You can play Baldur’s Gate 3 more or less however you want. Only some things just don’t work – like spellcasting barbarians. The rules prohibit it. Actually. Because a player has now created a really strong tank build with exactly this combination.
What kind of build is that?
- Baldur’s Gate 3 offers you 12 different classes with their own strengths. You can either play them individually, or mix them with the multiclassing feature as you like.
- A player has now mixed a Wildheart barbarian with a Dragonblood sorcerer and a abjuration wizard. All three classes are quite strong in the tier list for Baldur’s Gate 3.
- The special thing is: This combination usually doesn’t work. Because a feature prevents the use of spells.
Why is that supposed to not work? Barbarians have the ability to enter a rage as a special class action. Depending on the subclass, you then have special traits, take less damage or deal more damage.
However, the rage has another effect: You cannot cast spells anymore and lose any concentration on existing spells. Even the “Wild Magic” subclass only allows for a burst of magic but cannot cast spells while raging.
However, in a YouTube video (from minute 2:05), the YouTuber RageGamingVideos explains how exactly barbarians can be crossed with sorcerers and wizards, thus becoming an extremely strong tank. Something that sounds completely contradictory but works excellently.
If you want to try out the build without starting a new character, you can simply reskill with Lazarus’ help:
Barbarian-Sorcerer-Tank – How the build works
This is how you build the build: The build only works because you use spells that strengthen you – without requiring concentration. The combination of classes allows you to pump yourself up before a rage – or even before a fight – so that you can withstand any attack in battle.
First of all, you need to build your character correctly:
- Build the character with a focus on strength and constitution.
- Put 3 levels into Barbarian and choose the Wildheart subclass. Bearheart is ideal here for even more survivability.
- At level 4, take Sorcerer as your second class. Sorcerers choose their subclass right at the beginning, so you can directly become a Dragonblood Sorcerer. Choose White Dragon as your bloodline. This gives you Armor of Agathys as a spell.
- Increase Barbarian to level 5 and choose Guardian as a feat. Guardian is one of the best feats for tanks.
- Then spend the last 6 levels in the Wizard class and specialize in Abjuration. This grants you a steadily increasing barrier that absorbs damage when casting spells.
The idea is that you build up your shield with spells and increase your armor class. Through “Guardian,” you make enemies attack you – which they otherwise wouldn’t do because they simply couldn’t hit you.
These are the spells you need: The most important spell is Armor of Agathys. It doesn’t require concentration, meaning: You can cast the spell and keep the bonuses even while raging. All other spells are up to personal preference.
Especially spells that strengthen you without requiring concentration or are useful in specific situations should be included – for example:
- Counterspell
- False Life
- Find Familiar
- Long Strider
- Shield
- Fog Cloud
- Fire Shield
You can also pack other spells that use concentration. Your rage uses are highly limited, so you’ll probably have to fight some battles without rage. This is where your spells come in handy – if you still have spell slots available.
As an Abjuration Wizard, you gain the ability to reduce damage that other characters in the group would take as a reaction. So you not only reduce the damage to yourself but also protect allies who are further away. With this, you have the optimal tank, who also dishes out damage really well. And as a tip: You don’t actually need a healer in the group
