One of the greatest aspects of Baldur’s Gate 3 is the character and class customization. Players able to choose from a range of different Classes for their own character, each one complete with additional Subclasses for further build customization.
However, it doesn’t end there, as each and every companion can be respecced into a Class or Subclass of your choice.
Some choices are more flashy and combat-oriented than others, which has led to them being overwhelmingly popular fan favorites. are often forgotten for one reason or another, leading them to be more niche, yet underrated picks.
On the other hand, some Subclasses are also far more niche or overlooked in favor of the more overpowered options, despite still having strong potential. Without further ado, here are eight underrated Baldur’s Gate 3 Subclasses that you should consider trying out on your next run.
8
Arcane Trickster – Rogue Subclass
Perfect For Illusions & Pickpocketing Shenanigans
- Recommended Stat Priority: DEX/CON/INT or DEX/CON/CHA
Arcane Trickster is frequently overlooked when building a Rogue because of the strange stat alignment that is needed for them to be successful. Rogues rely on DEX and CON primarily, with CHA being a common option for the third stat, especially if your Tav is the Rogue in question – who doesn’t want to control important dialogue decisions, after all? However, Arcane Tricksters also need to pump their INT stat, which is their Spellcasting ability.
Luckily, there are a couple of different options to consider. The first is to simply dump CHA and focus on these stats: DEX/CHA/INT, or to utilize important pieces of loot. For example, you can go for a regular Rogue build and pick up the Warped Headband of Intellect to bring your INT up to 17, which will be a reliable boost for all of your spellcasting and trickery needs.
I personally ran this one during my first BG3 playthrough, and while it may not have been the most OP build in terms of combat, it was an absolute joy for causing mischief, pickpocketing loot, and bypassing puzzles with Mage Hand. The likes of Disguise Self, Find Familiar, and Minor Illusion all work brilliantly if you’re looking to flip some easy coin through thievery, and now that Booming Blade is in the game, Arcane Tricksters have a powerful Cantrip option in combat that can be added on top of their natural melee weave in-weave out playstyle.
7
Eldritch Knight – Fighter Subclass
Throw Your Weapons Around the Battlefield!
- Recommended Stat Priority: STR/CON/DEX or DEX/CON/STR (for Finesse weapon Fighters)
The Eldritch Knight is a great option for Fighters, often overlooked in favor of the classic Battle Master choice, or the Champion, which became popular for Crit-fishing builds. However, Eldritch Knight is so much more than ‘a Fighter with some Spells’. In fact, one of the most powerful aspects of this Class is the Weapon Bond Feature, which comes into play as soon as you select the Eldritch Knight at Fighter level 3.
Weapon Bond enables you to ritually bind a weapon to your hand. As a result, the weapon can not be knocked out of your hand (through tactics such as Command: Drop, or Disarming Strike, for example), and automatically returns to your hand when thrown.
With the popularity of the Barbarian throw build, many players often forget that the Eldritch Knight can do very similar work, but without needing a return weapon such as Nyrulna or the Returning Pike –though those still work great, if you’re set on using them! Add the likes of Tavern Brawler into the mix (STR build), and your Eldritch Knight can do serious damage right from the early game.
With the capability of melee DPS, Cantrips, and Spells such as Booming Blade and even Shadow Blade, they are great to fall back on if you have decent INT. However, you aren’t forced to buff your INT to get value from this Subclass either, as the likes of Shield, Blur, and Misty Step are all options that make the Fighter even more of a threat, without needing to lean into the INT Spellcasting Modifier.
To say the least, Eldritch Knight is certainly one of the most underrated Baldur’s Gate 3 Subclasses. Give it a try, you’ll be surprised at the value you can get out of this choice if you play your cards right.
6
Beast Master – Ranger Subclass
You Get a Web, and You Get a Web, and You Get a Web!
- Recommended Stat Priority: DEX/WIS/CON
Beast Masters are a lot of fun to play simply for the fact that they are one of the few Baldur’s Gate 3 Subclasses that enable you to summon an animal companion to fight by your side. However, many Ranger fans often opt for the ever-so-popular Gloomstalker or the more recent addition of the Swarmkeeper.
