Creating a Rogue

To create a Rogue, consult the following lists, which provide Hit Points, proficiencies, and armor training. If you’re making a 1st-level character, also consult the “Step-by-Step Characters” section of the Player's Handbook. Should you require starting equipment, work with your DM to have equipment that is appropriate, and by refer to the Class as listed in the 2014 publication for a basic idea.

Then look at the Rogue table to see the class features you get at each level in this class. The descriptions of those features appear in the “Rogue Class Features” section.

Class Features

As a Rogue, you gain the following class features

Sneak Attack

1st-level Rogue feature
You know how to turn a subtle attack into a deadly one.

Once, on each of your turns, you can deal 1d6 extra damage to one creature you hit with an attack roll if you’re attacking with a Finesse or Ranged weapon and if at least one of the following requirements is met:

Advantage. You have Advantage on the attack roll.

Ally Adjacent to Target. At least one of your allies is within 5 feet of the target, the ally doesn’t have the Incapacitated condition, and you don’t have Disadvantage on the attack roll.

The number of the extra 1d6 damage dice dealt with your sneak attack increases as you gain levels in this class, as shown in the Sneak Attack Dice column of the Rogue table. The extra damage’s type is the same as the weapon’s Damage Type.

Thieves’ Cant

1st-level Rogue feature
During your rogue training you learned thieves’ cant, a secret mix of dialect, jargon, and code that allows you to hide messages in seemingly normal conversation.

You learn the secret language of thieves’ cant. Only another creature that knows thieves’ cant understands such messages. It takes four times longer to convey such a message than it does to speak the same idea plainly.

In addition, you understand a set of secret signs and symbols used to convey short, simple messages, such as whether an area is dangerous or the territory of a thieves’ guild, whether loot is nearby, or whether the people in an area are easy marks or will provide a safe house for thieves on the run.

Not all thieves' cant is universal. Each Guild may have their own form of this secret dialect. Work with your DM to determine which form your version of thieves' cant takes.

Cunning Action

2nd-level Rogue feature
Your quick thinking and agility allow you to move and act quickly.

You can use a Bonus Action on each of your turns in combat to take the Dash, Disengage, or Hide action.

Steady Aim

2nd-level Rogue feature
You use your impeccable speed to ensure your strikes are true.

When you take the Attack action, you can give yourself Advantage on your next attack roll.

You can do this a number of times equal to number listed in the Steady Aims column of the Rogue table, and regain all uses of this feature after finishing a short or long rest.

Rogue's Guild

3rd-level Rogue feature

You choose a Guild to align yourself with. This represents an organization with specialized traits that defines how you approach the challenges of your profession. Each Guild has journeymen and masters, and as a recruit you'll be offered an apprenticeship, through which you can learn the tricks of the trade. Your choice choice grants you features at 3rd level and then again at 6th, 9th, 13th, and 17th level.

Ability Score Improvement

4th-level Rogue feature

When you reach 4th level, and again at 8th, 12th, 16th, and 19th level, you gain the Ability Score Improvement feat or another feat of your choice for which you qualify.

Cunning Strike

5th-level Rogue feature
You gain the ability to hinder your opponents ability to fight, by performing stunts, tricks, capers, exploits, or another tactical advance.

You learn and are able to use Cunning Strikes.

Cunning Strikes. You learn two Cunning Strikes, which are listed at the end of this class description. If a strike has a prerequisite, you must meet that prerequisite in order to learn it. You learn another strike at 9th, 13th and 17th level as shown in the Strikes Known column of the Rogue table. When you gain a level in this class, you can replace a strike you know with another.

Using a Cunning Strike. When you use Sneak Attack against a creature on your turn, you can expend one use of this feature and potentially expend a number of dice rolled from your Sneak Attack feature, as listed within the Cunning Strike to apply its effect. Expending a Sneak Attack die removes it from the extra damage of the attack. You can only use one Strike per attack.
You can use your Cunning Strikes twice, regaining all uses after finishing a short or long rest.

Saving Throws. Some of your Cunning Strikes require a saving throw. The DC for this saving throw is calculated as follows:

Uncanny Dodge

5th-level Rogue feature
When you are hit by an attacker that you can see, you can use your Reaction to halve the damage from the attack.

Knack

6th-level Rogue feature
You adapt a particular specialty defining some form of your roguish profession.

Choose and gain one of the following Knacks. You gain a second Knack of your choosing at 11th level.

• Cryptologist. You can invent ciphers, and are able to teach a cipher to others. Anyone who knows a cipher can encode and read hidden messages made with it; the apparent text must be at least four times longer than the hidden message. Other creatures can spend a minute to make an Investigation check (DC 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Intelligence modifier) to detect the presence of a cipher, and are able to read the hidden message if they succeed by 5 or more. Additionally, you have Advantage on Intelligence checks made to detect and decode ciphers and codes.

Evasion

7th-level Rogue feature

When you make a Dexterity saving throw against an effect that deals half damage on a success, you take no damage on a success and half damage on a failure.

Reliable Talent

7th-level Rogue feature
You have refined your chosen skills until they approach perfection.

When you make an ability check that lets you add your proficiency bonus, roll a d12 with the d20. You can replace the result of the d20 with the d12.

Improved Sneak Attack

10th-level Rogue feature
Via cloak and danger, masterful manipulation, clinical precision, or sultry fighting, a rogue’s strikes are precise and deadly, always striking the most vulnerable mark.

You gain one of the following Sneak Attack improvements. At 20th level, you gain and can use both of these improvements with a single use of this feature.

When dealing Sneak Attack damage, you can choose to apply your known improvement. You can use this feature three times, and regain all uses after finishing a long rest.

• Precision Strike. You can reroll a number of the Sneak Attack dice up to your Dexterity modifier (minimum of one). You must use the new value.
• Explosive Impact. When a Sneak Attack die rolls its maximum value, you can reroll the die and add the new value to the prior total. You can do this only once per die.

Quick Thinking

11th-level Rogue feature
You have precision instincts and are able to strike exactly when you decide to.

After rolling for initiative, you may choose to add or subtract your Intelligence modifier to your initiative score.

Blindsense

14th-level Rogue feature

If you are able to hear, you have blindsight with a range of 10 feet.

Slippery Mind

15th-level Rogue feature

You gain proficiency in Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma saving throws(your choice).

Elusive

18th-level Rogue feature

Attack rolls cannot gain Advantage against you while you aren’t incapacitated.

Stroke of Luck

20th-level Rogue feature
You have an uncanny knack for succeeding when you need to.

If your attack misses a target within range, you can turn the miss into a hit. Alternatively, if you fail an ability check, you can treat the d20 roll as a 20.

Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest.

Rogue's Guild

Rogues have many features in common, including their emphasis on perfecting their skills, their precise and deadly approach to combat, and their increasingly quick reflexes. But different rogues steer those talents in varying directions, embodied by how they identify their skill set. Each Guild is a reflection of a focus—not necessarily an indication of your chosen profession, but a description of your preferred techniques.

Agent's Guild

Contingency

13th-level Agent feature
When things go sideways, you always need a way out.

As an Action, you can force a number of creatures up to your proficiency bonus that are within 30 feet of you to make a Dexterity Saving throw against your Cunning Strike DC or become blinded until the start of their next turn. Additionally, creatures of your choice that can hear you can use their Reaction to move up to their speed, and until the end of your current turn you gain the benefits of the Dash and Disengage action.

• Once you do so, you cannot do so again.
• Recharge: Finish a Long Rest.

License to Kill

13th-level Agent feature

When you hit a creature with an attack that gains Sneak Attack and is under the effect of your Focus feature, you can convert your Sneak Attack dice to d12s instead of d6s.

• Once you do so, you cannot do so again.
• Recharge: Finish a Short or Long Rest.

Agent’s Reflexes

17th-level Agent feature
You have become adept at quickly escaping danger and engaging your enemies.

You can take two turns during the first round of any combat. You take your first turn at your normal initiative and your second turn at your initiative minus 10. You can’t use this feature when you are surprised.

Arcane's Guild

Spellcasting

3rd-level Arcane feature
You learn to supplement your roguish capabilities with arcane spells.

See the Player’s Handbook for the rules on spellcasting and the Spells Listing for the wizard spell list. The information below details how you use those rules as a member of the Arcane's Guild.

Cantrips. You learn three cantrips: mage hand and two other cantrips of your choice from the wizard spell list. You learn another wizard cantrip of your choice at 10th level.

Known Spells. You know a number of spells equal to the number listed in the Arcane's Guild spell table. When you gain a level in this class, you can replace one spell you know with a different spell from the wizard spell list.

Spellcasting Ability. Intelligence is your Spellcasting Ability for your Arcane's Guild spells.

Mage Hand Legerdemain

3rd-level Arcane feature

When you cast mage hand, you can make the spectral hand invisible, and you can perform the following additional tasks with it:

• You can stow one object the hand is holding in a container worn or carried by another creature.
• You can retrieve an object in a container worn or carried by another creature.
• You can use thieves’ tools to pick locks and disarm traps at range.

You can perform one of these tasks without being noticed by a creature if you succeed on a Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) check contested by the creature’s Wisdom (Perception) check.

In addition, you can use a Bonus Action to cast or control your mage hand.

Versatile Ward

6th-level Arcane feature
You gain the ability to magically dampen attacks against you.

When you are hit by an attack that you can see, you can use your Reaction to lessen its harm. The amount of damage reduced is equal to a roll of 1/2 your Sneak Attack dice (round down) plus your Intelligence modifier.

Magical Ambush

6th-level Arcane feature

If you are hidden from a creature when you cast a spell on it, the creature has Disadvantage on any saving throw it makes against the spell this turn.

Hide in Plain Sight

9th-level Arcane feature
You gain the ability to disappear and reappear at-will.

You can take a Magic Action to become invisible until you move or take an Action or a Reaction. This includes controlling your mage hand.

Quickblade

13th-level Arcane feature

Whenever you take the Cast a Spell action to cast a spell of 1st level or higher, you can take the Attack action as a Bonus Action that turn. Additionally, the next attack you make on your turn after casting a spell of 1st level or higher gains Advantage.

Spell Thief

17th-level Arcane feature
You gain the ability to magically steal the knowledge of how to cast a spell from another spellcaster.

Immediately after a creature casts a spell that targets you or includes you in its area of effect, you can use your Reaction to force the creature to make a saving throw with its spellcasting ability modifier. The DC equals your spell save DC. On a failed save, you negate the spell’s effect against you, and you steal the knowledge of the spell if it is at least 1st level and of a level you can cast (it doesn’t need to be a wizard spell). For the next 8 hours, you know the spell and can cast it using your spell slots. The creature can’t cast that spell until the 8 hours have passed.

• Once you do so, you cannot do so again.
• Recharge: Finish a Long Rest.

Infiltrator's Guild

Remote Coms

3rd-level Infiltrator feature
You gain the ability to send and receive messages over great distances.

You can designate a willing creature within 5 feet to be the recipient of your communication. When you or the designated creature speaks, they can choose to transmit what is said to the other creature. These transmitted messages are heard as a whisper that only they can hear.

You can choose to speak in such a way for a number of hours equal to your proficiency bonus, so long as you are both within 1 mile of each other. After such time, the connection fades and a new connection must be established.

You can flavor this feature however you choose. This may take the form of walkie-talkies, sending stones, or as a psychic link.

Ambush Master

6th-level Infiltrator feature

You have Advantage on initiative rolls, and Advantage on attacks against targets that have not had a turn yet this combat. The first creature you hit during the first round of combat becomes easier for you and others to strike; attack rolls against that target gain Advantage until the start of your next turn.

Decoy

6th-level Infiltrator feature

If your probe is within 5 feet of you, you can use your Reaction when targeted by an attack. The attack targets the probe instead.

Additionally, your probes gain the ability to avoid certain area effects, such as an ancient red dragon’s fiery breath or an ice storm spell. Your probes gain Advantage on Dexterity saving throws. And, when it is subjected to an effect that allows it to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, it instead takes no damage if it succeeds on the saving throw.

Ghost Sight

9th-level Infiltrator feature

While using your probe's senses, you can activate the probe's special Ghost Sight for 1 minute. The probe's Ghost Sight allows the probe to see through solid objects to a range of 30 feet. During that time, the probe sees objects as ghostly, transparent images.

Once a probe uses this sense, it can't use it again.

The Drop

13th-level Infiltrator feature
You are at your deadliest when you get the drop on your enemies.

After rolling for initiative, the first weapon hit you score against a creature that hasn't taken a turn yet this combat becomes a critical hit.

Improvised Explosives

17th-level Infiltrator feature
You can rig your probes to self-destruct.

As an Action, you can cause your probe to detonate. Your probe is reduced to 0 hitpoints and all creatures in a 15 foot radius of the probe must make a Dexterity save. The DC equals 8 + your Intelligence modifier + your proficiency bonus. They take 10d10 bludgeoning damage on a failure, or half as much on a success. Objects take 100 damage instead.

Emergency Action

6th-level Medic feature

When an ally you can see or hear is reduced to 0 hit points and falls unconscious, you can use your Reaction to move up to your speed without provoking opportunity attacks. You must end this move closer to your ally than you started.

If you end this move within 5 feet of your ally and 5 feet of the creature that reduced them 0 hit points, you can make 1 special attack targeting the creature that reduced your ally to 0 hit points as part of this Reaction. This special attack can gain the benefit of your Sneak Attack.

Medic's Resolve

6th-level Medic feature

If you are below 1/2 of your maximum hit points, you may gain temporary hit points equal to 1d10 + twice your Rogue level (no action required). These last for a maximum of 1 minute, and you must finish a long rest before gaining these temporary hit points again.

Also, your speed isn't halved when you are dragging or carrying an unconscious creature who is the same size as you or smaller.

Forensic Examination

9th-level Medic feature

If you spend at least 1 minute investigating a creature's corpse outside of combat, you can learn certain information about its demise, provided the creature died within the last year. The DM tells you any of the following information, where appropriate:

• Whether the creature was surprised, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to fight back.
• The method of its demise if you know it, such as the type of weapon, poison, or spell. If the attack was made by natural weapons, you learn the attacking creature's type.
• How long ago the creature died.
• Roughly how old the creature was when it died.

Improved Patches

13th-level Medic feature

When you apply a patch to a creature, you can also apply one of the following effects:

• You can reduce the target's exhaustion level by one.
• You can end one effect reducing the target's hit point maximum or ability scores.
• You can end either one disease or one condition afflicting the target. The condition can be Blinded, Deafened, Paralyzed, Poisoned, or Stunned.

Resuscitation

17th-level Medic feature

You can revive a creature with 1 minute of work on the corpse of the creature that died within the past hour. The creature then returns to life, regaining a number of hit points equal to 4d10 + your Wisdom modifier. If the creature died while subject to any of the following conditions, it revives with them removed: blinded, deafened, paralyzed, poisoned, and stunned. This feature can't return to life a creature that has died of old age, nor can it restore any missing body parts.

• Once you do so, you cannot do so again.
• Recharge: Finish a Long Rest.

Overseer's Guild

Overseer's Calls

6th-level Overseer feature
Your sense for the flow of combat lets you predict what’s coming and alert your coconspirators.

You gain the following tactical calls. Once you use your calls a combined number of times equal to your Intelligence modifier (minimum of once) you cannot use this feature again until you finish a short or long rest.

To issue a call, you must use your bonus action, and the target must be able to hear or see you.

Maneuvering. The target can use its Reaction to move up 20 feet without provoking opportunity attacks.

Defensive. The target can use its Reaction to take the Dodge action.

Targeting. The target can use its Reaction to make one attack against a creature you designate within 5 feet of it.

Stack the Odds

6th-level Overseer feature

You gain the following Cunning Strike options which don't count against your number known, and you may use your known Cunning Strikes 1 additional time between rests.

Read their Gaze (Cost: 1d6). Roll a d6. Until the start of your next turn, you gain a bonus to your AC equal to the number rolled.

Invigorate. Choose a creature you can see within 30 feet of yourself. Until the end of that creature’s next turn, whenever it makes an attack roll or a saving throw, it can roll a d6 and add the number rolled to the attack roll or saving throw.

