Baldur’s Gate 3’s 12 New Subclasses Explained

Baldur’s Gate 3 is set to get a massive update with Patch 8 in 2025. Patch 8 will come with a host of highly requested features, including Photo Mode, cross-platform play for multiplayer, and twelve brand-new subclasses. The new subclasses will involve a mix of official content from Dungeons and Dragons, as well as homebrewed content from Larian, which has been created especially for Baldur’s Gate 3.

Each of the twelve existing classes in Baldur’s Gate 3 will get one new subclass. The new subclasses come with new spells and cantrips, new lines of dialogue, and visual effects. Some of the new subclasses are “darker”, offering great new options for roleplaying.

New Spellcasting Subclasses in Baldur’s Gate 3

Sorcerer: Shadow Magic

One of the darker subclasses, the Shadow Magic Sorcerer is perfect for Drow, the Dark Urge, or any character connected to the Shadowfell. Baldur’s Gate 3‘s Shadow Magic Sorcerer comes with a homebrewed familiar in the Hound of Ill Omen, and Strength of the Grave forces a Charisma Saving Throw upon Hit Points being reduced to 0, making the Shadow Magic Sorcerer harder to down in combat.

Warlock: Hexblade

Like the Shadow Magic Sorcerer, the Hexblade Warlock is deeply connected to the Shadowfell. Rather than an inherent magical connection with the darkness, Hexblade Warlocks instead made a pact with an entity from the Shadowfell. Hexblade has been one of the most requested subclasses since Baldur’s Gate 3 launched, and grants the Warlock magical weapons crafted in the Shadowfell, while raising the dead and dealing necrotic damage.

Wizard: Bladesinging

Bladesinging gives the Wizard swordplay. Traditionally an elven craft called Bladesong, Bladesinging uses the Wizard’s Intelligence modifier, and grants them supernatural agility, speed, and abilities with a sword.

Cleric: Death Domain

The Death Domain specializes in necrotic damage. Included in this subclass is the iconic cantrip Toll The Dead, which causes damage that’s heralded by the ringing of a bell. Alongside it is a homebrewed spell which makes corpses explode and deals damage enemies. Aside from the new spells, the Death Domain subclass brings with it some great new roleplaying potential for characters who worship gods such as Kelemvor, or for Clerics who don’t necessarily want to play as healers. The Death Domain will be a great alternative to the Trickster Domain.

Druid: Circle of Stars

The Circle of Stars traditionally gives Druids the power of various constellations and the power they embody. This allows Druids to look to forms beyond wildshape, and gives Druids different roles on the battlefield depending on which constellation they choose to specialize in. This subclass in Baldur’s Gate 3 gives Druids more versatility than ever before, allowing them to adapt to healing, fighting, or even strategy thanks to added bonuses to constitution rolls.

New Martial Subclasses in Baldur’s Gate 3

Barbarian: Path of Giants

The Path of Giants gives Barbarians access to strength bonuses and an increase in size without the need to stock and drink potions. This build is designed for Barbarians who prefer to use Throw, rather than wielding weapons, and the increase in Strength and size will help with both Throw damage and carry capacity.

Fighter: Arcane Archer

Fighting doesn’t just have to be up close, and markmanship is an art all of its own. Baldur’s Gate 3‘s Patch 8 adds new animations to archery, and the Arcane Archer makes the most of it. Combining the art of magic and archery, the Arcane Archer uses their bow to Banish or Blind their foes, or unleashes a wave of Psychic damage from the Fey upon them. Arcane Archery is traditionally an elven school of Fighting, but would be perfect for any Fighter who prefers mixing magic with a bow.

Monk: Drunken Master

Drunken Masters are one of the most physical classes in DnD, foregoing any arcane abilities to use alcohol to supplement their Ki points to gain extra AC and Chance to Hit. Using Intoxicating Strike makes enemies easier to hit, making Drunken Master Monks physical powerhouses on the battlefield.

Rogue: Swashbuckler

There are many different flavors of Rogue, and one of them added with Baldur’s Gate 3‘s Patch 8 is the Swashbuckler, which is reminiscent of the pirates of old. As Baldur’s Gate already has pirates, this Rogue subclass feels like a natural fit for Baldur’s Gate 3. Swashbucklers specialize in melee combat, and use dirty tricks like Blind and Disarm to gain the upper hand. Their Fancy Footwork passive means they can dart in and out of melee range safely, without prompting opportunity attacks.

New Hybrid Subclasses in Baldur’s Gate 3

Bard: College of Glamour

Glamour Bards are the rock stars of the Forgotten Realms, and beguile and charm their opponents while supporting their allies. The College of Glamour traditionally draws on the power of the Feywild. Baldur’s Gate 3‘s inclusion of Mantle of Inspiration will increase ally hit points, while discouraging enemies from attacking. The Glamour Bard’s charisma is all-powerful, and their Charmed opponents are helpless to obey their commands. The addition of commands such as flee, move closer, freeze, drop to the ground, and drop their weapon will likely become a gamechanger for this subclass.

Ranger: Swarmkeeper

Rather than an affinity for larger, individual animals, the Swarmkeeper Ranger is akin to a beekeeper and controls swarms of tiny creatures who overwhelm their enemies with debuffs. Baldur’s Gate 3‘s Swarmkeeper offers the Cloud of Jellyfish which offers lightning damage, the Flurry of Moths, which deals Psychic damage, and the Legion of Bees, which deals Piercing damage. Each swarm also grants teleportation.

Paladin: Oath of the Crown

Paladins are typically Good aligned, but the Oath of the Crown Paladins are the most Lawful Good Paladins of them all. Those who have sworn to uphold the law of the land get powerful abilities that boost their allies with Righteous Clarity, while interrupting their enemies with taunts. Paladins also get another update in addition to their subclass with additional lines and reactivity to the Oathbreaker Knight.