BG3 Gloomstalker Assassin is one of the most powerful yet challenging class combinations. This cunning multiclass build blends the Rangers’ mastery of shadows with the Assassin’s lethal surprise attacks.
In the right hands, a Gloomstalker Assassin can single-handedly take down the most dangerous foes before combat even begins. But it takes careful planning, positioning, and resource management to truly maximize your lethality. This comprehensive guide will teach you everything you need to know to master the shadows as a Gloomstalker Assassin.
Why Play a Gloomstalker Assassin?
This specialty build offers a unique playstyle revolving around stealth, preparation, and exploiting enemy vulnerabilities. Here are some of the key advantages:
- Massive damage potential:Deal devastating opening attacks before the enemy can react
- Unmatched mobility:Flank undetected and control the battlefield
- Survival versatility:Gain Ranger capabilities like spells, favored terrain, expertise, and a animal companion
- Expanded crit range:Boost critical hit chances for immense burst damage
However, the Gloomstalker Assassin requires patience and practice. You must act cautiously to avoid becoming overwhelmed. But the unmatched damage potential makes it rewarding to learn.
Related: Baldur’s Gate 3 Imposter Guide
How to Build Gloomstalker Assassin in Baldur’s Gate 3
Optimizing your Gloomstalker Assassin starts at character creation. Follow this step-by-step guide to build the perfect shadowy killer:
Step 1: Choose a Race
The best Gloomstalker Assassin races offer stealthiness, mobility, and dexterity:
- Wood Elf:Dexterity bonus, Mask of the Wild disguises you, 35 ft speed
- Lightfoot Halfling:Naturally stealthy, Naturally Lucky improves crits
- Forest Gnome:Minor illusion and innate spellcasting improve stealth
Darkvision is also extremely useful for a Rogue who sticks to the shadows.
Step 2: Prioritize Dexterity
Dexterity governs your stealth, accuracy, and damage. Make sure it’s your highest ability score. Constitution is also vital to survivability. Keep your Strength low to better utilize ranged attacks.
Step 3: Select Expertise Skills
Choose skill expertise in Stealth, Perception, Acrobatics, and one other skill. This improves your scouting, ambushes, mobility, and damage potential.
Step 4: Take Feats
The best Gloomstalker Assassin feats include:
- Elven Accuracy:Reroll 1s on advantage attacks for higher crit chance
- Sharpshooter:Ignore cover and long range penalties, boost damage
- Skulker:Bonus to stealth checks and can hide when lightly obscured
- Alert:+5 initiative and cannot be surprised
Maximize Dexterity before taking feats. Elven Accuracy first grants the biggest damage boost.
Step 5: Choose Your Spells
Prioritize Ranger spells that enhance your stealth, mobility, and damage:
- Hunter’s Markadds damage to every strike
- Pass Without Traceimproves stealth for the party
- Ensnaring Strikerestrains enemies
- Silenceprevents spellcasting
Take utility spells like Goodberry and Cure Wounds as needed.
Related: Baldur’s Gate 3 Secret Chamber Guide
Gloomstalker Assassin Level Progression
Here are the recommended levels for each class:
- Ranger 1: Favored Enemy, Natural Explorer
- Ranger 2: Fighting Style, Spellcasting
- Ranger 3: Gloom Stalker Conclave
- Ranger 5: Extra Attack
- Rogue 1: Expertise, Sneak Attack, Thieves’ Cant
- Rogue 3: Assassin Archetype
- Rogue 4: Ability Score Improvement
- Rogue 5: Uncanny Dodge
This splits your levels to get key damage and stealth boosts from both classes quickly. Feel free to adjust based on your campaign and preferences.
Maximizing Your Opening Turn
The Gloomstalker Assassin’s priority is unleashing a devastating alpha strike before the enemy can react. Here are the steps to optimized first turn damage:
- Cast Pass Without Traceto boost your stealth as you approach unseen
- Use your full movement to reach the ideal attack position
- If enemies are surprised, attack with advantage using your action and bonus action
- Apply Sneak Attack, Dread Ambusher, and Hunter’s Mark damage to every strike
- Use Elven Accuracy and expanded crit range to fish for critical hits
- Consider an Action Surge from Fighter 2 for yet another deadly attack
A properly built and positioned Gloomstalker Assassin can easily deal over 100 damage before some enemies even act in combat.
Defeating Different Enemies
To truly master the Gloomstalker Assassin, you must tailor your approach based on the foes you face:
Against tanks: Use Silence to prevent spells and keep mobile to avoid being pinned down. Target any casters first.
