D&D 5E Do Assassins suck?

[auburn2]

I am looking at subclass options for my 2nd level half elf Rogue in a campaign I am playing. I was thinking Assasin but I keep reading how awful it is.

So far he is the gadget guy and face in the party, with a ton of proficiencies, and a 14 Charisma and 16 Dex. he only has a 10 constitution, so not a lot of hps. The party is a martial-heavy party with a Paladin, Ranger and Fighter.

My initial thought was an assasin and alert feat at 4th level. My only experience with Assassin is with a multiclass halfling Vengence Paladin/Assasin multiclass played by another player who had alert. She was awesome in combat. At 15th level (7 assasin/8 Paladin) she did the most damage in one turn I have ever seen done at my table in 5E as either a DM or a player.

I am certainly not doing Paladin or any other multiclass and I am starting to wonder how much of her awesomeness was Paladin and not Assassin.

I see myself being a primarily a ranged weapon attacker in combat with a lot of versatility out of combat. The two subclasses that are off the table are swashbuckler (that is kind of melee focused and I want to be ranged focused) and Arcane Trickster (I am playing an AT in a second campaign and don't want two of them).

This game will go to about 9th level so anything above that is irrelevant.

After reading the subclasses here are some thoughts on how I am leaning:
1. Assassin - Awesome first turn, especially with alert. Is it really as bad as people say?
2. Phantom - great versatility with another skill you can change every day. How does wails from the grave compare to Assasinate?
3. Soulknife - With psychic power and psychic blades this seems pretty boss, and the blades can be thrown.
4. Thief - Is fast hands better than assasinate?
5. Scout - This seems like a really cool subclass, but we have a Ranger in the party so ....
7. Mastermind, Inquisition - Meh don't seem to have much for me.

If I go assasin alert at 4th level is a no-brainer due to +5 intitiative. But if I go something else?

Thoughts, comments, advice and insults welcome

 

[Flamestrike]

You've complained in a another thread that you dont get sneak attack all that often (your DM sets encounters on open football fields and your melee PCs are never in melee etc).

Insightful Fighting from Inquisitive grants you a Bonus action Wisdom (Insight) check. If you succeed, you can use your Sneak Attack against that target even if you don't have advantage on the attack roll, for a whole minute.

That should help a ranged rogue.

 

[auburn2]

You've complained in a another thread that you dont get sneak attack all that often

I have never complained about any game I am playing. I get SA plenty, just not 95%

 

[Flamestrike]

I have never complained about any game I am playing. I get SA plenty, just not 95%

Go an inquisitor. Unless you're somehow at disadvantage to an attack roll. you're getting SA every single shot.

As for assassins', ask yourself how many times you're getting surprise vs your opposition, and how often you go first when you do.

That'll determine the mileage you get from the subclass.

 

[Zardnaar]

They don't suck but they're on the weak side of things.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

They are really designed for a social/intrigue style campaign. They aren't very good for traditional dungeon-bashing. If you want a rogue that can charge into battle and sneak attack every time play a swashbuckler. They aren't the most powerful rogue, but they are the easiest.

 

[TheSword]

The challenge I find with Assassin is that the players expect everyone to be surprised on the first turn of combat... open the door, leap in and surprise them.

Most DMs are very loath to give players surprise on every encounter. This limits the auto crit element which is obviously very powerful when combined with sneak attack.

 

[TheSword]

My favourite rogue archetype is Swashbuckler. Not having to worry about having a second person in combat is great.

 

[Zardnaar]

My favourite rogue archetype is Swashbuckler. Not having to worry about having a second person in combat is great.

Swashbuckler and Scout are the best rogues in terms of basic and effective. One can screw up the AT if you don't know how to use it.

 

[S'mon]

I am looking at subclass options for my 2nd level half elf Rogue in a campaign I am playing. I was thinking Assasin but I keep reading how awful it is.

So far he is the gadget guy and face in the party, with a ton of proficiencies, and a 14 Charisma and 16 Dex. he only has a 10 constitution, so not a lot of hps. The party is a martial-heavy party with a Paladin, Ranger and Fighter.

My initial thought was an assasin and alert feat at 4th level. My only experience with Assassin is with a multiclass halfling Vengence Paladin/Assasin multiclass played by another player who had alert. She was awesome in combat. At 15th level (7 assasin/8 Paladin) she did the most damage in one turn I have ever seen done at my table in 5E as either a DM or a player.

I am certainly not doing Paladin or any other multiclass and I am starting to wonder how much of her awesomeness was Paladin and not Assassin.

I see myself being a primarily a ranged weapon attacker in combat with a lot of versatility out of combat. The two subclasses that are off the table are swashbuckler (that is kind of melee focused and I want to be ranged focused) and Arcane Trickster (I am playing an AT in a second campaign and don't want two of them).

This game will go to about 9th level so anything above that is irrelevant.

After reading the subclasses here are some thoughts on how I am leaning:
1. Assassin - Awesome first turn, especially with alert. Is it really as bad as people say?
2. Phantom - great versatility with another skill you can change every day. How does wails from the grave compare to Assasinate?
3. Soulknife - With psychic power and psychic blades this seems pretty boss, and the blades can be thrown.
4. Thief - Is fast hands better than assasinate?
5. Scout - This seems like a really cool subclass, but we have a Ranger in the party so ....
7. Mastermind, Inquisition - Meh don't seem to have much for me.

If I go assasin alert at 4th level is a no-brainer due to +5 intitiative. But if I go something else?

Thoughts, comments, advice and insults welcome

Funny, until XGE came out ALL the Rogues I saw took Assassin at 3rd level. I think they're fine. Albeit the Thief is definitely underappreciated.

My son has a ridiculously powerful Barbarian/Assassin PC in my Primeval Thule game!

They definitely work best with a sneaky party who can get Surprise quite often. And yes the Alert feat is a big boost.