In Baldur’s Gate 3, character creation is not just a preliminary step; it’s a gateway to crafting your unique narrative in a richly woven fantasy world. Players can dive deep into customization, selecting from a diverse array of races, classes, and backgrounds that will shape their hero’s abilities and interactions throughout the game. Whether you choose to embody a fierce Barbarian or a cunning Rogue, each decision influences your journey in profound ways—from combat prowess to dialogue options. With the freedom to create a character from scratch or select from intriguing pre-made companions, the possibilities are as vast as the realms of Faerûn itself. Prepare to embark on an adventure where every choice matters and your character’s identity is the key to unlocking countless stories.
The character creator in Baldur’s Gate 3 is a powerful tool, allowing choosing or creating a character who will be our main hero. Thanks to a multitude of options in the creator, you’ll be able to choose his race, sub-race, class, abilities, specializations, and spells and customize the appearance of the character. Alternatively, you can skip the whole process and choose a pre-defined hero, but remember that it may have already decided skills and playstyle that may not fit your idea for gameplay.
Creating/choosing a character and interface
In Baldur’s Gate 3, creating or choosing a character involves a rich tapestry of options that significantly influence gameplay. Players begin by selecting from 11 distinct races, each with unique abilities and traits that affect their character’s performance and interactions within the game world. For instance, races like Dwarves and Elves offer specific advantages such as enhanced resilience or agility, respectively. Additionally, players can further customize their characters by choosing subraces, which provide additional features and abilities tailored to different play styles. The character creation process also allows for extensive visual customization, ensuring that each player’s hero is not only effective in combat but also uniquely representative of their personal vision. Understanding the implications of race and subrace choices is crucial for optimizing character builds and enhancing the overall gaming experience.
The character creator greets you with an important question – will you choose a ready-made character, or will you create one from scratch? When it comes to choosing, you can assume control of one of seven pre-defined heroes.
The alternative is to create your own hero from scratch – beginning of this process is described in step 2.
- Navigation menu – you can move to different fields at any moment.
- The window where you choose a ready-made hero or create your own.
- Press here to proceed to the next step of the wizard or to the character appearance window. We recommend choosing the race and class first, and leaving the appearance for later, as with each changing of the race, the hero’s appearance resets to default.
- Character Results window – here you can see race, class, abilities, learned spells and Proficiencies along with Skills here.
- The window where you choose the body type and how camera behaves in the wizard.
Choosing race
Choosing your race in Baldur’s Gate 3 is a pivotal step in character creation, influencing not only your character’s appearance but also their abilities and interactions within the game world. With 11 distinct races and 28 subraces to select from, each option comes with unique racial traits that can enhance gameplay, such as movement speed, darkvision, and special proficiencies. While there is no universally “best” race, certain races may synergize better with specific classes or playstyles. For instance, Half-Elves are often favored for their versatility, while Dwarves excel in tank roles due to their resilience. Ultimately, the choice of race should align with your preferred gameplay approach and character concept, allowing for both optimization and personal expression in your adventure.
Choosing the race in Baldurs Gate 3 is a very important step, as it affects the story tremendously and with each race, you have access to different racial bonuses. With the release day version, you have a choice between 11 different races.
- Race selection window
- A brief description of each race and their racial bonuses.
In Baldurs Gate 3 you have 11 races to choose from, each of which is unique in its own way and may have its own subraces. To learn more about races, you can view a dedicated chapter of our guide (Races).
- Subrace selection window.
- A window describing the selected subrace along with its offered bonuses.
Choosing class
Choosing your class in Baldur’s Gate 3 is a pivotal step that shapes your entire gameplay experience. With twelve unique classes to select from, each offering distinct abilities and playstyles, players must carefully consider their preferences and strategic goals. Whether you wish to wield the brute strength of a Barbarian, the versatile magic of a Wizard, or the supportive capabilities of a Cleric, each class provides various ways to engage with the game’s challenges. Additionally, the choice of class influences not only combat effectiveness but also interactions within the rich narrative of The Forgotten Realms. As you embark on your adventure, think about how you want to contribute to your party and what role excites you the most, ensuring an enjoyable and immersive journey through Faerun.
There are 12 classes to choose from in Baldurs Gate 3. Some of them specialize in melee combat using weapons, are best played as hybrids or focus exclusively on magic and spells.
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To learn more about possible classes and get their descriptions, visit a dedicated chapter of our guide (Classes).
- Window where you choose Cantrips – simple spells available to magic wielders or sometimes other classes
- Subclass selection window.
- Field describing a given subclass and bonuses it provides for the player.
- The main attribute of a spellcaster-type class – the higher, the better.
- The difficulty level of a spell – the higher it is, the harder is for enemies to resist the spell.
- Bonus to the spell.
- Field displaying selected spells.
- List of available level 1 spells.
