Subclass Rogue Arcane Trickster

What Is the Arcane Trickster?

The Arcane Trickster is a Rogue subclass that layers Intelligence-based spellcasting onto the Rogue's core. Mage Hand Legerdemain at Level 3 lets you cast Mage Hand as a Bonus Action, turn the spectral hand invisible, and use it to pick a creature's pocket at range. Spellcasting gives access to the Illusion and Enchantment schools of the Wizard spell list. Magical Ambush at Level 9 applies Disadvantage on saving throws against your spells when you're hidden or Invisible.

Class Features

Progression Overview

LEVEL	FEATURE
3	Mage Hand Legerdemain, Spellcasting
9	Magical Ambush

Level 3

Mage Hand Legerdemain When you cast Mage Hand, you can cast it as a Bonus Action and make the spectral hand invisible. You can use the hand to perform the following tasks:

• Attempt to pick a creature's pocket at range, stealing an item

The hand's pickpocketing check uses your own Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) modifier as the Arcane Trickster, since the spectral hand has no ability scores of its own. Targeting a creature with the hand opens the pickpocket interface as normal.

Spellcasting You augment your Rogue skills with spells, using Intelligence as your spellcasting ability. At Level 3 you learn two Wizard cantrips and three Level 1 spells, and you gain a Level 1 spell slot; Level 2 spells and slots arrive at Level 7.

Every levelled pick is restricted to the Illusion and Enchantment schools of the Wizard list.

Level 9

Magical Ambush If you are Sneaking or Invisible when you cast a spell on a creature, it has Disadvantage on any saving throw it makes against the spell on the same turn.

Triggers from: Sneaking (clear, lightly obscured, or heavily obscured) or Invisible status.

Playstyle Notes

The Arcane Trickster is the stealth spellcaster Rogue subclass. Mage Hand Legerdemain lets you pickpocket at range without needing the Rogue to be physically present — the hand does the reaching while you stay hidden. This is particularly strong in BG3 where proximity detection and line-of-sight are strictly enforced.

Magical Ambush at Level 9 creates a powerful loop: Hide (Cunning Action Bonus Action), then cast a save-or-suck spell — the target saves with Disadvantage. Spells like Hold Person, Hypnotic Pattern, or Blindness/Deafness become significantly more reliable when the target rolls twice and takes the lower.

The Intelligence-based spellcasting creates a stat split: Rogues typically maximize Dexterity, but the Arcane Trickster also benefits from high Intelligence for spell save DC and Mage Hand Legerdemain checks. This can be managed by prioritizing Dexterity first and Intelligence second.

Enchantment spells like Hold Person pair well with Sneak Attack: a paralyzed target creates automatic Advantage on melee attacks, guaranteeing Sneak Attack without needing an ally adjacent.