A select number of your party members in Baldur’s Gate 3 can have subclasses, which unlocks new skills as they level up. This can change entire builds for characters, however there are definitely some subclasses that are better than others for your companions. However, please keep in mind that certain characters like Wyll and Shadowheart do not have subclasses based on their base class.
Best Subclasses for Party Members in Baldur’s Gate 3
Please keep in mind that this list is entirely subjective and based on my playstyle, which is fairly aggressive. I personally like to see encounters end within the first two turns, and I also tend to dive into them headfirst. Certain subclasses in Baldur’s Gate 3 are better for a more tactical approach, while this list is more for tackling things head-on and getting things over quickly.
That said, here is our list of the best party member subclasses in Baldur’s Gate 3.
Best Subclass for Astarion
The best subclass for Astarion is the Arcane Trickster. While the Assassin can do some incredible damage with Sneak Attack (Melee) and Sneak Attack (Ranged), these are very situational and can sometimes not be used if he is directly within the line of sight of any enemy. However, as an Arcane Trickster he gets access to the best Caster spell in the game: Magic Missile. Yes, he’ll also get access to other low to mid-ranged Caster spells as well, but Magic Missile is without a doubt sometimes the best way to defeat an enemy at any level, especially as his spell slots expand and he can cast more missiles per spell level.
Best Subclass for Gale
It really doesn’t matter. All that subclasses do for Wizards in Baldur’s Gate 3 is determine how much it costs for them to learn spells of that specific school, so there really isn’t a “best” one and you can really make Gale whatever you want. Again, this choice is mostly for role-playing purposes than anything else. For the sake of more damage focused spells costing less for him to learn, I threw him into the School of Abjuration.
Best Subclass for Lae’zel
The best subclass for Lae’zel in Baldur’s Gate 3 is the Battle Master. This is because the game already provides you with so many companion characters that are casters. True melee characters are hard to come by, with Lae’zel, Minsc, and Karlach being your only three options. The Battle Master can increase it’s damage output with Superior Dice, and even use skills like Riposte. Another great skill they acquire is Pushing Attack, which will allow Lae’zel to kill enemies by simply pushing them off terrain if they just so happen to fall off of the map.
Best Subclass for Karlach
The Berserker is the by far the best subclass for Karlach, and it seems the most in-character as well. Much like Lae’zel, Karlach is one of the only true melee characters in the game, so it is best to keep her that way. Berserker Barbarian also provides her to use Frenzy to empower her attacks and deal extra damage. This means that you can keep pumping out damage within a single turn to significantly cut down how long combat encounters are. The only issue is that unlike Lae’zel, Karlach cannot wear heavy armor, so she may not be sufficient at tanking hits.
Best Subclass for Jaheira
The best subclass for Jaheira is Circle of the Moon. While Circle of the Land is a bit more in line with how her kit was in Baldur’s Gate and Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows of Amn, Circle of the Moon gives her the best benefits in terms of stat progression. She not only will become tankier, but also deal more damage with her Wild Shape skill. However, if you do want to go the route of Circle of the Land, she will have more spells at her disposal. That said, Circle of the Moon is arguably the best just for what it provides in terms of stat distribution, and because of items in the game that enhance the power of Wild Shape.
Best Subclass for Minsc
While Gloom Stalker may not be the most in character subclass for Minsc, it’s arguably his best. This Subclass makes Minsc one of the best ranged characters in the game, similar to if you chose to make Astarion an Assassin, as it allows you to hide from opponents. If you do choose to pick Gloom Stalker for Minsc, then you should absolutely invest in ranged weapons and Feats to make him an absolute monster. Especially if you slap two hand crossbows on him.
Baldur’s Gate 3 is available for PC and PlayStation 5. You can read our thoughts on what the best Baldur’s Gate III companions are here.
