Looking for the best Baldur’s Gate 3 builds? Drawing heavily from DnD 5E, Baldur’s Gate 3 has one of the most complex character creation systems in the RPG genre. For newcomers, it might be an overwhelming task as there’s a lot to take in when creating the perfect BG3 character. Each build must consider the RP factors, combat effectiveness, and, above all, ensuring seamless integration. Luckily, we’re here to help you in achieving that!
We’ve meticulously tested countless combinations of races, classes, backgrounds and skills to bring you our 5 best Baldur’s Gate 3 builds.
Circle of the Moon Druid Build
- Race: Wood Elf
- Subclass: Circle of the Moon
- Background: Outlander
- Primary Abilities: Wisdom and Constitution
- Skills: Animal Handling and Nature
- Weapons: Club or Quarterstaff
Druids are a multi faceted class in the game. While they get plenty of variety in casting defensive and offensive spells, their mainstay ability is Wild Shape. That is why I recommend taking the Circle of the Moon subclass, as it improves your ability to shapeshift into different beasts, which you can then strategically deploy on the battlefield as needed.
Outside combat, some cute little options like the Cat or Badger come in handy to access hard-to-reach hidden places through burrow holes.
But most importantly, you can use the tanky Polar Bear form early on as a Bonus Action as opposed to the other subclasses. The Wood Elf subrace blends nicely with the class, thanks to the Wisdom boost – the Druids’s spellcasting modifier – while granting extra movement speed. As for the abilities, consider prioritizing Wisdom and Constitution.
Finally, the Background and Skills I’ve picked for this build all align with the class’s inherent nature, so you can easily pull off any Wisdom checks and Saving Throws.
Berserker Barbarian Build
- Race: Half-Orc
- Subclass: Berserker
- Background: Soldier
- Primary Abilities: Strength and Constitution
- Skills: Intimidation and Athletics
- Weapons: Balduran’s Giantslayer, Sword of Chaos, Everburn Blade
If you prefer to stay up close and personal, going balls to the walls on your enemies, it doesn’t get any better than this Baldur’s Gate 3 Berserker Barbarian build. Using this build, you can improve the class’s Rage gimmick, and convert it into Frenzy, granting extra melee attacks (Frienzied Strike) per turn and the ability to throw creatures (Enraged Throw).
There are a couple of races that you can pair with the Barbarian, but the Half-Orc takes the cake, thanks to Relentless Endurance and Savage Attacks. The two abilities I’d invest in are Strength and Constitution, as they allow you to hit hard, casually toss enemies into chasms, and soak damage even when unarmored.
Barbarians may not have much influence in dialogues, so feel free to select a Background and Skills that match your preference. However, if you’re looking to intimidate NPCs, the Barbarian is the way to do so. I recommend the Soldier Background and proficiencies in Intimidation and Athletics.
The Berserker Barbarian is also one of the best early-game builds in BG3. And if you get your hands on the Everburn Blade for this build, you’ll have a powerful weapon capable of carrying you through most of Act 1.
Battle Master Fighter Build
- Race: Ghitiyanki
- Subclass: Battle Master
- Background: Soldier
- Primary Abilities: Strength, Constitution and Dexterity
- Skills: Intimidation and Athletics
- Weapons: Two-handed Weapons
Fighters are stalwart frontliners known for their ability to control enemies and deal plenty of damage, but with this build, we’re taking it to the next level.
The ideal pairing for this class is with the Githyanki race. Their ability to cast Misty Step as a Bonus Action to close distances is a boon for frontliners. Plus, Githyankis enjoy weapon privileges that grant bonuses to their class abilities.
To turn your Fighter into a force to be reckoned with, prioritize 17 Strength and 15 Constitution, distributing a +2 and +1 bonus to each. Opting for a Soldier Background with proficiencies in Athletics and Intimidation will further bolster your ability checks reliant on these skills.
