rogue guide pathfinder


Introduction

The Rogue is a staple of DnD-style games, but as Pathfinder has grown, the vanilla Rogue has been left behind in a lot of ways. In the core rulebook, the Rogue was the unmatched master of stealth, skill, and surprise attacks. Over time these masteries have been eclipsed by other classes.

The Rogue’s Evolution in Pathfinder

The Rogue’s position in Pathfinder has undergone a significant shift; The original Rogue, while skilled in stealth and surprise attacks, has been overshadowed by other classes as the game evolved. This led to the introduction of the “Unchained Rogue” in Pathfinder’s “Ultimate Combat” rulebook, aimed at revitalizing the class and addressing its shortcomings. The Unchained Rogue introduced new abilities and mechanics, offering more flexibility and power to players who chose this path. Despite these changes, the Rogue remains a valuable asset in Pathfinder, particularly for players who enjoy a more tactical and stealth-focused approach to combat.

Rogue Build Options

Despite being a fairly focused class compared to many of the other options in Pathfinder, Rogues have multiple build options that let you specialize in a particular aspect of your criminal lifestyle. Pick the build thats right for you below. All the builds in this guide exclusively use options from Pathfinder’s core rulebook and its “Ultimate Combat” supplement. You can customize your Rogue further using Pathfinder’s vast array of feats, spells, and magic items. The Unchained Rogue is a more powerful and flexible class, allowing for more creative builds and options. Whether you prefer a stealthy assassin, a cunning trap expert, or a skilled swordsman, there are plenty of ways to tailor your Rogue to your preferred playstyle.

The Rogue’s Unique Role in Pathfinder⁚ Wrath of the Righteous

The Rogue is one of the few class choices in Pathfinder⁚ Wrath of the Righteous that has different requirements for Ability Scores depending on the class. The character creation process in Pathfinder⁚ Wrath of the Righteous helps to guide the player through this process. The Rogue’s ability to sneak past enemies, disable traps, and deliver critical blows makes them a valuable asset in any party. However, their relatively low hit points and lack of powerful damage spells can make them vulnerable in combat. This means that Rogues must rely on their cunning and skill to survive and succeed. Rogues in Wrath of the Righteous are often tasked with scouting ahead, disabling traps, and gathering information. They can also be used to assassinate key enemies or to steal valuable items. While the Rogue may not be the most powerful class in Pathfinder⁚ Wrath of the Righteous, they are certainly one of the most versatile and exciting.

Gameplay Mechanics

This guide will, on the whole, be divided into three sections⁚ skills, combat, and builds.

Skill Mastery

Rogues are known for their prowess in skills, often excelling in areas like Stealth, Perception, and Disable Device. These skills allow them to navigate the world with ease, avoiding detection, uncovering secrets, and disabling traps. The Rogue’s skill mastery is further enhanced by their class features, such as Trapfinding, which grants them a bonus on checks to find and disable traps. This ability allows them to identify and disarm dangerous traps before they become a threat to the party. The Rogue’s expertise in skills allows them to contribute significantly to the party’s success, even when combat is not the primary focus. They can gather information, navigate treacherous terrain, and disable obstacles, making them invaluable assets in any adventure.

Combat Prowess

While Rogues are known for their skills, they are also capable combatants, specializing in quick strikes and precise attacks. Their signature ability, Sneak Attack, allows them to deal extra damage when attacking an enemy who is unaware or flanked. This ability makes Rogues formidable damage dealers, especially in the early stages of the game. Rogues also have access to a variety of combat feats that enhance their combat prowess, such as Weapon Finesse, which allows them to use their Dexterity modifier instead of their Strength modifier for attack rolls with certain weapons. This feat allows Rogues to effectively wield light weapons, such as rapiers and short swords, without sacrificing their Dexterity-based skills. Furthermore, Rogues are often proficient in light armor and can choose to specialize in specific weapon types, such as ranged weapons or melee weapons, to further enhance their combat effectiveness. The Rogue’s combat prowess, combined with their skills, makes them a valuable asset in any party.

