Baldur's Gate 3 best builds: Top BG3 builds to try

The world of Faerûn is a dangerous place, so making the right choices is crucial, as is picking the right companions to complement your build and class - as you don't want to leave any blind spots or a hole in your heart if you don't romance them.

The game will punish you for mistakes, but Baldur's Gate 3 is never unfair. In time, and with our help, you will flourish in the Dungeons & Dragons world.

What are the best Baldur’s Gate 3 builds?

Our top BG3 builds are the Druid Circle of the Moon build and College of Valour Bard build.

Below are just some of the best optimised Baldur’s Gate 3 builds to really get the most out of your character.

We’ll also be highlighting which races are best suited for the build, the best subclass, background, skills and weapons.

Druid Circle of the Moon build

Druids embody nature's magic, harnessing a diverse array of spells and abilities. With the capability to transform into different animal forms, they gain strategic advantages unique to each shape. Druids are proficient in support, crowd control and summoning, making them invaluable assets in any group dynamic.

• Race – Elf
• Subrace – Woof-Elf
• Class – Druid
• Subclass – Circle of the Moon
• Background – Outlander
• Skills – Animal Handling and Nature
• Weapon – Clubs and Quarterstaffs

College of Valour Bard build

Bards are multifaceted fellows who can not only jam out on their instrument of choice – but also wreak havoc on foes by debuffing them or smacking them up (with a weapon – not a lute). With your tunes, you can also rally your party members to buff their skills.

• Race – Half-Elf
• Subrace – Wood Half-Elf
• Class – Bard
• Subclass – College of Valour
• Background – The Entertainer
• Skills – Acrobatics and Performance
• Spells – Healing Word, Heroism, Dissonant Whispers, Thunderwave

Barbarian Berserker build

Barbarians focus on melee weapons such as swords, axes and maces to dish out serious amounts of damage. They can also use the Rage mode to inflict more damage and better resist attacks.

We recommend trying to nab Commander Zhalk

• Race – Dwarf
• Subrace – Shield Dwarf
• Class – Barbarian
• Subclass – Berserker
• Background – Soldier
• Skills – Athletics and Intimidation
• Weapon – Heavy and two-handed weapons

Rogue Thief build

Rogues are adept at the arts of stealth, deception, and delivering precise strikes both from afar and up close and personal with their Sneak Attack feature allowing them to unleash substantial damage in a single, cunning strike.

Rogues also possess a wide range of skills that make them highly capable in various non-combat situations, such as picking locks and realising when people are trying to take advantage of you.

• Race – Drow
• Class – Rogue
• Subclass – Thief
• Background – Urchin
• Skills – Stealth and Sleight of hand
• Weapon – Bows and daggers

Light Cleric build

Clerics aren’t just for healing from the periphery – with the right build, they can dish out serious hit points as well as replenishing them.

This build lets you strike enemies with a longbow but offers Insight into other matters during dialogue and will help pass Religion checks too.

• Race – Human
• Class – Cleric
• Subclass – Light domain
• Background – Acolyte
• Skills – Wisdom and Dexterity
• Weapon – Longbow

Paladin Oathbreaker build

The Oathbreaker Paladin hones in on their aggression, delivering high damage in melee combat using powerful mechanics like Smite, Dreadful Aspect, and Hellish Rebuke making them extremely useful in combat.

It requires some work past the character creator to get but essentially you need to be at level 2 and lie, or break a promise such as promising not to kill an innocent but then doing so.

At camp, you will then be visited by the Oathbreaker Knight and you need to accept the dialogue option.

This unique subclass delves into darkness and corruption, presenting the opportunity to embrace an antiheroic path or a fallen paladin seeking redemption.

