Baldur’s Gate 3 – What Is the Best Subclass for Astarion? Ranked

Every Class in Baldur’s Gate 3 has a couple of subclasses, and some are more useful than others. This article will explain what is the best Subclass for our favorite vampire Rogue Astarion in Baldur’s Gate 3.

At some point during leveling, each Class has to choose a Subclass. For example, Clerics choose which Domain they will devote themselves to (Life, War, Light, etc.), while Fighters choose between Battle Master, Eldritch Knight, or a Champion. These unlock some more specialized abilities and can lead to a whole different playstyle. Playing a Trickery Domain Cleric is a different experience than playing a War Domain Cleric. With that in mind, you can choose the direction your character and your companions will take when leveling. Astarion is a fan-favorite Rogue of the group, so let’s take a look at what is the best Subclass for him in Baldur’s Gate 3.

Best Subclass for Astarion in Baldur’s Gate 3

Astarion is a High Elf Rogue, and that means he focuses on Dexterity, stealth, and generally not being on the front lines. He has Proficiencies in the following Skills: Acrobatics (Dexterity), Deception (Charisma), History (Intelligence), Perception (Wisdom), Persuasion (Charisma), Sleight of Hand (Dexterity), and Stealth (Dexterity).

The main ability that Rogues have is Sneak Attack, which grants bonus damage if you are wielding a Finesse weapon (a Rapier or a Short Sword, to name a few) and have an Advantage against the target, or if it is already in combat with a friendly character. The best choice is the one that capitalizes on that. At Level 2, Rogues get access to Cunning Actions, and at Level 3, Rogues choose between Arcane Trickster, Assassin, and Thief Subclasses.

1. Thief

Hands down the best Subclass choice for Astarion. Thief gains abilities that make him more maneuverable and better at Stealth, resulting in more Sneak Attacks. At Level 3, the Thief learns Fast Hands which grants an extra Bonus Action for every turn, which can be used to Dash, Hide, Disengage, and in various other ways. Thieves also learn Second-Story Work at Level 3, which grants Resistance to falling damage. At level 9, you will get Supreme Sneak which allows the Thief to become completely invisible. Note that using Astarion’s Vampire Bite ability does not break Stealth. In conclusion, this will improve what the Rogues do best and that’s why it is ranked the highest.

2. Arcane Trickster

The second-best choice for Astarion, Arcane Tricksters have access to Spells. Since Astarion is a High Elf, and already has a Spell available, this will further increase the options he has. The Spells at his disposal are similar to the ones Wizards have, and Arcane Tricksters automatically gain a special invisible Mage Hand, which they can use to pick locks and disarm traps. At Level 9 Arcane Tricksters gain Magical Ambush. It grants the benefit of, while the Arcane Trickster is hidden, his targets have a Disadvantage on Saving Throws against their Spells. Not as good as Thief, but still useful altogether. 

3. Assassin

The least popular Subclass for Astarion, Assassin focuses on dealing extreme damage to a single target. Why is that bad? Well, to fully implement its abilities requires a lot of setup. It is kind of a one-trick pony. At level 3, Assassins learn Assassinate: Initiative, which grants them an Advantage on Attack Rolls against creatures that haven’t taken a turn yet, and Assassinate: Ambush, which make any successful Attack Roll against a Surprised creature a Critical Hit. On paper, this sounds awesome, but when you think about it, it is highly situational. That is why the Assassin is ranked lowest for the best Subclass for Astarion.

Note that these builds are for a pure Rogue, not a multiclassed one. For example, an Assassin excels when paired up with a Gloom Stalker Ranger. This will give him an extra attack, and when paired up Dual Wielder feat will give him a lot of melee attacks, for a greater chance to trigger Sneak Attack. And also the Dread Ambusher ability, to increase his chance to play before his enemies, to trigger Assassinate: Initiative.

For more articles about Baldur’s Gate 3, check out Best Build for Shadowheart, How to Save Minsc, and How To Use Torch.