Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Assassin Build

This guide focuses on the essential aspects of an Assassin build in Baldur’s Gate 3 (BG3) and how to use those powers to your advantage.

Best Baldur's Gate 3 Sharpshooter Build

An Assassin Build in Baldur’s Gate 3 maximizes ranged damage by taking the “Assassin” subclass and Sharpshooter feat. This provides a -5 penalty to your attack roll but adds 10 damage to your ranged weapon attacks, making it ideal for high-damage shots at the cost of potential misses. This build is best used with Ranger, Rogue, and Fighter classes with Dexterity ability score and access to powerful bows.

Ability scores are a character’s mental and physical attributes that determine their strengths and weaknesses. Use your Assassin Build to increase your character’s level by earning experience points (XP). You can level up to a maximum of level 12, after which you can’t gain any more levels. You can play alongside companions with personalities, motivations, and classes and control them. Our build includes potions, scrolls, and wands but also wearable items to enhance your effectiveness.

This build page has been updated for the patch 7 version of Baldur’s Gate 3.

Everything About the Assassin in Baldur’s Gate 3

The Assassin build is all about unloading as much damage as possible in turn one at range. You’ll select classes, subclasses, and feats that build towards damage and critical. Specifically, the Sharpshooter feat takes a -5 penalty to their attack roll in exchange for adding +10 damage to a successful ranged attack. This long-range specialist can deal significantly more damage if they hit but at the cost of potentially missing more often. It’s best used when aiming for high-value targets or when you have a high chance to hit despite the penalty. This feat is particularly beneficial for characters primarily using ranged weapons like bows or crossbows, as it allows them to maximize damage on long-range attacks.  

A high Dexterity ability score is crucial to mitigate the penalty from Sharpshooter alongside the Gloom Stalker Subclass from the Ranger. This subclass gives you access to the most turn-one damage potential via passive skills. Some abilities or spells can synergize well with Assassin, such as abilities that boost our critical hit chance or spells that grant advantage.

Assassin Build ProsAssassin Build Cons
Turn one damagedTakes awhile
StealthFeat Dependent
RangeMust Multiclass
Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Assassin Build Pros and Cons

Features and Mechanics of Assassin

The following list presents all the essential Tactician Build Assassin Mechanics and Features in Baldur’s Gate 3:

  • Class: Ranger, Rogue, Fighter
  • Subclass: Gloom Stalker, Assassin, Champion
  • Background: Urchin
  • Skills: Acrobatics, Stealth, Sleight of Hand, Perception, Survival, Insight, Medicine
  • Ability Score
    • Strength: 8
    • Dexterity: 17
    • Constitution: 16
    • Intelligence: 8
    • Wisdom: 14
    • Charisma: 10
  • Saving Throw: Dexterity and Constitution
  • Armour Proficiency: Light Armour, Medium Armour, Shield
  • Weapon Proficiency: Simple and Martial

How to Play the Assassin Build

Assassin requires a combination of strategic positioning, effective use of the Sharpshooter feat, and leveraging high-damage ranged attacks. We recommend you use high grounds to gain an advantage and maximize the effectiveness of Assassin. Ranger, Fighter, and Rogue are ideal for classes for Assassins.

Below are some general tips on how to play the best Assassin build in BG3:

  • Loot Everything: You will need a lot of gold to buy consumables, potions, and ammunition so loot and sell constantly.
  • Crafting: Elixirs and potions are vital, and you need to purchase materials when trading for crafting.
  • Reach Level 6: Spend the early part of the game completing every quest to reach level 6 where your power dramatically increases.
  • Sell Often: Your carrying capacity will be limited so sell often, and store excessive items in your traveler’s chest.
  • Stealth: Start combat in stealth if at all possible to trigger the Surprise status effect.
  • Consider Illithid Powers: While it can come with an altered appearance, the powers are powerful and can help you.
  • Oils + Elixiris: Combine both oils/coatings and Elixir during combat for a dual benefit.
  • Persuasion: Try to avoid combat through dialogue if possible.

