The Dread Pirate is a Prestige Class from Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 edition which combines rogue and bard-like class features. Though the Dread Pirate is in neither D&D 5e nor Baldur’s Gate 3, the mechanics allow for builds that recreate it pretty closely. This build focuses on the honorable Dread Pirate, but a short discussion of the dishonorable pirate is included.
Replicating Dread Pirate Class Features
- Two-Weapon Fighting: The College of Swords Bard provides proficiency with scimitars, which are proper pirating light weapons, and the Two-Weapon Fighting fighting style.
- Fearsome Reputation: Expertise in Persuasion covers this class feature easily. The Enhance Ability spell also make the Dread Pirate a highly effective party face.
- Rally the Crew: Barding Inspiration stands in for Rally the Crew, though Bardic Inspiration does not function as a group buff in 5e. Though the Faerie Fire spell is very different thematically from Rally the Crew, it does make the party better at attacking the enemies, so the Dread Pirate still has access to a means to fill that role. The Mantle of the Holy Warrior provides a secondary option to buff party damage instead of using Faerie Fire to provide advantage.
- Sneak Attack: The Dread Pirate is a Rogue, so it retains Sneak Attack. It’s just too bad 3.5 Sneak Attack was a lot better.
- Acrobatic Charge: The Boots of Persistence replicate the feature closely enough.
- Steady Stance: This feature cannot be replicated very well, but Expertise in Acrobatics helps somewhat.
- Luck of the Wind: Halfling Luck is even better than Luck of the Wind.
- Skill Mastery: Once again, Expertise in Acrobatics is the best we can do here. Reliable Talent would be even better, but it’s far too deep into Rogue to get. In a pinch, Enhance Ability can provide a similar boost, but the Dread Pirate is more likely using that spell for social interactions and thieving actions.
- Fight to the Death: Though quite different in function, the ring Til Death Do Us Part allows a once per long rest casting of Beacon of Hope, which is very similar in spirit.
- Pirate King: This feature isn’t replicable.
The Dishonorable Dread Pirate
- Fearsome Reputation: Instead of proficiency and Expertise in Persuasion, take Intimidation instead.
- Scourge of the Seas: The Fear spell fills this role. Combined with The Band of the Mystic Scoundrel, the Dread Pirate can even get a similar triggering condition.
- Motivate the Scum: The Dread Pirate could choose to be a College of Valour Bard instead of a College of Swords Bard so that he gains access to Combat Inspiration feature. Combat Inspiration adds and options damaging effect on top of the usual Bardic Inspiration effects, so it somewhat replicated Motivate the Scum. Note that College of Valour is almost strictly inferior to College of Swords, so the trade just to more closely imitate Motivate the Scum is certainly not worth it, mechanically speaking.
How the Dread Pirate deviates from the 3.5 prestige class
- The Dread Pirate is explicitly supposed to be a good jumper, and this build simply does not provide that since jumping in BG3 is determined in large part by Strength.
- The Dread Pirate is supposed to be lightly armored but enforcing that restriction unnecessarily hamstrings this build for no particularly good reason, besides which, there are several good medium armor items which actually assist with the execution of the concept.
- The Dread Pirate has no proper crew.
- There is not proficiency in water vehicles offered, so the Dread Pirate can’t actually sail. He must be the worst pirate you’ve ever heard of. But you have heard of him.
Why isn’t the Dread Pirate a Swashbuckler?
While the Swashbuckler is themed as a pirate Rogue, the Dread Pirate uses the Thief subclass because he is built around dual wielding and has many uses for his bonus actions. The Thief’s Fast Hands feature is simply too good to pass up, but the Swashbuckler is a reasonable replacement for players who prefer it.
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