The primary factor in determining the best classes is their combat effectiveness, which includes not just damage output but also versatility in various combat scenarios. Classes that are strong in both melee and ranged combat, or those that offer a balanced mix of offense and defense, are mostly placed in the higher tiers. The ability to adapt to different challenges and contribute meaningfully to a fight is highly valued.
Another crucial factor is the utility that a class brings to a party, both in and out of combat. This includes abilities that can heal, buff, or protect party members, as well as skills that are useful for exploration and social interactions. Classes that offer more than just combat prowess and can adapt to various aspects of the game are ranked higher.
| Rank | Class | Tier | Strengths and Weaknesses |
| 1 | Paladin | S | Strong in combat and social interactions, versatile tank |
| 2 | Bard | S | Excellent in group combat, social interactions, and utility |
| 3 | Barbarian | A | Excellent in combat, less effective in social interactions |
| 4 | Rogue | A | Versatile, excels in melee damage and exploration |
| 5 | Wizard | A | Wide range of spells, best for ranged damage |
| 6 | Cleric | B | Versatile, best for healing and support |
| 7 | Warlock | B | Strong spellcasting, limited spell slots |
| 8 | Sorcerer | B | High damage output, limited spell variety |
| 9 | Monk | B | High mobility, good damage output |
| 10 | Ranger | C | Versatile, excels in exploration |
| 11 | Fighter | C | Versatile but lacks specialization |
| 12 | Druid | C | Versatile, unique abilities like Wild Shape |
1. Paladin
- Oath of Devotion
- Oath of the Ancients
- Oath of Vengeance
- Oathbreaker
Paladins are the holy warriors of Baldur's Gate 3, combining strong melee attacks with divine magic. Their Lay on Hands ability allows them to heal themselves or allies, and their Divine Smite can add significant extra damage to their melee attacks.
The Paladin's strengths are their durability and versatility in combat. They can serve as frontline tanks, absorbing damage for the team, while also providing healing and buffs. Their ability to wear heavy armor and wield powerful weapons makes them formidable opponents in battle.
What differentiates Paladins from other classes is their focus on divine magic and moral alignment. Their abilities often have additional effects based on their chosen Oath, which can add layers of complexity and strategy to their role in a party. This makes them not just warriors, but also moral compasses that can guide a party's decisions.
2. Bard
- College of Lore
- College of Valor
- College of Swords
Bards in Baldur's Gate 3 are the ultimate utility characters, capable of casting spells, healing, and even engaging in melee or ranged combat. Their unique ability, Bardic Inspiration, allows them to grant an ally an extra die to roll, adding to their ability checks, saving throws, or attacks.
The Bard's strengths lie in their versatility and adaptability. They can fill almost any role in a party, from damage dealer to healer, and their spells often have additional utility, like crowd control or buffing allies. This makes them invaluable in both combat and social situations.
What sets the Bard apart is their focus on social interactions and utility. While other classes excel in specific roles like damage or healing, Bards are the jack-of-all-trades. Their unique spells and abilities make them excellent for manipulating social situations, making them a unique asset that can turn the tide in unexpected ways.
3. Barbarian
- Berserker
- Wildheart
- Wild Magic
Barbarians are the epitome of raw physical power in Baldur's Gate 3. Their Rage ability allows them to deal more damage and take less damage for a limited time, making them excellent frontline warriors.
The primary strength of a Barbarian is their incredible durability and damage output in combat. When in a state of Rage, they become nigh-unstoppable juggernauts capable of tearing through enemies while shrugging off attacks. This makes them one of the best classes for straight-up melee combat.
What sets Barbarians apart is their simplicity and focus on pure, unadulterated combat prowess. While other classes may have a range of abilities and spells, Barbarians excel in doing one thing extremely well: smashing things. Their straightforward approach to combat makes them easy to play but hard to master, offering a unique experience that's different from more complex classes.
4. Rogue
- Thief
- Assassin
- Arcane Trickster
Rogues in Baldur's Gate 3 are masters of stealth and subterfuge, skilled in both ranged and melee combat. Their Sneak Attack ability allows them to deal extra damage when they have the advantage, making them deadly in the right circumstances.
The Rogue's strength lies in their versatility and ability to excel in specialized roles. Whether it's disarming traps, picking locks, or dealing high damage with Sneak Attacks, they can adapt to many situations. Their Cunning Action allows for additional movements or actions, making them highly mobile in combat.
What sets Rogues apart is their focus on skills and precision over brute force. While other classes may excel in straightforward combat, Rogues thrive in situations that require finesse, strategy, and timing. Their unique abilities make them indispensable for tasks that other classes might struggle with, such as stealth missions or complex heists.
5. Wizard
- Abjuration
- Conjuration
- Divination
- Enchantment
- Evocation
- Necromancy
- Illusion
- Transmutation
Wizards are the quintessential spellcasters in Baldur's Gate 3, with access to the most extensive spell list in the game. They can learn spells from scrolls and have the unique ability to prepare a different set of spells after each Long Rest.
The strength of a Wizard lies in their unparalleled versatility. They can adapt to almost any situation, whether it requires damage, control, or utility spells. Their ability to change their prepared spells gives them a level of adaptability that few other classes can match.
What differentiates Wizards is their focus on intelligence and spellcasting versatility. Unlike Sorcerers, who have innate magic, Wizards study to acquire their spells. This makes them the most flexible spellcasters, capable of filling multiple roles within a party based on the spells they prepare.
