Baldur’s Gate 3 is just around the corner and will offer a total of 12 classes and 11 races that you can choose from at the beginning. It’s no easy task, which is why we have sifted through all the classes and races and explained them to you so that you can make a choice more easily at release.
What are classes in Baldur’s Gate 3? In Baldur’s Gate 3, you will dive into the world of Dungeons & Dragons. In this world, you will have the opportunity to select 1 of 12 classes. Each of these classes has its strengths and weaknesses as well as special attack options that make all classes unique.
This way, each player can choose their class that fits them best. So, to know what to expect, we will list all known classes and explain in a few sentences what they are and which subclasses they additionally possess.
If you are looking for a tier list for all classes, then we have a suitable overview for you:
All Classes and Subclasses at a Glance – What They Can Do
Fighter
What kind of class is this? The Fighter is a master of the battlefield and masters a variety of weapons at a high level. Additionally, they wear sturdy armor. Especially suitable for players who want to use a variety of weapons and armor.
What subclasses are there?
- Champion
- Champions are known for landing critical hits more often and can also master two fighting styles.
- Battle Master
- Battle Masters can study their enemies in combat to learn their values. They also master special strategies that can help you in battle.
- Mystic Knight
- The Mystic Knight can cast magic and combine it with their weapons.
We recommend Fighters for beginners:
Mage
What kind of class is this? Mages are masters of arcane power, having delved into various schools of magic. They combine ancient spells with modern research.
What subclasses are there?
- School of Abjuration
- Includes magic that can protect you and your allies from harm.
- School of Conjuration
- Includes magic that allows you to summon creatures or objects.
- School of Divination
- Includes magic that sharpens your mind so that you can glimpse the future or expand your perception.
- School of Evocation
- Includes magic of the elements.
- School of Illusion
- Includes magic that allows you to deceive your enemies or cast illusions.
- School of Necromancy
- Includes magic that allows you to raise the undead.
- School of Enchantment
- Includes magic that manipulates the mind of your enemies to make them on your side.
- School of Transmutation
- Includes magic that can transform you or your allies.
Rogue
What kind of class is this? The Rogue is a nimble and especially stealthy class. They can slip out of almost any situation and kill enemies from the shadows. Additionally, as a Rogue, you have talents for picking locks, disarming traps, or stealing things.
What subclasses are there?
- Arcane Trickster
- The Arcane Trickster allows you to cast magic as a Rogue. With this, you can deceive enemies or gain unseen access.
- Assassin
- Assassins are masters of ambushing enemies. They are precise, deadly, and can even disguise themselves as other people.
- Thief
- Thieves are acrobats and can climb high anywhere. No obstacle is unfamiliar to them, and they do not shy away from quick actions in combat to gain an advantage.
Ranger
What kind of class is this? Rangers are the born hunters. They are closely connected to nature and track their prey with keen precision. Additionally, you can summon animals that will help you in battle.
What subclasses are there?
- Beast Master
- The Beast Masters are accompanied by an animal ally that will follow you into every fight.
- Hunter
- Hunters are agile and masters of both melee and ranged combat. High damage characterizes these nature-connected fighters.
- Gloom Stalker
- Gloom Stalkers are fighters that operate in the dark. They lie in wait for their enemies until they see a favorable opportunity to attack from ambush.
Cleric
What kind of class is this? Clerics represent their gods in the world of Baldur’s Gate and wield powerful and especially holy magic in battle. You can use this for good or evil, you have the choice. Additionally, the class possesses a lot of magic and the ability to wear heavy armor.
What subclasses are there?
- Life Domain
- Clerics dedicated to healing their comrades.
- Light Domain
- Clerics who can purify their enemies with fire or protect comrades with light.
- Trickery Domain
- Clerics who cause mischief in the world. They can blend with shadows or duplicate themselves.
- Nature Domain
- Clerics with a bond to plants and animals. They can influence these just like Druids.
- Storm Domain
- Clerics who can influence the weather and hurl winds and lightning at their enemies.
- Knowledge Domain
- Clerics who possess vast knowledge and even have the ability to read thoughts.
- War Domain
- Clerics who embody mighty fighters and can assist their comrades in attacks.