Choosing background, skills, and abilities
Choosing a background, skills, and abilities in Baldur’s Gate 3 is crucial for shaping your character’s identity and gameplay style. Each background provides two unique skill proficiencies that can significantly influence interactions and challenges throughout the game. For instance, selecting the Acolyte background grants proficiency in Insight and Religion, making it ideal for classes like Clerics that rely on Wisdom. Meanwhile, backgrounds like Outlander enhance physical capabilities with skills such as Athletics and Survival, perfect for melee-focused classes. When assigning ability scores, players have the flexibility to enhance their character’s strengths, ensuring a tailored experience that aligns with personal playstyles and strategic goals. Thus, thoughtful selection of backgrounds and abilities not only enriches the narrative but also optimizes gameplay effectiveness.
Background is one of the key aspects of the created character. It determines the hero’s past, and with it, what additional starting Proficiencies you’ll have.
- Field showing possible Background variants.
- A brief description of the Background and bonuses received.
Skills and Abilities are very important and one of the basic elements of the game. In Baldurs Gate 3, you have access to 6 Abilities – each class has a main leading attribute that is marked with a star.
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- The field dedicated to Proficiency bonus that will increase along with our character level.
- Ability window – you can add and subtract as you see fit.
- A field dedicated to Proficiencies and Skills.
In Baldur’s Gate 3, there are following abilities:
- Strength – aside from melee damage, this ability also affects the range of jump and maximum carry weight limit.
- Dexterity – affects the chance of a successful hit with ranged and finesse weapons. Additionally, it affects Initiative and Armor Class.
- Constitution – influences the amount of Hit Points – more the better.
- Intelligence – a attribute especially important to spellcasters.
- Wisdom – a main attribute for Clerics, Druids, and Rangers.
- Charisma – governing attribute for Paladins, Bards, Sorcerers and Warlocks. Important when it comes to interactions and affects the merchant prices.
Each of these attributes has a corresponding Skill that you can find in Proficiencies. For example, Intmidation is affected by Charisma, while Lore is affected by Intelligence.
Customizing appearance
In Baldur’s Gate 3, players have the opportunity to customize their character’s appearance beyond the initial creation phase, enhancing the immersive experience of the game. This can be done by locating the Magic Mirror within your camp, which allows for a range of cosmetic adjustments. Once you interact with the mirror, a user-friendly interface will appear, enabling you to modify aspects such as hairstyle, facial structure, body art, eye and hair color, and even your character’s voice. While this feature is completely free and can be accessed multiple times, it is important to note that certain limitations apply; players cannot change their character’s race or make alterations to Origin characters. This flexibility allows players to refine their avatar as they progress through the game, ensuring their character reflects their evolving journey in the world of Faerûn.
Customizing the appearance of your character is one of the more important features of the character creator. Thanks to a multitude of options, you’ll be able to create a perfect character.
- Navigating through various body parts.
- Main dialogue window where you can make changes.
- Random element window and camera control
You can change your appearance through general changes, adding tattoos and piercings, changing eye color, adding makeup, changing hair and its color, modifying facial hair and in the case of more diverse races – adding additional elements. For example, a Tiefling can change the appearance of its horns.
Naming the hero
In Baldur’s Gate 3, naming your hero is a crucial aspect of character creation that can significantly enhance your gaming experience. The default name for custom characters is Tav, a choice inspired by the CEO of Larian Studios’ dog, Gustav. This name has become a staple within the community, often used to refer to player-created characters. Players have the option to change this name during the character creation process, allowing for a personalized touch that reflects their unique story and identity in the game. Whether drawing inspiration from mythology, personal experiences, or simply choosing a name that resonates with their character’s class and race, players are encouraged to select a name that enhances immersion and connection to their adventure in the vibrant world of Faerûn.
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After pressing the blue “Next” button, you are almost at the conclusion of the character creation wizard. It’s time to name your hero or heroine.
Selecting the Guardian
In Baldur’s Gate 3, selecting the Guardian is a unique aspect of character creation that introduces an additional layer to the gameplay experience. After players finalize their main character, they are prompted to create a Guardian, a non-playable character who serves as a Dream Visitor. This Guardian plays a crucial role in the narrative, appearing in dream sequences to provide guidance and warnings about the Mind Flayer parasite threatening the player’s character. Although players can customize the Guardian’s appearance—choosing from various races and features—their role in the story remains constant, primarily serving as a protective figure urging players to embrace their Illithid powers. The Guardian’s presence adds depth to the storyline, creating an intriguing dynamic where players must navigate their trust in this enigmatic entity throughout their journey.
The Guardian is a mysterious character who will appear during dream sequences throughout the course of the entire campaign. For your characters, the Guardian will be an object of interest, possibly even culminating in romance or conflict. Please note that when choosing a Guardian, you can only determine the appearance. More on the topic on a dedicated page in the FAQ chapter (Who is the Guardian?).