Against casters: Kill them immediately before they can ruin your ambush. Use counterspell if needed.
Against swarms: Deploy AoE control like Ensnaring Strike or keep them bottlenecked. Focus fire the leaders.
Against snipers: Use fog spells for cover and reposition constantly. Target them first.
Outthink and outmaneuver your enemies, turning their strengths against them.
Maintaining Stealth
Remaining hidden is critical to keep delivering Sneak Attack damage. Follow these stealth tips:
- Cast Pass Without Trace frequently
- Never venture into well-lit areas
- Use ranged attacks to avoid close quarters
- Hide as a bonus action each turn
- Retreat and re-enter Stealth when detected
- Use illusions and distractions
Stay alert and be ready to improvise if discovered. Your life depends on the shadows.
Gloomstalker Assassin Tricks and Tactics
Beyond raw damage, mastering advanced tactics elevates your lethality:
Flanking: Finding an undetected attack angle makes enemies flat-footed against your Sneak Attacks.
Combat repositioning: Use Cunning Action to retreat, climb, or hide mid-combat when needed.
Advantage exploits: Maneuvers like shoving prone give you advantage to land deadly crits.
Misdirection: Illusions, distractions, and noisemakers like Minor Illusion draw enemy attention away.
Ability combinations: Use Pike and Hunter’s Mark together to stop fleeing enemies.
Remain unpredictable and control the battlefield to keep your enemies off-balance.
Best Magic Items
Certain magic items can greatly complement a Gloomstalker Assassin’s skills:
- Boots of Elvenkind:Further improves stealth
- Gloves of Thievery:Enhance your pickpocketing and manual dexterity
- **Cloak of Elvenkind:**Advantage on stealth checks
- Slippers of Spider Climbing:Access hard to reach sniping perches
- Eversmoking Bottle:Create obscuring clouds for cover
- Rope of Entanglement:Ensnare groups of enemies
Prioritize gear that boosts your stealth, mobility, and damage output.
BG3 Gloomstalker Assassin Variants
While this guide covers the standard Ranger/Rogue build, you can further customize your Assassin with multi-classing:
- Fighter:Action Surge grants an extra attack for insane nova damage. Go Fighter 2-3.
- Sorcerer:Quickened Spell enhances action economy for more spells and attacks. Go Sorcerer 3-5.
- Warlock:Take Devil’s Sight to see through magical darkness you create. Go Warlock 3-5.
Each option slightly shifts your playstyle and capabilities. Experiment to find what you enjoy most!
FAQ – August 23, 2023
To further expand your mastery of the Gloomstalker Assassin, here are answers to common questions:
What is the best race for a Gloomstalker Assassin?
The best races offer stealthiness, mobility, and Dexterity. Top choices are Wood Elf, Lightfoot Halfling, and Forest Gnome.
What feats work best for the Gloomstalker Assassin?
Prioritize Elven Accuracy, Sharpshooter, Skulker, and Alert to boost damage, stealth, initiative rolls, and crit chance.
What spells maximize a Gloomstalker Assassin’s lethality?
Hunter’s Mark, Pass Without Trace, Ensnaring Strike, and Silence offer the most tactical value for ambushes, control, and damage.
How much damage can a Gloomstalker Assassin do in one turn?
In an optimized ambush during the first round, they can easily deal over 100 damage to a priority target before it acts.
How survivable is the Gloomstalker Assassin in open combat?
Their moderate armor and low HP make them vulnerable in direct combat. Use mobility, misdirection, spells, and cover to avoid it.
What are the best magic items for a Gloomstalker Assassin?
Prioritize gear that improves their stealth, mobility, damage, and action economy like Boots of Elvenkind and a Cloak of Elvenkind.
What are good strategies for a Gloomstalker Assassin?
Flanking, repositioning, creating advantage, misdirection, and combining abilities are all key to maximizing your lethality.
What classes pair well for multiclassing?
Fighter, Sorcerer, and Warlock offer different benefits depending on whether you want boosts to damage, action economy, or stealth and darkness.
Conclusion
The Gloomstalker Assassin requires mastery of stealth, preparation, and positioning to unleash their immense damage potential. But few builds can rival their ability to control combat with mobility and alpha strikes. With the tactics provided in this guide, you now have the knowledge to truly dominate as a Gloomstalker Assassin. Just remain patient, alert, and ready to strike from the darkness.
