Title: Arcane Trickster (2024): Mage Hand Legerdemain, Sleight of Hand, Oil, and Stealing Sheathed Weapons

Hi everyone!

I'm playing a level 3 Arcane Trickster Rogue using the 2024 rules, and I have a few questions about how Mage Hand Legerdemain interacts with Sleight of Hand checks and item manipulation, particularly during combat.

The 2024 Mage Hand spell states:

"When you cast the spell, you can use the hand to manipulate an object, open an unlocked door or container, stow or retrieve an item from an open container, or pour the contents out of a vial."

Mage Hand Legerdemain also allows the Arcane Trickster to control the hand as a Bonus Action and make Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) checks through it.

I'm particularly interested in three situations:

1. Pouring Oil with Mage Hand

The Oil item allows a character to take the Utilize action to pour oil onto the ground, covering a 5-foot square within 5 feet of themselves.

Since Mage Hand explicitly allows the hand to "pour the contents out of a vial," would pouring oil onto the ground be a valid use of the spell?

My reasoning is that Mage Hand is performing exactly the physical manipulation described in the Oil item's rules.

If this is allowed, could the Arcane Trickster pour the oil using their Bonus Action to control Mage Hand?

Also, would the 5-foot placement restriction be measured from the caster or from the spectral hand?

I'm not suggesting that Mage Hand could throw an oil flask as an attack, only that it could pour the oil onto the ground.

2. Spreading Caltrops

Caltrops also require the Utilize action to spread them onto the ground.

Would Mage Hand's ability to "manipulate an object" allow it to spread caltrops and produce their normal mechanical effect?

Or is there an important rules distinction between manipulating objects and taking the Utilize action?

I recognize that the argument for caltrops may be weaker than for oil, since Mage Hand explicitly mentions pouring the contents of a vial.

3. Stealing a Sheathed Weapon During Combat

The 2024 Arcane Trickster's Mage Hand Legerdemain allows Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) checks through Mage Hand.

Could an Arcane Trickster use this ability to steal a weapon carried by an enemy but not currently held, such as a dagger or sword in its sheath?

For this question, I'm not assuming the enemy is unaware or distracted.

Imagine an enemy actively engaged in combat. The Arcane Trickster attempts to remove a sheathed dagger using Mage Hand. The enemy may notice the attempt and try to prevent it, but the Rogue might still succeed through superior manual dexterity.

I'm specifically distinguishing this from disarming an enemy who is actively holding a weapon.

Does the 2024 ruleset permit such an attempt using Sleight of Hand, potentially resolved by an ability check, or would it require a separate mechanic or DM adjudication?

And if this is a valid Sleight of Hand check, can the Arcane Trickster perform it through Mage Hand as a Bonus Action?