Warlock
What kind of class is this? Warlocks have entered into a pact with something supernatural and now benefit from a magical power that they can use in combat due to their loyalty. They possess few spells compared to Mages, but they are all the more powerful.
What subclasses are there?
- The Archfey
- Archfey have made a pact with a Fey. Now you can seduce enemies more easily and cast spells from the Fey realm.
- The Great Old One
- You have made a pact with a being from beyond this reality. Therefore, you can cast telepathy.
- The Fiend
- The Fiend has made a pact with the devil. As a fiendish follower, you can now absorb the life of your fallen enemies or gain luck to escape tricky situations.
Druid
What kind of class is this? Druids can summon elemental forces and possess a deep connection to the animal world. Additionally, this class can transform into beasts from various realms to fight.
What subclasses are there?
- Circle of the Land
- The Circle of the Land is connected to their environment. They can quickly recover their spell attacks and learn additional spells depending on the land you have chosen.
- Circle of the Moon
- The Circle of the Moon are shape-shifters and have advantages in their forms of transformation.
- Circle of Spores
- The Circle of Spores have a connection to fungi. They can wield necromantic magic or release toxic spores.
Monk
What kind of class is this? The Monk is a master of martial arts. Through their rigorous training, they seek perfection for both body and mind. They have many moves that they can execute with their bare fists.
Monks are according to the main author, the best class in Baldur’s Gate 3.
What subclasses are there?
- The Way of the Open Hand
- The Way of the Open Hand allows you to manipulate the ki of your opponents. You can also heal yourself.
- The Way of Four Elements
- The Way of the Four Elements harnesses the ki. As a master, you can unleash elemental powers to create gusts of wind or thunderclaps from simple strikes. Even elemental spells are included.
- Way of Shadows
- The Way of Shadows allows you to attack enemies in ambush and cast dark spells. Like ninjas but without shadowy clothing.
Here you can find a tier list of the classes in Baldur’s Gate 3:
Sorcerer
What kind of class is this? Sorcerers summon their magic from their genes. Either through their ancestry or a gift bestowed upon them at birth. One of the most powerful classes, as you can still modify your magic yourself.
What subclasses are there?
- Dragon Bloodline
- The Dragon Bloodline contains the genes of dragons. They can cast spells like lightning or fire breath.
- Wild Magic
- Sorcerers of wild magic possess pure chaos within them. They constantly suffer from chaotic effects but can control them over time.
- Storm Magic
- Storm Sorcerers wield the power of wind magic. They can manipulate the weather or even fly.
Barbarian
What kind of class is this? The Barbarian is a reckless class that destroys everything and everyone in their path with their superhuman strength and insatiable rage.
What subclasses are there?
- Path of the Berserker
- Berserkers are unstoppable fighters who strike more often in battle and can hardly be enchanted or frightened.
- Path of the Beast Heart
- In the Barbarians of the Beast Heart beats the heart of an animal. You can choose between bear, eagle, elk, tiger, and wolf and receive different abilities depending on your choice.
- Path of Wild Magic
- Barbarians of wild magic possess spells that are uncontrolled in nature. Depending on their rage, these are triggered and have random effects.
Bard
What kind of class is this? The Bard has studied the power of music and provides you not only with classic beats in combat but also with strengthening melodies for body and soul. They are the all-rounders
and can do pretty much everything, though not always perfectly.
MeinMMO editor Benedict Grothaus considers bards to be the most important class in any MMORPG.
What subclasses are there?
- College of Lore
- The College of Lore focuses on perplexing enemies or learning spells from other classes.
- College of Valor
- The College of Valor are fighters and supporters. They assist their companions in attacks and can also deal damage more effectively.
- College of Swords
- The College of Swords focuses on training you to be strong fighters. You can improve your own combat abilities with it.
Paladin
What kind of class is this? Paladins are justice-driven guardians who have sworn holy oaths. They aid anyone in need and strive to find light in dark times. Undead enemies tremble before you, but do not break your oath; you may regret it later.
What subclasses are there?
- Oath of the Ancients
- The Oath of the Ancients protects nature, and Paladins can wield light powers or summon the forces of nature.
- Oath of Devotion
- The Oath of Devotion ensures that Paladins stand for good. They punish unholy enemies and are especially effective against them.
