Baldur’s Gate 3: Best Party Compositions and Team Strategies

Mastering team composition in Baldur’s Gate 3 is essential for navigating the treacherous landscapes of this immersive RPG. With a plethora of character classes and abilities at your disposal, assembling a balanced party can mean the difference between glorious victory and devastating defeat. Whether you’re strategizing for intense combat scenarios or engaging in intricate social encounters, understanding the unique strengths and roles of each class will empower you to tailor your team for any challenge. Dive into our guide for expert tips on creating a versatile and effective party that can tackle anything the Forgotten Realms throw your way.

When creating your team in Baldurs Gate 3, it is worth paying attention to several important issues in order to be prepared for any possible situation. You will certainly need an ability to inflict damage in direct contact and from a distance, have access to powerful spells that inflict damage to one and many targets at once, as well as utilize useful spells that heal, strengthen and place curses on opponents. Not unimportant will also be the non-combat skills of the characters, which can facilitate conversation checks or make it possible to get certain items.

General tips

When forming a team in Baldur’s Gate 3, it’s essential to create a balanced composition that covers various roles and maximizes your party’s effectiveness. A recommended approach is to include two martial classes—such as a Fighter or Barbarian for frontline combat—and two spellcasting classes, like a Wizard or Cleric, to provide healing and magical support. This setup ensures that you have a tank to absorb damage, a damage dealer for offense, and a healer to maintain your party’s health during encounters. Additionally, consider the importance of utility roles; having a Rogue can enhance your team’s capabilities in stealth and trap disarming. Ultimately, flexibility and synergy among your characters will enhance both combat effectiveness and exploration opportunities throughout the game.

Before you start creating a team in Baldurs Gate 3, it is worth knowing some useful tips that will greatly facilitate this process.

1. Different sources of damage: when creating your main character and recruiting companions to your team, make sure they are able to inflict damage of various types: piercing, slashing, magical. Some opponents who are more armored will be much more resistant to physical damage, but they may be susceptible to magic damage;
2. Melee combat: sometimes it is worth having a strong character in heavy armor (Fighter) in the team, who will be able to tie several enemies at once so that the rest of the team can begin to eliminate individual targets one by one;
3. Ranged combat: Rangers are extremely effective in ranged combat. Sometimes they can finish off a target before it manages to get close. Unfortunately, in Baldurs Gate 3 Early Access you will not find a recruitable Ranger, so you need to create such a hero yourself. If you do not want to do this, it is worth making sure that some members of your team have long-range weapons as auxiliary weapons (Rogues, Fighters);
4. Area of effect damage: some character classes, such as Wizards, can deal area of effect damage, but keep in mind that in Baldurs Gate 3, all offensive spells can also damage your allies. In the case of Wizard, the Conjuration School subclass can help, but with other characters, you need to pay attention to this;
5. Healing and buffs: each team will definitely benefit from having a Cleric who not only can effectively keep the whole team alive, but can also remove negative effects from them, assign certain bonuses (for defensive and attack rolls), and even resurrect a downed team member from a long distance;
6. Sneaking: having at least one sneaking character in your team will be very useful when you want to surprise the enemy, steal something or just slip safely right under the nose of an inattentive opponent;
7. Skills: it is worth trying to ensure that in your team there is at least one character with skills that facilitate dialogues with encountered creatures: Persuasion (Charisma), Deception (Charisma), Insight (Wisdom). Don’t forget about Perception (Wisdom), as well as Investigation (Intelligence);
8. Statuses: during combat, you can put negative statuses on your opponents, which will, for example, reduce their movement speed, knock them to the ground or put them to sleep, thus excluding them from the fight. Character classes with useful spells and control curses are Wizard, Cleric, and Warlock.

