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A great way to get an advantage against enemies inBaldur’s Gate 3, is to use stealthiness to get a drop on them. You have the ability to sneak, and you can use this to get behind an enemy and deal massive damage to them before they even realize you’re there.
There are certain classes and abilities that will reward this type of strategy, and you may even be able to end battles in a single turn by capitalizing on these. This attack style is especially helpful on your second playthrough when you know the locations of the different enemies and the encounters that lead to battles.
Stealth Build Overview
An obvious choice of class for a stealth build is therogue class. Rogues enjoy the option of launching asneak attackon an enemy, granting anextra 1d6 damageon a hit.
Picking the thief subclass as you gain levels as a rogue is a must because of theFast Hands passive, which allows you to have anextra bonus action.
An assassin is a seemingly attractive subclass choice for rogues when making a stealth build, but theFast Hands passive of a thief rogue is more useful. An assassin’s abilities work bestat the very start of combat, so taking down more powerful enemies later on will bemore difficult for this subclass.
After you take aroundfour levels in the rogue class, you’ll also want to havesix levels in the monk class.
Monks enjoyplenty of passivesthatincrease both damage and movement. You’ll also be able to maximize the Fast Hands passive on the thief with thenumerous bonus action options that monks enjoy, specifically monks in theway of the open hand subclass.
Lastly, you’ll want to havetwo levels in the fighter class. At fighter level two, you’ll enjoyAction Surge, which will give you anextra action that you may use during your turn.
The Best Origin And Race For A Stealth Build
If you truly want the best stealth build, pickingthe Dark Urgeas your character will give you a cloak that willliterally make you disappear on the battlefield. The only way to get this special cloak is byplaying as the Dark Urge, so you should definitely consider it.
When it comes to your race, awood elfmakes for an amazing stealth character, thanks to theirincreased movement speed. They can move up to10.5m or 35ftin a single turn.
Wood elves also have theMask of the Wildpassive, which gives themproficiency in Stealth.
The Best Level-By-Level Stealth Build
In summary, you start withfour levels as a rogue, then getsix levels as a monk, then you end with two levels of fighter. By the time you reach level 12, you’ll have a stealthy character that can dish out numerous attacks in a single turn.
Actions gained:
You’ll need to be sneaking in order to use sneak attacks and to enjoy their extra 1d6 damage.
Cunning actions will allow you to dash, disengage, or hide using only a bonus action on your turn.
Pick subclass: thief
Pick feat: ability improvement (Dexterity +2)
Passives gained:
Action gained: Flurry of Blows - use a bonus action to punch twice, equivalent to two normal unarmed attacks.
Monk 2
Passive gained: Unarmoured Movement - while not wearing armour or using a shield, your movement speed increases by 3m or 10ft.
Monk 3
Attacks made unarmed or using monk weapons now deal 1d6 bludgeoning damage, unless their normal damage is higher.
Reaction gained: Deflect Missiles - use your reaction to reduce damage from ranged weapons by 1d10 + your Dexterity modifier + your monk level.
Pick subclass: way of the open hand
Monk 4
Pick feat: alert - gain a +5 bonus to initative, and you can’t be surprised.
Passive gained: Extra Attack - make an additional free attack after making an unarmed or weapon attack.
Toggleable passives gained:
Action gained: Wholeness of Body - gain an extra bonus action and recover 1 Ki Point for 3 turns.
Fighter 1
Action gained: Second Wind - regain 1d10 + Fighter level hit points
Fighting Style: Two-Weapon Fighting - add your ability modifier to the damage of your offhand attack.
Fighter 2
Action gained: Action Surge - immediately gain an extra action on your turn.
The Best Equipment For A Stealth Build
You’ll be using clothing instead of armour for your stealth build to enjoy all the passives you gain as an unarmoured monk.
That being said, most of your equipment choices will be based on Dexterity scaling and improved movement.
Clothing:The Graceful Cloth
Armour Class: 10
Cat’s Grace: You gain Cat’s Grace and increase your Dexterity score by 2, to a maximum of 20.
Nimble As a Cat: You gain a +1 bonus to Dexterity Saving Throws and also increase your Jump distance by 1.5m.
Act 1:You can purchase this fromLady Estherat theRosymorn Monastery Trail.
Cloak: The Deathstalker Mantle
The Shadow Itself:Once per turn when you kill an enemy, shroud yourself in primaeval darkness to become invisible for 2 turns.
Act 1:Can be received fromSceleritas Felif you’re playing asThe Dark Urge.
Headgear:Haste Helm
Smooth Start: At the start of combat, the wearer gains Momentum for 3 turns.
