Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - Build Discussion Anyone can share Build for beginner level 1-4 ?

I researched builds and most only focus on 6-12 and no one shared the build for beginners at max lv4

Lv4 is usually after finishing Blighted Village zone

And this is the level when one will face the hag and phase spider boss

Anyone here have good build for beginnrrs leveling from 1 to 4 (max) ?

Heres what i find good :

- Start as wardomain cleric , then 3 levels warlock pact of blade , impressive melee dps at low levels with multiple attack per turn with war priest charge

- Start as ranger and get gloomstalker at lv3 , go into thief 1 level for sneak attack at lv4

You're probably better off taking the ranger to 4 (and then 5) over picking up a level of thief. That level of thief means you're pushing back access to 2nd level spells, your first feat, and the extra attack. Likewise, a pure focus on Warlock will probably be better, so you get to your Eldritch Incantations and Agonizing Blast sooner, which is what you'll be using over melee attacking anyway.

Druid. Shillelagh as your starting cantrip, and be sure to take Longstrider. Doesn't really matter which subclass. Get Spike Growth at 3. Keep druid out of sight of enemies if necessary to keep concentration. This will let you win pretty much every single fight against groups of enemies very easily. Gnolls, the windmill gobbies, the looter party, goblin camp, Duergar... they all can be easily handled.

For clerics, War Cleric is definitely good, for both the to hit buff reaction (overall, use a charge for this when it pops up, over saving it for an extra attack, because this is a guaranteed hit, while an extra attack is only a chance at one) and the use a bonus attack one. Light cleric is even stronger in the low levels, with Radiance of the Dawn at level 2. Wide area AoE, and with how much damage it does versus the hp of those low level enemies, it is a win button. If you use Bless with any cleric, do be sure one of your bless targets is the cleric, as that'll provide a D4 bonus to saving throws, making it easier to keep concentration.

Overall, though, as someone far too prone to starting new characters and playing through chapter 1, while some class choices make life easier, other things matter more. A lot of that comes from knowing the content of course, as that makes it easier to hop around from place to place, cherrypicking the easy xp and items, and then coming back for the harder parts when you have another level or 2.

There isn’t a build at 1-4 because you have no gear and just generic attacks.

No feats like tavern brawler or ability points , so you mostly just use your main attack whatever it is and that’s it.

You could I guess start with Rogue, get 2 hand crossbows and you will have 2 attacks at lvl 1, then at lvl 3 pick thief and now you have 3 shots .

Or monk as you get 2 attacks lvl 1 and at 4 get tavern brawler and start killing everyone with a hill giant strength potion that you can buy 3 from Ethel .

Before multiclassing I highly recommend at least going to level 5 so you have extra attack/ 3rd level spellslots at least

Hi, and welcome to the forums! (I'm very new as well). The pointers I'm going to present here aren't necessarily build-oriented but they have really helped a friend (a D&D ttrpg veteran) to have a very solid start with the game in levels 1-4 on Tactician difficulty.

The two bosses you listed are among the most challenging combat scenarios if you are lower than level 5, and it's really early to talk about builds or multiclassing having a huge impact so early in your playthrough. I think in levels 1-4 (if you're playing on the hardest difficulty) it's better to have very solid AC levels and save rolls on the squads you use for the toughest batttles and sidequests. I recommended my friend certain gear and weaponry you can acquire from vendors in the Grove and Goblin Camp. The pieces of gear can be distributed among your different companions and your Tav, depending on classes and preferred squad composition.


Starting gear
Lae'zel starting medium armor is pretty solid in the early game (AC 15). All her gear providing +1 to skill checks (CON saving throws, +1 athletics, IIRC) is good in the beginning levels.
In general, pieces of gear (helmets, bracers, rings, amulets, boots, etc) giving a bonus to AC and boosts to some kind of saving throws are all usable and decent at the very start. I started to gather rare gear (blue color-coded stuff) mostly at levels 4-5.

DRUID GROVE

Dammon and Arron (some gear pieces are offered by both vendors)
- Safeguard shield (+1 to all saving throws). If you don't use a shield with your Tav, it's excellent for Shadowheart.
- Gloves of Missile Ensnaring (sold by Arron)
- Hunting Shortbow (sold by Dammon)
- I'd suggest at least one +1 light crossbow and one +1 heavy crossbow, but some players might be ok with just one of them.
- A few select uncommon weapons +1 based on the characters you use. Be choosy because they are expensive, prioritize your Tav proficiencies and then the companions that you use the most.

Auntie Ethel
- Corellon's Grace (staff for spell casters)


GOBLIN CAMP

Grat (goblin trader)
- Gloves of Archery
- Returning pike


Special note for armors
The 3 armors I feel like I got the most bang for my buck in levels 1-6 were:

- Chain shirt +2 (Medium armor, AC 15) - sold by many vendors after you hit level 3.
- Chain Mail +1 (Heavy armor, AC 17) -sold my many vendors after you hit level 4.
- Padded armor +2 (Light Armor AC 13) - I used it on Wyll and Astarion for quite a while.

