Multiclassing in Baldur’s Gate 3 is always a tempting proposition, and if you’re going to go for it, there’s hardly a better combination than Sorcerer and Warlock. Sorlocks get access to the best cantrip in the game, and they can massively boost their damage by taking advantage of Sorcery Points.
There are plenty of different ways to build a Sorlock, and each has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Taking four levels in Warlock and eight in Sorcerer grants access to three feats at the cost of your fifth-level spell slots. Going all the way to the fifth level in Warlock can give you an extra attack and make you a bit more versatile as a melee fighter.
There’s room to get creative, but the Sorlock build that has the most consistency and reliability is simpler than most. A slight dip into Warlock gives you a build that can deal 6d6 or even 9d6 damage in a turn – before adding your modifiers.
How to start a Sorlock build in BG3
You should start your Sorlock build as a Warlock. It might be tempting to take your first level in Sorcerer to gain proficiency in Constitution saving throws, but over the long haul having the extra hit points from starting your run as a Warlock will come in handy. Take the Fiend as your patron, and the Dark One’s Blessing trait will help you stay alive by granting you temporary hit points every time you slay a foe. From there progress right along to Warlock level two, and then you can call it quits on your multiclassing and spend the rest of your run leveling as a Sorcerer.
Only taking two levels in Warlock sacrifices your Pact Boon and a feat, but it lets you maximize your Sorcerer resources. All you really need from the Warlock class is Eldritch Blast and some Eldritch Invocations – I’d recommend Agonising Blast for damage and Repelling Blast for some control options on the battlefield.
Best Sorlock subclass
On the Sorcerer side of the equation, take the Red Draconic Bloodline subclass for the extra HP and the boost to fire damage. Even at high levels, you won’t be able to regularly lob a Fireball at your enemies, but in a pinch, you can do some serious damage with the spell. Take the Distant Spell and Twinned Spell Metamagics at level two and grab Quickened Spell at level three. Learn whatever spells you like, but it’s a good idea to grab some AoE attacks and Haste. Fireball is all but mandatory.
Best Sorlock feats
When you’re making this Sorlock build, you’re only going to get two feats. Some of the most tempting options are going to be:
- Ability Score increase
- Alert
- War Caster
Alert is a really nice way to make sure that your overpowered Sorlock character is decimating the battlefield right at the start of a fight, and War Caster is a great way to make sure that you almost never lose concentration. With that said, you’re going to rely on Charisma for your damage output, and in all likelihood you won’t be using concentration spells that often. It’s best to just take the Ability Score increase twice to do as much damage as possible.
Best race for a Sorlock build
The beauty of this Sorlock build is that you can really use it for any character. Even if you don’t pick an “optimal” race, you’re still going to be the most powerful character in your party, at least in terms of consistent damage output. That said, some options are still going to be a bit stronger than others.
- Half-elf – Half-elves are particularly fast, which gives you more mobility on the battlefield. Plus, their Fey Ancestry trait will help you avoid some disrupting status effects, and Darkvision is nothing to scoff at.
- Halfling – It’s all about the luck here, and trust me, getting to reroll crit fails on attacks, ability checks, and saving throws always feels great. Halflings also get advantage on saving throws against being frightened thanks to the Brave trait, which is a nice boost.
- Githyanki – The Astral Knowledge trait can give your Proficiency bonus to extra skills, making you a more well-rounded Sorlock, and Githyanki Psionics will give you Mage Hand, Enhance Leap, and Misty Step as free utility spells.
How to use the Sorlock build in BG3
You’re going to use Eldritch Blast. A lot. By the time you reach the max level, your trusty magic canon will shoot three bolts at once. If you spend Sorcery Points to quicken the spell, you can fire off six blasts in a single turn. That’s not bad, but you could do better.
If you quicken Haste, you’ll cast that as a bonus action, letting you fire two Eldritch Blasts that turn and every turn after for ten rounds. Plus, Haste can have two targets, so you can beef up the best fighter in your party to really maximize damage. Keep in mind that at max level you can reliably quicken spells three times per long rest without converting any of your spell slots into Sorcery Points, which is always an option.
Of course, nothing feels as good as quickening Fireball and lighting your enemies ablaze twice per turn, but that’s going to eat through two of your level three spell slots. It’s really only feasible once per long rest, so save that move for when you really need it.
Increasing your Sorlock damage in BG3
Getting as much damage as possible out of this Sorlock build requires boosting your Charisma as much as possible. Your ability score-increasing feats will carry you a long way, but there are two in-game items that should also be on your radar.
The Potent Robe is a reward that you get by talking to Alfire after completing the Rescue the Tieflings quest in Act 2. It adds your Charisma modifier as damage to all your cantrips, essentially doubling the bonus your Eldritch Blast gets from the Agonising Blast Invocation.
Once you’re in Act 3, you should head to Sorcerous Sundries in Baldur’s Gate. There you’ll be able to buy a hat called Birthright for 410 gold, and it adds an additional +2 to your Charisma. With all that in place, you’ll be able to charm just about anyone you meet and blast anyone who disagrees with you into smithereens.
Sorlock full build
When you have this build up and running, these are the main features, feats, items, and spells you should have. While we’d recommend sticking close to the build, with a strict “must-have” label on Charisma feats, remember extra spells and cantrips for utility are to your preference and party style.
Warlock Level 2
- Fiend as Patron
- Dark One’s Blessing trait
- Agonizing Blast Invocation
- Repelling Blast Invocation
Sorcerer Level 10
- Red Draconic Bloodline
- Distant Spell Metamagic
- Twinned Spell Metamagic
- Quickened Spell Metamagic
Feats
- Increase Charisma +2 at Sorcerer level 4
- Increase Charisma +2 at Sorcerer level 8
Spells and Cantrips
- Eldritch Blast
- Fireball
- Disintegrate
- Utility spells like Fog Cloud, Feather Fall, Haste, Banishment, and Dimension Door
Items
- Potent Robe
- Birthright
