Baldur’s Gate 3 continues to innovate how we look at the Dungeons and Dragons franchise, instituting new ways of using spells. Offering visualizations to old ones we never thought were possible. You never quite see the dice and game board the same way again with clear tactical choices like the grease spell. Among these changes are those to some of our favorite races. The Githyanki, one of the premier classes of Baldurs Gate 3 has many of these changes; receiving a glow-up that makes them elegant and powerful!
From their appearance on the tabletop as the slaves of the mind flayers, to their current condition in Baldur’s Gate 3 it’s clear things have changed. From their armor and weaponry down to their physical appearance and facial structure, this alien race to the material plane has a lot to go over in this new title! The main difference between the Githyanki of Dungeons and Dragons and Baldur’s Gate 3 is that the Githyanki are no longer tied to their Mindflayer overlords.
Perhaps because of this, the Githyanki have been greatly elevated in their position of the Dungeons and Dragons party scape by offering a strong-willed warrior race. A race with knowledge of the greater planes, and a natural instinct against their former overlords. As they instinctively border the lines of evil over good, keeping yourself in line will require strength, honor, and self-reliance.
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Physical Condition – Revitalized Warriors
Traditionally in Dungeons and Dragons, the Githyanki are a race that has been starved, and enslaved by their psychic overlords. Because of this, they are usually emaciated, and warped beyond the point of being considered civilized on the surface. They often can be seen in tribal armor and weapons which have the misleading effect of making other races view them as barbarians. In truth, their elongated forms have always been as they are. However, they appeared far more frail and incapable than they currently do. In reality, the Githyanki of old are considerably ugly, and misleading in their strength as they use this perceived frailty to overcome their oppressors.
In their current state, the Githyanki look rejuvenated; they have more filled-in features and a more youthful appearance. These are the Githyanki generations who have lived free of their former overlords’ oppression. In this span of freedom, the Githyanki have created a martial culture akin to Spartan in our own human history. Perhaps because of this, their features and warrior-like mentalities have created a sense of fear among other races. A fear that replaces the fear of their otherwise unsightly appearances in Dungeons and Dragons.
With both accounts of the race, there’s the same level of skin pallets, eye colors, and elongated humanoid bodies. They have noticeably longer ears in Baldurs Gate 3 which makes the Githyanki appear like goblins or orcs but significantly taller and skinnier. A point that is exploited on several occasions by the Githyanki warriors in your party. Their signature bat-like noses are a part of their race in both iterations and allow them to stand out from orc and goblin cultures purely on their facial structures.
The member of society in which all Githyanki strive to be ascended to be in the presence of
Cultural Differences – From Slaves to Warriors
Dungeons and Dragons offer the Githyanki as both a specialized combatant and a highly caveated race for players to enjoy. They are a purely evil race of people who enjoy cruelty and aggression over honor and courage, something evident in Baldur’s Gate 3 as well! The difference is, during the Dungeons and Dragons campaigns you’ll meet the Githyanki, and you’ll see them as slaves. These slaves have been bent over time to conquer worlds in the name of the Mindflayer they serve, and do so typically unwillingly. In Baldur’s Gate 3, these former slaves have traded this unwillingness for their own martial culture; one that inspires cruelty and violence even more so than their former overlords.
Added to their new warrior-like culture, you can see signs of their former vestiges through war paints, and armor akin to their ancestors. Baldurs Gate 3 offers the player both perceptions of an outsider should you choose to play as one, and an insider in the form of Laz’kreal. This duality is similar to the Qunari in Dragon Age where outsiders are saved from the brainwashing culture of their main government. In this case, the difference between outsider and citizen can seem like a stark reality of what the race has become. Fear drives their military prowess, and from it, they fight like the monsters they choose to distance themselves from.
Clearly, this version of the Gith is greatly inspired by their previous overlord governments; now delegating control to supreme commanders and priestesses. Give them the ritualistic archaism that makes Githyanki so interesting. In most cases, outside cultures aren’t to be trusted, and in both adaptations, they’re hated by the Gith. It can lead to an isolationist military culture, like the Spartans in our history.
Githyanki technology
Artisan Weapons and Armor
The Githyanki carry highly specialized weapons and armor throughout both the world of Dungeons and Dragons and Baldurs Gate 3. These weapons and armor are comprised of silver which has been embedded with gemstones that protect against psychic attacks. These silvered weapons and armor can fight psychic threats, and on the astral plane, they can cut their silver cords. In Gith culture, they’re normally found on the best warriors because they’re so powerful and durable. They mix this armor and weapon combination with psionic abilities such as psychic armor and psychic blade which in Dungeons and Dragons is endowed to them by their Mindflayer overlords.
Importantly, in Baldur’s Gate 3, it seems this armor could be made out of either silver or steel, as it is meant to function against physical blows as well. Their knight class of warriors is able to be seen in this heavy equipment though notably carrying steel swords. Their increasing military culture would assume that this change to steel weapons was to combat aggressors in the material plane more easily as they sought territory. It’s also important to note that their heavy armor is a lot more jagged and angular than in Dungeons and Dragons.
