Baldurs Gate 3: What class to choose? Baldurs Gate 3 guide, walkthrough
Having trouble deciding what class to choose when playing Baldur's Gate 3? This page suggests how to choose a class for your play style.
Last update: 03 August 2023
Choosing the right character in a game as vast as Baldur's Gate 3 is no easy task. Many players can feel straight-up paralyzed by the multitude of options. This page will help you pick a class suiting your preferred playstyle. It also contains a handful of tips for beginners.
You'll learn more about the individual classes on separate pages in our guide.
For new players
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 entirely on combat 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
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 healers spending 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
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
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
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
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.
If, at any point of the game, you find your class or build underwhelming, Baldur's Gate 3 lets you respec your character rather freely. We've described this topic in more detail on the Can you respec your character? page.