Best Classes For Each Race in Baldur’s Gate 3 (BG3)

Baldur’s Gate 3 has an intruiging list of Races to choose from when creating your character, so it can often be tricky trying to decide which Class will provide the best benefit to your selection for your playthrough. If you’re having trouble with this same situation, then there’s no need to worry; we’ve rounded up the best Class options for each Race to help you narrow down your choices and give you some indicators of a build that may be valuable for your character, so follow along below.

Dragonborn

• Best Classes for Dragonborn: Barbarian, Paladin, Fighter, Sorcerer

Dragonborn characters make great frontline melee Classes, with the combination of Heavy Armor Proficiency and Damage Type Resistance making them very fitting candidates for a tanky playstyle. Because of this, Classes such as Paladin, Barbarian, and Fighter are brilliant choices, especially due to options such as the Fighter’s Action Surge, which allows them to utilize both Melee and Breath attacks in one turn, Barbarian further utilizes and enhances statistical Strengths that the Dragonborn Class holds, and Paladin offering a combination of Spellcasting and Melee for a strong and versatile frontline build.

Dragonborn characters can also make a great Sorcerer, due to the ability to select the Dragonic Bloodline Subclass and therefore double dip in your Dragonic Spellcasting. Dragonborn also enhances these qualities through the Magic Type provided by your Subrace selection, which will grant you Resistance towards that damage type at the sixth level. You can gain access to two different elements by selecting a different choice for your Subrace and Subclass selections, giving you much more versatility as a Sorcerer.

Drow

• Best Classes for Drow: Rogue, Ranger, Warlock

Drow are some of the most dexterous individuals in the game, meaning Classes that utilize this stat, such as Rogue, Ranger, and Warlock are perfect for ensuring you get value out of your build. The Drow’s +2 added to Dexterity and Charisma ensure that a Rogue character has the potential for some easy stealing, stealing, and sweet-talking their way out of negative situations, and the Proficiency with Crossbows, Shortswords, and Rapiers can be utilized by the Rogue to enable bonus from Sneak Attack at both melee and ranged distances.

The Crossbow Proficiency is also a bonus when it comes to a Drow Ranger build, and the Beast Master Subclass is focused around the Dexterity stat, further increasing your potential. You’ll also gain access to an Animal Companion capable of helping you out during combats and giving you the upper hand against your enemies.

Lastly, Drow fits the Warlock Class with much success due to the Drow’s Racial Spells relying upon Charisma, one of the Warlock focuses. This enables you to focus on strengthening this stat to increase the potency of both your Warlock and Racial Spells, and Fey Ancestry will also prevent you from being magically Slept as well as grant Advantage against being Charmed, allowing you to overcome and prevent yourself from two important magical effects by the enemy.

Dwarf

• Best Classes for Gold Dwarf: Paladin, Cleric, Fighter, Barbarian

When choosing to play a Dwarf character, you will gain Proficiency with the Battleaxe, Handaxe, Light Hammer, and Warhammer Weapons, meaning this Race is very well-suited to strong Melee combat Classes such as Paladin, Fighter, and Barbarian. Additionally, Dwarves are also solid Clerics, for the Gold Dwarf and Duergar Subclass in particular. This is due to the strong defensive benefits these Subclasses provide, allowing you to withstand damage taken from enemies when operating on the frontlines of combat.

Elf

• Best Classes for Elf: Warlock, Wizard, Bard, Druid, Rogue, Fighter, Monk

High Elves make brilliant Magic users, both due to their ability to wield a Wizard Cantrip as part of their Racial Features, Fey Ancestry, which provides them with Advantage against being Charmed, and Darkvision of 12m, allowing them to cast Spells and Cantrips from range. Because of these strengths, magical Classes such s the Druid, Warlock, and Wizard are promising picks for a High Elf.

Wood Elves, on the other hand, have their strongest asset fall under their increased Movement Speed, allowing them to quickly dart in and out of combat to engage in fights and pick off enemies. Because of this, Melee builds such as the Monk, Rogue, and Fighter work well, as all of these Classes involve dealing strong damage through the repetition of strong melee attacks.

Githyanki

• Best Classes for Githyanki: Paladin, Fighter, Monk, Rogue

The Githyanki Race comes with a natural Proficiency in Light and Medium Armors, as well as Shortswords, Longswords, and Greatswords. With such a strong Sword Weapon Proficiency, Githyanki naturally excels in strong close-range melee combat roles, such as the Fighter, Monk, Paladin, and Rogue. Furthermore, Githyanki Psionics grants your character with the use of Mage Hand, which can fit nicely into certain melee Magic Subclasses like the Arcane Trickster or Eldritch Knight.

Gnome

• Best Classes for Gnome: Druid, Rogue, Ranger

The Forest Gnome receives the ability to cast the Speak With Animals Spell to understand various beasts you stumble upon during your adventure. For this reason, the Druid Class is almost a no-brainer for the Forest Gnome Subrace, as it will further enhance the strengths of the unique Racial Traits you receive for your character. Alternatively, the Ranger Class is also a valuable option for the Forest Gnome, as the ability to communicate with animals goes hand in hand with the tracking capabilities and Animal Handling aspects that the Ranger tends to utilize.

