Summary
Baldur’s Gate 3has become a major success with its PC release alone, breaking records and making it the biggest adaptation of the Forgotten Realms universe yet. Appreciated by players both familiar and new toDungeons and Dragons,Baldur’s Gate 3has bridged the gap between tabletop and video game in an unprecedented way through its respect for the source material. Often considered one of the biggest RPG experiences ever made, there are still elements of its Fifth Edition inspiration that didn’t end up being implemented.
Notably excluded from the game, several subclasses available in the latestDungeons and Dragonsedition are one of the exceptions toBaldur’s Gate 3’s close adherence to providing the features of the tabletop in virtual form. The entireArtificer classthat didn’t make it in has been a common request from fans ofBaldur’s Gate 3, but there are plenty of variations of the base classes provided by the game that newer players may not be aware of.
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Warlock - Hexblade
Consisting of Warlocks who have made a pact with an entity ofthe Shadowfell, Hexblades are known to wield sentient weapons forged of shadow itself. Hexblades' Curse debuffs the opponent and can heal the player, while the subclass’ Hex Warrior feature allows one weapon to use the player’s Charisma modifier for attacks, an effect that can be combined with any weapon conjured by Pact of the Blade. Gaining Accursed Scepter later on, Hexblades can even use the soul of a slain foe to summon a scepter as a sort of familiar.
Warlock - The Genie
A nuanced twist onDungeons and Dragons' Warlock, this subclass is the result of a Warlock forming a pact with a powerful noble Genie. A subversion of the usual dynamic that sees Genies being bound into servitude by mortals, this relationship is much more in favor of the entity providing the power. Bottled Respite allows this subclass to enter inside a designated Genie’s Vessel object, while Sanctuary Vessel later allows multiple creatures to be placed inside and even potentially gain the benefits of a short rest. Some of the greatest potential in the game can be found in The Genie’s Limited Wish, and Wish spells, actions that can effectively bypass the mechanics of the game.
Druid - Circle of the Shepherd
Deeply involved with the spirits of beasts and fey alike,DnDDruid buildsof this subclass are more focused on protecting the defenseless creatures of nature. The Spirit Totem feature allows this subclass to summon spirits and provide different buffs within auras generated at the summoning site, while later features improve the defensive and offensive capabilities of the spirits alike. A final demonstration of the subclass’ ethos, Faithful Summons allows Circle of the Shepherd Druids to utilize the effects of Conjure Animals at level nine to summon four beast familiars upon the player losing all of their hit points or being incapacitated.
Fighter - Echo Knight
Mysterious warriors wielding the magic of time,Echo Knights inDnDcan summon the shadowy echoes of other timelines to assist them in battle. Manifest Echo allows for the summoning of a familiar echo that swap places with the player and perform opportunity attacks interchangeably while Unleash Incarnation and Shadow Martyr bolster its offensive and defensive applications respectively. Reclaim Potential causes a gain of temporary hit points upon an echo’s destruction, while the Echo Avatar feature even allows players to transfer their senses of sight and hearing into the echo to take full control of it. As if this weren’t strong enough on a martial Fighter, Legion of One later allows an entire second echo to be summoned.
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Cleric - Peace Domain
Worshippers of various deities representing peace across different pantheons, Clerics of this domain are one of the strongest support subclasses available. Able to add to attack rolls based on how many allies are within the vicinity of each other with the Emboldening Bond action, Peace Domain Clerics emphasize cooperation between teammates above all else. Protective Bond further allows allies to teleport in order to take damage in place of friends, showing howClerics help parties dominate the battlefield.
Bard - College of Eloquence
Masters of oration, Bards of this subclass have honed the art of persuasion to the furthest degree with their blend of masterful logic and appeal to emotion alike. The Silver Tongue feature allows any d20 Persuasion or Charisma roll of 9 or lower to automatically be treated as a 10, while Unsettling Words can be used as a bonus action to reduce the saving throws of a creature within range. Unfailing Inspiration and the later Infectious Inspiration improvement on it can buff allies in the traditional Bard style, but a follower ofthe College of Eloquencetruly shines as a party’s speaker due to the Universal Speech feature that temporarily allows communication regardless of language.
Wizard - School of Chronurgy
Wizards disciplined in the study of manipulating the fabric of time, students of Chronurgy can manipulate the battlefield to their will. Chronal Shift allows players to force a creature to repeat a roll and use the second result, and Momentary Stasis can temporarily incapacitate a creature and render it completely unable to move. Defying the typical mechanics ofDungeons and Dragons, Arcane Abeyance can condense a spell into a bead that any creature can then use to cast the spell as an action. TheChronurgy Wizard’s strongest feature is known as Convergent Future, an action that can literally just decide the fate of rolls within 60 feet of the caster.
Wizard - School of Bladesinging
Practicing what started as an Elven tradition of Wizardry, students of the School of Bladesinging employ a mix of beautiful dance and elegant swordplay bolstered by magic as one of the most simple yet well-executed class fantasies. With proficiency in light armor and one-handed weapons,the Wizard’s Bladesinger subclassholds the rare distinction of being a Wizard who possesses martial combat capabilities. The subclass' signature Bladesong feature provides several boosts while enabling the Song of Defense, a reaction that reduces damage equal to five times the level of the spell slot expended, and the Song of Victory that adds the player’s Intelligence modifier to melee weapon attacks damage.
Baldur’s Gate 3is available for PC and will launch on PlayStation 5 on June 12, 2025.