• Race – Tiefling
• Subrace – Zariel
• Class – Paladin
• Subclass – Oathbreaker
• Background – Soldier
• Skills – Athletics and Intimidation
• Spells – Spiteful suffering, Control Undead and Dreadful Aspect

Way of Shadow Monk build

The Monk possesses the power to deliver devastating attacks with well-timed strikes and can even cause enemies to explode. With their bare hands, Monks excel at close-range combat, but they are also adept at peacefully resolving conflicts through persuasion. Additionally, the Way of Shadows subclass allows them to instantaneously move between shadows meaning rather than fighting your way in with your party, your monk can peel off and come back with what you need before you know it.

• Race – Elf
• Subrace – Wood-Elf
• Class – Monk
• Subclass – Way of Shadows
• Background – Urchin
• Skills – Dexterity and Strength
• Weapon – Unarmed

Fighter Battle Master build

The Fighter Battle Master Build is an excellent choice if you prefer a playstyle centred around dealing significant damage and serving as a resilient tank. With their extensive hit point pool and proficiency in using various armours and weapons, Fighters can dive into the thick of it and come out on the other side with confidence.

• Race – Half-Orc
• Class – Fighter
• Subclass – Battle Master
• Background – Soldier
• Skills – Athletics, Persuasion, Intimidation
• Weapon – Two-handed weapons

The Great Old One Warlock build

Warlocks are enigmatic and formidable spellcasters who have forged a pact with a potent entity - be it a demon, devil, or archfey. In return for their incredible powers, warlocks are bound to fulfil their patron's desires, often entailing dark and malevolent deeds.

It won’t be just you being manipulated however as this builds high Charisma and Intelligence will see you outsmarting everyone

• Race – Tiefling
• Subrace – Mephistopheles
• Class – Warlock
• Subclass – The Great Old One
• Background – Sage
• Skills – Charisma and intelligence
• Weapon – Quarterstaff

Sorcerer Draconic Bloodline build

Sorcerers harness inherent magical abilities, mastering their craft through a distinctive class mechanic called metamagic. This feature empowers them to buff their spells by increasing their range, cast multiple spells in a single turn and choose from a huge variety of spells.

• Race – Half-Elf
• Subrace – Woof Half-Elf
• Class – Sorcerer
• Subclass – Draconic Bloodline
• Background – Charlatan
• Skills – Deception and Stealth
• Spells – Magic Missiles, Chromatic Orb, Thunderwave

Wizard Evocation build

Wizards shine in wielding area-of-effect spells, offering utility and control, yet their potency may demand meticulous forethought and preparation as they boast the most extensive spell repertoire in the game.

When things don’t go the way you planned, they can enable you to quickly adjust your strategy.

• Race – Elf
• Subrace – High-Elf
• Class – Wizard
• Subclass – Evocation School
• Background – Guild Artisan
• Skills – Intelligence and Wisdom
• Weapon – Quarterstaff

It's not just about the builds, however. Make sure to also recruit companions Baldur's Gate 3, as these can provide additional benefits that not even one of the best swords in the game can do.

Top tips for getting started with Baldur’s Gate 3

When building your first character, it is advisable to read up on all the classes on offer in Baldur's Gate 3, as fully understanding them will be key to having an enjoyable playthrough with a character that matches your play style.

There are plenty to choose from, but we would advise a build that focuses on both weapons and magic for new players so you can see which you prefer.

Later in the game, you can change your class if you’re not satisfied or you can always start a new character entirely if you would’ve rather have done things differently.

Also, if you're not sure you're happy with your character's look, check out how to change your appearance in Baldur's Gate 3.

What is the best class in Baldur's Gate 3?

The best classes in Baldur's Gate 3 are either the Fighter, Sorcerer or Paladin.

Picking one of these three classes is advisable for beginners as they offer the best balance and easy-to-grasp abilities.

Of course, there are many more than three classes to choose from, and what's best will ultimately be down to you and how you choose to play the game.

Read more on Baldur's Gate 3:

• Baldur's Gate 3 cast - all voice actors
• Baldur's Gate 3 mods - best hacks and cheats
• Baldur's Gate 3 multiplayer - co-op explained
• Baldur's Gate 3 on Steam Deck - D&D on the go
• Baldur's Gate 3 Legendary items - a leg up to end the game

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