Here's the Plan

9th-level Overseer feature

Within 1 hour after discussing a plan with friendly creatures, those creatures gain a bonus to their skill checks in accordance with the discussed plan equal to your Intelligence modifier.

Line 'em Up

13th-level Overseer feature

After rolling initiative and are not surprised, you can choose one friendly creature within 60 feet of you that can hear or see you. The chosen creature can add your Proficiency bonus to it's initiative score.

Knock 'em Down

17th-level Overseer feature
Your calls bring out the best in your cohorts.

When an ally is targeted by one of your Overseer's Calls, your Called Shots, or your Line 'Em Up features, their next attack within 1 minute gains an additional 3d6 damage on hit.

Ruffian's Guild

Goon

3rd-level Ruffian feature

You gain proficiency with medium armor and you gain Expertise in Athletics or Acrobatics. Additionally, your Sneak Attack gains the following modifications (All the other rules for Sneak Attack still apply to you):

• You don’t need Advantage on the attack roll to use your Sneak Attack against a creature if you are within 5 feet of it, no other creatures are within 5 feet of you, and you don’t have Disadvantage on the attack roll.
• You can use your Sneak Attack even if the weapon does not have the Finesse property, so long as it does not have the Heavy or Special property.

Gang-Up

6th-level Ruffian feature

When you are within 5 feet of a creature, allies within 5 feet of that creature gain Advantage on their first melee attack roll against the creature each turn.

Brute

6th-level Ruffian feature

Your maximum hit points increase by 6, and increases by 1 again whenever you gain a level in this class. Additionally, you gain a the following Cunning Strike which doesn't count against the number you know.

Goad. After hitting a target within 5 feet of you, it must make a Wisdom save. Fail: They are Baited by you.

Thug

9th-level Ruffian feature
You can make a target disappear, even one in public view.

You gain Advantage on grapple attempts against any creature that hasn’t taken a turn in the combat yet, or that was unaware of you.

Additionally, having a target grappled that is of your size or smaller does not slow your movement. While you have a target grappled, you can use your Bonus Action with a second free hand to mute them. They are muted until the start of your next turn, so long as they are grappled by you. While muted, it can't speak more than a muffled sound or provide verbal components.

Body Block

13th-level Ruffian feature

When you are targeted by an attack while a creature within 5 feet of you is granting you cover against that attack, you can use your Reaction to have the attack target that creature instead of you.

Opportunist

17th-level Ruffian feature

You gain a special Reaction that you can take once between turns in addition to your normal Reaction. You use this Reaction when a creature within 5-feet of you is hit by an attack from a creature other than you, you can make one attack against the hit creature.

Scout's Guild

Navigate Any Sundry Terrain

The Scout's Guild tend to find their skillset more at home in the wilderness and among barbarians and rangers, and many Scouts serve as the eyes and ears of war bands or as watchmen for a neighboring village. With their homebase outside the city walls, the Guide is commonly hired as leaders and guides, or as mercenaries called upon to protect the order. The Guide prides themselves with their knowledge and skillset of stealth, hunting, and survival in even the harshest of landscapes.

At your option, you can pick from or roll on the Scout Quirks table to create a quirk for your character.

Scout Quirks

d4	Quirk
1	You leave cairns where ever you travel, acting as your bread crumb trail back home.
2	You're an avid bird watcher, and keep a journal of the birds you've seen and where you found them.
3	You're a true skeptic, automatically assuming the worst in people when you first meet them.
4	You like to talk to and even keep pet animals, even though you know they can't understand you.

Nature's Guide

3rd-level Scout feature

You gain proficiency in the Nature and Survival skills if you don’t already have it. Whenever you and your group make a group Dexterity(Stealth) or Wisdom(Survival) skill check, your success can negate one ally's failure in addition to the check success.

Survivalist

3rd-level Scout feature
You have the knack needed to survive the harshest of wilderness terrains.

• You have Advantage on checks and saving throws to avoid the harmful effects of extreme terrain or weather.
• Dim light does not impose Disadvantage on your Wisdom(Perception) checks.
• You can hold your breath for twice your normal duration.
• You gain a climb or swim speed equal to your speed.