The Beast Master has a lot of value that can be gained from these animal companions, though, particularly the Wolf Spider. Wolf Spider has the ‘Web’ ability, which functions exactly the same as the ‘Web’ Spell, providing huge utility for setting up easy kills.
Not only will the movement speed of enemies on Webs be halved, but they also can be Enwebbed, which will cause you and your allies to gain Advantage on Webbed creatures, as well as impose Disadvantage on their attacks and DEX Saves.
A creature must make a DEX Save to prevent or break free of Webs, so the disadvantage on this once Enwebbed is brutal. Furthermore, the Wolf Spider has ‘Web’ as an Action, meaning it can use this on a turn-by-turn basis, providing a constant hassle for enemies.
Lastly, another really fun aspect of the Beast Master is that as you gain levels in the Subclass, your summonable animal companions also gain new abilities and updated looks/armors, bringing a sense of progression from Act 1 to Act 3 not only for yourself, but for your lil’ critters, too!
5
Way of the Four Elements – Monk Subclass
Elemental Fists of Fury!
- Recommended Stat Priority: STR/CON/DEX or DEX/CON/STR
Way of the Open Hand is the classic route that many Monk players opt for, due to how well it can run solo or paired into a Multiclass. More recently, the Way of the Drunken Master gained some popularity as a new addition with a funny approach, too. Way of the Four Elements, however, is a very fun concept, complete with some great animations, making it a satisfying Baldur’s Gate 3 Subclass choice.
The Elements Monk is often forgotten about in terms of combat, as it may not be as DPS-heavy as other Monk options. However, there are some incredibly powerful tools in the Elements kit. Water Whip sets up your allies for easy kills by knocking a target Prone.
If paired with an ally who can reduce Movement Speed through attacks or abilities such as Maim, the affected target can fall into Prone indefinitely, as they must spend half of their speed to get back up. As all attacks on a Prone target are automatic crits, this can be extremely effective in focus-firing big threats.
Fangs of the Fire Snake counts as an Unarmed Attack, so it benefits from the properties of Tavern Brawler for extra damage. Fist of Unbroken Air has a knockback effect similar to that of Eldritch Blast’s Repelling Blast, plus knocks a target prone, meaning you can simply use it to attack at range and knock an enemy down, or to push people off ledges and cliffs, much like the many Warlock builds focused on this.
Also Read
While not a massive damage dealer in itself, Elemental Monk is a fun DPS-Strategist that can bring a lot of utility to the battlefield. There’s so much potential for creativity on the battlefield, you should absolutely give it a try if you’re looking to try out something different.
4
Circle of the Spores – Druid Subclass
Did Somebody Say…Zombies?
- Recommended Stat Priority: STR/WIS/CON or DEX/WIS/CON
Spores Druids are a fun twist on the Class, enabling players to lean into Necrotic damage Spells/Cantrips, and themes of decay and fungal growth. Despite often falling second to the popular Moon and Stars Circles, Spores Druid have a heap of potential for establishing control on the battlefield due to their unique mechanics.
They have a unique Wildshape form in Symbiotic Entity, which enables them to double the Necrotic damage of Halo of Spores and deal additional damage with their own unarmed or weapon attacks. Starting at Level 6, Spores Druids also get Fungal Infection, which enables them to raise up to four Fungal Zombies per long rest.
These Fungal Zombies can spread Crawling Gnaw infection to enemies in combat, and if an enemy dies with this infection active, they raise a new zombie upon death – though you can’t control these ones directly, and they will wither each turn.
During big combats, your zombies can wreak absolute havoc on the enemy by overrunning the battlefield with undead, which can be massive in key fights or boss battles. Lastly, there are some fun reactions and scenes to be discovered with the Fungal Zombies from the people throughout your adventure, so make sure to save frequently to avoid any hiccups, or leave your Zombies behind at camp temporarily if you’re worried about spooking some poor NPC.
3
Wild Magic – Barbarian Subclass
That The Secret, I’m Always Angry
- Recommended Stat Priority: STR/CON/DEX
People are often divided by the Wild Magic feature in Baldur’s Gate 3. Some love it, while others hate it. Although it is most commonly experienced through the Wild Magic Sorcerer, the Wild Magic Barbarian is a very fun option for those who would rather play a tanky character than a squishy caster. For Barbarians, their Wild Magic comes into play each time they enter a Rage.
