Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Swashbuckler Rogue Build

This guide focuses on the key aspects of a Swashbuckler Rogue build in Baldur’s Gate 3 (BG3) and how to use those powers to your advantage.

In Baldur’s Gate 3, players can select from a wide range of variables in order to create a build. Builds the serves as an overall theme both in combat and dialogue. In this guide, we walk you through a Rogue Subclass, Swashbuckler, introduced in Patch 8 of BG3. Explaining all the critical choices like ability score, level progression, companions, weapons, armor, and consumables.

This build page has been updated for the patch 8 version of Baldur’s Gate 3.

Rogue Class Guide in BG3

The Rogue class in Baldur’s Gate 3 is known for its high dexterity, sneaking, and lockpicking potential. The Rogue excels at group utility, range, and melee combat. Most parties opt for a Rogue due to pickpocketing, lockpicking, and general non-combat usage. However, they can also be potent combatants, using both range and melee combat.

Why Should You Choose the Swashbuckler Subclass for the Rogue Class in BG3?

You should choose the Swashbuckler Rogue if you want to hit targets with advantage often and want a thematic build and character. The Swashbuckler’s feature Rakish Audacity makes it so that you automatically hit targets with sneak attack as long as you’re in 1.5 meter range. Moreover, the Swashbuckler gets power subclass features Dirty Trick, giving you extra utility with your attacks. Lastly, the Swashbuckler will have more Charisma than other Rogue builds and fit a thematic theme for players.

Everything About the Swashbuckler Rogue in Baldur’s Gate 3

What makes the Swashbuckler unique is its ability to automatically land sneak attacks in melee combat and its charisma-based dirty trick actions. This gives you a build focused on dexterity and charisma, allowing you to talk your way through combat or engage. The Swashbuckler emphasizes melee combat and makes sneak attack damage much easier with an overall simple build.

However, you will need to multiclass out of the Rogue for optimal combat performance. Moreover, you won’t gain the benefit of the auto sneak attack feature playing at range. Lastly, the racial choice is critical to get the weapon proficiencies needed at the start of the game.

Swashbuckler Rogue Build Pros	Swashbuckler Rogue Build Pros
Utility in Combat	Melee Focused
Thematic Build	Multiclass Needed
Auto Sneak Attack	Charisma Subclass Features

Features and Mechanics of Swashbuckler Rogue

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

• Class: Rogue
• Subclass: Swashbuckler
• Background: Urchin 
• Ability Score
  • Strength: 8
  • Dexterity: 17
  • Constitution: 16
  • Intelligence: 10
  • Wisdom: 8
  • Charisma: 14
• Saving Throw: Dexterity and Intelligence
• Armour Proficiency: Light Armour
• Weapon Proficiency: Simple Weapons, Hand Crossbows, Longswords, Rapiers, Shortswords

Character Creation

Category	Selection
Character	Origin – Custom character
Race	High Elf
Racial Bonus	Elven Weapon Training Darkvision Fey Ancestry 1 Cantrip
Class	Rogue
Subclasses	Swashbuckler, Champion
Cantrips	Booming Blade
Spells	None
Background	Urchin
Ability Score	STR: 8 DEX: 17 CON: 16 INT: 10 WIS: 8 CHA: 14
Skill Proficiencies

Race Choice for Swashbuckler Rogue

High Elf is best for the Swashbuckler Rogue race because you gain Longbow and Longsword proficiency and a cantrip. Patch 8 introduces a powerful cantrip, Booming Blade. You can select this and gain a thunder-based attack in melee range, making it the best choice and critical for this build. Alternatively, the Githyanki also has weapon proficiencies and additional movement spells but lacks a cantrip and darkvision. The Half-Orc has Savage Attacks and a decent choice depending on your preferred weapons.

Here is the best race choice for a Swashbuckler Rogue build in Baldur’s Gate 3:

Race	Features
High Elf	Elven Weapon Training Darkvision Fey Ancestry 1 Cantrip
Githyanki	Astral Knowledge Githyanki Psionics Martial Prodigy
Half-Orc	Darkvision Savage Attacks Relentless Endurance Intimidation

Rogue Subclass – Swashbuckler

The Rogue unlocks their subclass at level three, and once selected, the Swashbuckler unlocks two features. The most notable is Rakish Audacity which helps automatically trigger sneak attack damage in melee. Then at level four, you gain Dirty Trick, three individual actions that help you control the battlefield.

