Baldur’s Gate 3 is an extensive role-playing game that promises over 100 hours of gameplay. To ensure you don’t feel overwhelmed right at the start during character creation, MeinMMO offers you a tip for a quick start.
The Classes of Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Baldur’s Gate 3 is based on the famous rules of Dungeons & Dragons. You have access to 12 classes from the pen and paper game.
- Among the classes are well-known archetypes such as fighters, wizards, and rogues, but also “exotics” like bards or monks, which are said to be the strongest class.
- Each class has its advantages and disadvantages and a different level of difficulty. One of them is particularly well-suited for beginners.
Which class is best for starting? In principle, you can start with any class that appeals to you. However, the character editor of Baldur’s Gate 3 is so extensive that especially D&D beginners can quickly feel overwhelmed.
Fighters are widely regarded as the best class for getting into D&D and thus also into Baldur’s Gate 3. The class primarily relies on combat with martial weapons, meaning: swords, axes, rapiers or bows. The most important attributes for fighters are:
- Strength for heavy armor, swords, axes, and shields
- Dexterity for “finesse” weapons like rapiers as well as most ranged weapons
- Constitution
- Wisdom or Charisma
With that, you as a fighter are a true “all-rounder”, with which you can master the game well without getting into too much trouble. At the same time, fighters offer a certain depth that you can delve into once you are more familiar with the game.
Fighters are the ideal starting class for Baldur’s Gate 3
What makes fighters so good? Fighters are a versatile class that works well in both melee and ranged combat. This makes the fighter a multi-talent that can take on most roles in a group. Additionally, you choose one of 6 fighting styles:
- Archery for ranged combat
- Defense as a “tank”
- Duel, primarily for finesse weapons like rapiers
- Combat with large weapons like two-handed axes
- Bodyguard as a supporter
- Combat with two weapons as a “berserker” or “assassin” archetype
Especially the ability to heal immensely in combat makes fighters extremely tough and dangerous opponents. You have several actions per round from level 2 and regain many of your abilities after a short rest.
Since you can freely distribute the attribute bonuses from racial advantages, the choice of race doesn’t matter and allows you to start playing in a way that suits you best. Later in the game, you can reset your points if you want to make a different decision.
You have these options: Fighters, in addition to their fighting styles that shape their role, also have different archetypes or “subclasses” from level 3 onwards. Through these, you can change how precisely you want to play:
- Champion: You learn a second fighting style and have more frequent critical hits
- Battle Master: You can “study” opponents to provide bonuses in combat
- Arcane Knight: Uses magic in addition to weapons
If you want to specialize even further, you also have the option to combine classes. Although we only recommend this if you are already familiar with the system.
SPOILER! A reason against choosing fighter as a class:
The first companion you find is already a fighter. If you want to keep this one, you would have two fighters in the group.
3 strong alternatives to the fighter
If the fighter seems a bit too “flat” for you, or if you already have a clearer idea of what you want to play, there are 4 other classes that are particularly well-suited for starting:
- Barbarian: Is more of a “brute”, but doesn’t wear armor. You deal incredible damage, but the class lacks depth.
- Rogue: At range or in melee, you deal more damage with “sneak attacks” than most other classes, but typically grow weaker the longer the fight lasts.
- Sorcerer: A simple spellcasting class. You cast “spontaneous” magic, so you don’t need to rely on a complicated spellbook, but rather have all learned spells stored in your head.
Most of the other classes are a bit more complicated than those mentioned here. However, since you usually do not have to consider much at level 1, starting Baldur’s Gate 3 is quite easy after all.
Moreover, you will not reach the levels where it gets really complicated in D&D. Because the level cap of Baldur’s Gate 3 is quite low:
Why you can only play up to level 12 in Baldur’s Gate 3 and why that is a good thing