Character Creation

Race Choice for Assassin

Race choice - Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Sharpshooter Build

Halfling is the best choice for an Assassin Build because it has halfling luck, allowing a reroll when landing on a one. Deep Gnome is the second choice for Assassin because it can see in the dark within 24 meters and is best for Gnome Cunning, which is more stealth-focused. Githyanki is the third choice because it offers the best fighting skills and their proficiencies make them a natural choice.

Here is the best race choice for an Assassin build in Baldur’s Gate 3:

  1. Halfling
  2. Deep Gnome
  3. Githyanki

Assassin Classes and Subclasses

Here are all the Baldur’s Gate 3 Rogue Subclasses:

  • Ranger Gloom Stalker: gain additional skills on turn one.
  • Rogue Assassin: adds advantage when attacking first.
  • Fighter Champion: lowers score needed for critical.
Background and skills - Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Sharpshooter Build

The Urchin is the best Background for an Assassin because it gains two dexterity-based skills and can be used as your primary lockpicker and thief. Also, this is the Shadowheart companion background. Backgrounds in Baldur’s Gate 3 are a way to represent your character’s backstory and give them some starting skills and abilities.

  1. Urchin: Proficiency in Sleight of Hand (dexterity) and Stealth (dexterity). After surviving a poor and bleak childhood, you know how to make the most out of very little.
  2. Outlander: Proficiency in Athletics (strength) and survival (wisdom). You grew up in the wilds, learning to survive far from the comforts of civilization. Outlander companions in BG3 are Halsin and Karlach.
  3. Soldier: Proficiency in Athletics (strength) and Intimidation (charisma). You are trained in battlefield tactics and combat, having served in a militia, mercenary company, or officer corps. Soldier companions in BG3 are Jaheira and Lae’zel.

Ability Score

Ability Score - Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Sharpshooter Build

The Best Ability Score for Assassin Build is 17 Dexterity, 16 Constitution, and 14 Wisdom.  Dexterity influences your ranged damage and chance to land, giving you higher initiative rolls going earlier in combat. Constitution determines health and concentration saving throws. Lastly, Wisdom influences skills and spellcasting for the build and should be at 14 or higher.

This build is designed to have very low Strength because you can either use the Hill Giant Club or Elixir of Hill Giant Strength to gain high strength. This is useful in Act 1 with the Titanstring Bow.

Below is the best ability score for an Assassin in Baldur’s Gate 3:

  • Strength – 8
  • Dexterity – 17
  • Constitution – 16
  • Intelligence – 8
  • Wisdom – 14
  • Charisma – 8

You can increase your ability score via a quest in Act 1, Act 2, and Act 3. Make sure to check out our Permanent bonus guide on how you can boost your ability score through quests.

Perception and Survival are the best skills for the Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Assassin Build because they complement your class abilities and enhance your effectiveness in various situations. In Baldur’s Gate 3, skills represent the abilities and proficiencies of your character that allow them to perform multiple actions and interact with the game world. Skills are associated with specific attributes and are used to determine the success or effectiveness of specific actions or abilities.

Here are the best skills for an Assassin in Baldur’s Gate 3:

  • Survival: Wisdom skill that aids in hunting in the wilderness.
  • Perception: Wisdom skill that spots hidden containers, mechanisms, traps, and creatures.

Illithid Powers For Assassin

Best Tapdole Powers for Builds in Baldur's Gate 3

The best Illithid Powers for an Assassin build are Luck of the Farm Realms, Black Hole, and Cull of the Weak. Luck of the Farm helps with critical hits and burst damage and, combined with Cull of the Weak, can trigger AOE damage passively. Black Hole requires you to take the Astral Tadpole in Act 2, but it sucks in 5 enemies, slows them, and can be recast for free. This is helpful in certain large-scale boss fights with many enemies. Below are the best Illithid Tadpole Powers for the Assassin build in Baldur’s Gate 3:

  • Favourable Beginnings: The first Attack roll or Ability check you make against any target gains a bonus equal to your Proficiency Bonus. Helpful passively boosts damage based on your level.
  • Luck of the Far Realms: When you make a successful Attack roll against a foe, you can change that attack into a Critical Hit. It requires Favourable Beginnings and is used once per long rest.
  • Black Hole: Summon a black hole that pulls in up to 5 nearby enemies and potentially Slows them. Requires Displace or Psionic Dominance.
  • Cull of the Weak: When you bring a creature down to fewer hit points than your number of evolved illithid powers, it dies and all nearby creatures take 1~4 Psychic damage. It requires a concentrated blast, which is useful to get AOE damage passively.
  • Mind Blast: Spew forth a conical wave of psychic energy and possibly Stun targets within. Deals 4d8+Spellcasting Ability Modifier Psychic damage. It can be accessed by consuming astral-touched tadpoles.
  • Freecast: Spell slots, charges, and similar resource costs for your next action or spell are removed. Requires Shield of Thralls or Mind Sanctuary and used once per long rest.

Best Assassin Build – Level Progression in Baldur’s Gate 3

LevelClassSelection
1RangerWasteland Wanderer fire, and Keeper of the Veil
2RangerArchery, Longstrider, Hunter’s Mark
3RangerGloom Stalker, Ensnaring Strike
4RangerSharpshooter Feat
5RangerLesser Restoration
6RogueSneak Attack (Ranged)
7RogueCunning Action: Hide
8RogueAssassin subclass
9RogueAbility Improvement
10FighterMulticlass Fighter
11FighterAction Surge
12FighterImproved Critical Hit
Best Assassin Build – Level Progression in Baldur’s Gate 3

Level 1

Race choice - Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Sharpshooter Build

Level one follows our character creator to pick all correct backgrounds, races, skills, and abilities distribution, focusing on Dexterity and Constitution. Use the character creation steps above and hit the appropriate ability score and race. Strength is not important for this build. Dexterity determines the damage and saving throw effectiveness. The Constitution defines the health pool and your effectiveness at saving throws.

  • Skills: Athletics, Perception, Survival
  • Natural Explorer:  Wasteland Wanderer: fire
  • Favoured Enemy: Keeper of the Veil

Keeper of the Veil is a Ranger passive feature of Favoured Enemy. You gain proficiency in Arcana and can cast the spell Protection from Evil and Good once per long rest. It helps with Proficiency in Arcana and can grant protection against aberrations, celestials, elementals, fey, fiends, and undead.

Level 2

Level 2 Progression - Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Sharpshooter Build

Long Strider enhances your movement speed to move longer distances each turn. Hunter’s Mark is important when need additional damage for tougher foes. This makes your weapon defeat enemies with few attacks. Archery is best for ranged weapons as it provides a better hit chance.

  • Archery- Archery is a Fighting Style passive feature. You gain a +2 bonus to Attack rolls you make with ranged Weapons.
  • Long Strider- Long Strider is a level 1 transmutation spell. This spell allows spellcasters to make a creature move farther during a turn. Increase a creature’s Movement Speed by 3 m / 10 ft. It enhances your movement speed allowing you to move longer distances each turn. It can be used on all encounters because it resets each Long Rest.
  • Hunter’s Mark- Hunter’s Mark is a level 1 divination spell. This spell allows spellcasters to mark a creature as their prey and deal additional Weapon damage to the targeted creature. Mark a creature as your quarry to deal an additional 1d6 Weapon damage whenever you hit it with a weapon attack. If the target dies before the spell ends, you can use Reapply Hunter’s Mark to mark a new creature.

Level 3

Level 3 Progression - Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Sharpshooter Build

Ensnaring Strike is the best option if you need crowd control. It can trap the foes and then deal additional damage each turn. Gloom Stalker is a useful subclass due to its strong ability to gain significant advantages during the first combat round. It can be used immediately at the start of combat without needing a rest to refresh.

Ensnaring Strike- Your attack summons thorny vines, dealing Weapon Damage and possibly Ensnaring your target. Ensnared creatures cannot move and take 1d6 Piercing damage at the start of each turn. An ally can use their Help Action to try and tear away the vines.