On the flip side, I’d also invest 14 points in Dexterity for a +2 modifier to Initiative Rolls. Remember that you don’t want to be a slowpoke every turn, but one that acts fast with high mobility. This will help massively in that regard.
Once you’ve created your Fighter, you first need to pick a Fighting Style. Of the six options, the Great Weapon Fighting is a no-brainer. After all, you’ll want to hit like a truck with Two-Handed weapons, as you’ll wield greatswords with this build.
Pick the Battle Master subclass upon reaching level 3, and you’ll unlock the superiority die used to fuel your maneuvers. The Battle Master’s unique maneuvers set it apart from other subclasses. However, you’ll have a choice of three maneuvers, and the most effective ones are Riposte, Pushing Attack, and Disarming Attack. These maneuvers will elevate your melee combat prowess to new heights.
Hunter Ranger Build
- Race: Wood Elf or Strongheart Halfling
- Subclass: Ranger
- Background: Urchin
- Primary Abilities: Dexterity, Constitution and Wisdom
- Skills: Acrobatics, Nature, and Survival
- Weapons: Bows, Longbows, Crossbows
If you want to play a character that’s equally adept at RP and ranged combat, then you can’t go wrong with the Hunter Ranger. This is inarguably one of the if not the best, ranged Baldur’s Gate 3 build and the most fun way to play the game as you can make quick and easy work of giant foes, thanks to the Hunter’s Prey.
Hunters are known for their agility, preferring to stay light on their feet, and are skilled marksmen. So, to excel with the class, consider pairing it with a Wood Elf or Strongheart Halfling race and adopting the Urchin Background for an even more immersive experience.
At level 1, you’ll gain proficiency in three skills. Opt for skills like Acrobatics, Nature, and Survival, as hunters are skilled adventurers. Make Dexterity your primary stat, as bows will be your best friend here, and dump the rest into Wisdom for role-playing and Con for increased durability.
Hunters also have the option to choose from five favored enemies, each granting a set of useful abilities. As you level up, you’ll eventually be able to select three favored enemies, so think about the role you’ll play in your party and choose accordingly.
Additionally, you’ll have the Natural Explorer feature to simplify land traversal, and, most importantly, you’ll learn Whirlwind Attack at level 11. So, you’ll have to level up fast for that!
Light Cleric Build
- Race: Human
- Subclass: Light Domain
- Background: Acolyte
- Primary Abilities: Wisdom, Constitution and Strength
- Skills: Insight and Medicine
- Weapons: Blood of Lathander or Devotee’s Mace
This Baldur’s Gate 3 Light Cleric build not only fills the medic role but also takes an offensive role with potent cantrips, spells, and even weapons like maces. While Clerics may not be as flexible as Wizards, they shine as exceptional tanks. They are best placed in the center, delivering quick bursts of healing to allies in need while also applying crowd-controlling effects.
When selecting a race, you have a range of options, but Humans, known for their deep devotion to the divine, complement the Cleric class. They bring both fervent faith and versatility to the table, with Civil Militia providing proficiency in Light Armor and Human Versatility increasing carry weight capacity.
While your background choice won’t have a dramatic impact, an Acolyte background offers valuable bonuses to Insight and Religion checks. A 17 Wisdom with a +2 bonus feeds nicely into the Cleric’s spellcasting prowess, and the other points should be spent on Con and Strength.
Your spellcasting kit should employ a range of utility and damaging cantrips such as Sacred Flame, Guidance, Eldritch Blast and Blade Ward. Each Cleric Subclass have access to their domain spells, but the Light Domain leans on elemental magic, featuring potent spells like Fireball. To top it all off, have at least two healing spells, like Mass Healing Word and Cure Wounds, on the go to perfect this build.
Final Thoughts
And that is a wrap! These are what I consider as the best builds for Baldur’s Gate 3! While there are many other ways to shape your character and playstyle, these are powerful builds that don’t delve into the nuances of multi-classing.
Which build is your favorite in BG3? Do you agree with our list? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
