Choosing the right class in Baldur’s Gate 3 can significantly shape your adventure, offering a myriad of playstyles and abilities to explore. With 12 classes and 46 subclasses available, players are faced with a thrilling yet daunting decision that can influence combat strategies, spellcasting, and even dialogue options throughout the game. Whether you prefer the brute strength of a Barbarian, the cunning of a Rogue, or the mystical powers of a Sorcerer, understanding each class’s unique strengths and weaknesses is essential for crafting your ideal hero. Dive into our guide to discover which class best aligns with your gameplay style and embark on an unforgettable journey in the Forgotten Realms.
You’ll learn more about the individual classes on separate pages in our guide.
For new players
For new players, Baldur’s Gate 3 offers an expansive and intricate world that can be both exciting and overwhelming. As you embark on your adventure, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with the game’s mechanics, which are rooted in Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition rules. Start by choosing a class that aligns with your preferred playstyle, whether you enjoy melee combat, spellcasting, or stealth. Remember to explore the environment, utilize the unique abilities of your characters, and engage with NPCs to enhance your experience. Frequent saving is crucial, as the game does not autosave often, and taking advantage of the game’s tutorial features will help you grasp essential gameplay elements more effectively. Embrace the journey of character creation and party composition to craft a team that suits your strategy and preferences.
If Baldur’s Gate 3 is your first game in the series, you don’t have previous experience with old-school RPGs or Dungeons & Dragons, one of these classes could be a good fit for your first adventure in the Forgotten Realms:
Fighter
Master combatants. They’re proficient with nearly all weapons and armor, while their numerous Fighting Styles grant lots of freedom in how to build one: would you like to be a heavily-armored, maul-wielding tank? Or maybe a nimble, lightly-armored, agile hero wielding smaller weapons?
Their class abilities, such as Second Wind and Action Surge can tip the scales in dangerous situation.
The Eldritch Knight subclass also gives you a bit of spellcasting without the need to commit to a full-fledged caster class. It will come particularly useful if you’d like spells to be a mere useful addition to your build rather than its core and center.
You’ll learn more about the Fighter on a separate page of our guide.
Barbarian
The Barbarian is a choice suiting players who’d like to focus entirelyoncombat and wreaking havoc in enemy ranks.
Despite their limitations, such as inability to wear heavy armor and less flexibility than Fighters, Barbarians can still be tempting with their Rage and Reckless Attacks. Their subclasses, such as Berserker and Wildheart will also let you tailor a Barbarian to your playstyle.
You’ll learn more about the Barbarian on a separate page of our guide.
Paladin
Paladins work perfectly for players who’d like to combine melee combat with spellcasting. Their proficiency in heavy armor and many different weapons will let you tank hits for your allies and hit back twice as hard. Meanwhile, their wide range of supportive spells will let you help your teammates.
Paladins also have some very useful class abilities, like their iconic Divine Smite and many available Fighting Styles (similar to the Fighter’s).
They have four subclasses (Oaths) to choose from, all of which grant different exclusive abilities.
You’ll learn more about the Paladin on a separate page of our guide.
Melee combat
Melee combat in Baldur’s Gate 3 is a dynamic and engaging experience, allowing players to fully utilize the game’s diverse classes and subclasses. Characters like the Fighter and Barbarian excel in close-quarters combat, boasting high damage output and durability. Fighters can choose from various subclasses that enhance their martial abilities, while Barbarians tap into primal rage to unleash devastating attacks. The Monk class offers a unique approach with its unarmed strikes and agility, enabling swift movements and multiple attacks per turn. Each class brings its own flavor to melee combat, whether through brute strength, tactical maneuvers, or rapid strikes, making player choice critical in shaping combat strategies. The interplay of character abilities, weapon choices, and tactical positioning creates a rich melee combat system that is both strategic and satisfying.
All classes described above also work well for melee-preferring players. Though many classes can be built for melee, these three are perfectly suited to the role.
If you’re searching for a bit less orthodox path, here’s another one for you.
Cleric (Life/War Domain)
Although Clerics may seem like the party’s primary healersspending most of their time in the backline, this stereotype is not necessarily true. The Life and War Domain subclasses are a great example.
Proficiency in heavy armor lets these Clerics serve as great tanks. Though they won’t match Fighters or Barbarians in sheer brute force, their extremely wide roster of diverse spells is incredibly useful.