Exemplary team compositions

Exemplary team compositions in Baldur’s Gate 3 focus on balancing roles to maximize effectiveness in combat and exploration. A well-rounded party typically includes a tank, such as a Fighter or Paladin, to absorb damage; a healer, like a Cleric or Druid, to maintain party health; a damage dealer, such as a Wizard or Sorcerer, for powerful spells; and a Rogue for stealth and utility. For example, a classic composition might consist of a Battle Master Fighter, an Evocation Wizard, a Life Cleric, and a Thief Rogue. This setup ensures coverage of essential roles—damage output, healing, crowd control, and lock-picking—allowing players to adapt to various challenges throughout the game while enhancing their overall gameplay experience.

Baldurs Gate 3 is still in early access for the moment and that is why we are offering team compositions based on independent characters that you can join your team as you progress through Act 1. The lineup of the team will depend on the choice of the main character.

Comprehensive characteristics and ready-made builds for each character class available in Baldurs Gate 3 can be found on separate pages of this guide.

Ranger is main character

The first proposed line-up involves a main hero that is a Ranger – as a reminder, you won’t find a Ranger companion in the Early Access of Baldur’s Gate 3.

1. Ranger (Hunter specialization): hunters are skilled in ranged weapons, so they can inflict huge damage from long range-especially when using long bows. When you give your character a second set of weapons, for example, two single-handed weapons (preferably short swords), the character will also be able to perform an attack that finishes the target next to him.
2. Astarion (Thief specialization): it seems that a Rogue with Thief specialization is the strongest of the available classes so far. Not only can he perform powerful sneak attacks and ranged attacks, use the ability to dash, which doubles the speed of movement of this hero, and in some cases, he can also perform two additional actions during one turn. This means that you can perform a sneak attack, and then finish the enemy off with a double attack (an additional action when the character wields two single-handed weapons). Astarion also has a whole range of useful skills: Stealth, Fast Hands, Perception, Persuasion and Intimidation;
3. Gale (Conjuration specialization): the main source of magic damage for your team. Magicians have access to the largest number of spells, and in addition, they can learn new spells from scrolls, so their possibilities are almost unlimited. Thanks to the Conjuration subclass, allied creatures automatically succeed in defensive rolls and take no damage from his spells. What’s more, Gale has a proficiency in Insight, Investigation, and History;
4. Shadowheart: unfortunately, you cannot choose your own specialization for this character because he already has one. Nevertheless, Shadowheart offers a lot of healing, reinforcing, and control spells, as well as has points toward Insight and sneaking – he will be a welcome addition to any team.

Cleric is main character

In the case of the second proposed team composition, we have a Cleric with Light Domain as the main character. Unfortunately, in the Early Access of Baldur’s Gate 3, the character of Shadowheart is not developed properly.

1. Cleric (Light Domain specialization): by developing your cleric in a somewhat unconventional way, you can obtain a supporting character capable of dealing a lot of damage from a distance. The main abilities of such a cleric should be Wisdom (responsible for casting spells) and Dexterity (responsible for the character’s defense and the ability to attack from a distance), and the main weapon should be a long bow. The domain of light provides the cleric with the extremely useful Faerie Fire spell, which can mark opponents and thus result in better attacking rolls. Moreover, Cleric has access to healing, reinforcing, and control spells – he is an invaluable companion to every team.
2. Astarion (Thief specialization): it seems that a Rogue with Thief specialization is the strongest of the available classes so far. Not only can he perform powerful sneak attacks and ranged attacks, use the ability to dash, which doubles the speed of movement of this hero, and in some cases, he can also perform two additional actions during one turn. This means that you can perform a sneak attack, and then finish the enemy off with a double attack (an additional action when the character wields two single-handed weapons). Astarion also has a whole range of useful skills: Stealth, Fast Hands, Perception, Persuasion and Intimidation;
3. Lae’zel (Battle Master specialization): since the main character of the player will be a cleric with healing abilities, it is worth having a team member that fights in melee range. By choosing the Battle Master subclass, Lae’zel will become a very valuable member of the team, who will always be at the heart of the battle. Lae’zel boasts several useful skills: Athletics, Acrobatics, Survival, as well as Intimidation;
4. Wyll: the only Warlock you’ll meet along the way, and he already has a chosen speciality (The Fiend), which in the Baldurs Gate 3 Early Access is probably the best choice. Warlocks can deal massive damage to a single target, but they are also capable of dealing area of effect damage and hurling powerful curses at opponents. Wyll is proficient in the following skills: Persuasion, Intimidation, History and Arcana.

