Baldur’s Gate 3allows players to select one oftwelve classesat the start ofcharacter creationand then allows for further customization in the form of subclasses that differ in the way they play from the base class.
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Larian Studioshas done its best to ensure that there is an element of individuality to every subclass in the game, and every single one of them is a viable option in the right hands. That said, some options are still better than others, depending on what you value in your character.
Updated by Hamza Haq on July 22, 2025: BG3 offers tons of customization in character creation, allowing players to fully realize the class fantasies they have in their minds. Five new subclasses have been added to the list to give players more options when deciding on their builds.
15Wild Magic - Barbarian
If you’re looking to wreak some havoc and breed some chaos, nothing comes close to theWild Magic Barbarian. Cast random magic effects every turn at no cost to you, and watch the world burn.
The random effects that can be triggered by a Wild Magic Barbarian include being able to deal AoE necrotic damage, adding magic imbuements to your weapon, increasing your AC, or summoning a monster to fight beside you. It’s an incredibly fun experience to try to work around and benefit from what your Barbarian unleashes every turn.
14War Domain - Cleric
Even if you’re not planning on playing a Cleric, theWar Domain Clericis perhaps the most useful class formulticlassingavailable in Baldur’s Gate 3. Clerics can choose their subclass at level 1, meaning you can gain access to the level perks of the War Domain Cleric by only putting one level into it. Most notably, Heavy Armor and Shieldproficiency.
On their own, War Clerics are incredibly powerful tanks that get insaneACas they gain access to more and more equipment. Their melee nature makes them uniquely suited to make use of Spirit Guardians as long as they can maintain their concentration.
13Way Of Shadow - Monk
TheWay of Shadow Monkis defined by its signature ability, Shadow Step. Shadow Step not only allows you to teleport across the battlefield, but it doesn’t even break your stealth — so long as your Monk was hiding when you cast it.
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The play style of Way of Shadow Monks is similar to that of the Assassins in that they want to weave in and out of sight, dealing devastating strikes when they appear, and then disappearing when they’re done.
12Champion - Fighter
For those new to theDungeons & Dragonsruleset that Baldur’s Gate 3 is based on, theFighter’s Champions subclassis an easy way to get into the game without having to worry about ten different types of niche mechanics and spells.
A Champion stands in front and decapitates everyone who stands in his way with Critical Hits. Champions’ signature is their ability to land powerful critical hits much more frequently than other subclasses. Addicts of the large red CRITICAL HIT text will appreciate this subclass.
11College Of Swords - Bard
If you’re hoping to enter the fray as a Bard and stay in the thick of it, theCollege of Swords Bardis going to be the class of choice for you. This subclass gains access to all the benefits that come with the regular Bard, like staggeringlyhigh Charisma, musical instruments, and Bardic Inspiration, and takes it to another level.
College of Sword Bards gets Combat Inspiration as a bonus action, giving allies +1d6 on all their combat rolls. They also get Medium Armor proficiency and get access to Extra Attack to deal more damage per turn with their martial weapons.
10Draconic Bloodline - Sorcerer
Sorcerers are spellcasters that focus on Meta Magic as their primary means of dealing magic, unlike Wizards. While Metamagic alone is an incredibly fun tool to play around with — double casts ofFireballnever get old —Draconic Bloodline Sorcerersdifferentiate themselves from Wizards even more.
Related:Baldur’s Gate 3: Best Sorcerer Spells, RankedWhen you pick the Draconic Bloodline for your Sorcerer, not only do you get a higher constitution andArmor Class, but you can also attune yourself to deal increased damage with a specific variety of spell damage (Fire, Cold, Acid, etc.) by choosing your dragon ancestor. There are even visual markings that appear on your character when you choose your bloodline.
9The Fiend - Warlock
Warlocks are already a combat-focused spellcasting class, and with The Fiend as their patron, they thrive in battle.The Fiend subclassgives Warlocks access to high-damage evocation spells likeBurning Hands,Scorching Ray, andFireball, as well as some usefulutility spellslikeCommandandBlindness.
And, of course, the cantripEldritch Blastremains their bread and butter. Just remember to choose Agonizing Blast and Repelling Blast as your first two Eldritch Invocations to get the most use out of your Warlock early on in the game.
8Gloom Stalker - Ranger
Gloom Stalkerplays into the fantasy of the stealthy archer that strikes from the shadows and disappears. Your role in combat is to hide every chance you get, deal damage to the enemies with your ranged attacks, and then return to the shadows.
Dread Ambusher makes going into hiding a Bonus Action rather than a Standard Action, which allows you to hide every turn and still attack.Hunter’s Mark, when combined with Dread Ambusher, means that you’re always dealing bonus damage if you play correctly.
7Berserker - Barbarian
If throwing people and objects around is something you’re interested in, theBerserker subclassof Barbarian is the way to go. What sets this class apart from other Barbarians is the unique form of rage they get access to, called Frenzy. It allows them to gain access to Frenzied Strike and Enraged Throw, both iconic Berserker abilities.
Berserkers can use Enraged Throw to pick up and throw increasingly heavier and heavier objects as they increase their strength. Throw a goblin at another goblin and watch both of them take massive damage and be knocked prone. Or throw a weapon and add your strength modifier to the base damage of the weapon, dealing massive damage.
6Oath of Vengeance - Paladin
Baldur’s Gate 3 does an excellent job of immersing you into the game world by forcing you to interact with the environment as your character rather than as a player. This feeling of immersion is most apparent in thePaladin subclasses, especially in the Oath of Devotion and Oath of Vengeance Paladins, where if you don’t keep to your oath with your in-game decisions, you lose your Paladin powers.
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And, while Oath of Devotion is a standard Paladin that does no harm and saves everyone, the Oath of Vengeance Paladin is our go-to choice as it allows you to lay down the law and play as a brutal, unforgiving character who doesn’t have a merciful bone in his body. The Judge Dredd of Faerun, so to speak.
