Baldur's Gate 3 Classes: A Full Overview

Baldur's Gate 3 has a total of 12 classes and 46 subclasses, which makes deciding what to play a bit tricky. Each class offers a variety of abilities for your character, and therefore a variety of options. But you don't need to stress over which class to pick, because an upcoming feature will let you respec your class and reinvest your levels. In our article, we'll cover the classes in Baldur's Gate 3.

You can also check out our new article on the Baldur's Gate 3 Classes Tier List!

Baldur's Gate 3 Classes

Barbarian

As usual for D&D, Barbarians have a primary ability of Strength and saving throw proficiencies in Strength and Constitution. They're skilled with light and medium armor as well as shields, simple weapons, and martial weapons. As soon as you reach level 3, you'll be able to choose one of three subclasses:

• Path of the Berserker
• Path of the Wildheart
• Path of Wild Magic

Bard

Bards have a primary Charisma ability (shocking, I know) and saving throw proficiencies in Charisma and Dexterity, useful for talking your way out of an angry ex's rage on your last romantic evening, or dodging whatever they throw at you. They're proficient with light armor, simple weapons, as well as longswords, shortswords, rapiers, hand crossbows, and of course musical instruments.

The three subclasses you can pick at level 3 are:

• College of Lore
• College of Valor
• College of Swords

Cleric

With a primary Wisdom ability and saving throw proficiencies in Wisdom and Charisma, Clerics prefer to solve problems with words, but they're well equipped for violence when words go unheard. They're also proficient with light and medium armor, shields, and simple weapons. There are seven subclasses to choose from:

• Life
• Light
• Nature
• Tempest
• Trickery
• War
• Knowledge

Druid

Druids have a primary Wisdom ability, but since they're a bit socially awkward, their saving throw proficiencies are Wisdom and Intelligence, not Charisma. They're proficient with light and medium armor, shields, and a range of weapons: clubs, daggers, darts, javelins, maces, quarterstaffs, scimitars, sickles, and spears. At level 2, you'll be able to choose one of two subclasses:

• Circle of the Land
• Circle of the Moon

Fighter

As you'd expect, a Fighter has a primary Strength ability and, like a Barbarian, saving throw proficiencies in Strength and Constitution. A Fighter is proficient with all types of armor, shields, simple weapons, and martial weapons. You can pick your preferred fighting style from the start, and as soon as you reach level 3 you can choose one of three subclasses:

• Battle Master
• Eldritch Knight
• Champion

Paladin

As a holy warrior, a Paladin has a primary Strength ability with saving throw proficiencies in Wisdom and Charisma. Just like a Fighter, they're proficient with all types of armor, shields, simple weapons, and martial weapons. There are three subclasses to choose from:

• Oath of the Ancients
• Oath of Devotion
• Oath of Vengeance

Ranger

As a Ranger, you'll use a mix of combat prowess and nature magic in battle, with a primary ability of Dexterity. You're proficient with light and medium armor, shields, simple and martial weapons, while your saving throw proficiencies are Strength and Dexterity. At level 3, you'll get three subclasses to choose from:

• Hunter
• Beast Master
• Gloom Stalker

Rogue

Rogues have a primary ability of Dexterity, with saving throws in Dexterity and Intelligence. They're proficient with light armor, simple weapons, longswords and shortswords as well as rapiers and hand crossbows, and no matter the weapon, sneak attacks are always a solid way to deal damage. Again, as soon as you reach level 3 you can choose one of three subclasses:

• Arcane Trickster
• Assassin
• Thief

Sorcerer

Sorcerers have a primary ability of Charisma and saving throw proficiencies in Constitution and Charisma. Since they're not proficient with any type of armor, they're known as glass cannons. However, they're proficient with daggers, quarterstaffs, and light crossbows, and again you can pick one of three subclasses:

• Wild Magic
• Draconic Bloodline
• Storm Sorcery

Warlock

As a Warlock, you'll have a primary ability of Charisma with saving throw proficiencies in Wisdom and Charisma. Warlocks are proficient with light armor and simple weapons, and again you can choose one of three subclasses to start:

• The Archfey
• The Fiend
• The Great Old One

Wizard

Since Wizards have to study for their powers, their primary ability is Intelligence. Their saving throw proficiencies are Intelligence and Wisdom, and they're proficient with daggers, quarterstaffs, and light crossbows — and with no armor proficiency at all, they're glass cannons just like Sorcerers. As soon as you reach level 2, you can choose one of eight subclasses:

• Abjuration
• Conjuration
• Divination
• Enchantment
• Evocation
• Necromancy
• Illusion
• Transmutation

Monk

Monks aren't available in early access. Their primary abilities are Dexterity and Wisdom, and their saving throw proficiencies are Strength and Dexterity. They're proficient with simple weapons and shortswords, and at level 3 you can choose one of three subclasses:

• Way of the Open Hand
• Way of Shadow
• Way of the Four Elements

When Does Baldur's Gate III Come Out?

The game is expected to launch next month for PlayStation 5 and PC.