You’ll learn more about the Cleric on a separate page of our guide.
Ranged combat/stealth
Ranged combat and stealth in Baldur’s Gate 3 offer players a strategic advantage, allowing them to engage enemies from a distance while remaining hidden. Classes such as Rogues and Rangers excel in this playstyle, utilizing abilities like Sneak Attack to deal extra damage when attacking from stealth or when an ally is nearby. The key to effective ranged stealth attacks lies in maintaining a low profile; players can hide in shadows or use spells like Greater Invisibility to avoid detection. Positioning is crucial, as high ground can provide advantages, but players must also be aware of their surroundings to avoid being spotted. By combining stealth with ranged attacks, characters can initiate combat on their terms, often catching enemies off guard and gaining the upper hand.
If you prefer your characters to stay hidden or fight from a distance rather than overwhelm enemies with brute force, some of these options should be to your liking.
Fighter (ranged weapon)
As mentioned in the previous paragraphs, the Fighter’s flexibility makes it easy to create a fully ranged build. A properly trained archer will prove just as deadly as a sword-and-board wielding frontliner.
Ranger
Though the nature-focused Rangers don’t necessarily need to fight from a distance, their Fighting styles unlocked at Level 2 can lead to an extremely deadly ranged build.
A decently-sized roster of spells, class abilities and subclasses will help you further personalize your Ranger.
You’ll learn more about the Ranger on a separate page of our guide.
Rogue
The sneaky Rogue is an interesting choice for characters preferring a less direct approach. Their Sneak Attack ability grants additional damage against unsuspecting enemies, while Cunning Action proves very helpful when moving across the battlefield or disengaging enemies.
The subclasses available in Baldur’s Gate 3 will help you further personalize your Rogue, while their Expertise ability proves very useful outside of combat.
You’ll learn more about the Rogue on a separate page of our guide.
Support characters
Support characters in Baldur’s Gate 3 play a crucial role in enhancing the effectiveness of any party. They are not limited to just healing; their abilities encompass buffing allies, debuffing enemies, and providing essential crowd control. Characters like Shadowheart, a cleric, and Halsin, a druid, exemplify the support archetype by offering healing spells and utility that can turn the tide of battle. Additionally, having a strong support character can significantly ease the challenges presented by tougher encounters, especially on higher difficulty levels, making them indispensable for a well-rounded adventuring party. Selecting the right support class can enhance not only survivability but also the overall strategic options available during gameplay.
Physical strength or sneaky ranged attacks won’t make a successful party alone. Support characters are just as important and often even more so, keeping the frontliners safe and increasing their chances of success. If a support build sounds appealing to you, we’ve prepared some suggestions.
Bard
Bards are one of the most versatile classes in all of Forgotten Realms. Their wide range of abilities and skills proves extremely useful very often.
Their basic class ability, Bardic Inspiration, will help your other party members unleash their full potential. A vast, diverse roster of spells also opens up many possibilities for solving problems.
Their subclasses, Bard Colleges, will also determine what role the Bard will play in your party. Colleges of Lore and Valor increase your supportive capabilities even further, while the College of Swords will make you a very formidable frontline combatant.
We mustn’t forget their other class abilities, Jack of all Trades and Expertise, always invaluable out of combat.
We’ve discussed this class in more detail on a separate page of the guide.
Cleric
No team should ever leave town without a healer, and there is no better healer than the Cleric.
Their wide roster of healing spells will keep you alive during even the toughest battles. Their divine powers also manifest in other useful spells.
Additionally, as mentioned a bit further above, Clerics don’t necessarily need to be backliners, being extremely useful on the frontline when heavily armored.
Spellcasters
Spellcasters in Baldur’s Gate 3 offer a diverse range of magical abilities and playstyles, making them a compelling choice for players who enjoy strategic gameplay. The primary spellcasting classes include Wizard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Druid, and Cleric, each with unique strengths. Wizards are known for their versatility, possessing a vast array of spells that can be tailored to various situations. Sorcerers, on the other hand, harness innate magical powers and excel in raw damage output but have limited spell selection. Warlocks draw their magic from pacts with otherworldly entities, offering powerful cantrips and unique abilities. Druids blend nature magic with the ability to shapeshift into animals, providing both combat and utility options. Lastly, Clerics serve as divine spellcasters, capable of healing and supporting allies while wielding potent spells. Choosing the right spellcaster depends on your preferred playstyle, whether you seek versatility, damage, or support capabilities.
