Save DC. Deals 1d6 fire damage on weapon strikes.

Boots: Evasive Boots: Grants a +1 bonus to Acrobatics and Armor Class.

Rings: Killer’s Sweetheart (your next attack is a guaranteed critical hit after you defeat an enemy; usable once per long rest), Ring of Protection (adds +1 to Armor Class and Saving Throws).

Amulet: Amulet of Greater Health: Increases your Constitution to 23.

Top Weapons for Swashbuckler Rogue Build in BG3

For your main hand weapon, choose Rhapsody. Here are its attributes:

+1 weapon enchantment.
Deals 1d5 + 5 piercing and 1d6 fire damage.
Gains a +1 bonus to attack rolls and spell save DC for each foe you defeat, up to a maximum of +3.
If you attack while hidden or invisible, you cannot cause an enemy to bleed.

For your off-hand weapon, use the Blade of the First Blood. Its properties include: