Ok so I am currently playing a High Elf Arcane Trickster. I am pretty soon going to reach level 4, and was wondering what is the best course of action. Vanir Miharian Point Buy: Str Dex Con Int Wis Cha 8 15 13 15 8 12 After Increases: Str Dex Con Int Wis Cha 8 17 13 16 8 12 (I know my scores are all over the place, but ths was my second ever character, so take it easy. I'm new) Took Arcane trickster. Current Options: ASI - Dex +2: Sets me up for Elven Accuracy (Int) or any other half-feat at level 8, and gets me Dex 20 and Int 16 by level 10/12 and another feat. The instant extra AC and dex skills bonus is nice. Probably going to take War Caster somewhere too, for Booming AoO ASI - Dex +1, Int +1: Gets my Dex to 18, and sets my int for a half-feat. Then I could take a +2 to dex later on. Elven Accuracy (Int): Gives me that sweet double advantage, and sets me up for an ASI at level 8. My AC will be lower than it might be for 4 levels. War Caster: Gives me some useful shenanigans, and a pretty good AoO options. Also makes my AC lag behind.
So there are my options. Im completley torn, but I am open for some more suggestions.
I decided Int because there are few half feats that give me int, so it will be always a wasted odd number. I will look into this though. EDIT: So i thought I might pick up shadow touched at some point to free up level 2 spell, so maybe take int from there? Not sure
Tasha's has introduced a number of half feats that are good enough to justify starting with odd values just to take them.
Ritual Caster (Wizard), although it doesn't add a +1, is a potential addition since ritual spells are often useful, and it fits the image of an adventurer who likes to dabble with magic.
Shadow Touched (Int) is a solid choice. The odd Int you get from it is fine because you can use a later ASI to get +1 Int and +1 Con to round both scores up.
Yeah that was my original plan with Elven Accuracy.
So: 1. Level 4: Elven Accuracy (Dex): Gets my dex to 18, and super advantage. So skill bonus increase and AC 16 (I have studded leather) 2. Level 8: Shadow Touched (Int): Gives me invisibility without taking up level 2 spells known. So I keep Shadow Blade, and at level 8 can get level 2 spells outside of my school limitations. Int now 17 3. Level 10: War Caster: Allows good shenanigans, and when my Booming Blade Cantrip damage increases next level, I will be able to do 5d8 damage on AoO with Shadow Blade (Out table allows this combo) 4. Level 12: ASI (Con +1, Int +1): Increases my con and health gained in the next levels to come, and increases the accuracy of my spells. Helpful increase. 5. Level 16: ASI (Dex +2): Maxes out my dex and AC, which is pretty good. 6. Level 19: ASI (Int +2): Finalizes my Int at 20, which will be good if I go for any save or suck level 3 spells. This might be a feat if I find something helpful. This is what I decided on, and is pretty good. If you would pick a feat at level 19, give me suggestions. Now a thread for spells...
One thing I might change from your plan is maybe take Mobile in place of Warcaster. You really want to be dashing in and out of melee to encourage the enemy to chase you to trigger secondary Booming Blade damage.
Yeah I might just do that.That also frees up my bonus action for versatile trickster or whatever. Also would work for the story of my character. WIll think about it
I was thinking with war caster was it would work like sentinel. I use the booming blade damage for 4d8 with shadow blade, and if they move they take an extra 3d8. So it would be interesting move. I am by far not the tank of our party, but would be a nice flavourful move
ASI - Dex +2: Sets me up for Elven Accuracy (Int) or any other half-feat at level 8, and gets me Dex 20 and Int 16 by level 10/12 and another feat. The instant extra AC and dex skills bonus is nice. Probably going to take War Caster somewhere too, for Booming AoO
I would not take +2 dex at level 4. With a 17, take EA now (with +1 dex) and the +2 later at level 8, putting it all in intelligence if you want an 18 there or dex for a 20.
I would not recommend warcaster on a Rogue. It would work, but you have to get in reach to use it. If you are in reach of most enemies they are going to attack you, especially if you are using BB on your action and then you lose the movement damage. A better option is to hit with booming blade then move, let them take the AOO on you and make them take the movement damage to get to you. If you can't afford to eat the reaction attack and force the movement damage then you can't afford to stay engaged since most enemies have multiattack.
ASI - Dex +1, Int +1: Gets my Dex to 18, and sets my int for a half-feat. Then I could take a +2 to dex later on. Elven Accuracy (Int): Gives me that sweet double advantage, and sets me up for an ASI at level 8. My AC will be lower than it might be for 4 levels. War Caster: Gives me some useful shenanigans, and a pretty good AoO options. Also makes my AC lag behind.
So there are my options. Im completley torn, but I am open for some more suggestions.