Skirmisher

3rd-level Scout feature
You are difficult to pin down during a fight, and strike with improved precision.

Side Step. As a Reaction when an enemy within 5 feet of you makes an attack against you, you can impose Disadvantage on their attack, and after the attack, move up to 15 feet without provoking an attack of opportunity from the attacking creature.

Better Aim. Your Steady Aim gains one extra use.

Bushwhack

6th-level Scout Feature

So long as your are not surprised, on your first turn in combat, your speed increases by 10 feet and you don't provoke attacks of opportunity.

In addition, on each of your turns in combat you can expend a use of your Steady Aim to make a second attack when you take the Attack action on your turn.

Stealth Strike

6th-level Scout Feature

You gain the following Cunning Strike option that doesn't count against your number known.

Stealth Attack. If you are hidden when making this attack, this attack doesn’t reveal you if you end your turn behind Three-Quarters Cover or Total Cover.

Attenuated Sense

9th-level Scout feature

As an Action, you can open yourself to sense the earth around you. Until you move or take another action, you gain Tremorsense out to a range of 90 feet.

With tremorsense, you can detect and pinpoint the origin of vibrations, provided that you and the source of the vibrations are in contact with the same ground or substance. Tremorsense can't be used to detect flying or incorporeal creatures.

• Once you do so, you cannot do so again.
• Recharge: Finish a Short or Long Rest.

Level Headed

13th-level Scout feature
You know how to keep a level head, and can inspire others to keep calm when facing the unknown.

You gain Advantage on saving throws to resist being charmed, frightened, or incapacitated.

Additionally, you can help another shrug off a mind altering effect. If another creature within 30 feet of you that can hear or see you is charmed or frightened by an effect that allows it to roll a saving throw at the end of its turn to end the effect, you can use your Bonus Action to allow that creature to immediately make that saving throw using their Reaction.

Twin Takedown

17th-level Scout feature
The legendary rogue strikes twice as hard and twice as fast.

Perfected Aim. Your Steady Aim gains an additional use between rests (for a total of 2 extra uses).

Sudden Strike. The second attack made as part of your Bushwhack feature can benefit from your Sneak Attack even if you have already used it this turn, but you can’t use your Sneak Attack against the same target more than once in a turn.

Thieves' Guild

Fast Hands

3rd-level Thief feature

You gain a second Bonus Action on each of your turns.

Swift Approach

6th-level Thief feature
You can make the most of a hidden position, striking targets when they're flat footed.

Anytime you start your turn hidden from a creature, you gain Advantage on your first attack roll against that creature this turn.

Adrenaline Rush

6th-level Thief feature

Each time you use a Cunning Strike you gain temporary hit points equal to 1d10 + your Constitution modifier(minimum of 1). These temporary hit points last a maximum of 1 minute.

Superior Mobility

9th-level Thief feature
You gain an immaculate deftness in your stride.

Your speed increases by 10 feet. If you have a climbing or swimming speed, this increase applies to that speed as well. Additionally, squeezing through a space no longer requires spending extra movement.

Use Magic Device

13th-level Thief feature
You have learned enough about the workings of magic that you can improvise the use of items even when they are not intended for you.

The following apply to you when you use a magic item.

• Usage. You ignore all class, race, and level requirements on the use of magic items.
• Charges. Whenever you use a magic item property that expends charges, roll a d6. On a roll of 6, you use the property without expending the charges.
• Attunement. You can attune to up to four magic items at a time, rather than three.

Impossible Striker

17th-level Thief feature
Your attacks are swift beyond comprehension, such that you can always find an opening.

Once, on each of your turns, if you miss with a weapon attack roll on your turn, you can reroll it.

Moreover, you no longer need to satisfy the requirement needing Advantage or Ally Adjacent to Target for you to apply your Sneak Attack damage. However, your attack must still use a finesse or a ranged weapon.

Cunning Strikes

The following Cunning Strikes are available to you. The Cunning Strikes are presented in order of level prerequisite. A level prerequisite refers to your Rogue level.