You're sitting there, staring at the character creator screen, and the music is swelling. It’s intimidating. Baldur's Gate 3 classes and subclasses aren't just a menu of flavor text; they are the literal engine of your 100-hour journey. Most players pick whatever looks "cool" and then realize thirty hours in that they've accidentally built a character that hits like a wet noodle.
Honestly, the game doesn't do a great job of explaining how a single choice at level one or three can completely break—or make—your experience. You've got 12 base classes. Now, thanks to the massive Patch 8 update, we're looking at 46 distinct subclasses. That’s a lot of math.
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The "Big Four" and Why They Dominate
If you want to breeze through Honor Mode without tearing your hair out, you usually look at the Bard, Paladin, Cleric, or Wizard. These are the heavy hitters. But even within these, people mess up.
Take the Paladin. Most people see "holy warrior" and think they're playing a tank. Wrong. A Paladin in this game is a nuclear warhead with a haircut. The Oath of Vengeance is basically the "I want this guy dead right now" button. You get Inquisitor's Might and Abjure Enemy, which basically ensures your target isn't going anywhere. Then there’s the Oathbreaker. You can’t even pick it at the start. You have to literally betray your morals in-game to unlock it. It's edgy, sure, but the aura that buffs undead and fiends makes it a powerhouse if you’re running a certain kind of party.
The Bard is another one. People think "musician" and imagine someone standing in the back playing a flute while the Fighter does the work. In reality, a College of Swords Bard is probably the most broken thing in the game. With Slashing Flourish, you’re basically a Gatling gun with hand crossbows. You can hit two enemies at once, or the same enemy twice, all while being the "face" of the party with 20 Charisma.
The New Kids on the Block: Patch 8 Subclasses
Larian decided to give us a parting gift in 2025 with 12 new subclasses. It changed everything.
- Warlock: Hexblade. This was the most requested subclass for a reason. It lets you use your Charisma modifier for weapon attacks. Basically, you don't need Strength or Dexterity to be a melee god.
- Barbarian: Path of the Giant. Ever wanted to throw a goblin at another goblin? This is your class. You grow in size and your rage adds massive elemental damage.
- Wizard: Bladesinging. It’s a Wizard that actually wants to be in the front lines. You get a "Bladesong" that boosts your AC and speed. It feels like playing a Jedi in a fantasy world.
The Arcane Archer (Fighter) and Swashbuckler (Rogue) also finally made the cut. The Swashbuckler is particularly nice because it lets you use Sneak Attack even if you don't have advantage, as long as you’re in a one-on-one duel. No more hiding in bushes every single turn.
Don't Sleep on the "Weak" Classes
Poor Rangers. They get a bad rap because, in tabletop D&D, they’re kinda... meh. But in Baldur’s Gate 3, a Gloom Stalker Ranger is a literal assassin. On the first turn of combat, you get an extra attack, extra movement, and a massive initiative boost. If you multiclass this with three levels of Thief Rogue (for that extra bonus action), you’re taking four or five shots before the enemy even blinks.
And then there's the Monk. Specifically the Way of the Open Hand.
Most people think Monks are for roleplaying.
They're not.
With the Tavern Brawler feat and some Strength elixirs, an Open Hand Monk can punch a dragon into submission. You’re doing 40-60 damage per hit, four times a turn, at level 6. It’s disgusting.
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What about the Cleric?
Shadowheart starts as a Trickery Domain Cleric. Honestly? It’s arguably the worst subclass in the game. It’s all about stealth and illusions in a game where "hitting things very hard" is usually the best solution. If you respec her (or your own Cleric) to Light Domain or Tempest Domain, the game changes.
The Light Cleric gets Fireball. A priest with a nuke. The Tempest Cleric can use Destructive Wrath to deal maximum damage on thunder or lightning spells. Combine that with a Sorcerer who can make enemies "Wet" (doubling lightning damage), and you’re seeing numbers over 100 in the first act.
Multiclassing: The Trap and the Treasure
You can reach level 12. That's the cap. Because of this, multiclassing is a high-stakes game. If you take one level in six different classes, you're going to have a bad time. You'll miss out on "Feats" which happen every four levels (usually).
The "Golden Rules" of multiclassing:
- Extra Attack happens at level 5 for most martials. Don't leave a class before level 5 if you're a Fighter, Paladin, or Barbarian.
- Action Surge comes from 2 levels of Fighter. It is the best 2-level dip in the game.
- Extra Bonus Action comes from 3 levels of Thief Rogue. This is mandatory for dual-wielders and Monks.
A classic "Sorcadin" (Sorcerer/Paladin) build usually goes 6 Paladin / 6 Sorcerer. You get the Paladin's Aura of Protection and the Sorcerer's high-level spell slots to burn on Divine Smites. It’s probably the highest single-target burst damage in the game.
Finding Your Fit
Stop worrying about the "Meta" for a second. If you want to play a Circle of the Moon Druid because you want to be a dinosaur, do it. The game is beatable with any combination. The real secret is understanding your Subclass.
If you're a Wizard, your subclass (School) determines how you play. Abjuration makes you unkillable. Evocation lets you drop fireballs on your friends without hurting them. Divination lets you literally change the dice rolls of the enemy.
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Actionable Next Steps for Your Build
- Check your Hit Chance: If it’s below 60%, you probably haven't leveled your primary stat (Strength for Fighters, Charisma for Bards/Warlocks/Paladins, Wisdom for Clerics/Druids, Intelligence for Wizards).
- Visit Withers: You can respec for 100 gold. Do it often. Experiment with the new Patch 8 subclasses like the Death Domain Cleric or College of Glamour Bard.
- Examine the "Examine" tool: Right-click enemies. See their resistances. If they’re resistant to Slashing, your Greatsword-wielding Barbarian is going to struggle. Switch to a hammer.
- Read the Level Up Screen: Many subclasses get their "defining" feature at level 3. If you don't like the playstyle by level 4, it's time to talk to the skeleton in your camp.
Ultimately, the best character is the one that lets you interact with the world the way you want. Just maybe don't keep Shadowheart as a Trickery Cleric. Seriously. Change it.