Unlike some of the random effects from a Sorcerer’s Wild Magic, the Wild Magic Barbarian rolls effects from a different table, unique to the Subclass. These effects are also surprisingly very handy in combat (for the most part!), whereas the Sorcerer’s Wild Magic may be more hit or miss.
In addition to this, at higher levels, you also gain the ability to restore Spell Slots not only for yourself or an ally of your choice. This can be extremely useful for getting another use out of big healing Spells or essential buffs before or during a fight, adding a fun sense of support play into the frontliner Barbarian Class.
In combat, surrounding allies also get a +4 to their Saving Throws so long as they are within 10ft of the Wild Magic Barbarian. For some of the Wild Magic effects that offer buffs, your allies can also gain them within range, as seen with Protective Light’s AC bonus.
Essentially, rolling the dice with this Subclass is very beneficial for the most part, and it enables you to provide free support abilities to your allies, all while doing what Barbarians do best – Raging around the battlefield!
2
Divination School – Wizard Subclass
Hit? Nah, That’s Now a Miss.
- Recommended Stat Priority: INT/CON/DEX
The likes of Evocation Wizard and the more recent patch 8 Bladesinger Wizard addition are among some of the most popular Baldur’s Gate 3 Subclasses to date. This leaves some of the other options much more forgotten, with Divination Wizards being one of the more niche picks available from the Class. Despite this, Divination Wizards are a lot of fun to play, all thanks to their unique Portent Dice feature.
Portent Dice are a very powerful mechanic that enables the user to ‘see into the future’ in glimpses through each Long Rest. Following a Long Rest, you will gain two dice (three at level six) with randomly-assigned rolls that can be used in combat to change the outcome of attacks or Saving Throws by expending your Reaction.
Portent Dice can only ever be used to change a scenario in your favor, with examples including changing a missed attack to a hit for allies, a miss to a hit for enemies, and the same difference for Saving Throws.
In addition to this, at level 6 and above, Portent Dice also have the Prophecies mechanic, which acts as little objectives you can complete in combat to regain expended Portent Dice.
If you play your cards right, you can almost always have them on hand until you need to Long Rest, which refreshes them anyway – ensuring you always have control over the most pivotal moments in combat. Lastly, learning Divination Spells from Scrolls will only cost 25 Gold instead of full price, which can come in handy.
1
Light Domain – Cleric Subclass
If You’ve Been Craving a Damage Cleric, This One’s For You
- Recommended Stat Priority: WIS/CON/STR or WIS/CON/DEX
For many people, the Cleric becomes the natural healer/utility fill for most party lineups. However, this can become tiresome on multiple runs or feel repetitive if you have double Clerics, such as a Tav and Shadowheart, in the same lineup.
If you’re looking to keep Cleric but take a different approach, Light Cleric is an underrated choice that works well for going a DPS-styled cleric. In many situations, you can focus completely on damage without needing to worry about healing at all – simply leave that up to your other Cleric (if you have one), a secondary healer, or potions.
The ‘Spirit Guardians method,’ where you cast the Spell and simply walk around to destroy undead enemies, works on any Cleric. However, thanks to the Light Cleric Fire/Radiant Spells, this Subclass is one of the best choices if you want to create an entire build around this approach, enabling you to apply extra Radiant damage on top of the guardians each turn for massive crowd control. It also enables you to add some nice thematic aspects to a ‘holy’ or ‘light’ character, if that’s your thing, too.
Furthermore, there is plenty of equipment that really brings this build to life. For example, the Luminous Armor adds Radiant Shockwave damage to each Radiant Damage hit. The Blood of Lathander applies Blind to fiends and undead.
Callous Glow Ring adds extra Radiant damage on illuminated targets, and Holy Lance Helm provides a chance to inflict Radiant damage in response to every missed attack against you. This is just a few of the many items that can make this build an absolute game-changer. If you’re looking for an underrated Baldur’s Gate 3 Subclass to test out, why not take on a partial tank, partial DPS caster approach and give the Light Cleric a go?
