bg3 · Builds
Class 1 / Class 2 / ...
One or two sentences: composition, core loop, and what makes it tick.
Swords Bard 10 / Paladin 2 (OG) · Swords Bard 6 / Paladin 2 / Sorcerer 4 (Patch 8+)
Combat martial with full caster spell slots = an overwhelming amount of Smites. Slashing Flourish = 2 ranged attacks on 1 or 2 targets (up to 4 attacks with Extra Attack). Arcane Acuity + the Band of the Mystic Scoundrel means no one escapes +10 Spell Save DC on high-value control spells. Patch 8+: upcasted Shadow Blade (L5 slots) + Resonance Stone for wicked damage, plus infinite spell slot / sorcery point manipulation.
Battle Master Fighter 12 (pure)
Pure Battle Master 12 — the pick-up-and-play Honour build: strong from level 1, nearly gear-agnostic, 3 attacks from level 11 + Action Surge. Trip Attack is the Honour-mode key: prone enemies get disadvantage on saves and lose reactions, which strips legendary actions. One-turns Raphael with the right stack.
Giant Barbarian 10 / Fighter 2 (throwing) · or Giant Barbarian 8 / Thief 4 (kicking)
Path of the Giant — become a giant: suplex animation aside, one of the most solid, consistent and durable damage dealers in the game. Tavern Brawler +1 CON at level 4, Encrusted-with-Frost loops for free Frozen CC, and Rhapsody's Scarlet Saturation makes every thrown attack a critical hit for two turns.
White Draconic Sorcerer 12 (pure)
12 White Draconic — AOE ice surfaces, Frozen enemies, slowed move speed, and a very effective high-Spell-Save-DC support role. Wet + Twinned/Quickened Ray of Frost is surprisingly decent damage; Freecast + Shield of Devotion give infinite spell slots and sorcery points in Act 3.
Moon Druid 12 (pure)
Honourable mention — 'Moon Druid lol.' Pure Moon Druid 12 with Tavern Brawler + Alert (8/14/17/8/16/8). Patch 8 added Tavern Brawler damage to attacks: a whopping +16 per attack as a Cloud Giant, 3 attacks at level 10, plus the Stunning Flail of the Air Myrmidon shapeshift. You don't even need to gear the druid — just 1 drink and start smacking.
Vengeance Paladin 6 / Shadow Sorcerer 6
Mainstay party support with full caster slots: Sleet Storm, upcasted Command and Hold Person/Monster at high Spell Save DC. Patch 8 made it broken — quickened Booming Blade smites + upcasted Shadow Blade delete enemies for ~250 on the first attack, with 2× martial attacks still in hand.
Gloom Stalker Ranger 5 / Assassin Rogue 5 / Fighter 2 (alt: 5/4/2 + War Cleric 1)
The strongest start of any class: two attacks and +3 initiative from level 3. Guaranteed crits on surprise rounds, Honour novas averaging 2,000+ (2,347 with Vicious Shortbow), and Darkness arrows for near-invulnerability. The cornerstone build for solo Honour Mode.
Solo: Open Hand Monk 6 / Thief Rogue 4 / Fighter 2 · Party: Open Hand Monk 9 / Thief Rogue 3
One of the hardest hitters in the party — Tavern Brawler adds STR modifier TWICE to unarmed attack and damage. Stunning Strike deletes enemy turns, Flurry of Blows takes lives, Ki refunds on short rest. Solo split adds Fighter for armour + Action Surge; party split gets Evasion + 1d8 Ki Resonation. Act 3 damage is 'much much higher' with full itemisation.
Tempest Cleric 2 / Draconic-or-Storm Sorcerer 10 · 6/6 for Call Lightning · 12 Storm for Heart of the Storm
A beloved classic: exploit easy lightning vulnerability via Wet, then cast a devastating lightning spell. Destructive Wrath guarantees the damage is max-rolled with a click of a button — with a crit on top it takes the anxiety out of a lot of scary Honour encounters. A Witchbolt crit goes 72 → 144 (crit) → 288 (wet vuln). And a spell caster adorned in heavy armor is an immaculate vibe.
Paladin 2 / Bladesinger Wizard 10
Honourable mention — 2 Paladin / 10 Bladesinger, Savage Attacker + Alert, 8/16/14/16/10/8 (CHA for Spell Save DC). Act 1: padded armour, Sing (Phalar Aluve) + Magic Missile, then transition to Booming Blade + Shadow Blade. Act 3: Elven Chain (medium armour works with Bladesinging). Squishy — Bladesinging, Mirror Image and Blur solve AC.