What are the unique abilities of each core companion in Baldur’s Gate 3
In Baldur’s Gate 3, each core companion brings unique abilities that enhance gameplay and narrative depth. Here’s a breakdown of these distinctive traits:
Astarion
- Bite Attack: Astarion can use a bite attack once per short rest, dealing damage and granting him a +1 bonus to attack and skill rolls if used on a humanoid.
- Ascendant Bite: Upgrades to a powerful bite later in the game, allowing him to heal and deal significant necrotic damage4.
Gale
- Advantage on Concentration Checks: Gale gains advantage on concentration checks, making him effective at maintaining spells during combat.
- Necrotic Aura: When Gale dies, he can activate a necrotic aura, providing unique advantages in critical situations.
Lae’zel
- Silver Sword Acquisition: Lae’zel’s storyline is tied to obtaining the powerful silver sword from the astral plane, emphasizing her role in unique item quests.
- Combat Proficiency: As a Fighter, she excels in melee combat, enhancing party effectiveness in battles.
Shadowheart
- Permanent Blessing: Shadowheart grants herself a permanent bless effect at the start of each long rest, adding 1d4 to saving throws and attack rolls4.
- Versatile Spellcasting: As a cleric, she has access to various spells that can adapt to different situations.
Wyll
- Blade of Frontiers: Wyll wields the Blade of Frontiers, which enhances his combat capabilities with rapier proficiency and unique magical effects.
- Transformational Abilities: He can transform into powerful forms during specific quests, adding versatility to his role.
Karlach
- Soul Coin Mechanic: While raging, Karlach can deal an additional 1d4 fire damage on melee attacks when fueled by soul coins.
- Fire Damage Buffs: Her abilities allow her to draw aggro effectively while dealing significant damage.
Halsin
- Wild Shape Ability: Halsin can shapeshift into a bear as a bonus action regardless of his subclass, providing both tanking and support capabilities.
- Additional Prepared Spells: He has access to extra spells that enhance his utility in various scenarios.
Minthara
- Soul Branding: Minthara possesses the Soul Branding ability, which grants her bonus movement and damage during combat, reflecting her unique character traits.
Jaheira
- Enhanced Wild Shape: Jaheira retains her wild shape abilities as she levels up, allowing for flexible combat strategies4.
- Spellcasting Modifications: She can use her spellcasting modifier for weapon attack rolls with certain weapons.
These unique abilities not only define each companion’s role in combat but also enrich the storytelling experience within the game.
How do the unique abilities of each companion impact party strategy
The unique abilities of each companion in Baldur’s Gate 3 significantly impact party strategy, enhancing combat effectiveness, utility, and narrative engagement. Here’s how these abilities shape gameplay:
Astarion
- Bite Attack: His ability to deal damage and gain a bonus to attack rolls after biting a humanoid allows him to excel in stealth and ambush tactics. This encourages players to utilize him as a rogue-like character who can initiate combat effectively, making sneak attacks more potent.
Gale
- Advantage on Concentration Checks: Gale’s proficiency in maintaining concentration on spells enhances spellcasting strategies, especially for controlling the battlefield. Players can rely on him to keep crucial spells active longer, allowing for sustained magical effects that can turn the tide of battle.
Lae’zel
- Combat Proficiency: As a Fighter, Lae’zel’s strong melee capabilities make her a frontline tank. Her connection to unique quests for powerful items, such as the silver sword, also encourages players to engage with her narrative arc, enhancing both combat prowess and story depth.
Shadowheart
- Permanent Blessing: Shadowheart’s ability to provide consistent buffs through her clerical spells makes her invaluable for support roles. This allows players to maintain higher survivability during encounters, as her spells can heal or enhance allies’ performance in critical moments.
Wyll
- Blade of Frontiers: Wyll’s unique weaponry and transformation abilities provide versatility in combat. His capacity to shift forms adds unpredictability to encounters, allowing players to adapt their strategies based on the situation at hand.
Karlach
- Fire Damage Buffs: Karlach’s ability to deal additional fire damage while raging not only increases her offensive capabilities but also encourages aggressive playstyles. Her soul coin mechanic adds a layer of resource management that can be strategically utilized during battles.
Halsin
- Wild Shape Ability: Halsin’s ability to shapeshift into a bear provides both tanking and crowd control options. This flexibility allows players to adapt their strategies based on the composition of enemies they face, making him a versatile choice for various scenarios.
Minthara
- Soul Branding: Her unique movement and damage bonuses enhance tactical positioning during fights. Players can leverage her abilities to control the battlefield more effectively, making her an asset in both offensive and defensive strategies.
The interplay between these abilities creates a dynamic party environment where players must consider not only their characters’ strengths but also how companions can complement each other. This synergy is crucial for navigating the game’s challenges and unlocking unique narrative paths, ultimately enriching the overall experience of Baldur’s Gate 3.