Rock Gnomes and Deep Gnomes make valuable Rogues or Rangers, due to the Darkvision and Superior Darkvision traits provided by these Subraces, allowing both Rogues and Rangers to make the most out of their Bow proficiencies and hit Sneak Attacks from afar. Deep Gnome also provides your character with Advantage on Stealth checks, which are a key strength of the Rogue Class, enabling you to efficiently sneak around to gain the upper hand in combat, trigger surprise rounds, lockpick mysterious chests and doors, and loot from the various NPCs you’ll meet along the way.

Half-Elf

• Best Classes for Half-Elf: Druid, Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard, Cleric, Rogue, Ranger

The High Half-Elf receives an additional Cantrip from the Wizard Spell list, meaning they’re naturally strong in any Magic-wielding Class such as Sorcerer, Druid, Wizard, Warlock, and Bard. Wood Half-Elves benefit from their increased Movement Speed through Fleet of Foot, and their natural Stealth Proficiency makes them very capable Rogue and Ranger characters, especially if you plan to level into a melee magic Rogue through the Arcane Trickster Subclass, or a deadly long-ranged sniper through the Ranger’s Gloomstalker Subclass.

Lastly, the Drow Half-Elf makes a fairly solid Cleric character, as the Darkvision of 12ft plus the ability to cast the Dancing Lights Catrip though your Racial Traits ensure you’ll always be able to provide line of sight to enemies for not only yourself but also for your comrades who may be lacking Darkvision, playing into the support role of the Cleric well and enhancing the rest of the Cleric’s strengths. Furthermore, Fey Ancestry will also prevent Magic from putting you to Sleep, and give you Advantage against being Charmed, allowing a Cleric build to run efficiently without disruptions.

Half-Orc

• Best Classes for Half-Orc: Barbarian, Paladin, Fighter

The Half-Orc Race is built for strong melee combat, meaning the Barbarian, Paladin, and Fighter Classes are your best bet for getting the most value from your build. Barbarian allows you to take a Tanky approach, letting Rage aid you in making yourself both harder for enemies to hit, and more vicious in the damage you provide, enabling you to become a big threat on the frontline.

Paladin and Fighter work similarly to this, but with slightly different benefits – Paladin will grant you access to a minor selection of Magic, which will help you in the rare case that Melee weapons are ineffective, while Fighter comes with perks such as Second Wind and Action Surge, allowing to regain lost health or take an extra Attack during your turn once per Short Rest.

Halfling

• Best Classes for Halfling: Ranger, Rogue

Both Lightfoot Halflings and Strongheart Halflings are very well suited to the Ranger or Rogue Classes, due to the Lightfoot’s Advantage on Stealth Checks and the Strongheart’s Resistance to Poison Damage and Advantage on Saving Throws against being Poisoned. These attributes both allow your character to get into melee range to deal with some well-co-ordinated attacks with Finesse Weapons, trigger Sneak Attack, and help secure picks in combat with deadly effects.

Furthermore, the extra benefits from the Lucky trait that these Races carry will help provide an extra defensive barrier for these squishier Classes if they get into trouble when it comes to Saving Throws, Attack Rolls, and Ability Checks.

Human

• Best Classes for Human: Anything

When it comes to humans, no Class is more suited than the others, simply due to the Human Skill Proficiency and Human Versatility traits, allowing you to add a Skill proficiency in any two areas that would best benefit your character, plus increase your carrying capacity by a quarter. While Humans are incredibly flexible, they do carry natural Proficiencies in Light Armor, Shields, Spikes, Glaives, Spears, Pikes, and Halberds, so if you wish to lean into these Proficiencies, a Class that utilizes melee combat, or melee Magic may be the best way to go.

Tiefling

• Best Classes for Tiefling: Sorcerer, Wizard, Warlock, Rogue, Bard

Asmodeus Tieflings receive Fire Damage Resistance and the Produce Flame Cantrip, which leads nicely into Magic user Classes such as the Wizard, Warlock, Sorcerer, and Bard. Tieflings are also equipped with Darkvision of 12ft a part of their Racial Traits, meaning you can utilize Ranged Spells with ease.

Mephistopheles Tieflings gain the Mage Hand Cantrip, which can be used to disarm traps, move objects around, or even distract or attack an enemy. Because of this, Mephistopheles Tieflings can take a much sneakier approach to situations, meaning they can further benefit from the Stealth plus Magic combination of the Rogue’s Arcane Trickster Subclass. However, if you’re looking for more Spell variety and Magical strength, Warlock, Wizard, Bard, and Sorcerer are all effective choices for the progression of a Mephistopheles Tiefling.

Lastly, Zariel Tieflings gain Advantage on Intimidation and Performance Checks, making them well-suited to the Bard Class, which utilizes and enhances your Charisma stat, which is used for both of these Skills. Alternatively, Rogues can also benefit strongly from the Tiefling’s Charisma stats while providing massive perks with DEX-based Skills, such as Stealth and Sleight of Hand – especially if you’re planning to take a criminal approach, as this can be used to deceive poor locals you’ve stolen from or to intimidate enemies out of potential combat.

That’s everything you need to know about the best Classes for each Race in Baldur’s Gate 3. Now that you’ve got some ideas for crafting your character, why not check out our guide for how to rescue Shadowheart? This is one of the first characters you’ll encounter, so helping to get her on your good side can make all the difference once the story kicks off!