Baldur’s Gate 3: Best Party Builds

Choosing the best party builds in Baldur’s Gate 3 can make a huge difference in any situation. Only three companions can join you at a time, and the obvious formula isn’t necessarily the best one. Whether you’re looking to deal massive damage or simply explore, there’s a party for that.

About Party Composition in Baldur’s Gate 3

As you embark on your quest to understand and defeat the Absolute, you’re free to bring along three companions of your choice at a time. If you find yourself missing cues around the world, or if you’re struggling with certain battles, it may not be your level or skill that’s the problem.

Depending on the situation at hand, you’ll want certain companions with you. For instance, some battles are best fought from a distance, so bringing a Barbarian could be a fatal error. If you’re looking to talk your way out of a situation, you’ll need a persuasive character along for the ride. As you run around the wilds, you’ll likely miss hidden treasure or lore if you don’t travel with someone sporting high Perception.

You can easily add and remove party members by returning to camp at any time outside of battle. If you find yourself stuck, experimenting with another party build can be the first step to success.

Tip

While each of your 10 NPC companions has a canonical class, it’s possible to change that class by recruiting Withers to your camp. This gives you the freedom to alter your companion’s skills, abilities, and characteristics to better fit your personal preference and playstyle.

Co-op Party Composition

Baldur’s Gate 3 also features 2 to 4-player co-op. If there are still NPC companions in your party, control of these characters is assigned to specific players in the Session menu. If you’re having trouble juggling four characters on your own, or if you want some unpredictability in your playthrough, we’d recommend trying to play with friends after completing the campaign solo at least once.

Best Balanced Build: Barbarian, Cleric, Rogue, Wizard

Players looking for the safe option can’t go wrong with this classic RPG party featuring a Tank, Melee DPS, Ranged DPS, and Healer. What it lacks in uniqueness, it makes up for in steadfast reliability and security both on and off the battlefield. With a focus on both balanced combat and solid exploration skills, this is a suggested build for both novice and experienced players.

The Cleric, with a relatively high armor class, can manage the party’s health and shielding as the Barbarian tears up the enemy’s front lines. Rogues excel at stealth and lockpicking, making them an asset in just about any situation, while Wizards can cast massive AoE attacks to help destroy any stragglers on the ground.

This classic Dungeons & Dragons setup is also easily adaptable; it’s one of the best party builds in Baldur’s Gate 3 for those new to the series. Feel free to swap out your Wizard for a Sorcerer or bring along a Monk instead of a Rogue.

Best Build for Damage Output: Paladin, Ranger, Rogue, Sorcerer

If you’re looking to end a battle quickly, this somewhat risky build focuses solely on damage dealt, leaving most healing and buffing skills by the wayside. Paladins, however, are able to serve as both Tanks and effective support characters as well if managed properly, so you won’t be running headfirst into danger without some way of restoring HP.

Your Ranger and Rogue can work together to take single foes down from outside melee range, with the Ranger’s ‘Hunter’s Mark’ ability being especially helpful. Having a spellcaster capable of using powerful AoE attacks is a great way to round out this merciless build, as this character can take a little stress off of the frontline Paladin. Wizard is also a suitable choice for this final slot.

Best Build for Exploration: Barbarian, Bard, Druid, Rogue

While the world of Baldur’s Gate 3 is a dangerous one, there’s much more to this title than constant combat. The Forgotten Realms are full of secrets and treasures to uncover, and players interested in discovering the game’s lore and exploring different conversation options can benefit from this specific collection of characters.

Often, interacting with a character or object will trigger an ability check. This party covers every base when it comes to useful abilities in the world: Bards have high Charisma, which can be helpful when attempting to influence or deceive someone. Barbarians are able to intimidate others or force their way through obstacles, both physical and otherwise. Druids unlock nature-based dialogue options and can speak to animals, while Rogues can lockpick and use stealth in creative ways.

Best Ranged Build: Fighter, Ranger, Warlock, Wizard

If you prefer maiming your enemies from a safe distance, this party can deal massive damage without having to worry about taking physical damage.

While many players consider the Fighter a Tank class, emphasizing Dexterity and equipping this character with a ranged weapon can make them one of the deadliest in the game. Additionally, multiclassing with Ranger or Rogue unlocks some interesting archery possibilities.

Rangers are natural hunters who are capable of summoning beasts to do their bidding on the battlefield, leaving them free to sling arrows from afar. Warlocks and Wizards both excel at spellcasting, with Wizards having access to a higher array of spells and Warlocks able to quickly recuperate their powerful spell slots with a short rest. These four prove to be a deadly combination without bothering to set foot into the enemy’s personal bubble.

Best Roleplaying Build: Bard, Druid, Fighter, Wizard

Players looking to roleplay while also holding their own in battle will benefit from this unique composition. Each member of the party brings their own lore and abilities to the fold, making this a colorful and reactive group ready for any potential situation.

The Bard is the backbone of this build. This class triggers unique—and sometimes vulgar—interactions during conversations, making them an engaging roleplaying companion. In battle, Bard is one of the best support classes, able to buff and debuff while healing wounded characters with ease. Druids offer nature-based conversation options and are capable of fighting both in melee range and from a distance effectively, while Fighters and Wizards can be built in countless ways to improve their attack power.

The lore you’ll uncover and conversations you’ll have with these characters are sure to impress both new players and seasoned D&D fans alike.

Best Build for Single-Target Damage: Barbarian, Cleric, Ranger, Warlock

If you’re preparing for a difficult boss battle, this is one of the best party builds in Baldur’s Gate 3 for maximizing single-target damage while still maintaining consistent support. Your Ranger and Warlock can quickly debuff an enemy while using minions to both deal damage and distract your opponents. While they aren’t the strongest DPS classes in the game, they are unrivaled when it comes to single-target damage.

Feel free to use a Paladin or Fighter instead of a Barbarian. However, Barbarians deal the rawest single-target damage and have natural defenses that keep them going after many other classes would die. Bards can also be used in place of Clerics, though the latter is the safer and most reliable option.

We know—with so many lovable companions, it’s tough to decide who to leave on the sidelines. Thankfully, it’s possible to make just about any party composition work in Baldur’s Gate 3, no matter how ridiculous it may seem at first glance. Regardless, let the above setups serve as a helpful tool when embarking on specific adventures across the Forgotten Realms.