Below are the Swashbuckler Rogue subclass features that become available while leveling up in Baldur’s Gate 3:

• Fancy Footwork (Level 3): If you make a melee attack against a target, that target can’t make Opportunity Attacks against you for the rest of your turn.
• Rakish Audacity (Level 3): You gain a +2 bonus to initiative rolls. This scales with your rogue level. You no longer need Advantage to trigger Sneak Attack if you are within 1.5 meters of the target and don’t have Disadvantage.
• Dirty Tricks (Level 4): Learn the following Dirty Tricks. Charisma is the spellcasting modifier used for these abilities.
  • Dirty Trick: Flick o’ the Wrist: Flick your weapon at a target and possibly Disarm them.
• • Dirty Trick: Sand Toss a handful of sand at your enemy and possibly Blind them.
  • Dirty Trick: Vicious Mockery: Cast as a cantrip at will.
• Panache (Level 9): Roll a Persuasion check to beguile a humanoid, who must contest it with an Insight check. Enemies who fail gain Panache: Disadvantage; others who fail become Charmed.
• Panache (Level 9): Roll a Persuasion check to beguile a humanoid, who must contest it with an Insight check. Enemies who fail gain Panache: Disadvantage; others who fail become Charmed.

Recommended Background for Swashbuckler Rogue

Urchin is the recommended background for the Swashbuckler due to gaining two dexterity-based skills. However, you can select Entertainer or another charisma-based background. You want to increase persuasion and/or intimidation skills to fit with the theme of the build.

Ability Score

The best ability score for the Swashbuckler Rogue Build is 17 Dexterity, 16 Constitution, and 14 Charisma.  Dexerity is your primary means to avoid damage with AC in light armour as well as damage scaling with piercing weapons. However, at end game, you can take an elixir of cloud giant strength and scale your damage with strength. This applies if your weapons scale either strength or dexterity (hover the mouse over it to tell you).

Next, you choose between constitution (health) or charisma (dialogue and subclass). If you prefer dialogue to combat, go with 16 charisma, however if playing in melee range, 16 constitution is advised for more survivability.

Also, Dexerity is at 17 an odd number and requires you to gain Auntie Ethel’s Hair in Act 1 to increase to 18. If you do not plan on getting this permanent bonus, put Dexerity at 16 and increase Wisdom to 10.

Below is the best ability score for a Swashbuckler Rogue in Baldur’s Gate 3:

Ability	Recommended Score
Strength	8
Dexterity	17
Constitution	16
Intelligence	14
Wisdom	8
Charisma	10

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.

Recommended Skills for Swashbuckler Rogue

Look to boost persuasion and intimidation-based skills along with sleight of hand and stealth for the most versatile Swashbuckler Rogue.

Illithid Powers For Swashbuckler Rogue

The best Illithid Powers for a Swashbuckler Rogue 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 Swashbuckler Rogue build in Baldur’s Gate 3:

Illithid Powers	Description
Luck of the Far Realms	When you make a successful Attack Roll against a foe, you can change that hit into a Critical Hit.
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.
Psionic Backlash	When an enemy within 9m casts a spell, you can use your reaction to inflict ld4 Psychic damage to the caster per the spell’s level.
Blackhole	Area-based suck-in that slows targets.
Repulsor	Massive area knockback that can hit friendlies.
Charm	This is the priority power you want to obtain because you can force enemies to attack something else.

Best Companions for Swashbuckler Rogue

Shadowheart, Gale, and Lae’zel make the best companions for the Swashbuckler Rogue build because you gain a melee damage dealer, support healer, and spellcaster.

• Gale (Wizard) – area based damage spells, elemental damage, and utility.
• Lae’zel (Fighter – Battlemaster) – Use as front-line fighter and attention-getter.
• Shadowheart (Cleric – Life) – buff, heal, and stun enemies.

Best Swashbuckler Rogue Build – Level Progression in Baldur’s Gate 3

Level	Class	Selection
1	Rogue	Sneak Attack (Ranged & Melee)
2	Rogue	Cunning Actions
3	Rogue	Subclass: Swashbuckler
4	Rogue	Feat: Duel Wielder
5	Fighter	Multiclass: Fighter
6	Fighter	Action Surge
7	Fighter	Subclass: Champion
8	Fighter	Feat: +2 Dex
9	Fighter	Extra Attack
10	Fighter	Feat: Alert
11	Fighter	Remarkable Athlete: Proficiency and Jump
12	Fighter	Feat: Savage Attack

Level 1

At level one, the Rogue doesn’t gain much outside of Sneak Attack. You gain your subclass at level 3 so expect a slow start. If you chose the Half-Elf race, then rely on Boooming Blade cantrip in melee and finding a ranged weapon during the tutorial.