+1/+1 is a better idea at level 4 if you plan to take a feat you can't use on dexterity at level 8. If you are not going to take an intelligence half feat at level 8 though it does not make sense to boost int to 17 now. IF EA is your first feat take it now in Dexterity since the 17 intelligence will not be useful for the next 3 levels.
As far as intelligence boosting feats go, I love Fey Touched with Hex on an Arcane Trickste. With Hex you can usually come close to or beat shadowblade damage and do it with a lower level slot for a longer duration and at an earlier level. On top of that if you Hex wisdom it is easier for you to hide in combat and easier to use your mage hand to steal the enemy's gear in combat.
Finally another intelligence feat I would mention is Telekentic, the range boost it gives to mage hand legerdemain is awesome. As an AT your mage hand should be active in combat doing control things, pouring oil or stealing enemies gear. The boost to 60 feet is huge, especially since without this it goes away if you move more than 30 feet away from it. In combat the 30 foot limit actually can restrict the Rogues movement quite a bit and once you lose it, you probably do not want to use an action to cast it. Also if you have a Ranger or someone throwing down spike growth or something else the push can be very useful too.
What I would do:
I play a lot of Arcane Tricksters and my "default" is to start with a 16 Dex and 16 Intelligence and take Fey Touched and Telekenetic as my first two feats boosting Intel to 18. Since you are starting with a 17 Dex; I would get that to 18 first doing one of the following:
1. boost Dex to 18 and Int to 17 at level 4, splitting my ASI as you mention in the second option and then taking one of the two Feats I mentioned (FT, Telekenesis) at level 8 for 18 int. Finally an ASI for dex to 20 at level 10 and probably skill expert with constitution +1 at level 12.
OR
2. Take Elven Accuracy in Dexterity now, take Fey Touched at level 8, Telekenisis at level 10 and +2 dexterity at level 12
Either of these options get you to 20 Dex and 18 Int by level 12. The first gets you more hps, more skills and one more expertise and either Fey Touched or Telekenisis. The second gets you Fey Touched and Telekenisis and Elven accuracy.
I can see why youd pick fey touched, but for my character it would be more flavour full to get shadow touched. Thinking of taking disguise self to save up on spells known. I will go for option 2 with shadow touched though. I guess I will take mobile. Just wanted the chance of a cool booming blade AOO
I can see why youd pick fey touched, but for my character it would be more flavour full to get shadow touched. Thinking of taking disguise self to save up on spells known. I will go for option 2 with shadow touched though. I guess I will take mobile. Just wanted the chance of a cool booming blade AOO
Shadow touched is awesome feat for ATs too and disguise self is great especially if you have a good Charisma (like you do) and deception or persuasion proficiency.
Thde Last AT I played actually had both Invisibility and Disguise Self through race (she was a Glasya Tiefling) and she got a ton of mileage out of disguise self.
Ok so I am currently playing a High Elf Arcane Trickster. I am pretty soon going to reach level 4, and was wondering what is the best course of action.
Vanir Miharian
Point Buy:
Str Dex Con Int Wis Cha
8 15 13 15 8 12
After Increases:
Str Dex Con Int Wis Cha
8 17 13 16 8 12
(I know my scores are all over the place, but ths was my second ever character, so take it easy. I'm new)
Took Arcane trickster.
Current Options:
ASI - Dex +2: Sets me up for Elven Accuracy (Int) or any other half-feat at level 8, and gets me Dex 20 and Int 16 by level 10/12 and another feat. The instant extra AC and dex skills bonus is nice. Probably going to take War Caster somewhere too, for Booming AoO
ASI - Dex +1, Int +1: Gets my Dex to 18, and sets my int for a half-feat. Then I could take a +2 to dex later on.
Elven Accuracy (Int): Gives me that sweet double advantage, and sets me up for an ASI at level 8. My AC will be lower than it might be for 4 levels.
War Caster: Gives me some useful shenanigans, and a pretty good AoO options. Also makes my AC lag behind.
So there are my options. Im completley torn, but I am open for some more suggestions.
Why not Elven Accuracy (Dex) it sets you up with super advantage, increases your AC by 1, increases your hit and damage by 1.
I decided Int because there are few half feats that give me int, so it will be always a wasted odd number. I will look into this though.
EDIT:
So i thought I might pick up shadow touched at some point to free up level 2 spell, so maybe take int from there? Not sure
Oh never mind, this might actually work
Tasha's has introduced a number of half feats that are good enough to justify starting with odd values just to take them.
Ritual Caster (Wizard), although it doesn't add a +1, is a potential addition since ritual spells are often useful, and it fits the image of an adventurer who likes to dabble with magic.
Shadow Touched (Int) is a solid choice. The odd Int you get from it is fine because you can use a later ASI to get +1 Int and +1 Con to round both scores up.
Yeah that was my original plan with Elven Accuracy.
