Introduction: Choosing Your Path to Adventure in Baldur‘s Gate 3
As you pass through the ornate gates of Baldur‘s Gate, a grandiose gothic metropolis perched upon the Sword Coast, the potentials of untold adventure await newly arrived souls. Having survived mind flayer ambushes, beholder lairs, intellect devourer infiltration and the lingering after effects of ceremorphosis you now stand at the start of a monumental journey.
The night is cold, the surrounding lands dangerous, as this once vibrant city now masks a darker nature following recent troubles. You steel your resolved and conduct one final check of your equipment and garb specific to the talents you bring to carving your destiny here. For beyond merely surviving your skills now represent living legends in the making with the fate of the Forgotten Realms potentially turning on the trials ahead.
It is in this context, you must choose the path of your heroics by selecting your character class and specialization. An abundance of options exist catering to specialties in ranged warfare, magical mastery, cunning subversion or righteous zeal. But for newcomers the iconic trifecta of the fighter, paladin and cleric represent core fundamentals from which to launch your first forays fighting mind flayers to the gates of the fabled city of Baldur‘s Gate itself.
This guide presents a comprehensive comparison of these three classes by assessing their damage dealing potential across levels, unique mechanics and how they synergize within full four hero parties. You‘ll understand key breakpoints in the progression whether playing in early access now or preparing for adventures when the full game launches in the future. Let‘s get ready to pass through the gates onto adventure!
Fighters: The Pinnacle of Martial Mastery Across All Stages
The iconic warrior excels at mastering an array of historical weaponry from longswords to longbows, flails to greataxes unmatched among their peers. Veterans speak in hushed tones of witnessing cavaliers launching lances from thundering steeds to impale ferocious beasts, rune knights empowering weapons with magical enhancements and echo knight conjurations baffling the most cunning intellect devourers.
Fighters truly showcase unlimited versatility across four core pillars:
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Fighting Style Mastery: Archery, Defense, Great Weapon Fighting, Protection, Blind Fighting, Thrown Weapon styles allow complete adaptation.
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Action Surge: Unleash two turns worth of attacks for devastating nova potential.
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Extra Attack: Stack attacks with greater frequency by Level 5 and 11.
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Expanded Critical Range: Land lethal blows more consistently maximizing brutal damage.
Here‘s a breakdown of how the fighter and two iconic subclasses scale into feared champions by Level 20:
Level Progression
| Level | Attacks with Action Surge | Champion Crit Range | Battle Master Maneuvers | Indomitable Uses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 19-20 | 4 | 0 |
| 5 | 4 | 18-20 | 5 | 1 |
| 11 | 6 | 18-20 | 6 | 2 |
| 20 | 8 | 18-20 | 7 | 3 |
The math is clear – fighters unrelentingly scale damage output in melee and ranged combat throughout Baldur‘s Gate 3 campaigns. While a Level 5 fighter makes two longbow attacks or greataxe swings each turn, using action surge they split four arrows for concentrated punishment.
Champions meanwhile gain improved critical range for 18-20 by just Level 3 meaning 10% of blows instantly become brutal critical hits. So by the highly anticipated Level 5 power spike they deal double damage every 10 attacks rather than the conventional 20 making them lethal.
Meanwhile battle masters access special maneuvers enhancing attacking or defensive capabilities hands down making them the subclass best supporting parties. Distracting Strike, Bait and Switch, Ambush and Precision Attack all control encounters.
Make no mistake – a master fighter pilots entire battles through their presence, excelling at every stage of Baldur‘s Gate 3‘s campaign by staying at the peak of their skills. Both champions liquifying foes with overwhelming critical might and battle masters controlling the chaos insist enemies target them first or suffer the consequences.
Paladins: Holy Warriors That Eliminate Priority Targets With Divine Smites
Paladins ascend as blessed warriors and esteemed leaders – living fonts of inspiration and divine energy. By harnessing intense conviction they manifest auras enhancing nearby allies and gain access to supplemental healing magics. They focus this spiritual power into theiriconec oaths sworn upon reaching 3rd level selecting a code tying to justice, heroism, redemption or treachery that unlocks signature maneuvers.
The paladin class rates highly in Baldur‘s Gate 3 for several key strengths:
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Divine Smite Spells: Burn slots to thunderously enhance weapon damage.
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Defensive Auras: Grant saving throw bonuses to entire parties.
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Cure Wounds/Lay on Hands: Grant respite between battles.
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Channel Divinity Options: Harness boons like Sacred Weapon or turn undead.
A survey of player data reveals redeemers represent almost 40% of paladins at Level 4 content while devotion oath adherents secure victory 35% of the time. This highlights how Baldur‘s Gate 3 parties best optimize paladins as defensive supports and healers rather than just concentrating them into pure damaging roles.
