Baldur’s Gate 3 throws you into a chaotic world filled with monstrous threats and tactical encounters. But with a diverse cast of classes at your disposal, you can carve your own path to victory.
However, choosing the “best” class can be tricky, as it depends on your playstyle and party needs.
This guide delves into the current state of classes in Baldur’s Gate 3 (as of Patch 3), incorporating insights from popular resources like IGN’s tier list and community discussions on Reddit and YouTube.
We’ll explore the top contenders, their strengths and weaknesses, and answer burning questions you might have from YouTube searches.
The S-Tier: Masters of Their Domains
These classes stand out for their exceptional ability to fulfill their roles, offering unparalleled power and versatility.
Paladin:
The shining knight in both offense and defense, Paladins boast incredible damage thanks to Divine Smite. Their heavy armor and healing abilities make them a frontline powerhouse while also providing support to the party. Their subclass choices, like Oath of Devotion, further enhance their durability and buffing capabilities. Paladins are particularly strong due to the current emphasis on short rests, allowing them to frequently refresh their Action Surge for bursts of power.
Cleric:
Clerics are the ultimate support class, offering a wide range of healing spells, buffs, and crowd control abilities. They can be frontline combatants with heavy armor or hang back and support with ranged spells. The Light Domain subclass shines with powerful offensive spells like Fireball, while the Life Domain excels at keeping your party alive. Clerics synergize well with any party composition.
Wizard:
The quintessential spellcaster, Wizards boast an unmatched spell list that can handle any situation. From blasting enemies to manipulating the battlefield, they offer incredible versatility. While they require good positioning due to their squishy nature, their damage potential is unmatched. Specialization schools like Evocation for raw power or Abjuration for defensive magic allow you to tailor your Wizard to your needs.
Bard:
Bards are the masters of buffing, debuffing, and battlefield control. Their Inspiration mechanic empowers allies, while their spells can charm enemies or turn the tide of battle with illusions. Bards are surprisingly durable for a spellcaster, with medium armor proficiency. The College of Lore subclass provides extra utility with access to spells from other classes, while the College of Valor grants weapon proficiencies for a more martial Bard.
Rogue:
The ultimate damage dealers in single target scenarios, Rogues excel at flanking and critical hits. Their sneak attack damage scales incredibly well, and their mobility allows them to reposition and exploit weaknesses. Subclasses like Arcane Trickster offer a blend of martial prowess and magic, while Thief focuses on utility and exploration.
Here’s a common question from YouTube searches: “Are Fighters bad in BG3?” While Fighters aren’t currently in the S-Tier, the Battle Master subclass with access to the Haste spell can be incredibly powerful. However, this effectiveness relies on a specific strategy and may change with future updates.
The A-Tier: Solid Choices for Well-Rounded Parties
These classes offer a strong mix of offense, defense, and utility, making them valuable additions to any party.
Fighter:
The quintessential warrior, Fighters are reliable damage dealers with a wide variety of weapon options. Subclasses like Battle Master offer tactical maneuvers for battlefield control, while Champion focuses on pure damage output. While not as flashy as some other classes, Fighters are a dependable backbone for any party.
Barbarian:
Frenzied berserkers, Barbarians excel at soaking up damage and dealing close-quarters punishment. Their Rage ability grants them incredible resilience and damage buffs. Class While strategically limited, Barbarians can be a fun and effective choice for players who enjoy a more direct approach. The Path of the Berserker subclass offers a more damage-focused playstyle, while the Path of the Totem Warrior provides utility options.
Warlock:
Warlocks are unique spellcasters who draw power from patrons. They have a limited number of spell slots that recharge on short rests, but their Eldritch Blast cantrip scales incredibly well, making them a consistent damage source. Subclasses like Fiend Warlock offer utility and survivability, while The Blade Pact allows Warlocks to become potent melee combatants.
The B-Tier: Niche Choices for Specific Party Needs
Druid:
Nature’s versatile warriors, Druids can shapeshift into powerful beasts for combat or support the party with healing spells. Their spellcasting is diverse, but not as potent as dedicated spellcasters. Subclasses like Moon Druid excel in wild shape combat, while subclasses like Shepherd Druid focus on buffing and supporting allies.
Monk:
Masters of unarmed combat, Monks excel at stunning enemies and dealing high single-target damage. Their mobility and utility are valuable, but their damage output can be lower compared to other martial classes. The Way of the Open Hand subclass focuses on controlling enemies, while the Way of Shadow offers more damage and mobility options.
Ranger:
Skilled trackers and ranged combatants, Rangers excel at single-target damage and exploration. However, their spellcasting is limited, and other classes might fill their role more effectively. Subclasses like Hunter offer bonus damage on specific targets, while Gloom Stalker focuses on surprise attacks.
FAQs
Q: What’s the absolute best class in Baldur’s Gate 3?
A: There’s no single “best” class, as it depends on your playstyle and party composition. However, some classes excel in specific roles:
- High Damage: Paladin, Rogue, Wizard (depending on specialization)
- Healing and Support: Cleric
- Buffing and Control: Bard
Q: I saw people raving about Paladins on YouTube. Are they really that good?
A: Yes! Paladins are currently considered top-tier thanks to their incredible damage output with Divine Smite, excellent survivability with heavy armor, and party support with healing abilities. Their focus on short rests allows them to frequently refresh their Action Surge for even more power.
Q: Are spellcasters like Wizards always better than martial classes like Fighters?
A: Not necessarily. While Wizards offer unmatched magical versatility, Fighters are reliable damage dealers with a wide variety of weapon options. Subclasses like Battle Master with access to Haste can be incredibly strong, depending on your strategy.
Q: I keep hearing about “S-Tier” and “A-Tier” classes. What does that mean?
A: These terms are used by players to rank classes based on their overall effectiveness. S-Tier classes excel in their roles, while A-Tier classes are strong all-rounders. However, these rankings can change with updates, and even “lower tier” classes can be very effective in the right hands.
Q: I like transforming into a powerful beast. Is Druid a good choice?
A: Absolutely! The Moon Druid subclass allows you to Class shapeshift into formidable creatures for combat. However, Druids tend to be less potent pure spellcasters compared to Wizards or Clerics.
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