Talents and Feats

In Pathfinder, Rogues gain access to a unique set of talents and feats that further enhance their abilities and gameplay. These talents and feats are essential for building a powerful and versatile Rogue character. Talents are special abilities that grant Rogues specific advantages, such as the ability to deal extra damage with Sneak Attack or the ability to move silently through difficult terrain. Feats are special abilities that can be taken by characters to improve their skills and abilities. Some popular feats for Rogues include Weapon Finesse, which allows them to use their Dexterity modifier for attack rolls with certain weapons, and Improved Initiative, which grants them a bonus to their initiative score. The combination of talents and feats allows Rogues to specialize in specific areas of expertise, such as stealth, combat, or skill use, making them valuable assets in any party. With careful planning and selection of talents and feats, Rogues can become highly effective and impactful characters, capable of achieving great feats and contributing significantly to the party’s success.

Building the Rogue

Building a Rogue in Pathfinder is a process of balancing skills, combat prowess, and choosing the right talents and feats to create a unique and effective character.

Unchained Rogue Build Considerations

The unchained rogue heavily favors Dex-based melee fighters and skill monkeys. You can certainly still make an archery or ranged build, but the unchained rogue was largely made with the goal of making the rogue a more attractive melee class, and I think they succeeded. One of the biggest improvements to the Rogue is that the Finesse talent, which allows your Dexterity score to be used for attack rolls, is now a class feature. This means you can use your Dexterity score to make attack rolls with all simple weapons, as well as the rapier, short sword, and short bow. You are also proficient with light armor and not with shields. You can also utilize the new Unchained Rogue’s “Sneak Attack” ability, which gives the player more flexibility to use their sneak attack damage, and is even better than the previous version of the “Sneak Attack” ability, allowing the Rogue to use their Sneak Attack damage against a creature they have just hit with an attack. The Unchained Rogue class also gives players the ability to “Dodge” as a reaction, which is a very useful ability that can help a Rogue to survive longer.

Best Rogue Class Skills

If you are playing an adventure where skill-oriented play is important, a rogue is a good way to go. The top class skills available to a rogue are as follows⁚ Acrobatics, Escape Artist, Perception, Diplomacy, Stealth, Knowledge Local, Use Magic Device, Sense Motive and Disable Device. Acrobatics can be used to make jumps, climb, and even use a rope to swing. Escape Artist is a valuable ability that can be used to get out of binds, like being tied up or locked in a cage. Perception is used to notice things that others might miss, like hidden traps or enemies. Diplomacy can be used to talk your way out of trouble or get information from others. Stealth is essential for a rogue, allowing you to move silently and avoid detection. Knowledge Local can be used to gain information about the area you are in. Use Magic Device can be used to activate magic items. Sense Motive can be used to detect lies and deception. Disable Device can be used to disarm traps and deactivate magical devices.

Rogue as a Class

Rogues are the classic scoundrels of Pathfinder. With a focus on sneaky tricks and methodical, high-damage attacks, a Rogue is a valuable member to any party.

The Rogue’s Strengths and Weaknesses

The Rogue is a very versatile class, with a variety of strengths and weaknesses that make them both valuable and challenging to play. Their key strengths include their proficiency in stealth, their ability to deal high damage with sneak attacks, and their expertise in disabling traps. They are also masters of deception and manipulation, making them excellent for infiltrating enemy strongholds and gathering information. However, Rogues are also quite fragile, with low hit points and armor class. They are also vulnerable to attacks from creatures with high damage output or abilities that bypass their defenses. Additionally, they are often reliant on their ability to act first in combat, making them vulnerable to counterattacks from enemies with higher initiative.

The Unchained Rogue

The Unchained Rogue, introduced in Pathfinder’s “Ultimate Combat” book, offers a significant overhaul of the Rogue class. It addresses many of the Rogue’s weaknesses, providing them with more survivability and a greater variety of combat options. The Unchained Rogue is more focused on close-quarters combat, gaining abilities like “Brutal Beating” that allow them to inflict debilitating effects on their enemies. They also have access to new talents like “Redirect Attack” that provide them with a means of mitigating incoming damage. The Unchained Rogue’s revised class features allow them to be more effective in combat, while still retaining the core strengths of the Rogue class, such as stealth, trapfinding, and sneak attacks.

The Rogue in Pathfinder 2E

Pathfinder 2nd Edition presents a significant departure for the Rogue class, introducing new mechanics and a more nuanced approach to the role of the sneaky scoundrel. Gone are the days of relying solely on sneak attacks. In Pathfinder 2E, Rogues gain access to a variety of unique abilities, including the “Sneak” action, which allows them to gain a tactical advantage by moving unnoticed. They also gain proficiency with the “Trickery” skill, which expands their options for deception and manipulation. These changes make the Rogue a more versatile and engaging class, offering players a range of options for both combat and roleplaying.

