Baldur’s Gate 3: Best Wizard Class Build

In Baldur’s Gate 3, there are a few spellcasting-oriented Classes that players can choose from – Classes that actually thrive when normal weapons are taken out of the equation. The Wizard is arguably the most iconic Dungeons and Dragons spellcasting class thanks to the breadth of spells they can know. In Baldur’s Gate 3, the Wizard’s diversity makes it hard to pin down its best build.

In the Early Access version of Baldur’s Gate 3, there were only two subclasses (or Schools) of Wizard to choose from: Evocation, and Abjuration. Because Evocation focuses almost exclusively on damage output, it tends to be the best Wizard build to follow. Even though the full version of the game has quadrupled the number of available subclasses for Wizards, Evocation remains on top as the best pure Wizard build in BG3.

Updated November 2, 2024 by Erik Petrovich: When going for the best Wizard build BG3 players can make, you need to also consider factors beyond your character. After all, even with the best Baldur’s Gate 3 Wizard build, it’s nearly impossible to beat BG3 without a balanced Wizard 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 Wizard build is improved with the right companions. This guide to the best Baldur’s Gate 3 Wizard build has been updated to add a section covering our best BG3 Wizard build companion and party composition recommendations, as well as to clarify some details so players can more easily follow this BG3 Wizard Build guide.

BG3 Wizard Class Introduction & Overview

The Baldur’s Gate 3 Wizard Class, Explained

Wizard Playstyle & Signature Abilities

“Wizards master the arcane by specialising in individual schools of magic, combining ancient spells with modern research.”

Wizards are the classic spellcasting-focused class of Dungeons and Dragons, brought to Baldur’s Gate 3 with all the variety and complexity needed to make a class useful no matter the party. It’s nigh-impossible to make a melee Wizard, but their spells can be attuned for many different functions in combat: Evocation Wizards focus on damage, Illusion Wizards focus on tricking and deceiving enemies, and Necromancy Wizards summon and control the dead, as one might expect.

Because of their enormous repertoire of knowledge, and the ability to swap prepared spells from their entire available list of spells anytime outside of combat, Wizards are generally considered the class with the most diversity and utility in Baldur’s Gate 3. Wizards are the only class that can outright learn new spells directly from Scrolls rather than waiting for a level-up, which costs gold. But this cost is reduced if the spell corresponds with one’s chosen BG3 Wizard Subclass, or School.

All Wizard Subclasses

There are a total of eight BG3 Schools (subclasses) Wizard 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 Wizard subclasses, you will gain more abilities that are unique to your subclass choice.

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

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

When you first start creating your Wizard Build, BG3 offers a selection of basic Class Proficiencies, and a choice of two Wizard 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.

Wizard Class Features & Proficiency Bonus – 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 Wizard build. On character creation you gain the basics for the Wizard 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 Wizard in your Baldur’s Gate 3 journey.

Wizard Spell Slots & Prepared Spells – Level By Level

BG3 Wizard Subclass Choice – Evocation

Overview Of BG3 Wizard Evocation Subclass

What Makes Evocation the Best BG3 Wizard School?

“Evocation spells focus elemental energy into powerful attacks and enchantments. Those who specialize in this school are known as Evokers.”

All Wizards get access to a list of ridiculously useful out-of-combat spells, but Evocation Wizards specifically hone in on their ability to dish out massive damage in a short amount of time. All Wizards suffer from the lack of easily rechargeable spell slots, but Evocation Wizards can put these limited slots to good use – plus, Arcane Recovery can help when a Long Rest isn’t possible.

The Evocation Wizard is a master of all things related to magical combat, in large part because their offensive spells no longer damage (or affect) allies thanks to the Spell Sculpt passive. Just be sure to pick up Evocation spells to take advantage of the subclass’ passive, which lets melee party members stay in close range of enemies without worrying about an incoming AoE spell.

The Evocation Wizard is one of eight total Schools that players can choose from in selecting a Wizard Subclass.

The game’s full release further empowered Wizards with a slew of new abilities, proficiencies, bonuses, and the likes with all of the other Subclasses available. As time goes on, the best Wizard build Subclass could change. But until then, the Evocation Wizard’s ability to protect teammates from their own arcane destruction is really nice at Level 5, when Wizards pick up Fireball.

Evocation Subclass Features – Level By Level

In addition to everything you unlock while leveling as a Wizard, your Subclass also determines what you unlock at certain levels. As a Wizard, you can select a subclass at Level 2.

For the purposes of this guide to the BG3 best Wizard build, choose the Evocation School when prompted to choose a Subclass.