Githyanki warriors typically carry weapons and equipment based on their rank in their warrior culture. For instance, lightly armored troops with one-handed swords will be far less potent in their society than a heavily armored warrior with a two-handed sword. It’s for this reason that it’s clear to discern where an individual stands on their social hierarchy. A piece of home when on a foreign plane, Githyanki armor is special to the Githyanki themselves.
Githyanki Armor
Githyanki Abilities – Psionic Knights
Both in Dungeons and Dragons as well as Baldur’s Gate 3, the Githyanki are incredibly potent psionic warriors. The mage hand spell acts as a gentle form of telekinesis, so this race can manipulate the world with their minds. Additionally, they can learn the long jump and misty step spells, which allow them to traverse the world like spirits. Through a variety of nondetection spells, the Githyanki is powerful both in the astral and material planes. Finally, at higher levels, the Githyanki are capable of plane shifting and telekinesis.
Beyond this, in Dungeons and Dragons, the Gith are known for their use of Fireball, Magic Missile, Astral Projection, Chain Lightning, and far more powerful spells. They are innate spellcasters who can use their abilities to wreak havoc on a battlefield through psychic might. Because they have this innate magic, even their warrior classes are capable of being a potent threat to wizards and clerics alike. When it comes to their ranged melee potential; it’s clear that the Githyanki can make some of the strongest fighters on both the tabletop and in Baldurs Gate 3!
As spellcasters, they can prove to be especially potent due to the extended spell range they have access to. With their natural ability to gain traversal and non-detection magic, they are perfect candidates for either support or attack roles. Due to their own safety, they can focus on more aggressive spell combinations or supportive ones. Due to their mage hand ability, they are also good trap diffusers and rogues. While the Githyanki excel at combat classes, they fall short on charisma-based roots like bards, druids, and paladins.
Githyanki Warrior
Starting Bonuses
The Githyanki have quite a few bonuses that make them one of the best races in Baldur’s Gate 3. As a result of their militant background, the Githyanki can handle all kinds of swords, as well as light and medium armor. They are naturally psychic, and can cast the mage’s hand spell at will. Githyanki are natural warriors but lack charismatic benefits, making them hard for social interactions. Because of the manner in which Githyanki lives and interacts with other races, they are seen as natural antagonists despite their sworn fight against Mindflayers.
They hold a much more inclusive society than their Dungeons and Dragons counterparts. They don’t get psychic blades or armor spells like they usually do, but they make up for it. The Githyanki seem to be the race that stands out in Baldur’s Gate 3.
Overall, in Baldur’s Gate 3 the Githyanki’s biggest power is their Astral Knowledge. This works like racial bardic knowledge and gives the Githyanki an extra five bonus modifiers. You can increase one of your base stats with astral knowledge once per long rest, making the Githyanki incredibly powerful.
Guardians of the Githyanki Creche
Later Abilities
Later on, the Githyanki gain access to potent abilities such as their elongated jump and their misty step allowing them to traverse the battlefield with ease. Overall, Githyanki’s affinity for psychic combat is an interesting flavor text for any class you choose. By the end of the game, you’ll be able to use telekinesis, making the Githyanki unbeatable in dungeons. They’re hands down the best race in Baldur’s Gate 3 because of their mobility and versatility.
Best Roles – Psychic Aggressors
The best way to use a Githyanki is to play on their ability to move around a battlefield easily. They are a blur of might and force that can easily outpace faster combatants than them. Through teleportation, sneaking, and jumping, you can make use of the many mechanics of Baldur’s Gate 3 that the developers left for the player. Being by far one of the best explorer races, they can navigate hard-to-reach areas.
They are a front-line aggressor who takes speed and ruthlessness into consideration. For this reason, they make some of the finest fighters, rogues, and paladins around. Their spells can open up armor and weapons your wizards and sorcerers wouldn’t normally have. Finally, they can use astral knowledge and bardic knowledge to get some of the highest skill checks. With all of these unique bonuses, it’s hard to see a downside to this outsider race besides their social seclusion.
-source: Pointy Hat
Laz’kel
In Baldur’s Gate 3, you will encounter the companion Laz’kel not for the duration, but for a short time. You will have her with you throughout the introduction until you get to the sword coast. While being one of the generic kinsmen of her kind, she does have the unique ability to change her ways. She serves as a perfect example of the fearful, and distrusting nature of the Githyanki due to their theocratic society. They are nice in believing their people can fix every problem and ignorant of the worth of other races.
As Laz’kel goes through her journey, we see these ideas and flaws challenged time and time again. Her character progresses well, as she is able to free herself from these moral shortcomings at the cost of shattering her own identity. She represents the warrior class of her people so they don’t just seem strong-willed, but also fearful of change.
As a companion, she is quite potent being able to overwhelm enemies with vicious strikes. As a storytelling device, she is telling the tale of a crusader who follows their path blindly. She is a soldier through and through, only seeing herself as another instrument of her queen’s will. By doing so, she shows the audience that she’s not just a strong-willed warrior, but also deeply flawed. She must not only fight the monsters around her, but also the monsters created by her people’s abrasive beliefs.
your fighter companion for the main story of Baldur’s Gate 3