So:
1. Level 4: Elven Accuracy (Dex):
Gets my dex to 18, and super advantage. So skill bonus increase and AC 16 (I have studded leather)
2. Level 8: Shadow Touched (Int):
Gives me invisibility without taking up level 2 spells known. So I keep Shadow Blade, and at level 8 can get level 2 spells outside of my school limitations. Int now 17
3. Level 10: War Caster:
Allows good shenanigans, and when my Booming Blade Cantrip damage increases next level, I will be able to do 5d8 damage on AoO with Shadow Blade (Out table allows this combo)
4. Level 12: ASI (Con +1, Int +1):
Increases my con and health gained in the next levels to come, and increases the accuracy of my spells. Helpful increase.
5. Level 16: ASI (Dex +2):
Maxes out my dex and AC, which is pretty good.
6. Level 19: ASI (Int +2):
Finalizes my Int at 20, which will be good if I go for any save or suck level 3 spells. This might be a feat if I find something helpful.
This is what I decided on, and is pretty good. If you would pick a feat at level 19, give me suggestions. Now a thread for spells...
One thing I might change from your plan is maybe take Mobile in place of Warcaster. You really want to be dashing in and out of melee to encourage the enemy to chase you to trigger secondary Booming Blade damage.
Yeah I might just do that.That also frees up my bonus action for versatile trickster or whatever. Also would work for the story of my character. WIll think about it
I was thinking with war caster was it would work like sentinel. I use the booming blade damage for 4d8 with shadow blade, and if they move they take an extra 3d8. So it would be interesting move. I am by far not the tank of our party, but would be a nice flavourful move
I would not take +2 dex at level 4. With a 17, take EA now (with +1 dex) and the +2 later at level 8, putting it all in intelligence if you want an 18 there or dex for a 20.
I would not recommend warcaster on a Rogue. It would work, but you have to get in reach to use it. If you are in reach of most enemies they are going to attack you, especially if you are using BB on your action and then you lose the movement damage. A better option is to hit with booming blade then move, let them take the AOO on you and make them take the movement damage to get to you. If you can't afford to eat the reaction attack and force the movement damage then you can't afford to stay engaged since most enemies have multiattack.
+1/+1 is a better idea at level 4 if you plan to take a feat you can't use on dexterity at level 8. If you are not going to take an intelligence half feat at level 8 though it does not make sense to boost int to 17 now. IF EA is your first feat take it now in Dexterity since the 17 intelligence will not be useful for the next 3 levels.
As far as intelligence boosting feats go, I love Fey Touched with Hex on an Arcane Trickste. With Hex you can usually come close to or beat shadowblade damage and do it with a lower level slot for a longer duration and at an earlier level. On top of that if you Hex wisdom it is easier for you to hide in combat and easier to use your mage hand to steal the enemy's gear in combat.
Finally another intelligence feat I would mention is Telekentic, the range boost it gives to mage hand legerdemain is awesome. As an AT your mage hand should be active in combat doing control things, pouring oil or stealing enemies gear. The boost to 60 feet is huge, especially since without this it goes away if you move more than 30 feet away from it. In combat the 30 foot limit actually can restrict the Rogues movement quite a bit and once you lose it, you probably do not want to use an action to cast it. Also if you have a Ranger or someone throwing down spike growth or something else the push can be very useful too.
What I would do:
I play a lot of Arcane Tricksters and my "default" is to start with a 16 Dex and 16 Intelligence and take Fey Touched and Telekenetic as my first two feats boosting Intel to 18. Since you are starting with a 17 Dex; I would get that to 18 first doing one of the following:
1. boost Dex to 18 and Int to 17 at level 4, splitting my ASI as you mention in the second option and then taking one of the two Feats I mentioned (FT, Telekenesis) at level 8 for 18 int. Finally an ASI for dex to 20 at level 10 and probably skill expert with constitution +1 at level 12.
OR
2. Take Elven Accuracy in Dexterity now, take Fey Touched at level 8, Telekenisis at level 10 and +2 dexterity at level 12
Either of these options get you to 20 Dex and 18 Int by level 12. The first gets you more hps, more skills and one more expertise and either Fey Touched or Telekenisis. The second gets you Fey Touched and Telekenisis and Elven accuracy.
I can see why youd pick fey touched, but for my character it would be more flavour full to get shadow touched. Thinking of taking disguise self to save up on spells known. I will go for option 2 with shadow touched though. I guess I will take mobile. Just wanted the chance of a cool booming blade AOO
Shadow touched is awesome feat for ATs too and disguise self is great especially if you have a good Charisma (like you do) and deception or persuasion proficiency.
Thde Last AT I played actually had both Invisibility and Disguise Self through race (she was a Glasya Tiefling) and she got a ton of mileage out of disguise self.