• Sneak Attack (Ranged & Melee): Deal an additional to an enemy you have an Advantage against. Attack/Save: Ranged Attack Recharge: Once per turn. In order to gain Advantage, you need to be hiding or that enemy to be engaged with another in 1.5 meters.

Level 2

At level two, the Rogue gains cunning actions which helps your movement and survivability. Gameplay remains the same and you should look to equip duel wield shortswords or daggers at this point with a Longbow on ranged weapon if Half Elf.

• Cunning Action Hide: Hide from enemies by succeeding 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.
• Cunning Action Disengage: Retreat safely: moving won’t provoke Opportunity Attacks.

Level 3

At level 3, the Rogue will choose the Swashbuckler Subclass and unlock the following:

• Fancy Footwork (Level 3): If you make a melee attack against a target, that target can’t make Opportunity Attacks against you for the rest of your turn.
• Rakish Audacity (Level 3): You gain a +2 bonus to initiative rolls. This scales with your rogue level. You no longer need Advantage to trigger Sneak Attack as long as you are within 1.5 m / 5 ft of the target and don’t have Disadvantage.

This gives you incentive to play in melee range, thus make sure you have duel wielding weapons.

Level 4

At level 4 you unlock Dirty Tricks subclass feature and a feat. For feats, there are a lot of choices, but at this stage, Duel Wielder is a good choice. It lets you equip two non-heavy weapons such as Longswords or Rapiers. This frees up additional weapon options and gives you +1 AC in Light Armour. However, you can go with ability score improvement +2 Dexerity if you stick with shortswords and daggers. The Dirty Trick feature allows you to use a bonus action for an effect on the target. The two best choices are Flick of the wrist and Sand Toss. When fighting a weapon user, flick of the writs, fighting magic user, sand toss.

• Duel Wielder (feat): Duel Wielder Feat: You can use Two-Weapon Fighting even if your weapons aren’t Light. You cannot dual-wield Heavy weapons.
• Dirty Tricks (Level 4): Learn the following Dirty Tricks. Charisma is the spellcasting modifier used for these abilities.
  • Dirty Trick: Flick o’ the Wrist: Flick your weapon at a target and possibly Disarm them.
  • Dirty Trick: Sand Toss: Toss a handful of sand at your enemy and possibly Blind them.
  • Dirty Trick: Vicious Mockery: Cast as a cantrip at will.

Level 5

At level 5 and beyond, the Rogue suffers from weak bonuses. Therefore, it’s highly recommended to multiclass to a Fighter. You will gain a Fighting Style, Extra Attack, and three features giving you a much-needed performance boost in combat. Below is what you unlock:

• Second Wind: You will receive a very powerful self-heal immediately called Second Wind.  This allows you to heal yourself using a bonus action, not an action.  This is very important because you can heal and attack in one turn. 
• Two Weapon Fighting Style: When you make an offhand attack, you can add your Ability Score Modifier to the damage of the attack.

Level 6

At level 6, the Figher unlocks Action Surge which replinehses on short rest and gives you an extra action for a turn.

• Action Surge: Immediately gain an extra Action to use this turn.

Level 7

At level 7, with three levels into a fighter, you gain a subclass. For simplicity and damage, go with the Champion which increases the odds of landing a critical strike.

• Champion Subclass Unlocked: Improved Critical Hit. The number you need to roll a Critical Hit while attacking is reduced by 1 and this effect can stack.

Level 8

At level 8 you can choose another feat. At this point, increase your Dexerity +2. If you completed Auntie Ethel’s Hair in Act 1, you’ll reach 20. In Act 3, you can increase Dex by +2 with Mirror of the loss.

Level 9

At level 9, you will unlock extra attack, giving you two attacks with one action.

• Extra Attack: You can make an additional free attack after making an unarmed or weapon attack.

Level 10

At level 10 select the Alert Feat. This will give you +5 initiative and avoid being surprised. This helps going first in combat and avoids getting killed when ambushed.

Level 11

At level 11, your subclass adds a few features:

• Remarkable Athlete: Proficiency – You’re a master of your own body, your athletic prowess extended beyond the usual. You can add half of your Proficiency Bonus to any Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution Checks that you are not Proficient in.
• Remarkable Athlete: Jump – You’re a master of your own body, your athletic prowess extended beyond her usual. Your Jump distance is increased by 3 meters.