Caveat: Depending on which sidequests you tackle first, some of these suggestions may not be as important when you're at level 4. The vendors I listed have other useful items, I'm trying to provide a minimalist table to strengthen your squad in the early game.

This.
Or take 1-2 lvls in something and then multiclass and go to 4/5 with 2nd Class, for the Feats/Spell Levels/Extra Attack.

I agree with the gear list. Indeed, the 17/15/13 AC armours is tops what you get in Act 1. To get 18AC HA one has to venture into the Mountai Pass/Crazy Githyanki High School area, not recommended before 4th lvl.
The Merchants Adventurers the Zhentarin also have nice stuff, also lvl related like the Goblin Camp/Druid Grove outlets. At 4th lvl you should be able t get through to the shops at Mushroomville.

Aimed more at monks, but the +2 to saving throws is good for robed casters who use concentration spells. However, those might well want the Rain Dancer staff from Arron, which lets you can cast create/destroy water once per short rest, giving you a spell to double up your electro/cryo damage. Or you can give this to Shadowheart, so she can create water for Gale to take advantage of without eating up a spell slot.

To answer the OP - any default build is good enough.

As to Rain Dancer - I often give it to the party wizard. Free's up a Make Water slot in the Cleric's library, is useful to wash away acid or out out flames. I know that there is bottled water for that, but it is easier for me to remember the staff ...

Yep any build will work, and barring significant cause to the contrary I’ll usually avoid multiclassing before 4 to ensure an early feat, and respec for an early multiclass once they won’t lose that feat. For example, I wanted Gale to be a Wiz / Bard, I did Wiz 4 then respecced at 5 to Woz 1 / Bard 4.

That being said, some things that make the early game a breeze:

Thief Rogue with dual hand crossbows and Sharpshooter- 3 attacks per round by 3, 20ish average damage on a hit by 4. This is the obvious early game powerhouse and can carry you through the early game on its own.

Druid (any subclass) focusing on Spider form and using web to immobilize enemies and more importantly granting advantage. This lets your Sharpshooters and Great Weapon Masters hit reliably. And can be spammed.

Monk of any kind will grant a high amount of early attacks and high mobility. You can’t properly leverage Tavern Brawler without *something* suffering stat wise before you get potions to fix that, which comes a bit later on (goblin camp at the earliest), but even a Dex based Monk will do just fine in the early levels.

Ranger of any kind gets a conditional extra attack at 3, beastmaster gets the best additional attack and tank.

Life cleric gets a ton of great early items to support buffing people on healing. I think a fair amount of it is a bit later but it’s very nice and very powerful early game.

Those are the things that come to mind, most Classes power spike at 5, GWM with an extra attack on Paladin, Barb or Fighter as an example starts to be decent, especially if and when you start dipping into those potions of speed you’ve collected. Eldritch Blast gets a second beam, and with each spell level gained primary casters get better. But one or more of the above (especially thief Rogue) will make getting there much easier.

As to what feat to take at 4, why there’s a whole topic where they’re ranked and discussed

Well, you can stockpile some from Auntie in the druid grove, so basically at near the start of level 3, character-wise.

thanks but i was specifically refering to the 1-4 build , as not everyone is experienced in turn based system and DnD and have trouble playing the game combat even at explorer difficulty due to unfamiliarity with the system

thanks for the tips , but for some reason i cant find her again at lv4 in her usual location

Thanks Octo , i find theif at lv3 so fun with the constant hide , stealth attack , hide again .. practically soloing low level mobs / bandits / goblins .. and the druid bear form is so much fun too jumping around tanking mobs .. never try monk as but will try it due to your advices

i dont know ranger get extra attack at 3.. can you elaboratee

Level 4 is.. too low to do anything. Level 5 at min.

Rogue/Fighter is already good at early level though. No need for specific build, but you do "need" to pick Thief (Rogue) or Battlemaster (Fight).

I don't rely on items but the one item I always get is the int +17 tiara from that smart ogre at the blighted village.

Yeah, she moves out under a couple of conditions. I think if you run across her talking to the two guys nearer to her home, and I think if you talk to her about your condition. But you should be able to buy 3 the first time you meet her regardless, and potentially a couple of more times.

It depends on the subclass. With Hunter, you can take Horde Breaker, which lets you get an extra attack in if two enemies are close enough together, with both a ranged and melee option. The main attack puts a marker on enemies close enough to it, and you can then attack one of those marked enemies (again in melee or range). Kind of a small radius, but the nice thing is it doesn't use up a bonus action or anything, though you are limited to just one such extra attack per round. Sadly, the radius of the effect doesn't increase if you are using a weapon with "Extra Reach". Hunter also has Giant Killer, which gives a reactionary attack if a Large or bigger enemy attacks you. Beast Master has its pet, which attacks, so that's basically an extra attack. Gloom Stalker has Dread Ambusher, which lets you do an extra attack on the first round of combat.

this item will add the curren int ability score or replace it ? if i am now 8 Int will this means i get 17+8 int or just 17 ?

3 barbarians with life cleric, solove any problem by force

Just 17

Giant Strenght is sold y other people too, although none keep more than one in stock. Mycoid Colony? Zhentarin? The Githyanki trader with cute 80s middle aged lady hairdo?