Gloom Stalker

  • Disguise Self- You can turn in any race. Nothing special, but can open some dialogue and role-playing options.
  • Dread Ambusher- You specialize in taking out foes swiftly and ruthlessly. You gain a +3 bonus to Initiative. On the first turn of combat, your Movement Speed increases by 3 m / 10 ft, and you can also make an extra attack that deals an additional 1d8 damage.
  • Superior Darkvision- You can see in the dark up to 24 m / 80 ft.
  • Dread Ambusher: Hide- As a Bonus Action, you can Hide from enemies by succeeding on Stealth Checks. Attacking or casting a spell will make you visible.
  • Umbral Shroud- Use an Action to wrap yourself in shadows to become Invisible for 10 turns if you are Obscured.

Level 4

Level 4 Progression - Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Sharpshooter Build

Sharpshooter is the best feat because it provides 10 10-damage increase for ranged attacks. However, you lose 5 attack rolls. We recommend you attack from high ground to overcome this. Your ranged weapon attacks do not receive penalties from high-ground rules. Ranged weapon attacks with weapons you are proficient with have a -5 penalty to their Attack Roll but deal an additional 10 damage. (You can toggle this on or off)

Level 5

Level 5 Progression - Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Sharpshooter Build

Lesser Restoration

Lesse Restoration is practical in some situations as it cuts off paralysis, disease, poison, and blindness. This allows you to cure a party member from debilitating status effects quickly. The spell is cast instantly, meaning you can quickly remove a harmful status effect in the middle of combat. It is readily accessible to many spellcasters and can be used frequently without depleting high-level spell slots. Lesser Restoration is a level 2 abjuration spell. This spell allows the spellcaster to cure an adjacent creature. Casting this spell at a higher level grants no additional benefit.

Level 6

Level 6 Progression - Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Sharpshooter Build

You can also do a respec when you get level 6. Take only level 1 Rogue and then multiclass to level 5 Ranger, providing additional skill proficiency. Sneak Attack (Melee) can use the enemy’s distraction to deal an additional 1d6 damage. You can use it to enhance the damage by 1d6. Sneak Attack (Ranged) is also no exception as it also provide the same capability on a battlefield.

  • Sneak Attack (Ranged)- Deals extra damage to a foe you have an advantage against. You can also use this attack if you have an ally within 1.5m of the target and you don’t have a disadvantage.
  • Sneak Attack (Melee)- Deals extra damage to a foe you have an advantage against. Also works if you have an ally within 1.5m of the target and you don’t have a disadvantage.

Level 7

Level 8 Progression - Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Sharpshooter Build

This level lacks flashy moves. However, it unlocks cunning actions. Instead of using Action Points, use Bonus actions these are similar to normal actions. Cunning Action: Hide is crucial for hiding from enemies by succeeding Stealth checks. You need to be in the dark and avoid enemy sightlines. After that, you can start sneaking using Bonus action to use Sneak Attack. Cunning Action: Dash is important to cover more distance this turn: double your movement speed. Cunning Action: Disengage allows you to retreat without getting caught in a mid-fight.

  • Cunning Action: Disengage- Retreat safely. Moving won’t provoke Opportunity Attacks.
  • Cunning Action: Hide- Hide from enemies by succeeding at Stealth checks. Stick to the dark and avoid enemy sightlines. Attacking or casting a spell will reveal your location.
  • Cunning Action: Dash- Cover more distance this turn: double your movement speed.

Level 8

Assassin is a Subclass of Rogue. It’s focused on dealing higher and more reliable damage to enemies at the start of the battle, especially if you can surprise them. This subclass allows you to deal a lot of damage to enemies at the beginning of a battle, making it crucial to use in the mid-fight. This is especially useful when the player can surprise their enemies. The burst damage is huge with the best setup in the game.

