Baldur’s Gate 3: Best Warlock Class Build

In Baldur’s Gate 3, the Warlock class is widely considered to be the easiest caster to learn and play, but that doesn’t mean it’s not powerful. Warlocks don’t have as many spell slots as other spellcasters, but they make up for that with an incredibly powerful Cantrip and access to some of the game’s best control spells.

The best Warlock builds in BG3 take advantage of these class strengths. Typically, Baldur’s Gate 3 builds are based on a subclass, which takes the form of a Patron for Warlocks. The Great Old One brings useful spells and lots of class flavor, making it the prime choice for players looking to get started on the right foot with the Warlock class.

Updated November 2, 2024 by Erik Petrovich: When going for the best Warlock build BG3 players can make, you need to also consider factors beyond your character. After all, even with the best Baldur’s Gate 3 Warlock build, it’s nearly impossible to beat BG3 without a balanced Warlock party composition. Unless you are going for a solo run, it’s a good idea to consider your companion options before journeying out into the world – more often than not, this best BG3 Warlock Build is improved with the right companions. This guide to the best Baldur’s Gate 3 Warlock build has been updated to add a section covering our best BG3 Warlock build companion and party composition recommendations, as well as to clarify some details so players can more easily follow this BG3 Warlock Build guide.

Warlock Class Introduction & Overview

The Baldur’s Gate 3 Warlock Class, Explained

Warlock Playstyle & Signature Abilities

“Bound by a pact to an all-powerful patron, warlocks trade their loyalty for supernatural abilities and unique magic.”

Warlocks are spellcasters whose power is derived from an external power, usually a Patron Devil or other powerful, enigmatic being. The class has access to a number of powerful spells, mostly themed around control and the powers beyond comprehension, as well as the unique Eldritch Blast cantrip that is the basis of the majority of Warlocks’ damage output. It’s this cantrip that is almost solely responsible for the Warlock being such a popular multiclass option for other classes.

Though Warlocks only have a few spell slots for the majority of the game, these slots uniquely refresh with either a Short or Long Rest. It doesn’t mean BG3 Warlock builds can be totally carefree when it comes to slinging spells in combat, but it does keep Warlocks going longer than classes that fully rely on their Spell Slots, no matter how many are available. Though Warlocks might not have the versatility of the Wizard, nor the metamagics of the Sorcerer, they do have access to unique otherworldly powers that are the envy of the other spellcaster classes.

Base Warlock Class Proficiencies: Armor, Weapons, Saving Throws, & Skill Choices

When you first start creating your Warlock Build, BG3 offers a selection of basic Class Proficiencies, and a choice of three Warlock Skill Proficiencies.

In addition to Armor, Weapon, and Saving Throw proficiencies that vary for each class, the pool of Skills you can choose from are different for each class. These cannot be changed once you get past character creation without resetting your build.

All Warlock Subclasses

There are a total of three BG3 Patrons (subclasses) Warlock players can try out, each of which focuses on different aspects of the class, and offers a selection of unique skills, proficiencies, and other features. As you level up in one of these BG3 Warlock subclasses, you will gain more abilities that are unique to your subclass choice.

Your choice of Warlock subclass can be changed by speaking with Withers, but you will start at Level 1 and have to make your BG3 Warlock build from scratch. Though this chart displays information for all subclasses, if you want to make best Warlock build BG3 has to offer, you should go for the Great Old One.

Warlock Class Features – Level By Level

The max level in Baldur’s Gate 3 is Level 12, and most of the time, each level you gain will grant something new for your Warlock build. On character creation you gain the basics for the Warlock class, then steadily gain Feat Choices, new spells and abilities, subclass features, and increase your Proficiency Bonus.

This chart displays everything you can expect to get at each Level-Up as a Warlock in your Baldur’s Gate 3 journey.

Warlock Spell Slots & Known Spells – Level By Level

BG3 Warlock Subclass Choice – Great Old One

Overview Of BG3 Warlock Great Old One Subclass

What Makes The Great Old One the Best BG3 Warlock Subclass?

“Warlocks bound to Eldritch beings in the Far Realms work toward inscrutable goals, gaining strange powers over entropy and the mind.”

The Great Old One Warlock is one of the best Warlock builds because of its access to powerful, battle-turning control spells that complement the class spell list. By binding oneself to a pact with the Great Old One, Warlocks gain the Mortal Reminder passive, which makes enemies Frightened on crits.

