What Class you pick is one of the most important choices you’ll make in Baldur’s Gate 3. Your Class affects how your character plays, and what they’re capable of achieving on and off the battlefield. In addition to your Class, you also have several Subclasses to pick from. There are over 40 Subclasses available, which can be extremely confusing. Don’t let yourself be overwhelmed. Consult this guide and you’ll easily figure out which are the best Subclasses in Baldur’s Gate 3.
Which Classes and Subclasses are the most popular?
According to Larian Studios, Paladin is the most popular Class. Sorcerer comes second, and Warlock comes third as of August 2023. The least popular choice is the Cleric, which is a shame as the Class can be used well if you know what you’re doing.
A poll on Reddit also sheds some light on what the most popular Subclasses are. When it comes to Paladins, the Oath of Vengeance is the popular choice, and it scored more votes than all the other classes combined. The Draconic Bloodline is the most chosen Subclass for Sorcerers and for Druids, the Circle of Spores is the most popular.
Best Subclasses for each Class in Baldur’s Gate 3
Subclasses are restricted to specific Classes. Hence, determining which Subclass is the best is a matter of considering your character’s Class and your intentions with them. Choosing the right Subclass for your Cleric, for example, can be the difference between a good supporting character and a good attacker.
Here are all the Subclasses ranked for each Class:
Barbarian
If you go with a Barbarian, you’ll have three Subclasses to pick from:
- Berserker
- Wild Magic
- Wildheart
Most Barbarians are used as powerful attackers, which makes Berserker the best Subclass to go with. This Subclass turns your regular Barbarian Rage into a Frenzy that grants you two bonus actions. Frenzied Strike and Frenzied Bow are two powerful bonus actions you gain that can easily turn the tide of a battle.
Bard
You have three Subclasses available:
- College of Lore
- College of Valor
- College of Swords
There are plenty of other Classes that excel on the battlefield, so it’s not a bad idea to focus on non-combat encounters with your Bard. For this, pick the College of Lore Subclass. You gain additional proficiencies and with the Cutting Words spell, you’ll be able to debuff your foes too.
Cleric
Your Clerics have seven Subclasses available:
- Life Domain
- Light Domain
- Knowledge Domain
- Trickery Domain
- Nature Domain
- Tempest Domain
- War Domain.
All of them provide some nice perks, but the Life Domain is one of the most helpful, especially if you’re aiming for a supporting Cleric, as it boosts your Cleric’s healing abilities.
Druid
Druids have nature-based magic, and they can be used in various scenarios. They have three Subclasses:
- Circle of the Moon
- Circle of the Spores
- Circle of the Land
They’re all viable, but if you’re playing with a Druid, you’re probably interested in their shapeshifting abilities, which makes the Circle of the Moon Subclass the best. This Subclass gains the Wild Shape ability which lets you transform into an animal. This is useful in both combat and non-combat scenarios.
Fighter
Fighters have three Subclasses to pick from:
- Battle Master
- Eldritch Knight
- Champion
Battle Master will give you the biggest edge. With this Class, you gain access to Manoeuvres unlocked as you level up. Useful Manoeuvres to pick up include Disarming Attack, Pushing Attack, and Precision Attack.
Monk
Though it’s probably one of the more boring Classes, there is a lot you can do with Monks. They come with three Subclasses unlocked at level 3:
- Way of the Shadow
- Way of the Open Hand
- Way of the Four Elements
They’re all great choices depending on what kind of Monk you’re trying to build. Way of the Shadow is a good pick because it enhances your stealth abilities, which is useful both on and off the battlefield.
Paladin
Paladins have four Subclasses that emphasize different kinds of magic. You’ll get to pick from:
- Oath of Devotion
- Oath of the Ancients
- Oathbreaker
- Oath of Vengeance
Paladins are versatile, and you can use them for a few purposes. They’re extremely effective as healers, which makes the Oath of Devotion one of the best options for this Class, as it’ll give you everything you need to heal and protect your party.
Ranger
A personal favorite, Rangers excel when it comes to ranged attacks and talking to animals. There are three Subclasses available:
- Beast Master
- Gloom Stalker
- Hunter.
Beast Master is the best choice. It gives you access to the Ranger’s Companion action which lets you summon an animal to help you. Gloom Stalker is also a good choice if you want to go the stealth route.
Rogue
Rogues are incredibly useful to have on your team thanks to their amazing Dexterity. If you need a lock picked or you want to sneak somewhere, a Rogue will get the job done. Rogues have three Subclasses:
- Thief
- Assassin
- Arkane Trickster
The best choice is arguably Thief, as it helps your Rogue do what Rogues do best. The Fast Hands feature also grants you a bonus action in battle, making your Rogue competent during battles as well.
Sorcerer
If you’re hoping to maximize on magic, Sorcerers aren’t a bad choice. The Subclasses on offer vary significantly, so you’ll have to make your choice carefully. You’ll have to pick from:
- Draconic Bloodline (unlocks dragon magic)
- Storm Sorcery (unlocks wind magic)
- Wild Magic (unpredictable).
If you’re unsure of which Subclass to pick, grab the Draconic Bloodline. It’ll help you during combat by allowing you to control an element of your choice, depending on which draconic bloodline you pick.
Warlock
Warlocks have three subclasses:
- Great Old One
- Fiend
- Archfey
The Great Old One is a good fit to round out your Warlock. It gives you access to several spells to manipulate your foes. You also gain the ability to inflict the Frightened condition on any enemies who suffer a critical hit from you.
Wizard
Lastly, we have the Wizards. They have a long list of spells available, and there are eight Subclasses:
- Evocation
- Abjuration
- Necromancy
- Conjuration
- Divination
- Enchantment
- Transmutation
- Illusion
Feeling lost? Grab the Evocation subclass. It gives you access to a large pool of spells, especially offensive ones that’ll allow you to dominate the battlefield.
Thanks to how open-ended Baldur’s Gate 3 is, you can make your team work even if you’ve made some bad choices when it comes to building your characters. If you feel like you absolutely need a do-over, visit Wither who’ll let you change a character’s Class.
