Baldur’s Gate 3: Optimized Builds for the Origin Characters

You do not need to multi-class to beat Baldur’s Gate 3, even on tactician. In this game, there are so many ways to build the characters and there are no wrong answers! You can have fun and easily finish the game without optimizing your companions, it’s all up to personal preference. However, if you’re looking for something to help with your custom character, check out these top feats you can take!

This guide assumes your custom character will be the face of the party and will handle support. Tav will do most, if not all of the talking, so we’ll need a tank that’s to prevent enemies from getting to the rest of the party, a ranged single target for sustained damage, and a caster that can deal AOE and single target damage. In general, you’ll want to pick one of each if you want a balanced party.

This guide will only focus on the six origin characters while trying to make sure the immersion breaking is as small as possible. I’ll provide a build using their initial class. You’ll need to respect each character as soon as possible to optimize their stats, but after that, you should just be able to level up normally without having to go back to Withers.

Astarion

Our favorite elven vampire spawn is going to be focused on ranged. He’ll specialize on sneak attacks with hand crossbows, so try to start each encounter hidden so you can get extra damage from sneak attack before your tank closes the distance with enemies.

Optimized Build for Astarion

Level 1

Off the bat, you’ll want to choose rogue and redo his ability scores.

With your added skills, you’ll want to put them in Acrobatics, Insight, Investigation, and Stealth. The added expertise will go in Perception and Stealth.

Level 2 and Beyond

The main reason for going with thief instead of assassin is the damage per round. While an assassin can do major damage in the first round if they’re hidden, thief is better for sustained damage over time.

Gale

With Gale, we’ll want a lot of area-of-effect damage that will do a ton of damage at once to a group of enemies. His AC isn’t going to be great due to him being an optimized spellcaster, so make sure he won’t be hit by placing him in the back.

Optimized Build for Gale

Level 1

With Gale’s initial class being wizard, that’s what we’ll continue to use, but of course, we’ll want to redo his ability scores and skills.

With your skills, you’ll want to put the bonuses into Investigation, Perception, and Religion.

The spells you want are Burning Hands, Chromatic Orb, Find Familiar, Ice Knife, Magic Missile, and Shield.

Level 2 and Beyond

You can use Portent to your advantage. Use a low roll to force an enemy to fail a save or a high roll to guarantee a hit.

Karlach

This tiefling will be focused on thrown weapons, making her an optimized ranged for the party. Once raged, you can throw almost everything at the enemies, including other enemies. Just be sure to use enraged throw or use a returning thrown weapon and you’re set!

Optimized Build for Karlach

Level 1

As mentioned, we’ll be starting off with Barbarian and rerolling scores.

With your skills, you’ll want to put the bonuses into Nature and Perception.

Level 2 and Beyond

After increasing her strength to 20, she’ll do amazing damage as your fling whatever is in your reach at the enemy.

Lae’zel

Optimized Build for Lae’zel

Lae’zel is going to be one of the optimized tanks. She’ll be taking the brunt of the damage by keeping enemies away from the party. Thanks to athlete and githyanki psionics, getting her close won’t be an issue.

Level 1

As always, we’ll continue with their initial class by making Lae’zel a fighter. For Fighting Style choice, you should choose Great Weapon Fighting.

In addition, you’ll want to put the bonuses into Perception and Survival.

Level 2 and Beyond

Since damage isn’t the focus of this build, Lae’zel stops enemies from getting to your heavy hitters and keeps their focus on her.

Shadowheart

Optimized Build for Shadowheart

Our favorite half-elf will also be an optimized tank. She’ll be a War Domain focused cleric. Spirit Guardians will be her go to attack as it deals a lot of damage and slows nearby enemies.

Level 1

With your skills, you’ll want to put the bonuses into History and Medicine.

The cantrips you want are Guidance, Produce Flames, and Sacred Flame.

Level 2 and Beyond

Keep her near enemies as best you can. She’ll deal significant damage between her spirit guardians and improved melee attacks.

Wyll

Next, we continue with Wyll. The final optimized spellcaster, and a hard-hitter of the group. Like Gale, make sure to keep him in the main back as his AC won’t be great.

Optimized Build for Wyll

Level 1

Starting off as Warlock, Wyll will want the Fiend subclass.

With your skills, you’ll want to put the bonuses into Arcana, Invesitgation, and Perception.

The cantrips you want are Eldritch Blast and Poison Spray. The spells you want are Armor of Agathys and Hex.

Level 2 and Beyond

The main focus of Wyll is going to be his Eldritch Blast and the massive amount of damage he can do via his spells. With Pact of the Chain, he’ll be able to summon an Imp to fly around the battlefield quickly to help tank or to get extra sneak attack damage.