Best BG3 Wizard Build Character Creation Choices

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

Best BG3 Wizard Race: Githyanki or Half-Elf

The Githyanki are a severely underrated racial choice for most classes, as their innate race spells and Astral Knowledge passive, plus armor and weapon proficiencies, can open up a lot of doors for traditionally non-martial classes. Wizards have no shortage of spells ato choose from, but they can be lacking in spell slots. The improved Mage Hand at Level 1 is a strict upgrade over the default Mage Hand, and it saves a level 1 spell slot. At Level 5, Githyanki gain Misty Step, a normally level 3 spell that can be incredibly valuable for this Spell Slot-starved class.

But aside from useful racial spells, Githyanki give another important benefit to Wizards: armor proficiencies. As a Githyanki Wizard, players can equip Light and Medium armor, a huge AC boost over robes and clothing. The Astral Knowlegde ability can be incredibly useful for Dialogue checks and dice rolls, too.

When it comes down to it, the Githyanki are the best Wizard race BG3 players can choose because it saves players from using Spell Slots, and grants important proficiencies that greatly improve the Wizard’s survivability.

Best Wizard Backgrounds in BG3: Sage or Guild Artisan

Of the backgrounds Wizards can choose in BG3, the Sage is the most obvious choice. It might seem like it’s just a thematic fit, but there’s a gameplay reason the Sage is the best background for Wizards. Choosing the Sage background grants proficiency in History and Arcana checks, two skills that are based on INT, which just makes Wizards that much more effective when making these rolls. Also, Sages tend to trigger Inspiration from typical Wizard activities, like learning new spells, uncovering lost tomes, and otherwise engaging with the mystical forces of the Weave and other forms of magic.

However, if the Arcane lifestyle doesn’t feel right for you, the Guild Artisan arguably offers the best gameplay improvements for Wizards. The Guild Artisan background grants proficiency in Insight and Persuasion, the latter of which Wizards don’t usually have access to on character creation. As Persuasion comes up so often in BG3 dialogues, it can be worth swapping to this Background instead of the Sage.

Best BG3 Wizard Skill Proficiency Choices: Insight and Persuasion

Wizards get to choose two skills from a list of six at character creation, including Arcana, History, Investigation, Insight, Medicine, and Religion. Choosing the Sage background removes History and Arcana from the pool of other skill proficiencies Wizards can learn at Level 1, leaving four choices remaining, while Guild Artisans just lose Insight.

From the six options, be sure to have Insight and Investigation covered. Investigation is incredibly useful while exploring the world and locating items for quests, as it can highlight things before you even see them. Insight is mostly useful for dialogues and telling NPC’s true intentions, but doesn’t come up terribly often. If you already have Insight covered by your background, opt for Arcane or History, whichever suits your character more.

Best BG3 Wizard 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 Wizard Ability Scores & Stat Distribution

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

Best BG3 Wizard Leveling Choices

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

Best Wizard Build Companions & Party Composition

Best Companions For Evocation Wizard Builds

The best Wizard 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 Wizard 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.
• Lae’Zel: Best suited for the Battle Master subclass, Lae’Zel can almost singlehandedly handle your front line, drawing attention from enemies and able to withstand attacks better than some other classes.
• 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 Wizard 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 Wizard Build Equipment

Get The Best BG3 Wizard Gear In All Three Acts

This section covers the best equipment for Evocation Wizards 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 Evocation Wizard Items & Equipment: Act 1

Best Evocation Wizard Items & Equipment: Act 2

Best Evocation Wizard Items & Equipment: Act 3

Best BG3 Wizard Multiclass Choices

Maximize Your BG3 Wizard Build With Complimentary Wizard 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.

Fighter Multiclass – Wizard 10/Fighter 2

Allocating two levels into the Fighter class as any class grants access to one of the game’s most powerful class abilities: Action Surge. One of the iconic skills of the Fighter class, Action Surge is a Bonus Action that grants the caster another Action that turn. Action Surge can be used once every short or long rest, granting the Wizard another Action to cast a spell when needed.

The Fighter class does not normally start with this ability, meaning that players must invest two levels into it – and lose out on Level 6 Wizard spells. However, the ability to take two actions in one turn is remarkably strong for casters, and the added armor proficiencies granted by the Fighter class are just the cherry on top.

Cleric Multiclass – Cleric 11/Wizard 1

One of the best features of the Wizard class is its ability to learn abilities from scrolls, but this ability becomes more powerful when paired with another Prepared Spellcaster class, like the Cleric. This multiclass Wizard build is not one that focuses on the Wizard, as only one level is needed to learn from scrolls. Instead, it opts for 11 levels in Cleric, leaving just one in Wizard.

This multiclass choice has little impact on a character’s ability to use high-level spells. Because both classes are Prepared Spellcasters, and the ability to learn from scrolls only requires one level, a Cleric 11 Wizard 1 character will still be able to use Level 6 spells and have Level 6 spell slots unlocked. Players will lose out on Arcane Recovery slots, but lose very few other benefits of both classes. Clerics rely on Wisdom to cast, however, which can lead to competition between Wisdom and Intelligence at every ability score improvement opportunity.