Baldur’s Gate 3: The Best Race for Stealth

Are you looking to create a rogue class or a stealth character in Baldur’s Gate 3 and wondering which is the best race for sneaking and hiding? Here’s the answer!

Baldur’s Gate 3 Astarion Companion Guide
Astarion Companion – Rogue Proficient in Stealth

In Baldur’s Gate 3, your choice of race can influence your gameplay experience, especially when you want to focus on a specific aspect of the game, the art of stealth. Races offer distinct abilities, proficiencies, and traits that can significantly improve your ability to remain hidden and maneuver through shadows. In this guide, we’ll discuss the top four races for a stealth-oriented character, explaining why each is good.

However, bear in mind that your character is uniquely yours and any race you choose will be the right fit. Opting for one of these four races, however, can grant you a slight edge and sometimes impact your chances of success in the intricate challenges that lie ahead.

What Is the Best Stealth Race in Baldur’s Gate 3?

The best race for stealth combat in Baldur’s Gate 3 is the Wood Elf. The Wood Elf’s remarkable agility, paired with their movement speed, weapon and armor proficiencies, and natural abilities to find the best strategic position, makes them the superior choice for rogue, ranger classes, and stealth combat with many good weapon combinations, bows, crossbows, and dual wielding.

1 Wood Elf

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Wood Elf Race

For those seeking to become masters of stealth, the Wood Elf stands out as an exceptional choice. With an impressive movement speed of 10.5, you’ll move silently and swiftly through the environment, allowing you to position yourself advantageously. Enhanced by Darkvision and Keen Senses, your ability to see clearly in dim light and detect hidden details will keep you ahead of potential threats. You can add perception skill to your character proficiencies to be even more successful in finding hidden traps or treasures.

Fey Ancestry, grants wood elves immunity to charm and sleep effects, and your survival chances are further increased. Proficiency in Longswords, Shortswords, Longbows, and Shortbows gives you freedom in combat and all of those weapons can be successfully used while in stealth. The Fleet of Foot feature enhances your swiftness. The Mask of the Wild ability ensures your natural camouflage is unmatched, making you nearly invisible amidst foliage and shadows. Wood Elves, who have honed their skills in archery and stealth through decades of training, thrive as Rangers or Rogues classes or in Range and stealth combat.

2 Drow

Drow Race - Baldur’s Gate 3
Drow Race

The second best choice is the Drow, whether Lolth-Sworn or Seldarine subrace, you’ll receive exceptional features for stealth gameplay. Superior Darkvision empowers you to move through the darkness with ease, granting you a tactical advantage in dimly lit surroundings. It’ll affect your ability to land successful hits and critical strikes. Additionally, casting the Faerie Fire once per long rest will give you a critical advantage in encounters, where enemies would fight against you with your own weapon, stealth. Proficiency with the Rapier, Shortsword, and Hand Crossbow is enough to be a deadly force from stealth. Drow’s Fey Ancestry gives immunity to charm effects. Thriving as Rogues, Warlocks, or Rangers, Drows’ distinctive racial traits complement seamlessly stealthy and precision-based combat.

3 Lightfoot Halfling

Halflings Race - Baldur’s Gate 3
Halflings Race

In the realm of stealth, the Lightfoot Halfling presents a good option. Possessing the naturally stealth trait, you’ll effortlessly navigate through crowds and terrain, remaining undetected. This advantage pairs well with the Lucky disposition, allowing you to roll the dice again if you fail, and instead of a missed attack, you’ll land a successful hit, turning unfavorable situations in your favor. Though small in stature, your base racial speed ensures quick and quiet movements. Lightfoot Halflings excel as Rogues, Bards, or Rangers, utilizing their talents and adaptability.

4 Deep Gnome

Gnome Race - Baldur’s Gate 3
Gnome Race

For those drawn to the subtleties of stealth, the Deep Gnome is a decent choice. With Gnome Cunning, you possess an innate resistance to magical effects affecting your mind, and fortifying your defenses against spellcasters. Superior Darkvision similar to Drows, helps you in darkness, offering unmatched clarity in dimly lit surroundings, while Stone Camouflage allows you to gain an advantage on stealth checks, ensuring you remain hidden from enemies. These traits combine effectively with Rogue and Ranger classes, granting you the ability to exploit your enemies’ weaknesses from the shadows.

What Is the Best Race for Stealth Summary

Here are all used terms and buffs those classes possess in Baldur’s Gate 3:

  • Darkvision: Ability to see in low light or darkness without the need for a light source.
  • Superior Darkvision: Enhanced darkvision that allows you to see further in darkness.
  • Movement Speed: How fast your character can move across the battlefield.
  • Fey Ancestry: Resistance to charm effects and immunity to being put to sleep.
  • Advantage: Mechanic that grants a better chance to succeed on certain actions, such as attack rolls.
  • Proficiency: Your skill and familiarity with specific weapons or abilities.
  • Cantrip: A spell that can be cast at will, often used for utility or minor magical effects.
  • Subrace: A variant of a main race, with distinct features and abilities.
  • Stealth: The ability to move silently and remain hidden from enemies.

In Baldur’s Gate 3, your choice of race significantly influences your aptitude for stealth and deception. As you embark on your journey, whether as a Wood Elf, Lightfoot Halfling, Deep Gnome, or Drow, the abilities and traits unique to each race will help you achieve your goals. By enhancing the distinct advantages these races provide, you can create a stealth-focused character built to your preferred playstyle. Ensure your success and become a master of shadows!


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