I know, I know you’re thinking “but reckless attacks!” but listen carefully: you don’t have the hitpoints to tank. And unless you push barbarian to three levels and take Totem Warrior, you aren’t gonna get them. And attacking recklessly is great, but the rogue’s abilities–which focus on quick escapes and concealed attacks–don’t blend well with the barbarian’s up-front attack pattern. If you try to act rogue-like in battle, odds are you’ll lose your rage and at low barb levels you don’t have enough of them. Depending on your play style and subclass this can be worth it, but rogues have better things to do.

This multiclass is…fine. It’s just fine. Cleric spells are mostly actions, as are Channel Divinity options. Depending on the domain you choose this can be a reasonable multiclass (trickery, knowledge, or war being your best bets), but cleric spellcasting, like most casting, isn’t ideal for when you’re a weapon-y class; best to concentrate on a single buff or debuff spell and lean heavier on the domain features and heal as a triage maneuver when necessary.

Like clerics, this multiclass is…fine. There’s nothing special about most of the sorcerer abilities that applies to you until third level, when you would gain metamagic. However, if you choose to take the Wild Magic origin, you get Tides of Chaos. And that equals advantage on an attack roll, if you so choose–and if you cast a spell using a sorcerer spell slot afterward, you might pay the price in Wild Magic Surge but you’ll also regain Tides of Chaos, letting you attack at advantage multiple times, potentially. If you make specific choices, this can be a great way to blend flavor with mechanics.

Warlocks are going to do right by you if you’re looking for a little something-something. Roleplay benefits come to you through your Otherworldly Patrons, while the Eldritch Invocations you choose bring combat or roleplay perks (tip: choose invocations that can be used at-will or are constant, such as Armor of Shadows or Eyes of the Rune Keeper). They won’t make your rogue significantly more powerful, but there are definite bonuses to this multiclass.

To be honest, if this was your goal you’d have been wise to take Arcane Trickster as your subclass. By now, you’ll have more spell slots than a first-level wizard with all the benefits of being a rogue. And multiclassing into wizard gets you more spell options than your limited rogue capacity, increases your cantrips, and higher-level spell slots. Wizard is a great multiclass for Arcane Tricksters, but it’s not practical for other rogue subclasses, so it loses points for being too specific.

If you’ve got the charisma for it, bard is a great option. Concentrate on a buff or debuff spell while you make your attacks and toss off the occasional bonus action Healing Word / Bardic Inspiration (being sure not to break stealth of course!) and this multiclass can come out in your favor! It’s tough because being sneaky usually relies on you not being loud and observable, but if you’re in the open making melee attacks, you can make the snap judgment of whether to heal or hide. Main difficulty here is that your best bard skills are going to come from bonus actions–so it can be a hard decision of what option to take.

You don’t get much at the early levels of fighter, but what you do get rocks! Select a fighting style (archery, dueling, defense, and two-weapon fighting will work best for a rogue’s existing abilities), get that delicious Second Wind to boost your HP in a crucial moment, and if you pursue second level, use that Action Surge to snag an additional attack.

Trust me, this is where it’s at. These might be complete opposite archetypes, but you just have to get yourself to second level for the fun to begin. When you hit on an attack, you can expend a spell slot to Divine Smite your enemy for 2d8 radiant, more at higher level spell slots–so if your arcane trickster has higher level slots, you can use those for more damage, while if you’re an assassin, hitting your enemy while they are surprised equals an insta-crit with sneak attack–so you’re rolling two extra dice if you use Divine Smite in this moment. It will play well with any rogue, but these two subclasses do it best. You’ll also get a fighting style and Lay on Hands for triage healing.

If you’re looking for more talents outside combat, consider this multiclass. At 11th rogue level, you get your Reliable Talent, and any ability check you are proficient in literally can’t roll less than 10. And rangers let you snag an extra skill just for being a ranger when you multiclass, and during Int and Wis checks related to your favored terrain, you double the proficiency bonus if you’re proficient in that skill. You also gain a new language! Choose your favored terrain wisely and suddenly you’re a master spy, speaking many languages and knowing everything about everything.*

*In my own campaign we use the UA revised ranger, which has even sweeter perks for a rogue multiclass such as advantage against creatures who have not yet acted in combat.