Sneak Attack Smackdown...

[RigaMortus]

Wondering if there is any good class combination that would maximize the amount of damage one can do with Sneak Attacks. A level 20 Rogue would be able to do +10d6 Sneak Attack damage. However a Level 18 Rogue / 1 Assassin / 1 Guild Thief would be able to do +11d6 on their Sneak Attack (+9d6 from Rogue levels, +1d6 from Assassin, +1d6 from Guild Thief).

Is there any other "easily" accessible rogue-type classes that could increase this Sneak Attack damage w/o surpassing the level 20 threshold?

 

[Crothian]

You'd have to hit many of the alterante d20 sourcebooks, but I'm sure you could do it. THere are also feats that increase sneak attack dame to d8's, as well as other feats to take advantage of the sneak attack ability.

 

[Pbartender]

Now, doing maximizing Sneak Attack dice is great for a "short term" smack down.

But for the "long term", I'd go with an Arcane Trickster... True Strike + Impromptu Sneak Attack almost guarantees Sneak Attack Damage on demand.

Plus, depending on the spell you cast and your adversary, you may be able to double that SA damage, since the SA damage for a spell is of the same type as the spell... True Strike + Impromptu Sneak Attack + Ray of Frost vs. Red Dragon = A whole lot of hurt.

 

[James McMurray]

There's also a weapon in Relics and Rituals that increases your sneak attack damage dice to d10s I believe.

 

[Epametheus]

A 10/10 rogue/assassin can combine +10d6 sneak damage with Improved Invisibility and Non-detection. Sadly, a straight spell-caster of the same level can see him on a roll of 5 or higher with detection magic (dc 25 caster level check).

Anyone else who doesn't have a sneak immunity item (like a heavy fortification buckler) or some way to see the assassin is SOL, though. Expert tactician could result in 4 sneak attacks per round; Use Magic Device with a scroll of Divine Power and having improved two-weapon fighting could get it up to 7 sneak attacks per round. 8 if you're also hasted. Most people don't live through 80d6 + whatever damage (granted, not all attacks will hit, but still...).

 

[RigaMortus]

What is "Impromptu Sneak Attack"? What book can I find this in? Is this an Arcane Trickster thing?

 

[Pbartender]

What is "Impromptu Sneak Attack"? What book can I find this in? Is this an Arcane Trickster thing?

Arcane Triskster is a 10-level PrC from Tome & Blood. Because of the high prereqs, the quickest you can take it is at 9th level as a Rogue 4/Wizard 5. The PrC gives full spellcasting level progression (1 per level), and full Sneak Attack progression (+1d6 every other level).

One main special ability of the Arcane Trickster is "Ranged Legerdemain", which allows you to make a Open Lock, Disable Device or Pick Pocket check from up to 30' away (# of times/day depends on level). The other is "Impromptu Sneak Attack"... A certain # of times per day (again, dependant on level), the Arcane Trickster can simply declare any attack a Sneak Attack, and it is. Even if he would normally not get a Sneak Attack.

He could be standing alone, directly in front of his enemy, in the middle of an empty town square at high noon, and he could use Impromptu Sneak attack to make a Sneak Attack.

 

[Skullfyre]

I know that Traps and Treachery has a feat that increases the damage up a die to d8..
Do not forget the order of the bow...
I believe there are others....(not in front of books)

 

[Jeremy]

Rokugan Ninja can get the highest amount of sneak attack dice per round.

There are a couple different ways you can look at things. You can multiclass from class to class to prc to prc trying to make every level a level that grants +1d6 sneak attack damage. The most I've managed to wrangle in there is 14d6 at 20th level and there is no way any DM would let you play a character with that many classes.

Another way is to use Bayushi's Technique from the Rokugan Campaign Setting. It is a feat that can be taken up to 5 times that increases your sneak attack damage by 1d6. Maxing out this feat on a ninja 19 rogue 1 nets 16d6 sneak attack damage at 20th level and is much more logistically legal.

But the way to get the most sneak attack damage is to get the most attacks per round. So the best sneak attacker I've seen is a ninja 19/ranger 1 with improved two weapon fighting, greater two weapon fighting, expert tactician, power attack, cleave, and frenzied attack*. You have to be human to get this many feats, and it leaves no room for bayushi's technique to increase your sneak attack damage. But, with 4 attacks from base attack, 3 from greater two weapon fighting, 1 from expert tactician, 1 from frenzied attack, 1 from haste (ring/boots of speed), and hopefully 1 from cleave, you'll end up with 11 attacks at 10d6 sneak attack each.

*Frenzied attack is found in AEG's War sourcebook.

110d6 sneak attack is hard to top in one round. The 16d6 sneak attacker would need 7 attacks in a round to top that and he's too tapped out on feats to get that high.

Alternatively, the Fang of Lloth prestige class from Song and Silence presents an interesting idea. Once you gain enough levels in it to acquire 6 arms, Improved Multiweapon Fighting** will net you a minimum of 12 attacks. Add in expert tactician for 13 if you want combat reflexes as your prerequisite or frenzied attack if you want power attack, either will up it to 13. I doubt you'll be able to afford both. If somehow you managed to garner 15 base attack some how and still have 9 levels of the fang of lloth class you could take greater multiweapon fighting for a bare minimum of 18 attacks in a full round action. You won't have 10d6 sneak attack, but even 7d6 sneak attack will beat the 110d6 of the previous example if you can squeeze those feats in. 7d6 sneak attack at 18 attacks would be 126d6 btw. Add in 18 shortsword hits and it's 144d6, add in expert tactician, cleave, and frenzied attack and it's 150d6 per round. But I don't see anyway to do that without being epic level.

**Improved Multiweapon Fighting is in the Non-Epic level feats section of the Epic Level Handbook.