Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn Rogue classes like Thief and Bard have unique abilities. Learn about backstab multipliers, weapon proficiencies, and high-level skills.
Walkthrough
- 1The Thief's primary role is removing traps, opening locks, and scouting. Thieves deal greatly increased damage when attacking from behind and from stealth, with the multiplier maxing at x5 at level 13 (Assassin kit can achieve higher).
- 2The Bard is primarily a support character whose song boosts party offense and defense.
- 3All rogues start with two weapon proficiency points and gain an additional point at levels 4, 8, 12, and every four subsequent levels up to level 40, for a total of 12 proficiency points at level 40.
Tips
- Thieves can achieve a x5 backstab multiplier at level 13, with the Assassin kit offering higher multipliers.
- Rogues gain a weapon proficiency point at level 4 and every four levels thereafter.
Rogues in Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn have access to several high-level abilities that significantly enhance their capabilities. Shadowdancers have a separate selection of abilities and cannot take the Set Trap abilities.
High Level Abilities:
- Use Any Item: Allows the use of items regardless of class or alignment restrictions. This ability overrides class and alignment restrictions for item use, but does not override item flags tied to specific NPCs, meaning items like Jansen AdventureWear or Corthala Family Armor cannot be equipped. Weapons not usable by single-classed Thieves cannot be used for backstabbing, even with this ability.
- Scribe Scrolls: For each selection, the rogue can scribe a low-level scroll from a random list including Magic Missile, Invisibility, Dire Charm, Dispel Magic, Fireball, Haste, Monster Summoning II, Cone of Cold, and Monster Summoning III. This ability requires Use Any Item. By the time this ability is acquired, most of its spells are considered obsolete.
- Alchemy: For each selection, the rogue can brew a potion from a random list including Antidote, Extra Healing, Master Thievery, Oil of Speed, Perception, Regeneration, Superior Healing, and Frost Giant Strength (usable by rogues). This ability requires Use Any Item. The Potion of Frost Giant Strength is considered less useful due to the availability of UAI for drinking regular potions of giant strength or wearing a girdle of giant strength.
- Set Exploding Trap: Sets a trap dealing 10-60 fire damage in a wide area, with a chance to knock enemies down. Fire resistance blocks damage, but magic resistance does not.
- Set Spike Trap: Sets a trap dealing 20-120 damage to a single creature. Anticipating enemy spawn points allows for traps to end fights quickly.
- Set Time Trap: Stops time for one round for everyone except the Thief who set the trap, allowing for Assassination or Whirlwind attacks. Some immune enemies are unaffected.
- Assassination: Every attack in the next round is a backstab. This does not improve the Thief's THAC0 (Target Hit Armor Class 0) or 1 Attack Per Round (APR). This ability cannot be taken by a Swashbuckler.
- Avoid Death: Confers immunity to instant death, +5 to saves vs. Death, and +20 Hit Points for 5 rounds.
- Evasion: Confers +4 AC (Armor Class) and +2 to saves for 3 rounds.
- Improved Evasion: Confers +6 AC and +4 to saves, +2 to movement speed, and immunity to normal missiles for 5 rounds. The AC bonus can make a Swashbuckler nearly untouchable in melee.
Bard High Level Abilities:
- Enhanced Bard Song: Replaces the Bard's previous song, granting +4 THAC0 and damage, +4 AC, immunity to fear, stun, and confusion, +5% magic resistance, and immunity to normal weapons. The Bard gains +10 AC and +10% magic resistance. This is superior to the Skald's level 20 song but means the Jester loses the ability to debuff enemies.
- Magic Flute: Creates a magical instrument lasting one day, granting Resist Fear and Globe of U (incomplete effect description from source).
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