You’re standing there, staring at the character creator screen, and honestly? It’s paralyzing. You’ve got twelve icons staring back at you, and if you're like most of us, you’re probably thinking: “If I pick the wrong one, am I going to be 40 hours deep and realize I can't hit anything?” Relax. You won't.
Basically, Baldur’s Gate 3 is designed so you can’t really "brick" a character. But there is a massive difference between a build that just gets by and one that turns the final boss into a glorified punching bag. Most people treat classes like they're just about combat. They’re not. Your class is your entire lens for the game—it changes how people talk to you, how you solve puzzles, and whether you can talk a boss into literally deleting themselves so you don't have to fight them.
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The Raw Powerhouses: Who Hits the Hardest?
If you want to see big numbers, you’re looking at the Paladin or the Sorcerer.
Paladins are sort of the "main character" class for a reason. They have Charisma, which means you’ll actually win those high-stakes dialogue rolls, and they have Divine Smite. Smite is the ultimate "delete" button. You hit a goblin, you decide to burn a spell slot, and suddenly that goblin is red mist. It’s satisfying.
But here is what people get wrong: they think Paladins are just tanks. They aren't. If you play an Oath of Vengeance Paladin, you are an assassin in heavy armor.
Then there’s the Sorcerer. Everyone loves Wizards because they can learn every spell in the game from scrolls. That’s cool, I guess. But Sorcerers have Metamagic. You haven't lived until you've used "Twinned Spell" to cast Haste on two of your teammates at once. It’s basically cheating. In the current Patch 8 meta, Shadow Magic Sorcerers are actually outperforming almost everyone because they can jump into melee with a Shadow Blade and still nuke the room if things get dicey.
The Classes Nobody Talks About (But Should)
Everyone picks Fighter. It’s easy. It’s reliable.
But have you actually looked at the Bard?
Seriously. A lot of players skip Bards because they think they’re just "the music guy." That is a mistake. A College of Swords Bard is arguably the best archer in the entire game. They get "Slashing Flourish," which lets them hit two enemies with one shot. Pair that with a couple of hand crossbows, and you’re firing four or five times a turn while everyone else is still trying to find their shoes. Plus, you get "Jack of All Trades," which makes you decent at literally every skill check in the game. You’re a Swiss Army knife with a lute.
And then there's the Monk.
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Monks used to be the joke of D&D. Not here. In Baldur’s Gate 3, a Way of the Open Hand Monk is a terrifying blur of punches. By level 6, you’re adding necrotic, radiant, or psychic damage to every single hit. If you take the Tavern Brawler feat—which, honestly, you should—your damage scaling goes completely off the rails. You’ll be stunning dragons and punching through steel doors. It’s wild.
Why Your Stats Are Lying to You
Most players think they need a "balanced" character. They put 12s and 14s in everything.
Don't do that.
This is a game of extremes. If you’re a Cleric, your Strength doesn't matter unless you’re specifically built for it. Put those points into Wisdom. If you’re a Rogue, your Intelligence is basically useless. Dump it.
- Strength: Jumping distance and shoving people off cliffs (highly recommended).
- Dexterity: Initiative. If you have low Dex, you go last. Going last means you might die before you even take a turn.
- Charisma: The "I want to win the game by talking" stat.
The Multiclass Trap
Multiclassing sounds cool. Who wouldn't want to be a Rogue-Paladin-Wizard?
In reality, it’s a great way to make a weak character if you don't know the breakpoints. Most classes get a massive power spike at level 5. This is when Martials (Fighter, Barbarian, Paladin) get an Extra Attack. If you multiclass at level 4, you’re delaying that second attack, and you will feel weak.
The "Sorcadin" (Sorcerer + Paladin) is a classic for a reason. You take 6 levels of Paladin for the Aura of Protection and the extra attack, then 6 levels of Sorcerer for more spell slots to fuel your Smites. You end up with the durability of a tank and the magical battery of a god.
What You Should Actually Pick
Stop worrying about the "best" class. The game is beatable with anything. Seriously.
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If you want a recommendation for a first-timer:
- Fighter (Battle Master): It’s simple, but "Disarming Attack" and "Trip Attack" give you enough tactical depth to keep it interesting.
- Cleric (Tempest or Light): You aren't just a healer. A Tempest Cleric can maximize lightning damage and basically act as a walking thunderstorm.
- Warlock (The Fiend): You get Eldritch Blast. It’s the best cantrip in the game. You never run out of ammo, and it scales as you level up.
Actionable Insights for Your Build
- Respec often: Withers is in your camp for a reason. It only costs 100 gold. If you hate your subclass, just change it. You can even steal the gold back from him; he literally does not care.
- Check your proficiencies: If you’re a Wizard wearing leather armor you aren't proficient in, you can't cast spells. I see people make this mistake all the time and wonder why their "Cast" button is greyed out.
- Use the Environment: No matter what class you pick, a barrel of Firewine is more powerful than a level 1 spell. Carry them. Throw them. Profit.
Ultimately, your choice should be about flavor. Do you want to be the righteous hero, the sneaky thief, or the guy who talks to squirrels? (Pick Druid if it's the squirrels). The "meta" changes with every patch, but the satisfaction of a well-placed Shove off a high ledge is eternal.
If you’re ready to start, go into that character creator and pick the one that looks the coolest. You can always fix the stats later. Just make sure someone in your party has "Speak with Animals." Trust me.
Next Steps for Your Adventure:
- Locate Withers in the Dank Crypt early in Act 1 so you can unlock the ability to respec your class at any time.
- Focus on one primary stat (16 or 17 at start) rather than spreading points thinly across all six attributes.
- Equip a shield on any character with the proficiency, even casters, to significantly boost your early-game Armor Class (AC).