At Level 1, The Great Old One gives Warlocks access to Tasha’s Hideous Laughter or Dissonant Whispers, and then at Level 3, they can use Detect Thoughts and Phantasmal Force. Playing as a Great Old One Warlock means committing nearly entirely to being a spellcaster, so only engage in combat from a distance.

The Great Old One eeks ahead of The Fiend because of its more battle-influential spells. Compared to The Archfey, many differences between the two patrons are mostly aesthetic as they both can control combat very well.

Great Old One Subclass Features – Level By Level

In addition to everything you unlock while leveling as a Warlock, your Subclass also determines what you unlock at certain levels. As a Warlock, you can select a subclass at Level 1, in the character creation menu.

For the purposes of this guide to the BG3 best Warlock build, choose the Great Old One when prompted to choose a Subclass.

Best BG3 Warlock Build Character Creation Choices

BG3 Warlock Build Race, Background, Proficiency, Feats, & Stat Choices

Best BG3 Warlock Race: Githyanki

The Githyanki are a powerful race option for a number of classes thanks to its powerful racial spells granted at levels one, three, and five, as well as the Astral Knowledge ability. Astral Knowledge grants the Warlock proficiency in one ability’s related skills, which pairs extremely well with the Warlock’s innately high Charisma. With this Githyanki racial ability, which recharges once every long rest, Warlocks have little trouble getting the results they want out of dialogue dice rolls.

The Githyanki give Warlocks an improved Mage Hand from level 1, the ability to improve party member’s Jump distance at Level 3, and the Misty Step skill at Level 5 – three extremely useful abilities. Githyanki also give Warlocks armor proficiencies the class wouldn’t normally have access to, namely light and medium armor, to further improve their defensive capabilities. It’s really an all-in-one race that’s hard to pass up in favor of another, weaker option.

Best Warlock Backgrounds in BG3: Sage or Guild Artisan

The Sage background grants proficiency for Arcana and History checks, and will typically trigger Inspiration when the Warlock engages in the magical elements of the world (like getting to Lorroakan’s tower), or figuring out the historical significance of places in the world. This tends to complement a Warlock’s own RP choices during dialogues, but they are both Intelligence checks, an Ability Score that Warlocks don’t generally put a lot of points into. This can hinder their effectiveness, but on the other hand, having Advantage on these rolls can be much handier than a simple bonus.

However, if you are more prone to engaging in dialogues in BG3, the Guild Artisan background might be a better fit. This background grants proficiency in Insight and Persuasion, and tends to trigger inspiration when making items, repairing areas in the world, or identifying and engaging with artifacts.

Both backgrounds are a good fit for Warlocks, but of the two, the Sage background may be easier to earn Inspiration with.

Best BG3 Warlock Skill Proficiency Choices: Deception and Insight

Warlocks get to choose two skills from a list of seven, but depending on which background you choose, some may not be available. This is because those skills are already given proficiency by the Background. Going with a Sage takes Arcana and History out of the options, leaving five left, while being a Guild Artisan leaves six choices, as Insight will already be covered.

Either way, be sure to have Deception and Insight first and foremost. Deception is great for dialogues, and Insight is incredibly useful for determining NPC truthfulness. If Insight is already covered, then replace it with Arcana, History, or Investigation, depending on what you want your Warlock to be good at.

Best BG3 Eldritch Invocations: Agonizing Blast & Repelling Blast

At Level 2, all Warlocks get to choose two Eldritch Invocations, unique abilities that can grant passive or active skills. At Level 2, only a few Eldritch Invocations are available to choose from, but as Warlocks level up more powerful options become available. Even from this starting point, though, Warlocks can pick up two incredibly powerful passives: Agonizing Blast, and Repelling Blast, both of which empower the Warlock’s iconic cantrip Eldritch Blast.

Eldritch Blast is the Warlock’s bread and butter, and Agonizing Blast outright increases the damage of Eldritch Blast by the Warlock’s Charisma modifier. This affects each hit, so at later levels when Warlocks get two or three Eldritch Blast beams with each cast, it becomes a seriously powerful spell.

Repelling Blast, on the other hand, doesn’t improve the damage of Eldritch Blast. Instead, it gives it the ability to push targets by 4.5m in the opposite direction they are hit. Be sure to position the Warlock correctly so that enemies hit can be reliably pushed off of ledges and into chasms practically for free.