What are the most common mistakes people make when building a team in Baldur’s Gate 3

When building a team in Baldur’s Gate 3, players often fall into several common pitfalls that can hinder their progress and effectiveness in combat. Here are the most prevalent mistakes:

1. Neglecting Class Roles: Many players overlook the importance of having a balanced team that covers various roles, such as damage dealers, healers, and support characters. A well-rounded party typically includes melee fighters, ranged attackers, and spellcasters to handle diverse combat scenarios effectively.
2. Ignoring Proficiencies: Assigning gear without considering a character’s proficiencies can lead to underperformance. For instance, equipping a character with armor they cannot wear will prevent them from casting spells or using their abilities effectively.
3. Overlooking Environmental Tactics: Players often fail to utilize the environment during encounters. Using high ground for ranged attacks or leveraging objects to block traps can provide significant advantages in battles.
4. Failing to Upgrade Gear: Not upgrading companions’ equipment can severely limit a party’s potential. Each character has unique strengths, and enhancing their gear is crucial for improving overall performance in combat.
5. Hoarding Resources: Some players tend to hoard inspiration points and other resources instead of using them strategically during encounters. This can prevent the party from benefiting from critical rerolls when needed most.
6. Not Resting Enough: Players often forget to take short and long rests, which are vital for replenishing spell slots and healing characters. The game encourages resting, and failing to do so can lead to exhausting encounters without recovery options.
7. Lack of Damage Variety: Teams that rely too heavily on one type of damage (e.g., physical or magical) can struggle against enemies resistant to that damage type. It’s important to have characters capable of inflicting different kinds of damage to ensure versatility in combat.

By avoiding these common mistakes, players can create more effective teams and enhance their experience in Baldur’s Gate 3.

How can I ensure my companions have the right gear for their roles

To ensure your companions in Baldur’s Gate 3 have the right gear for their roles, consider the following strategies:

1. Understand Proficiencies: Each companion has specific proficiencies that dictate what armor and weapons they can effectively use. Before equipping gear, check each character’s proficiency in their character sheet to avoid giving them items they cannot utilize properly. For example, some spellcasters may not be proficient in armor, which would hinder their spellcasting abilities if they wear it.
2. Loot Everything: Make it a habit to loot every container and check for gear after encounters. This practice will help you gather a diverse range of equipment that can be used or sold. Holding down the left alt key highlights lootable items nearby, making it easier to collect everything.
3. Upgrade Regularly: Don’t just focus on your main character; upgrade your companions’ gear as well. Better weapons and armor significantly enhance their effectiveness in combat, improving their Armor Class (AC) and damage output. Regularly assess and replace outdated equipment with better options as you progress through the game.
4. Equip Versatile Weapons: Ensure that each companion has a ranged weapon in addition to their primary melee weapon. This versatility allows them to adapt to different combat situations where they might not be able to engage in melee directly2.
5. Utilize Shields: If a character is proficient with shields, equip one to increase their AC without sacrificing other capabilities. Shields provide a significant defensive boost and can be easily integrated into a character’s loadout2.
6. Strategic Inventory Management: Organize your inventory by sorting items by type or weight to quickly find suitable gear for each companion. This efficiency can save time during critical moments when you need to equip characters before an encounter2.
7. Regularly Check Gear: After significant story events or battles, revisit your companions’ gear to ensure they are equipped with the best available items. This practice helps maintain optimal performance throughout your journey.

By following these guidelines, you can effectively equip your companions in Baldur’s Gate 3, enhancing their roles and ensuring your party is well-prepared for the challenges ahead.