Act 1:This is found in a chest near theBlighted Village Waypoint.
Gloves:Gloves of Dexterity
Set the wearer’s Dexterity score to 18, unless their Dexterity is higher without it.
Act 1:This can be purchased fromA’jak’nir JeerainCrèche Y’llek.
Footwear:Disintegrating Night Walkers
Night Walker: Can’t be Enwebbed, Entangled, or Ensnared and can’t slip on grease or ice.
Act 1:Dropped byNerein theGrymforge.
Amulet:Periapt of Wound Closure
Wound Closure: When downed, automatically stabilise at the start of the turn.
Potent Healing: Maximise the number of hit points restored.
Act 1: This can be purchased fromLady Estherat theRosymorn Monastery Trail.
Ring 1:Crusher’s Ring
Movement Speed +3m
Act 1:Can be taken fromNovice Crusherusing sleight of hand, or can be looted from his body after killing him.
Ring 2:Smuggler’s Ring
Stealth +2, Sleight of Hand +2, Charisma -1
Act 1:Can be looted from a skeleton underThe Risen Road bridge.
Main hand weapon:Knife of the Undermountain King
1d6 + 2 (3~8) + Strength or Dexterity modifier (Piercing damage)
Organ Rearranger: Reduce the number you need to roll a Critical Hit while attacking by 1. This effect can stack. When you roll 2 damage or less, reroll the dice, taking the highest result.
Shadow Blade: You have Advantage on Attack Rolls against Lightly or Heavily Obscured targets when using this blade.
1d4+1 (2~5) + Strength or Dexterity modifier (Piercing damage)
Silences targets on hit.
Act 1:Can be crafted using a dagger andSussur Tree Barkin theBlacksmith’s Forgein the Blighted Village as part of theFinish the Masterwork Weaponquest.
1d6 + 2 (3~8) + Dexterity modifier (Piercing damage)
Hellstalker: Possibly inflict Burning when attacking while Hiding or Invisible.
Scorching Ray: Can cast Scorching Ray at Level 3 once per Short Rest.
Ranged weapon 2:Firestoker
1d6 (1~6) + Dexterity modifier (Piercing damage)
Burned Alive: Deals an additional 1d4 Piercing damage to Burning targets.
Act 1:This can be looted from a chest in a dormitory room inGrymforge.
Location
Cloak: Shade-Slayer Cloak
Stealthy Critical:While Hiding, the number you need to roll a Critical Hit while attacking is reduced by 1. This effect can stack.
Act 3:Can be purchased fromSticky Dondoin theGuildhall.
Headgear: Mask of Soul Perception
Soul Perception:Gain a +2 bonus to Attack rolls, Initiative Rolls, and Perception Checks.
Act 3:Can be purchased fromExxvikyapinRivington General.
Amulet: Amulet of Greater Health
Set the wearer’sConstitution score to 23. The enchantment has no effect if their Constitution score is higher without it.
Advantage on Constitution saving throws.
Act 3:This can be looted from a pedestal in theArchive Roomlocated in theHouse of Hope.
(Optional) Ring 1:Killer’s Sweetheart
Executioner:When you kill a creature, your next attack roll will be a critical hit. This refreshes after a long rest.
Act 2:This can be picked up from the ground of theSelf-Same Trialat theGauntlet of Shar.The exact spot is where your player’s copy died.
(Optional) Ring 2:Ring of Regeneration
Combat Regeneration:At the beginning of your turn, the ring activates and heals you 1d4 hit points.
Act 3:This can be purchased from theSorcerous Sundriesif Lorroakan is alive. If Lorroakan is dead, but Rolan is still alive, it can be looted from Rolan in Ramazith’s Tower using sleight of hand.
Main hand weapon:Rhapsody
1d4 + 3 (4~12) + Strength or Dexterity modifier (Piercing damage)
Scarlet Remittance:Gain a +1 bonus to Attack Rolls, damage, and Spell Save DV for every foe you slay, up to a maximum of +3.
Sweet Bloodletting:Possibly inflict Bleeding when hitting a creature with this weapon while Hiding or Invisible.
Act 3:Dropped byCazador SzarrinCazador’s Dungeon.
Offhand weapon:Crimson Mischief
Prey Upon the Weak:This weapon deals an additional 1d4 Piercing damage against targets with 50% of their hit points or fewer.
Redvein Savagery:When you make an attack with Advantage, the target takes an additional 7 Piercing damage.
When Off-hand: When you make an attack with your off-hand weapon, you may add your Ability Modifier to the damage of the attack.