Best BG3 Warlock Feats: Alert, War Caster, and Spell Sniper

• Alert Effects: You gain +5 to Initiative and can’t be Surprised
• War Caster Effects: Grants two new passive abilities, War Caster: Concentration and War Caster: Opportunity Spell
  • Concentration is a passive that grants Advantage on Concentration Saving Throws
  • Opportunity Spell lets you cast Shocking Grasp on enemies that move away from melee range instead of attacking them normally
• Spell Sniper Effects: The number needed to roll a Critical Hit for Spells is reduced by 1 (so, instead of hitting a 20, you need a 19 or a 20).
  • Additionally, learn one Cantrip from a select list of level 1 Cantrips.

Best Warlock Ability Scores & Stat Distribution

To create the best BG3 Warlock build, we recommend putting the majority of points into your Charisma, followed by Constitution and Dexterity. The primary stat for most Great Old One Warlock spells and abilities in BG3 is Charisma, but Constitution and Dexterity should follow closely behind for survivability and secondary combat bonuses. Wisdom, Strength, and Intelligence are not essential for the Great Old One Warlock build.

Best BG3 Warlock Leveling Choices

Best Warlock Spells, Feats, & Other Choices At Every Level

Best Warlock Build Companions & Party Composition

Best Companions For Great Old One Warlock Builds

The best Warlock companions in BG3 are X, X, and X. Though you can change the class and specialization of any of your companions, these three come with strong pre-determined class and spec combos to balance out your Warlock party composition.

• Shadowheart: A Trickery Cleric, Shadowheart serves as a good companion for hybrid damage and support, which mirrors (and complements) the Circle of the Moon Druid playstyle well.
• Karlach: Best suited for the Berserker subclass, Karlach is capable of dealing some of the most consistent, highest-hitting melee attacks on her own, and with two supports you won’t be at a loss for HP or dispels
• Astarion: Best suited for the Thief subclass, Astarion lets you access hidden, locked areas more easily and is capable of setting up complex combat strategies without attracting attention with Stealth

If you are dead set on including a character in your party, simply talk to Withers to respec them to one of the optimal Warlock companion classes listed above. This way, you won’t miss out on that character’s questline, and you won’t have to suffer from an improperly balanced party.

Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Warlock Build Equipment

Get The Best BG3 Warlock Gear In All Three Acts

This section covers the best equipment for Great Old One Warlocks in BG3 across all three Acts. Some pieces from early Acts may still be powerful in later ones, though, and will remain equipped through several Acts.

• Items with bolded names are new options for the build in each Act, and may replace older pieces of equipment.
• Items with unbolded names must be acquired in earlier Acts, but are strong enough that they don’t need to be replaced in Acts 2 or 3.

Best Great Old One Warlock Items & Equipment: Act 1

Best Great Old One Warlock Items & Equipment: Act 2

Best Great Old One Warlock Items & Equipment: Act 3

Best BG3 Warlock Multiclass Choices

Maximize Your BG3 Warlock Build With Complimentary Warlock Multiclass Options

Players can choose to Multiclass beginning at Level 2. Look for the “Add Class” button on the top right of the level up overview menu – this will open up a new menu where players can choose one of any other class in
Baldur’s Gate 3
when selected.

Bard Multiclass – Warlock 10/Bard 2

The Warlock, being a Charisma-based caster, tends to do very well when it comes to rolling dice in conversations and crowd controlling enemies. Though speccing into Bard doesn’t necessarily improve the Warlock’s damage output, by putting just one point into this class, a Warlock can provide even more utility to the party through the Song of Rest and Bardic Inspiration abilities. Two levels grants the Jack of All Trades feature, which grants the player Expertise in two additional skills – perfect for dialogue checks.

Song of Rest gives an extra short rest, which gives the Warlock another way to refresh their limited spell slots, while Bardic Inspiration can be used for some useful support skills. Multiclassing as a Bard and a Warlock makes CC a key part of the character’s spell list, so plan to stand back and set up plays for allies rather than getting involved in the fighting first-hand.

Make sure this character is the party’s “main” character to take advantage of its strong dialogue skills.

Sorcerer Multiclass – Warlock 9/Sorcerer 3

By putting three levels into the Sorcerer class as a Warlock, players unlock the powerful Metamagic system and two charges, which can greatly improve the class’ ability to deal damage with Eldritch Blast. Metamagic lets Warlocks use Quickened Spell and Twinned Spell to great effect, adding additional Eldritch Blast casts or damage, and opening up the potential for a Warlock to double-cast spells like Haste.

Additionally, both classes rely on Charisma, and can both take advantage of a player’s high CHA stat without forcing them to invest in others. Three levels in Sorcerer lets players choose a Sorcerer subclass. In this case, the best option is the Draconic Bloodline, because it adds HP and increases Unarmored AC to 13. Many multiclass options grant additional armor proficiencies, but not the Sorcerer.