Strategies and Tactics

Mastering the art of stealth and deception is crucial for any Pathfinder Rogue. The Rogue’s strengths lie in exploiting weaknesses and utilizing their skills to gain an advantage.

Rogue Combat Tactics

Rogues in Pathfinder excel at delivering swift and deadly blows, often utilizing stealth and cunning to gain an edge in combat. Their primary tactic is to exploit weaknesses and deliver surprise attacks. A skilled Rogue will use their Dexterity and agility to outmaneuver their opponents, striking from the shadows or flanking to maximize their Sneak Attack damage. They are adept at using their skills to disable traps, disarm enemies, and create opportunities for their allies.

The Rogue’s ability to move quickly and silently makes them ideal for flanking maneuvers, allowing them to deal devastating Sneak Attack damage. Additionally, their proficiency in skills like Stealth and Disable Device allows them to control the battlefield and create advantageous situations for their party. By utilizing their skills and combat tactics, Rogues can become formidable forces in any Pathfinder campaign.

Rogue Skill Use in Pathfinder⁚ Wrath of the Righteous

In Pathfinder⁚ Wrath of the Righteous, Rogues find ample opportunities to utilize their skills to their advantage. With the game’s emphasis on exploration and investigation, skills like Perception, Stealth, and Disable Device become invaluable assets for navigating the world and uncovering secrets. Rogues are also crucial for uncovering hidden messages and deciphering coded communication, making them essential for solving puzzles and unlocking hidden areas.

Beyond their role in exploration, Rogues can use their skills to support their party in combat. Their ability to disarm traps and disable enemy defenses can significantly impact the outcome of a battle. Additionally, their proficiency in skills like Bluff and Diplomacy allows them to manipulate enemies and negotiate favorable outcomes. In Wrath of the Righteous, Rogues are not only deadly assassins but also skilled problem solvers and invaluable allies.

The Rogue’s Role in a Party

The Rogue is a versatile class that can fulfill various roles within a party, contributing to both combat and social aspects of the game. Their ability to scout ahead and identify threats makes them ideal for the role of a party’s scout. This is especially true in Pathfinder⁚ Wrath of the Righteous, where the game often presents players with challenging and dangerous environments to navigate. Rogues can also excel as a party’s “Face,” utilizing their skills in Diplomacy, Bluff, and Sense Motive to negotiate with NPCs, gather information, and manipulate situations to the party’s advantage.

However, the Rogue’s primary role is often that of a damage dealer. Their Sneak Attack ability allows them to inflict devastating blows upon unsuspecting enemies, making them a formidable force in combat. In addition to their offensive capabilities, Rogues can also contribute to party survival through their skills in Disarm Trap and their ability to dodge enemy attacks with the Evasion ability. Ultimately, the Rogue’s role in a party is multifaceted, offering a blend of combat prowess, strategic thinking, and social skills that make them an invaluable asset to any adventuring group.

Rogues in Pathfinder offer a unique and challenging playstyle, rewarding players who master their skills and tactics. Their ability to blend stealth, combat, and social interaction makes them a valuable asset in any party.

The Rogue’s Potential in Pathfinder

The Rogue, despite its perceived weaknesses, possesses incredible potential in Pathfinder. Its core strengths – stealth, skill mastery, and cunning combat – can be honed into a powerful force when combined with the right build and strategy. While the Rogue may not be the undisputed king of damage or the master of all skills, it excels in a unique niche of deception and precision. The Rogue can be the silent assassin, the agile scout, the master of traps and puzzles, or the charismatic negotiator, all depending on the player’s choices and the campaign’s setting. Pathfinder provides a rich tapestry of options for the Rogue, allowing players to craft their own unique and effective character.

A Guide for Rogue Players

This guide aims to empower players to embrace the Rogue’s potential and carve their own path in Pathfinder. While the Rogue may face challenges compared to other classes, its unique strengths can be maximized with careful planning and execution. This guide provides insights into building a powerful Rogue, choosing the right skills and feats, and implementing effective strategies in combat and exploration. By understanding the Rogue’s strengths and weaknesses, and leveraging its unique abilities, players can transform this often-overlooked class into a vital asset to any party. Whether you prefer the shadowy assassin, the agile scout, or the cunning trickster, this guide offers a roadmap to crafting a Rogue that thrives in Pathfinder’s world.