  • Assassinate: Initiative- You are deadliest against unprepared enemies. In combat, you have an Advantage on Attack Rolls against creatures that haven’t taken a turn yet.
  • Assassin’s Ambush Any successful Attack Roll against a Surprised creature is a Critical Hit.
  • Assassin’s Alacrity- Quick as an alley cat in a rain-dark city, you immediately restore your Action and Bonus action at the start of combat.

Level 9

Ability Improvement is the best choice here if you did not pick ability improvement previously. Gain +2 Dexterity if using Auntie Ethel Hair. If not, go for +1 Wisdom and +1 Dexterity. This allows you to directly increase one or more of your character’s core ability scores. It impacts your performance in various aspects of the game like skill checks, attack rolls, and saving throws. You can also choose to take “Ability Improvement” every few levels instead of a feat. This makes your character more effective in combat and roleplaying situations.

Level 10

Level 10 Progression - Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Sharpshooter Build

Multiclass to the Fighter at this level. Second Wind is a Fighter bonus action. This ability allows them to heal themselves during battle. Draw on your stamina to protect yourself. You regain 1d10 + Fighter Level hit points. It allows you to regain hit points once per short or long rest. If your party is low on healing potions or spells, this is useful as an additional heal.

Level 11

Level 11 Progression - Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Sharpshooter Build

Action Surge is a free action gained by Fighters at Level 2. This ability allows the Fighter to take another action in the same turn. Immediately gain an extra action to use this turn and is available only in combat. Action Surge will take your build to the next level when you gain an action point at the beginning of the combat. This allows for two additional attacks and critical hits when the enemies are surprised somehow. Use this to gain an extra action once per short rest, especially when targeting a powerful enemy.

Level 12

Level 12 Progression - Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Sharpshooter Build

Improved Critical Hit is a Champion Fighter passive feature that reduces the number they need to roll for a critical hit by 1. The number you need to roll a Critical Hit while attacking is reduced by 1. This effect can stack. This increases your chance of landing a critical hit dealing the normal damage when you do hit. Doubles damage on a critical hit means that when you land a critical hit, you roll your damage dice twice and add both results together. Doing this allows to increase your potential damage output, dominating the enemies on a battlefield.

Best Companions for Assassin

ShadowheartGale, and Lae’zel make the best companions for the Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Fighter Champion Build Guide. We do not recommend additional front-line fighters and damage dealers.

  • Gale (Sorcerer) – respec Gale to a Draconic Bloodline Sorcerer to gain Metamagic and increase his spell power abilities. Use him for pure area-based damage caused by fire and ice.
  • Lae’zel (Fighter – Battlemaster) – have her the front-line attention-getter doing Fighter to level 12.
  • Shadowheart (Cleric – Life) – utilizes Shadowheart to buff, heal, and stun enemies.

Best Gear for Assassin Build

Beginner

The Graceful Cloth - Baldur's Gate 3 - BG3
BG3 Club of Hill Giant Strength
Titanstring Bow - Baldur's Gate 3 - BG3
Gear SlotBest Gear ItemEffect
HeadShadow of MenzoberranzanInvisibility skill
CapeDeathstalker Mantle (optional)Dark Urge
ChestThe Graceful Cloth+2 Dexterity
GlovesGloves of Archery+2 Ranged Damage
BootsDisintegrating Night WalkersFree Misty Step
NecklaceAmulet of BrandingCast Vulnerability
RingCaustic Band+2 Acid Damage
RingStrange Conduit RingPsychic damage
Weapon 1 Main HandClub of Hill Giant Strength19 Strength
Weapon 2 Off-HandAdamantine Shield+2 AC
Weapon 2 RangerTitanstring BowAdd STR modifier

Here’s the best beginner gear, items, and equipment for Assassin Build in Baldur’s Gate 3:

Advanced

Legacy of the Masters - Baldur’s Gate 3 - BG3
BG3 Shade-Slayer Cloak

Here’s the best Act 3 gear, items, and equipment for Assassin Build in Baldur’s Gate 3:

Gear SlotBest Gear ItemEffect
HeadHelm of BalduranCannot be Stunned
CapeShade-Slayer CloakLowers Crit Roll
ChestThe Graceful Cloth+2 Dexterity
GlovesLegacy of the Masters+2 Attack Roll
BootsHelldusk BootsCannot be Moved
NecklaceSurgeon’s Subjugation AmuletStun on Crit
RingKiller’s SweetheartAuto Critical
RingRisky RingAdvantage on Attacks
Weapon 1 BowBlood of LathanderAutomatic Revive
Weapon 2 MaceViconia’s Walking Fortress+3 AC
Weapon 2 ShieldGontr MaelBest Bow

Best Consumables, Potions, Ammunition, and Items

Baldur's Gate 3 Elixir of Hill Giant Strength tooltip
Baldur's Gate 3 Potion of Speed
Elixir of Bloodlust - Baldur's Gate 3

The following list is the best consumable items that will aid in our Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Assassin Build Guide:

Permanent Bonuses

BG3 Us Summon Attacks and Abilities

Throughout Baldur’s Gate 3, you will have the ability to gain permanent bonuses to your character. These can grant additional spells, ability scores, and other bonuses. Permanent Bonuses are not displayed throughout the campaign but are vital to increase overall combat performance. We have all permanent bonuses here in a guide, but the most important ones for you to collect are listed below.

Act 1Act 2Act 3
Auntie Ethel’s Hair: Gain +1 to an Ability Score.Potion of Everlasting Vigour: Gain +2 Strength.Mirror of Loss – +2 to an Ability Score of your choice.
Awakened: Use Illithid powers as a Bonus Action.Slayer Form: Ability to transform into the Slayer.Partial Ceremorphosis: Access to tier 3 Illithid Powers.
Scratch: Gain Find Familiar Scratch.Summon Us: Allows you to summon Us.Sweet Stone Features: Blessed permanent.
Cheeky Quasit: Gain Summon Quasit Shovel.Statue of the Gods: +2 to Saving Throws
Loviatar’s Love: 30% Hit Points or less, you gain a +2 bonus to Attack Rolls and Wisdom saving throws. 
Necromancy Of Thay: access to powerful spells in Act 3.
Volo’s Ersatz Eye: See Invisibility
Best Permanent Bonuses for Honour Mode in Baldur’s Gate 3

Build Summary – Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Assassin

Classes – Range, Rogue, Fighter

Subclasses – Gloom Stalker, Assassin, Battle Master

Armor – Light Armour, Medium Armour, Shield

Weapons: Simple Weapons, Martial Weapons

Race – Halfling, Deep Gnome, Githyanki

Ability Score

  • Strength: 8
  • Dexterity: 17
  • Constitution: 16
  • Intelligence: 8
  • Wisdom: 14
  • Charisma: 10

Level Progression

  • Level 1 – Lightfoot halflings
  • Level 2 – Long Strider, Hunter’s Mark, Archery
  • Level 3 – Ensnaring Strike, Gloom Stalker
  • Level 4 – Assassin
  • Level 5 – Lesser Restoration
  • Level 6 – Multiclass Rogue, Get skills
  • Level 7 – Standard rogue
  • Level 8 – Assassin subclass
  • Level 9 – Ability Improvement
  • Level 10 – Second Wind
  • Level 11 – Action Surge
  • Level 12 – Improved Critical Hit

FAQs about the Assassin build in Baldur’s Gate 3

What abilities should the Assassin prioritize for my class?

Prioritize Dexterity first for more damage, then Constitution for health, and Wisdom for spellcasting for the Assassin Build in Baldur’s Gate 3.

What are the best feats for Assassin builds?

The sharpshooter is the best feat for the Assassin build because your ranged weapon attacks do not receive penalties from High Ground Rules.

What are the best multiclass combos?

 The best multiclass combo for the Assassin Build is Ranger, then switches to Rogue, and finally ends with Fighter.

Are there “must-have” items for Assassin builds?

Elixir of Hill Giant Strength, Potion of Speed, and Elixir of Bloodlust are the must-have items for Assassin builds.

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