So, you’ve finally made it to the character creator. The music is swelling, the lighting is dramatic, and you’re staring at a list of 12 classes that basically determine whether you’ll be a god-tier tactical genius or a wet noodle in a fancy tunic. Choosing a class in this game isn't just about how you hit things. It’s about how the world talks back to you.
Most people just click Paladin and call it a day.
I get it. Paladins are the most popular choice for a reason—they hit like a truck and they’re charming enough to talk a boss into clinical depression. But honestly? You might be missing out on the absolute chaos that makes a "correct" Baldur's Gate 3 class guide actually useful. This isn't just about damage numbers. It's about vibes, dialogue, and how many times you can shove a goblin off a cliff before it gets old (spoiler: never).
The "I Just Want to Hit Stuff" Tier
If you’re new to D&D or just don't want to manage a library of 40 spells, you’re looking at the martials.
Fighter is the baseline. It’s the vanilla latte of classes. You might think that’s an insult, but at level 2, you get Action Surge. That lets you take a whole extra action in one turn. By level 11, a pure Fighter is swinging their sword three times per action. Use Action Surge? That’s six swings. It’s basically a blender with a health bar.
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Then there’s the Barbarian. If Fighter is a surgeon, Barbarian is a guy with a brick. You Rage, you take half damage, and you throw people. Literally. The Berserker subclass lets you use a bonus action to throw an enemy at another enemy. It's peak gaming.
But wait. What about the Monk?
For a long time, people thought Monks were "okay." Then we discovered the Tavern Brawler feat. If you build a Strength-based Monk with Tavern Brawler, you aren't just punching people; you're evaporating them. You move faster than anyone else and can stun bosses so they just sit there and take it. It's borderline disrespectful.
Why the Baldur's Gate 3 Class Guide Usually Ignores Bards
Most guides treat Bards like the annoying guy at a party with an acoustic guitar. They're wrong.
In the context of a Baldur's Gate 3 class guide, the Bard is actually the secret "Easy Mode." They are a "Face" class. This means they have high Charisma, allowing you to pass almost every dialogue check in the game. You can literally skip entire boss fights just by being a fast talker.
- College of Lore: You get "Cutting Words" to make enemies miss and "Magical Secrets" to steal spells from other classes.
- College of Swords: You become a dual-wielding dervish who can also cast Fireball. It’s unfair.
- College of Glamour (Patch 8): This one's newer. It’s all about controlling the battlefield with faerie-like charm.
Honestly, if you hate reloading saves because you failed a persuasion check, just play a Bard.
The Magic Users: Prepared vs. Spontaneous
This is where people get confused.
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Wizards (like Gale) can learn any spell from a scroll. You find a scroll of Artistry of War? Eat it. Now you know it forever. They’re the nerds of the group. You have to "prepare" your spells before a fight, which requires actual brainpower.
Sorcerers, on the other hand, are born with it. They have fewer spells known, but they have Metamagic. This is the "Twin Cast" or "Quickened Spell" stuff that lets you cast two Fireballs in one turn. If you want raw power, go Sorcerer. If you want to be a Swiss Army Knife, go Wizard.
Warlocks are different. You get two spell slots. That’s it. Sounds bad, right? Except they recharge on a Short Rest. And you have Eldritch Blast. It’s the best cantrip in the game. Add "Agonizing Blast" at level 2, and you're basically a magical sniper.
The Hybrid Powerhouses
Sometimes you want a bit of everything.
Paladins are the classic. You get heavy armor and "Divine Smite." Smites are the reason Paladins are the most played class. You hit a guy, you burn a spell slot, and the guy explodes in radiant light. It feels incredible. Just be careful with your "Oath." If you do something "evil" (or even just pragmatically rude), you might become an Oathbreaker.
Clerics are often relegated to "the healer." Don't do that. Shadowheart’s default Trickery domain is... fine. But a Light Domain or Tempest Domain Cleric is a walking nuke. A Tempest Cleric can maximize lightning damage to hit for 80+ damage in a single strike.
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Druids are the wild card. Turning into an Owlbear and jumping from a high ledge to deal 800 crushing damage is a real strategy. It’s called "Owlbear from the Top Rope." Look it up.
Multiclassing: How to Break the Game
Once you hit level 2, you can start mixing classes. This is where the Baldur's Gate 3 class guide gets spicy. You only get 12 levels total, so you have to be smart.
A popular one is the "Sorlock" (Sorcerer + Warlock). You use Warlock for Eldritch Blast and Sorcerer for Metamagic. Another is the "Gloomstalker Assassin" (Ranger + Rogue). You basically end every fight on the first turn before the enemies even know you're there.
Expert Tip: Don't multiclass just for the sake of it. Most classes get a huge power spike at level 5 (like Extra Attack for martials or Level 3 spells for casters). If you multiclass too early, you'll feel weak.
Practical Steps for Your Build
If you're still staring at that screen, here’s how to actually decide:
- Check your party composition. If you're taking Astarion (Rogue), Gale (Wizard), and Shadowheart (Cleric), you probably need a "tank" like a Fighter or Paladin.
- Think about your "Face." Who is going to do the talking? If it's you, pick a high Charisma class (Bard, Paladin, Sorcerer, Warlock).
- Don't fear the Respec. You'll meet a skeleton named Withers pretty early. For 100 gold, he lets you change your class entirely. You aren't locked in. Experiment.
- Feats matter more than you think. At level 4, don't just take the +2 to a stat. Look at "Alert" (to go first in combat) or "Savage Attacker."
The "best" class is the one that lets you play the way you want. Want to talk to animals? Play a Druid or Ranger. Want to be a holy avenger? Paladin. Want to be a drunken master who punches dragons? Monk (specifically with the Patch 8 updates).
Just remember: there are no "bad" classes in Baldur's Gate 3. Only bad rolls. And even then, that’s what Inspiration points are for. Go pick something weird. You can always pay the skeleton to fix it later.
To get started, focus on reaching level 4 as a single class first to secure your first Feat before experimenting with multiclassing at Withers in camp. Look for the "Tavern Brawler" feat if you're a Monk or Barbarian, or "War Caster" if you're a spellcaster who hates losing concentration. Finally, always keep a few Elixirs of Hill Giant Strength in your pockets—they turn even the puniest build into a physical powerhouse until your next long rest.