6. Cleric
- Life
- Light
- Trickery
- Nature
- Knowledge
- Tempest
- War
Clerics in Baldur's Gate 3 serve as the primary healers and support characters, drawing their power from divine deities. They have a wide range of spells that can heal, protect, and even deal damage, making them versatile additions to any party.
The Cleric's strength lies in their healing and support abilities. They can keep the party alive with spells like Cure Wounds and Healing Word, and their buffs can make allies more effective in combat. Their Channel Divinity feature offers additional utility, such as turning undead or providing temporary hit points.
What sets Clerics apart is their Divine Domain, which allows them to specialize in certain types of magic or combat styles. Whether it's focusing on healing as a Life Domain Cleric or dealing damage as a Light Domain Cleric, each subclass offers a unique playstyle, making every Cleric distinct.
7. Warlock
- The Fiend
- The Archfey
- The Great Old One
Warlocks in Baldur's Gate 3 form pacts with otherworldly entities to gain magical prowess. Their unique feature is that they regain all spell slots after a Short Rest, making them highly sustainable in prolonged encounters.
The Warlock's strength lies in their powerful spells and cantrips, most notably Eldritch Blast, which can be modified with various invocations for different effects. They also have a limited number of spell slots, but these are always cast at the highest available level, making each spell particularly potent.
What sets Warlocks apart is their pact and the invocations they choose, which can drastically change their role in a party. Whether it's summoning a weapon as a Pact of the Blade Warlock or gaining unique abilities from their otherworldly patron, each Warlock can be highly customized to fit various playstyles.
8. Sorcerer
- Wild Magic
- Draconic Bloodline
- Storm Sorcery
Sorcerers in Baldur's Gate 3 are innate spellcasters, drawing magic from their bloodline or some other source of magical power. They have fewer spells than Wizards but make up for it with their Metamagic abilities, which allow them to modify how those spells are cast.
The Sorcerer's strength lies in their raw magical power. Their spells are often more potent than those of other spellcasters, and their Metamagic options allow them to be more flexible in how they cast those spells, whether it's extending their range or casting them more quickly.
What sets Sorcerers apart is their innate magical ability, as opposed to learned magic. This gives them a limited but potent set of spells that they can cast in various ways, making them less versatile but more specialized than Wizards. Their unique Metamagic abilities offer a different approach to spellcasting that is more focused but less flexible.
9. Monk
- Way of the Open Hand
- Way of Shadow
- Way of the Four Elements
Monks in Baldur's Gate 3 harness the power of their inner energy, known as Ki, to perform special abilities like Flurry of Blows or Stunning Strike. They are highly mobile, with abilities that allow them to move across the battlefield quickly and avoid attacks.
The Monk's strength lies in their speed and agility. They can get in and out of combat quickly, deal a high amount of damage in a short time, and even stun or incapacitate enemies. Their high mobility makes them excellent for targeting backline enemies or escaping dangerous situations.
What sets Monks apart is their unique resource system, Ki, which they use to fuel their abilities. Unlike other melee classes that rely on brute strength or heavy armor, Monks use their agility and Ki to control the battlefield, making them a unique and challenging class to master.
10. Ranger
- Beast Master
- Hunter
- Gloom Stalker
Rangers in Baldur's Gate 3 are versatile warriors skilled in both melee and ranged combat. They have a unique Favored Enemy feature that allows them to excel against specific types of creatures, and they can also choose a natural terrain in which they are particularly adept.
The Ranger's strength lies in their adaptability and specialization. They can excel in various roles, from damage dealer to scout, and their Favored Enemy and Natural Explorer features make them particularly effective in certain situations.
What sets Rangers apart is their focus on nature and survival skills. They are the only class that gains unique benefits in specific terrains or against certain types of enemies, making them highly specialized warriors that excel in their chosen domains.
11. Fighter
- Champion
- Battle Master
- Eldritch Knight
Fighters are the most straightforward combatants in Baldur's Gate 3, proficient with a wide range of weapons and armor. They have a Second Wind ability for self-healing and can perform multiple attacks as they level up.
The Fighter's strength lies in their versatility and durability. They can adapt to almost any combat role, whether it's dealing damage, absorbing hits, or even some limited spellcasting as an Eldritch Knight. Their ability to wear heavy armor and wield powerful weapons makes them formidable opponents in battle.
What differentiates Fighters is their focus on pure combat skills. While other classes may have magical abilities or unique features, Fighters excel in the basics of combat, making them the backbone of any adventuring party. Their straightforward approach to battle ensures that they are always reliable, regardless of the situation.
12. Druid
- Circle of the Land
- Circle of the Moon
- Circle of Spores
Druids in Baldur's Gate 3 are versatile spellcasters with a unique ability to transform into animals through their Wild Shape feature. They have access to a wide range of spells, including healing, damage, and control spells.
The Druid's strength lies in their adaptability and their Wild Shape feature. They can fill various roles in a party, from healing to dealing damage, and their ability to transform into animals gives them unique exploration and combat options.
What sets Druids apart is their deep connection to nature, which manifests in their spellcasting and abilities. Their Wild Shape feature allows them to adapt to different challenges in unique ways, whether it's turning into a bear for combat or a bird for exploration. This makes them one of the most versatile classes in the game.