Choosing just a single spellcaster is no easy task. Due to numerous ways to build a spellcaster and the complex spell system, each spellcaster can play a different role in the party. Below we’ve listed two potentially intriguing classes.
Warlock
Spellcasters who have gained their powers by making a pact with a powerful entity. Warlocks are a good entry point to playing as spellcasters. Proficiency in light armor and simple weapons makes them more durable than Wizards and Sorcerers, while their wide range of offensive and utility spells, as well as access to Eldritch Invocations all prove useful in and out of combat.
Though initially they can seem problematic due to their small amount of spell slots, unlike all other spellcasters, Warlocks regain all their spell slots on short rests.
Wizard
An iconic class ecompassing those who study the arcane. Wizards have a massive roster of spells, making them the ultimate utility casters, capable of solving nearly all problems by cleverly using an appropriate spell. Their massive eight Magic Schools (subclasses) give you a lot of freedom when choosing your specialization.
Unfortunately, due to their weakness in direct combat and limited spell slots will make them struggle in the early game, requiring their companions to pick up the slack. Patience and perseverance are worth it, however, as they are immensely powerful later on.
You’ll learn more about this class on a separate page.
Multiclassing
Multiclassing in Baldur’s Gate 3 offers players a unique opportunity to enhance their character’s versatility by combining the abilities of multiple classes. This feature allows you to select a new class when your character levels up, enabling a hybrid build that can leverage the strengths of different classes for both combat and role-playing scenarios. Unlike traditional Dungeons & Dragons rules, Baldur’s Gate 3 removes prerequisites for multiclassing, allowing for greater customization from early levels. However, players should be mindful of the level cap of 12, as multiclassing can potentially delay access to high-level abilities and spells. The key to successful multiclassing lies in creating synergies between chosen classes to maximize effectiveness while mitigating weaknesses.
More determined players may also be interested in giving their character several classes at once. This opens up many different combinations, letting you heavily customize your character to your playstyle.
Remember though, that multiclassing can be a real challenge. Before going down this path, you should consider all pros and cons.
You’ll learn more about multiclassing on a separate page of our guide.
Which class offers the best balance between combat and exploration
For players seeking a class that strikes an optimal balance between combat prowess and exploration capabilities in Baldur’s Gate 3, the Paladin emerges as a standout choice. This class excels not only in melee combat, thanks to its heavy armor proficiency and diverse weapon options, but also offers valuable spellcasting abilities that enhance both combat effectiveness and utility in exploration scenarios. Paladins can heal allies, buff their party, and even engage in roleplaying opportunities through spells like “Speak with Animals,” which opens up additional interaction options.
Another strong contender is the Fighter, particularly the Eldritch Knight subclass, which combines martial skills with limited spellcasting. This allows for versatility in combat while also providing some utility for exploration without fully committing to a magic-focused class.
Lastly, the Ranger class offers a unique blend of combat skills and nature-themed spells, making it well-suited for players who enjoy exploration and tracking in wilderness settings. With access to spells that enhance mobility and survival, Rangers can navigate the game’s environments effectively while still holding their own in battle.
In summary, while each class has its strengths, the Paladin stands out for its comprehensive capabilities, making it an excellent choice for those wanting both combat effectiveness and exploration versatility.
Which class has the best utility for both combat and exploration
In Baldur’s Gate 3, the class that offers the best utility for both combat and exploration is the Ranger. Rangers are designed to thrive in exploration scenarios with abilities that enhance their survival skills, such as Natural Explorer, which allows them to move through difficult terrain without penalty, and Primeval Awareness, which aids in tracking creatures and understanding their surroundings.
In combat, Rangers maintain a solid balance with decent damage output and access to spells that can bolster their martial capabilities or provide healing and utility. Their proficiency in skills like Animal Handling and Perception further enhances their effectiveness outside of battle, making them versatile companions for any adventuring party.
While other classes like the Paladin also provide strong utility due to their combat effectiveness and dialogue options, Rangers excel specifically in exploration-related tasks while still being competent in combat, making them an excellent choice for players who want a well-rounded character capable of handling various challenges.
