Phantom Rogue Guide for Beginners: Mastering the Ghostly Trickster in D&D 5e

The Phantom Rogue is a haunting, death-touched trickster, specializing in stealing the knowledge of the dead, summoning spectral allies, and slipping between the material and ethereal planes. Introduced in Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything, this subclass is perfect for players who want to play a Rogue with eerie supernatural abilities, gaining powers from the souls of the departed.

Unlike other Rogues who rely purely on agility and deception, Phantoms blur the line between life and death, harvesting the wisdom of fallen creatures, summoning ghostly allies, and vanishing like a spirit, making them one of the most unique and flavorful Rogue subclasses in D&D 5e. If you love the idea of a spectral assassin who channels the dead to enhance their skills and combat prowess, this subclass is for you!

Why Play a Phantom Rogue?

Key Benefits

• Best Rogue for Harnessing the Dead’s Knowledge – Gain skills and abilities from spirits.
• Unmatched Utility in and out of Combat – Steal skills, deal necrotic damage, and summon ghostly allies.
• Strong Thematic Roleplaying Potential – A mysterious rogue touched by the afterlife.
• Incredible Survivability – Can become semi-ethereal, avoiding damage entirely.
• Great for Both Melee and Ranged Combat – Your spectral abilities enhance any fighting style.

Compared to other Rogues, Phantoms offer the most unique supernatural abilities, letting you interact with the dead, phase through reality, and enhance your skills with spectral knowledge.

Core Features

Key Mechanics and Abilities

Whispers of the Dead (Level 3)

• Whenever you finish a short or long rest, choose one skill or tool proficiency to gain.
• Example: Need to forge a document? Gain proficiency in forgery tools for the day!

Wails from the Grave (Level 3)

• Whenever you Sneak Attack, deal half the Sneak Attack damage as necrotic damage to another target within 30 feet.
• Increases to full Sneak Attack damage at level 17.
• Example: Strike an enemy, then unleash a spectral energy attack on another foe.

Tokens of the Departed (Level 9)

• When a creature dies within 30 feet of you, you can collect a soul trinket, granting:
  • Advantage on death saving throws and Constitution saves.
  • A free use of Wails from the Grave per long rest.
  • Speak with the dead once per trinket without consuming a spell slot.
• Example: Store a ghostly token and use it to interrogate spirits or boost your abilities.

Ghost Walk (Level 13)

• Once per long rest, become semi-ethereal for 10 minutes, gaining:
  • A flying speed of 10 feet.
  • The ability to move through creatures and objects.
• Example: Float through walls, become untouchable, and escape danger.

Death’s Friend (Level 17)

• Your Wails from the Grave deals full Sneak Attack damage instead of half.
• Regain soul trinkets when finishing a long rest.
• Example: Strike down two enemies at once with full Sneak Attack damage!

These abilities make Phantom Rogues deadly spectral assassins who draw power from the dead, enhancing both combat and exploration.

Suggested Ability Scores

• Primary: Dexterity – Improves attack rolls, AC, and Stealth.
• Secondary: Wisdom – Enhances Perception and ghostly insight.
• Tertiary: Constitution – Increases survivability.

Recommended Races

Since Phantoms rely on Dexterity, Wisdom, and their ghostly abilities, the best races include:

1. Shadar-Kai Elf – Thematically perfect, resistance to necrotic damage, and teleportation.
2. Reborn – Undead theme fits perfectly, plus advantage on death saves.
3. Dhampir – Dark vision, lifedrain, and eerie flavor match Phantom’s theme.
4. Kenku – Dexterity bonus and mimicry for ghostly whispers.
5. Tiefling (Feral or Zariel) – Boost to Dexterity and supernatural resistances.

Playing as a Phantom Rogue

Role in a Party

• Primary Infiltrator & Information Gatherer – Use spectral abilities to collect secrets.
• Deadly Combatant – Strike multiple foes at once using Wails from the Grave.
• Master of the Afterlife – Communicate with spirits and harness their knowledge.

Compared to other Rogues, Phantoms are the best at interacting with death, slipping through reality, and collecting supernatural abilities.

Tips for New Players

• Always collect soul trinkets – They enhance multiple abilities, so stock up when you can.
• Use Wails from the Grave tactically – Hit multiple enemies at once whenever possible.
• Don’t forget Ghost Walk – You can phase through walls and avoid damage!
• Speak with the Dead for Free Clues – Tokens of the Departed makes gathering information easy.

Gear and Dice Recommendations

Suggested Equipment

Weapons

• Rapier (Best for Melee Builds) – Maximizes Sneak Attack damage.
• Shortbow (For Ranged Builds) – Great for striking multiple enemies from afar.
• Dagger (For Close Combat & Throwing) – Silent, quick, and ghostly.

Armor

• Studded Leather Armor – Best AC without affecting Stealth.
• Cloak of Displacement – Gives enemies disadvantage on attacks against you.

Magic Items

• Ring of Evasion – Avoid deadly area spells and effects.
• Ghost-Touched Dagger – Allows your attacks to hit ethereal creatures.
• Amulet of the Planes – Boosts teleportation and spectral movement.

Dice Recommendations from Runic Dice

Enhance your stealthy rogue aesthetic with these thematic dice sets:

• Phantom’s Whisper Dice Set: For a black and silver combination symbolizing the spectral rogue, consider the Black and Silver Glitter Liquid Core Resin DND Dice Set. This set features a mesmerizing swirl of black and silver glitter suspended in a clear resin core, capturing the elusive nature of a phantom.

• Ethereal Stalker Dice Set: To embody haunting enemies with purple and blue tones, the Purple Gemstone Amethyst DND Dice Set is an excellent choice. Handcrafted from genuine amethyst, these dice showcase deep purple hues, reflecting the enigmatic presence of an ethereal stalker.

• Shadowborn Dice Set: For dark gray and white hues representing the balance between life and death, the Black Gemstone Eagle Eye DND Dice Set offers a sleek black appearance with intricate carvings, symbolizing the duality inherent in a shadowborn character.

Advanced Tips and Tricks

Optimization Strategies

Best Feats for a Phantom Rogue

1. Mobile – Increases movement speed and lets you slip past enemies.
2. Lucky – Reroll failed attacks or saves for extra survivability.
3. Shadow Touched – Gain Invisibility and an extra necrotic spell.
4. Resilient (Wisdom) – Boosts saving throws against mind-affecting spells.
5. Tough – Extra HP to help survive tough fights.

Best Multiclass Options

1. Rogue 5 / Warlock (Hexblade) 15 – The Shadow Hunter

   • Best for: Extra necrotic damage and ghostly powers.
   • Strategy: Use Hexblade’s Curse for extra crits and survivability.

2. Rogue 6 / Cleric (Grave) 14 – The Death Stalker

   • Best for: Enhancing death-themed abilities and critical damage.
   • Strategy: Use Grave Cleric’s Channel Divinity to maximize damage on weak enemies.

3. Rogue 10 / Wizard (School of Necromancy) 10 – The Phantom Mage

   • Best for: Blending spellcasting with spectral assassin techniques.
   • Strategy: Use Mage Hand Legerdemain and necrotic spells for ultimate infiltration.

The Phantom Rogue is one of the most supernatural, eerie, and tactical subclasses in D&D 5e, excelling at haunting enemies, gathering knowledge from the dead, and striking down foes with ghostly precision.