Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - General Strongest Lead Character Build?

Using races and classes available at launch, which would be the best for the lead character? I'm thinking a big benefit is gained from having strong skill levels in Persuasion, Intimidation, and Deception because you lead all the dialogues. Sleight of Hand very useful for...inventory expansion. I lean towards spell casting as a preference. My two suggestions:

Total Skill Monkey, Strong Support Caster: Knowledge Cleric 1/Bard of Lore 11 Probably an Elf or Tiefling for flavour. Races hardly matter any more, do they?

Some face of the party power, Strong Tank: Paladin of Vengeance 6/Draconic Bloodline Sorcerer 6 Drow maybe.

Ignoring Charisma: Knowledge Cleric 1/Divination Wizard 11 High Elf

What’s the point of dipping 1 level into cleric? Yeah, you can choose a small handful of cleric spells of any level from their list because of the apparent change to level restrictions when multiclassing, but you won’t cast them as well since your Wis isn’t your main casting stat. You don’t need more than one healer, so why not just run a proper cleric or Druid in your party? When I’m playing a badass sorcerer I don’t want to be burning my spell slots casting Cure Wounds.

I'm going Gloom 5, Assassin 5, Fighter 2

2APR, good Sneak Damage whilst invisible in the dark, plus Action Surge, plus only miss out on 1 ASI [which is inherent to multiclassing]. Exceptional at exploration and finding new things. Perfect for a new, blind playthrough.

Lots of skills, albeit not too talky, so the outcomes there are always exciting. Speak with animals for the funniest voice acting I've seen since HK-47. Those spiders are inspired. Oh, and the dog. Oh, and the Owlbear Cub!

I'm just not set on race. Drow or Duergar would be best umbral sight wise, but those are too angsty for a first playthrough. So I'm between the mobility and sexy greenness of the Wood Elf - or the Cuteness of the Lucky Halfling, or just Dwarf like I always do and go full on Scout Harding. I'll spend four hours doing fantasy barbie before I make that call, probably.

I'm just learning about this stuff, but my current plan is Gloomstalker with hand crossbow, and dipping a bit into battlemaster. My original idea was going drow, but I'm not sure anymore, I need to see the final changes to races.

Hi Warlocke, dipping to Knowledge Cleric gets: two proficiencies (Arcana, History) and two extra languages. Also Medium Armour proficiency. You also get some handy cantrips (Guidance, +1d4 to skill checks) and Healing Word and Bless are solid utility. Concentration is a very tight mechanic, you will want your main cleric to be running Spirit Guardians, probably, Bless on top is handy. Revive at range is very handy at any level. Identify always memorized is also really handy.

Rodeo: Gloom stalker/Assassin is powerful for combat and also gives enough options of to have Expertise in, for instance Deception which should offer some dialogue options. I am aiming to unlock maximum 'hidden knowledge' on first playthrough, though. Gloom stalker is one I'll save for a second or third run through. I'm sure it'll be a really fun build though!

I'm planning on doing a halfling bard 9/ feylock 3
I'm undecided, if full caster mode with Lore and Tome or going melee with Swords/Blade.
But I'll get Devils Sight for my little girl.

Race: Half Orc or Half Wood Elf

Light Cleric - 1/ Rogue 3 - Thief subclass/ Berserker Barbarian - 8

Str: 14 (21) with Elixir
Dexterity: 14
Constitution: 16
Intelligence: 10
Wisdom:10
Charisma: 12

Level 1 Cleric/Light subclass

Level 2-6 Barbarian

Level 7-9 Rogue

Level 10-12 Barbarian

Unarmored AC 15

FEATS:
Great Weapon Master
Sentinel

Extraordinary Class Features:
Warding Flare - Uses reaction to give disadvantage to one attacker per round.
Rage
Can convert Bonus Actions into Attacks.

BA Hide, BA Disengage, BA dash from Rogue.
Main weapon would be a Two handed Sword/or some two handed strength weapon.
Ranged Sneak Attack for extra 2D6 damage with Heavy Crossbow (1d10 + 2 + 2d6). (This is situational if you are out of melee range)
Reckless Attack grants Advantage to all attacks that round.
Expertise in 2 skills from Rogue

Spellcasting:
Cantrips (choose 3)
Guidance
Thaumaturgy
Light


Spells: (I know you can't cast spells while Raging, this is not the point of the build, it's just a nice feature that could be useful)
Healing Word


At level 12 - 4 Attacks per round all with Advantage x 2 the Critical Threat range
Can Cast healing as bonus action on self or allies
Wisdom Saving throw Proficiency
Charisma Saving throw proficiency


Dependent on Elixirs of Hill Giant Strength to push strength to 21


Just an amazing Tanky build with a lot of damage output and great saving throws.

Sorry, how are you getting four attacks there?

This is actually quite fun if you pair up with Karlach like you said elsewhere; you can hide behind her and she can throw you to safety if needed.

I actually plan to have her in the party most of the time ( and romance her). I'm not a fan of getting my little halfling thrown though, I'm pretty sure she will get fall damage.

I think the four attacks in that build are coming from:

1. Two attacks from extra attack at Barbarian level 5.
2. And two bonus attacks which are coming from having two bonus actions as a Thief level 3.

I haven't played thief in bg3 since launch of EA but in 5e the thief bonus actions aren't extra Great Weapon Attacks, they're disarm traps, open locks, pick pockets etc.

Of course, Larian might make thieves super combat monsters, you never know!

Full lighting or ice draconic sorcerer. Some setup with shadowheart and you roll damage twice aginst most things+ the favored element bonus.

Then you get to have all the face skills at all times.

Correct, and all with Advantage.

1. Reckless Attack
2. 2nd Attack
3. Bonus Action Attack Frenzied Strike/melee or Ranged
4. Bonus Action Attack Frenzied Strike/melee or Ranged
5. Helmet of Grit Bonus Action attack Frenzied Strike melee or Ranged

Also with +10 to damage with GWM and with a Great/two handed weapon and 21+ strength.

The damage numbers will be insane.

Devil's Sight would pair nicely with the Illithid power related to darkness. Not sure if that will still be Rogue only in final release.

Blackheifer: it does seem like this is legit in bg3 EA and if so it is a hilariously abusive build. I hope they don't patch it too quickly.

I won't use the Illithid power at all. Maybe in another playthrough ( I joked in another thread, that I might play Astarion for that since he likes his little guest so much and I don't like him, so wouldn't care, if he dies in the ebd, because of putting so much tadpoles into his head).

You also have to consider that Advantage doubles your critical threat chance since you are rolling two dice, so with 5 attacks you have a 50% chance of a crit on one of them.

Also you have BA Hide, disengage and dash so escape is easy.

Yeah, it's pretty hilariously broken. I love it.

What do I win?

Fair enough, I wouldn't make a character who'd signed a pact with some demigod patron, but that's just me. Tapping Illithid powers seems very similar. Power now, price later.