- Oath of Vengeance
- The Oath of Vengeance ensures that Paladins punish all enemies who have done wrong.
- Oathbreaker
- The Oathbreaker is not a conventional subclass; rather, it is a state that you must invoke. Simply break the principles of your Paladin.
All Races at a Glance – What Makes Them Special
What are races in Baldur’s Gate 3? In Baldur’s Gate 3, you can choose and create your hero from 11 races. This can be completely customized so that you can start your adventure more personally. We will show you all races and sub-races and explain what makes them special.
Githyanki
What kind of race is this? The Githyanki are unique fighters of the astral plane known for their distinctive silver swords and their red dragons. They have dedicated themselves to the fight against Mind Flayers, as they have been enslaved by them for millennia.
What sub-races are there? None.
Tieflings
What kind of race is this? Tieflings are descendants of a noble human bloodline that made a pact with the devil. The pact granted them power but also a devilish appearance, and this for all eternity.
What sub-races are there?
- Asmodeus Tiefling
- Mephistopheles Tiefling
- Zariel Tiefling
Half-Orcs
What kind of race is this? Half-Orcs stem from a mixture of humans and wild orcs. Despite their civilized appearance, the genes of their ancestors are present, making them excellent fighters.
What sub-races are there? None.
Half-Elves
What kind of race is this? Half-elves come from a mixture of elves and humans. They possess a charismatic appearance but are smaller than humans, though they still have all the positive aspects of both races.
What sub-races are there?
- Half High Elves
- Half Wood Elves
- Drow Half-Elves
Gnomes
What kind of race is this? Gnomes are a small humanoid race known for their peculiar humor, curiosity, and technical skills. They do not like to be in the spotlight and prefer to live their lives among themselves.
What sub-races are there?
- Rock Gnomes
- Forest Gnomes
- Deep Gnomes
Dragonborn
What kind of race is this? The Dragonborn are a mysterious race that descends from dragons. They share the same abilities as their ancestors and can breathe different elements. Depending on the element, the appearance of the Dragonborn changes to different colors.
What sub-races are there?
- Black: Acid
- Blue: Lightning
- Brass: Fire
- Bronze: Lightning
- Copper: Acid
- Gold: Fire
- Green: Poison
- Red: Fire
- Silver: Cold
- White: Cold
Dwarves
What kind of race is this? Dwarves are small humanoid beings known for their combat skills as well as their craftsmanship talents. They harbor a grudge against orcs and goblins, as they have had conflicts with them.
What sub-races are there?
- Gold Dwarves
- Shield Dwarves
- Duergar
Humans
What kind of race is this? Humans are the most widespread race in Baldur’s Gate 3. They are found almost everywhere and are known for their mediocrity and diverse sizes.
What sub-races are there? None.
Halflings
What kind of race is this? Halflings are a small race known for enjoying life and being friendly with their fellow beings. Being surrounded by larger beings, they make sure not to draw too much attention. Their name arises from the fact that they look just like humans but are only half their height.
What sub-races are there?
- Lightfoot
- Stout
Dark Elves (Drow)
What kind of race is this? The Drow descend from the people of Dark Elves. They stood in conflict with their lighter counterparts and underwent battles and a lot of bloodshed. After this conflict, many adopted the name Drow.
What sub-races are there? None.
Elves
What kind of race is this? Elves are a humanoid race with a charismatic appearance and many talents in both magic and combat. They are long-lived but also sharp-witted and can perceive their surroundings better than humans.
What sub-races are there?
- High Elves
- Wood Elves
Which races should I play?
If you are still unsure about which race to play, then quickly take our quiz! The choice of race is virtually irrelevant for your build and you can pick what suits your personality:
An overview of all races in Baldur’s Gate 3 can be found at our sister site GameStar.
When is the release of Baldur’s Gate 3? The game is set to officially release for PC on August 3, 2023. However, PS5 players will have to wait, as the release for the Sony faction will only take place on September 6, 2023, a month after the official PC release.
What do you think of the classes? Have you already decided on one, or do you prefer to wait until the release and let chance guide you? Let us know in the comments!
Baldur’s Gate 3: The Most Important Things About the Release in 3 Minutes
