The cleric is the least popular class in Baldur’s Gate 3 – by a very large margin. A professional knows why that is.
In Baldur’s Gate 3, you have a diverse selection of classes to immerse yourself in the adventure surrounding Mindflayers, the Absolute, and a lot of heavy decisions. However, not all 12 classes are equally popular. Shortly after the launch, Larian published statistics showing which class is the most popular and which is the least popular.
While the paladin was the most popular class, on the other end of the spectrum was the cleric – by far the least played class. Even compared to the second-least popular class, the druid, the cleric is far behind, as can be seen in this statistic:
But why is that? An RPG professional reveals why clerics are so unpopular.
Josh Sawyer, one of the creative minds behind the RPGs of the “Pillars of Eternity” series, knows the reasons behind the unpopularity of clerics.
In my experience, it has nothing to do with Baldur’s Gate 3 or 5E [the D&D rule set] itself. People just generally don’t create clerics or priests as main characters in fantasy RPGs. They’ve always been the least played class in every fantasy RPG I’ve created.
The reason seems to be that many perceive a cleric or priest more as a “supporting character” – a supporter who stands by the protagonist. The idea of a supporter who blesses the group from the back and doesn’t fight on the front lines is simply not appealing to many.
In response, Sawyer also said, “Yes, I’m confident that is the reason. Support is something for other people.”
Additionally, daring characters, like a fanatical paladin, are seen as more “heroic” than someone who prays in the background.
Shadowheart is partly to blame
Many see a reason for the unpopularity of clerics in Shadowheart. She is not only one of the most well-known companions, but also one of the most popular. After all, she is a pretty half-elf who can not only deal damage but also heal and has an interesting backstory.
Since Shadowheart is a cleric herself, the class itself appears to be less exciting. Because if you already have a cleric in the active team, it hardly makes sense to play a cleric yourself.
Did you make a cleric out of your character? Or do you understand why many don’t play this class?
The next patch for Baldur’s Gate 3 will be released soon – and will finally allow you to kick annoying teammates!
