Baldur's Gate 3 Infiltrates D&D 5e: The Scion of the Three Rogue is Here, and Oh Boy, My Inner Villain is HYPED
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
D&D 5e is getting a new Rogue subclass, the 'Scion of the Three,' a deliciously evil tie-in to Baldur's Gate 3 that has our digital wizard Jeff absolutely buzzing to embrace his inner villain. While clearly a nod to BG3's Dead Three and Astarion, this lore-rich addition promises chaotic fun and a fresh hook for TTRPG newcomers.
Alright, mates, gather 'round the digital campfire, because Wizards of the Coast just pulled a classic move – a blatant, utterly unsubtle crossover that has me grinning like a goblin who just found a shiny coin. As Deven McClure over at Polygon recently pointed out, fair dinkum, they're not wrong: D&D's latest Rogue subclass, the 'Scion of the Three,' is basically a love letter (or a very evil hate-mail letter, perhaps?) to Baldur's Gate 3.
If you thought your time with Bane, Bhaal, and Myrkul was over, think again, because these chaps are back, and they've brought an entire new flavour of villainy to your tabletop. Now, if you're thinking, "Bloody hell, WotC, are you even trying to hide this?" then you're not alone. The promo art alone screams 'BG3 fan service!' from the rooftops of Faerûn. But here's the kicker: as much as it feels like a transparent nudge-nudge, wink-wink to Larian's masterpiece, I'm absolutely buzzing to dive into it anyway.
Coming this November in the player-centric *Heroes of Faerûn* (part of the new Forgotten Realms books), this subclass is arguably the nastiest of the lot. And by nasty, I mean deliciously evil. Technically, you don't *have* to be a moustache-twirling villain, as a D&D Beyond post mentions some scions are "cursed into service." But let's be real, with powers revolving around bloodlust, fear-mongering, and general bad vibes, you're practically *begging* to join the Dark Side. (And honestly, who isn't up for a bit of organised chaos?)
We got a sneak peek during the Unearthed Arcana playtest, so we've got an idea of the wicked goodies coming our way. At level three, you get 'Bloodthirst' – extra damage to bloodied enemies and a cheeky teleport as a reaction when one drops to zero hit points. Imagine popping out of thin air after your foe's last gasp – pure theatre! Then there's 'Dread Alliance,' where you literally pick one of the Dead Three each long rest. Bane for Psychic Resistance and Minor Illusion? Bhaal for Poison Resistance and Blade Ward? Myrkul for Necrotic Resistance and Chill Touch? It's like a daily dose of divine malevolence, tailored to your mood.
Things get progressively more diabolical as you level up. Level nine brings 'Strike Fear' – a new Cunning Strike option called 'Terrify' that basically turns your enemies into quivering puddles. 'Aura of Malevolence' at level 13? Oh, that's just a constant emanate-bad-energy-and-damage-everyone-around-you party trick that *ignores resistance*. Talk about being a walking bad mood. And for the grand finale at level 17, 'Dread Incarnate' grants 'Battle Tyrant' and 'Murderous Intent,' making you an absolute terror against frightened foes and boosting those glorious Sneak Attacks. Seriously, even the classic Assassin Rogue seems like a nice guy next to this. They're doing it for money; Scions of the Three are doing it for the *soul*.
Now, let's circle back to the elephant in the room – or perhaps the fanged, charismatic elf in the room: Astarion. This whole subclass practically screams 'build your own Astarion!' right down to the 'Forgotten Realms Ultimate Bundle' even including 'Astarion’s Book of Hungers,' shared by the man himself. Subtle as a brick to the face, these wizards are! But as Deven McClure pointed out, who cares if it's shameless? If it's done *well*, it's brilliant. And this, mate, feels like it's done well.
After the success of the Astarion Magic the Gathering collection, it's no shocker that Wizards of the Coast is leaning into what works. The people want more Baldur's Gate 3, and WotC is delivering it in spades, wrapped in a sinister bow. It's a clever way to bridge the gap, too. TTRPGs can be a bit daunting for newcomers, right? But giving BG3 fans a direct path to create a character steeped in lore they already love – the Dead Three, the very essence of Baldur's Gate – could be the perfect hook. It makes jumping into a D&D campaign feel less like diving into a cold ocean and more like stepping into a familiar, albeit deliciously evil, bath.
I've never properly played an evil character in D&D, always leaning into chaotic good or lawful neutral (boring, I know!). But the 'Scion of the Three' has me genuinely reconsidering my life choices. The idea of daily tapping into divine evil, or just radiating pure malice that hurts everyone around me? Honestly, that's not just evil, that's *hilarious*. So yeah, call it a shameless tie-in. Call it a blatant cash grab. I'll be over here, cackling in character, ready to unleash some frightful fun. Sometimes, leaning into the chaos just makes the game better, eh?
*Original article by Deven McClure for Polygon, published October 29, 2025.*
Tags: Dungeons & Dragons, Baldur's Gate 3, TTRPG, Gaming News, RPG
Original article: Polygon