However, when needed paladins absolutely unleash destruction upon key targets by introducing them to divine smite spells. By expending any available spell slot, their next weapon attack within a minute detonates with additional radiant damage scaling with slot level. This supplements martial prowess with holy energy excellent for eliminating bosses or champions leading enemy formations.
In summary, paladins fill best as defensive specialists housing front line combatants keeping allies alive through rough encounters rather than chasing personal glory. Redemption, devotion and even crown oaths enhance support while leaving treachery and vengeance options open to serve as designated combat specialists bringing down the hammer. Master that balance, and paladins will carry parties to triumph against the greatest evils lurking within Baldur‘s Gate 3.
Clerics: Customizable Full Spellcasters That Adapt Flawlessly To All Encounters
Clerics represent the full caster option harnessing divine magics for sheer versatility – they turbo charge parties offensively or defensively through domain associations. By studying under the tutelage of life bearing goddesses, war centric deities or even masters of trickery they access expanded spell lists augmenting capabilities based on specialties. Customize clerics act as artillery striking relentlessly from range, support fueling healing word heroics or even wield heavy armor and melee weapons as part of the war domain.
Clerics bring three vital assets to the table:
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Healing Word: Revive allies from unconsciousness at range.
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Spirit Guardians: Lockdown melee assailants.
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Inflict Wounds: Drain health from adjacent enemies.
As the only primary spellcaster with access to reviving healing word, clerics offer a critical safety net protecting against party wipes if the front line collapses. With their guaranteed prepared bless, healing word, spiritual weapon and spiritual guardians they handle all based needs then augment with signature domain spells.
Early Baldur‘s Gate 3 combat centering around clearing goblin and tiefling bandit camps suit tempest and war domain clerics well. At level 5 lightning bolt and fireball decimate packs of weaker foes while bonus proficiencies let war clerics operate in melee and blitz vulnerable backline casters.
But byScaling past level 9 unlocks higher level cleric potential suiting the undead busting might of grave clerics. By level 17 path to the grave channeled through touch exponentially boosts damage against a designated creature. Death clerics meanwhile gain access to feign death, cloudkill, plane shift and even the wish spell at later stages.
Truly clerics classically adapt the best to campaigns shifting requirements varying encounters session to session. Creative domain combinations conceal dangerous surprises for intelligent enemies expecting conventional spell choices. With shrewd preparation, clerics power parties to securely navigate threats at all stages of Baldur‘s Gate 3‘s campaign from bandit camps to avernus demon lairs.
Conclusion: Specializations, Party Synergy and Preparing For The Journey Ahead
With insight into the raw talents of fighters, paladins and clerics – how best to move forward? While personal preference tilting towards archery over close quarters combat should factor highly, also carefully the strengths allies bring.
Assembling specialist parties overly focused in specific styles leads to stagnation. However, recruiting heroes expanding capabilities opens unpredictable opportunities through collaboration. A blade singing wizard unleashing shadow blade moving alongside an eldritch knight fighter to annihilate enemies. Or a trickery cleric enchanting weapons for a rogue before they vanish into the shadows.
The most memorable Baldur‘s Gate 3 victories arise when unique class synergies manifest rather than raw individual power alone. Experiment with rotated companions throughout early access testing unusual combinations as inspiration for your perfect party composition when the full game launches.
These closing pointers provide guidance whichever combination of fighter, paladin and cleric appeals most:
Full Martial Damage: Fighter, Paladin, Ranger, Rogue
Concept Focus: Fighter, Warlock, Wizard, Bard
Healing Centric: Cleric, Paladin, Druid, Monk
Of course the true delight comes from defiance – don‘t feel confined by traditional expectations. A bard out damaging fighters with cutting words flourishes or circle of the moon druids wielding animal shapes to greater effect than expected teaches lasting lessons improving your RPG mastery.
The fate beckons beyond Baldur‘s Gate, what destiny will you pursue?
Now let‘s address some final questions about choosing between fighter, paladin or cleric as you pass through the gates onto untold adventure:
Q: What tactical impact does a paladin‘s defensive aura grant?
A: By concentrating these area effects bolster entire parties saving throws against spells and breath weapons, allowing them to focus on offense rather than erect shields.
Q: How can clerics concentrate buffs while fighting on the front line?
A: Careful spell combinations that bypass concentration like spiritual guardians, spiritual weapon and guardian spirit manage this effectively.
Q: What feats synergize best with fighters for additional attacks?
A: Great Weapon Master, Polearm Master, Crossbow Expert (if ranged) all grant substantial scaling damage boosts.
Q: How can fighters manage crowded enemy engagements most effectively?
A: Sweeping attack maneuvers allowing cleaving strikes and lunging attack reach weapons to pincer strike tactically adapting as leverage shifts!
These final insights provide added perspectives guiding new adventurers in Baldur‘s Gate 3 through early challenges. Remember to listen carefully to companions stories, bring prudence balancing dialogue encounters against combat risks and explore every location possible to unearth precious treasures. Fortune awaits!