Level 12

At level 12, take the Savage Attacker feat, which allows melee attacks to roll your damage dice twice and use the highest result.

Best Gear for Swashbuckler Rogue Build

Beginner

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

Gear Slot	Best Gear Item	Effect
Head	Shadow of Menzoberranzan	Invisibility Spell
Cape	Deathstalker Mantle (optional)	Invisibility on Kill
Chest	Drow Studded Leather Armour	12 AC
Gloves	Gloves of the Growling Underdog	Advantage on Melee
Boots	Disintegrating Night Walkers	Free Misty Step
Necklace	Broodmother’s Revenge	1d6 when healed
Ring	Crusher’s Ring	Increase Movement
Ring	Caustic Band	Poison Damage
Weapon 1 Main Hand	Phalar Aluve	Special Attack
Off-Hand	Knife of the Undermountain King	Lowers Critical
Weapon 2 Ranged	Titanstring Bow	+ Str to Damage

List of best Swashbuckler Rogue Baldur’s Gate 3 Equipment in Act 1:

• Shadow of Menzoberranzan: Looted from the Pale Corpse in the Myconid Colony, Underdark (Alternative Haste Helm).
• Deathstalker Mantle: Automatically acquired as part of Dark Urge story.
• Drow Studded Leather Armour: Inside a Heavy Chest at Lolth’s Cultist’s Cache in Underdark (Alternatives medium Adamantine Scale Mail, or Hide +2 Armour).
• Gloves of Archery: Sold by Grat in the Goblin Camp (Alternatives Gloves of Dexterity, Gloves of Missile Snaring, or Gloves of Hail of Thorns).
• Disintegrating Night Walkers: Obtained in Gyrmforge as part of Free True Soul Nere questline (Alternatives Boots of Striding, Boots of Genial Striding, or Boots of Speed).
• Broodmother’s Revenge: Looted from by Kagha’s body in the Emerald Grove (Alternatives Amulet of Branding, Amulet of Misty Step, or Amulet of Restoration).
• Crusher’s Ring: Can be looted or stolen from Crusher in the Goblin camp (Alternatives Strange Conduit Ring, or Ring of Absolute Force).
• Caustic Band: Obtained from merchant Derryth Bonecloak in the Myconid Colony (Alternatives Fetish of Callarduran Smoothhands, or The Sparkswall).
• Phalar Aluve: found at Underdark coordinates X: 116 Y: -192. (Alternatives Sussur Dagger, Hunter Dagger)
• Knife of the Undermountain King: Sold by Jeera A’jak’nir Jeera in Githyanki Creche at Coordinates X: 1380 Y: -798.
• Titanstring Bow: Brem in Zhentarim Hideout Act 1 (Alternatives Bow of Banshee, Spellthief, or Joltshooter).

Advanced

The following table presents the best gear, items, and equipment for the Swashbuckler Rogue Build in Baldur’s Gate 3:

Gear Slot	Best Gear Item	Effect
Head	Helme of Grit	+ Bonus Action
Cape	Cloak of Protection	+1 AC
Chest	Bhaalist Armour	2x Piercing Damage
Gloves	Legacy of the Masters	+2 Attack rolls
Boots	Helldusk Boots	Mobility
Necklace	Amulet of Bhaal	Inflicts Bleeding
Ring	Killer’s Sweetheart	Auto Critical
Ring	Risky Ring	+ Advantage
Weapon 1 Main Hand	Crimson Mischief	Necrotic Damage
Off-Hand	Bloodthirst	Lower Critical
Weapon 2 Ranged	Darkfire Shortbow	Gives Haste

Below is the best Act 3 Armor, Weapons, and Equipment for Swashbuckler Rogue build in BG3:

• Helme of Grit: Szarr Palace X: -1298 Y: 965 (Alternatives Helldusk Helmet, Sarevok’s Horned Helmet,  Mask of Soul Perception).
• Cloak of Protection: Sold by Talli Quartermaster at Last Light Inn Act 2 (alternative Shade-Slayer Cloak).
• Bhaalist Armour: Side with Bhaal in the Murder Tribunal then purchase from Echo of Abazigal (Alternatives Helldusk Armour, Armour of Persistence).
• Legacy of the Masters: Purchased from Dammon in Lower City Baldur’s Gate (Alternatives Gauntlets of Hill Giant Strength, Helldusk Gloves, Gloves of Soul Catching).
• Helldusk Boots: In a locked chest, Wyrm’s Rock Fortress (Alternative Disintegrating Night Walkers).
• Amulet of Bhaal: Looted or given by Sarevok same location as Bhaalist Armour (Alternatives Amulet of Greater Health, Periapt of Wound Closure).
• Killer’s Sweetheart: Obtained from the Gauntlet of Shar in Act 2 (Alternative Ring of Protection, Risky Ring).
• Risky Ring: Moonrise Towers sold by Araj Oblodra (Alternative Ring of Free Action, Shifting Corpus Ring).
• Crimson Mischief: Bhaal Temple, carried by Orin, Coordinates X: 61 Y: 1004.
• Bloodthirst: Bhaal Temple, carried by Orin, Coordinates X: 61 Y: 1004.
• Hellriders: Rivington X: 43 Y: -101: Sold by Ferg (Alternative darkfire shortbow).

How to Play Swashbuckler Rogue

The best way to play the Swashbuckler Rogue is in melee range to take advantage of the automatic sneak attack subclass feature. Use the Dirty Trick bonus action to disarm enemies or blind them if they are spell casters. Use piercing weapons like Crimson Mischief, Bloodthirst, daggers and shortswords in combination with Bhaalist Armour for double damage.

Below are some general tips on how to play the best Swashbuckler Rogue 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.

Best Tips and Tricks for Swashbuckler Rogue in BG3

The best tip to playing the Swashbuckler Rogue is selecting a High Elf race to gain Longbow, Longsword proficiency, and Booming Blade Cantrip. This cantrip can be used once every turn, adding thunder damage to every attack. Then multiclass to a Fighter at level 5 to gain four feats, extra attack, and two-weapon fighting.

Best Consumables, Potions, Ammunition, and Items

The following list is the best consumable items that will aid in our Guide:

• Elixir of Bloodlust: Once per turn when you kill a foe, you gain HP 5 temporary hit points and an additional action.
• Elixir of Hill Giant Strength: Increases Strength ability score to 21 until Long Rest.
• Potion of Speed: Gain extra action, +2 AC, Advantage on Dexterity Saving Throws, and double movement speed.
• Drow Poison: Weapon poison that adds Constitution Saving Throw or becomes Poisoned and falls Asleep.
• Potion of Flying: Drink to gain a flying speed of 60ft for one hour.
• Elixir of Heroism: Gain 10 temp HP and become Blessed until a long rest.
• Potion of Greater Healing: 4d4 + 4 hit points restored.
• Oil of Accuracy: Coat Weapon. Bonus of +2 in Attack Rolls.
• Elixir of Vigilance: Drink to gain a +5 bonus to Initiative and you can’t be Surprised.

Permanent Bonuses

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 1	Act 2	Act 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

Swashbuckler Rogue Changes in Patch 8 for BG3

Patch 8 adds 12 new subclasses, spells, and cantrips. The most important is the Swashbuckler Rogue and Booming Blade cantrip. You can access this powerful cantrip by selecting a High Elf ,giving you more melee burst starting at level 1.

Build Summary – Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Swashbuckler Rogue

FAQs about the Swashbuckler Rogue build in Baldur’s Gate 3

What abilities should the Swashbuckler Rogue prioritize for my class?

The Swashbuckler wants high dexterity for weapon damage and charisma for their unique dirty trick subclass features.

What are the best feats for Swashbuckler Rogue builds?

The best feats are Savage Attacker, Dual Wielder, and Alert

What are the best multiclass combos?

The Fighter is the best multiclass combo for the Swashbuckler because you gain Action Surge, feats, extra attack and Two-Weapon Fighting.

Are there “must-have” items for Swashbuckler Rogue builds?

Helmet of Grit is a must have item to give you an extra bonus action when health is below 50%. You can start off combat with low HP to trigger this, and thus give yourself a high constitution to make it easier to reach this bonus.

Looking For More About Baldur’s Gate 3?

Thank you for reading Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Rogue Swashbuckler Build Guide. We provide the latest news and create guides for Baldur’s Gate 3. Also, watch me play games on Twitch or visit my YouTube channel!

• BG3 Tier Lists and Rankings All BG3 Builds
• All BG3 Classes, Companions and Multiclassing
• All BG3 Comprehensive Guides
• All Permanent Bonuses You Should Get in BG3
• Act 1 Checklist for Baldur’s Gate 3
• Act 2 Checklist for Baldur’s Gate 3
• Act 3 Checklist for Baldur’s Gate 3