All races and subraces in Baldur's Gate 3: which is the best and which one to choose

Races in Baldur's Gate 3 - a set of types of creatures and sets of their unique features that determine physical traits and is one of the main aspects when creating a character. Some of them have branches in the form of subraces, because of which there is a high variability in traits and bonuses that affect the entire gameplay. The choice of hero's affiliation will affect the impression, certain plot and combat moments, so it is important to think it over wisely.

Knowing about the races based on DnD 5th Edition will help you not only shape the main character for a unique exploration of the Forgotten Realms, but also understand what to expect when meeting the creatures that inhabit the game universe. In this article, we'll go over the sub-race differences, history, influence, and traits of the species, including speed, weapons, armor, vision, spells, skills, and feats, to help you decide which race to choose in Baldur's Gate 3.

Prepared in a separate guide rating and detailed overview of all classes in BG3highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of each.

What do races and subraces affect in BG3

In addition to appearance, the races and subraces of Baldur's Gate 3 affect several main aspects of the game:

• Different options in dialogs and the reactions of creatures, including companions: drow may be afraid or distrustful, some heroes will humiliate a tiefling, dwarves and githyanki will warmly react to a compatriot. At certain times it will be more advantageous to belong to one species or another.
• Some of the available DB 3 races have the ability to wear a certain type weapons or armor, which allows the hero to use them without penalty. Equipment skills don't stack. When traveling around the world, you can find equipment that is available only to a specific race.
• A variety of bonus skills: skills, actions, focuses, immunity to magical sleep in races with elven blood, resistances, difference in night vision range, increased chance of ing the test. Vision in the dark affects the distance from which it will be easier for the character to hit it.
• Character height is tied to race and affects travel rangeAs the weight, which together with it is taken into when repelling creatures. It’s easier to throw off a cliff or throw light heroes at the enemy, and swift-footed ones will get to opponents in close combat earlier.

Baldur's Gate 3 playable races do not change manually during the process. There is only the possibility of changing the appearance with the help of the Shape Change spell, so that the creature encountered perceives the hero as a creature with a different race and would react in a different way. However, you can change character class and reset skills.

BG 3 races and classes should primarily be paired according to roleplaying and aesthetic desires, as races do not have associated ability scores. These class recommendations come in handy when in doubt and are set according to bonus feats for greater effectiveness.

All races and subraces in Baldur's Gate 3

The races of Baldur's Gate 3 are not limited to game races, for example, illithids are an important part of the story. Consider the available types when creating the main character and highlight their main features. Available to choose from 11 races and in total 28 subraces.

Elf

Race traits: long-lived and noble, associated with magic and nature

Elves are a magical people who live in the forest and live in harmony with nature. Being centenarians, they become witnesses of many historical events. Elves are adapted to any type of lighting, and are skilled in both magic and martial arts.

Racial features

• Race speed: 9/10.5 meters.
• Vision in the dark: 12 meters.
• Skills: Attention.

Regardless of class, elves wield long and short swords and bows. Due to their fae origins, they are harder to charm and impossible to put to sleep.

Subraces

Like people from Fairyland, High Elves possess such a high connection with magic that they are able to use it even without training. As a feature, they have a choice of focus. Sub-racial spells are based on intelligence. Wood elves They live in the forests of Faerûn, which is why they are more dexterous and have the skill of stealth. Their movement speed is increased by 1.5 meters (total 10.5) unlike their counterparts.

Class selection

The best classes for an elf are based on average range:

• high elf: druid, warrior (otherworldly knight), rogue (mystical trickster), wizard. Without intelligence: bard, priest, sorcerer, sorcerer.
• Wood Elf: ranger, rogue, monk; bard, priest, druid.

Tiefling

Race Features: Loners with devilish origins

Tieflings are descended from humans and devils, and because of their demonic heritage, they are viewed with distrust by many. Often among them you can meet refugees due to the lack of a homeland, and even in such a situation there will be those who are ready to offend them. If you treat a tiefling well, then for sure he will turn out to be a loyal and reliable friend, despite prejudice.

Racial features

• Race speed: 9 meters.
• Vision in the dark: 12 meters.

To survive tieflings help, in particular, magical abilities. Infernal origin makes them resistant to flames - they take half the damage from it. Racial spells depend on charisma.

Subraces

Tieflings of Asmodeus comes from the very depths of the underworld - Nessus. As they level up, spells related to darkness and fire are added to them. Tieflings of Mephistopheles skilled in fiery and mystical magic. They can be distinguished by their long ears sticking out to the sides. physically strong Tieflings of Zariel are the most formidable among their people, therefore they are resistant to intimidation, execution, and often fight close. Their fiendish talent for flame control hadn't spared them either. You can recognize the subrace by the small pointed ears.

Class selection

The best classes for tieflings are based on average range and charisma:

• Tiefling Asmodeus: bard, sorcerer, sorcerer, rogue.
• Tiefling Mephistopheles: bard, sorcerer, sorcerer, rogue.
• Tiefling Zariel: bard, paladin, sorcerer.

Drow

Race features: dark elves, divided into two clans

Drow are dark-skinned elves who were once exiled to the Underdark, which caused them to split into two sub-races. Due to the worship of the vicious and evil goddess of the half, many people they meet will fall into horror when they meet them, while the rest tries to establish peaceful relations.

Racial features

• Race speed: 9 meters.
• Vision in the dark: 24 meters.
• Skill: Attention.

Drow can wield a rapier, short sword, and one-handed crossbow. Racial spells depend on charisma.

Subraces

Malice and cruelty Drow Lolth led them to create a cult and desire to destroy the elven deity. You can recognize the followers of the arrogant goddess by their red eyes. Drow Seldarine seek to resolve the conflict with the worshipers of Lolth by any means available, and are actively seeking allies throughout Faerûn to do so.

Class selection

Best classes for Drow Lolth и Drow Seldarine based on long range: sorcerer and sorcerer. Without charisma: bard and wizard.

Human

Features of the race: versatility and prevalence

Man can be called the opposite of an elf, since people build cities, use nature for their own purposes and, due to their short lives, can only know history from books. The culture of a ionate and confident people depends on the place where they settled.

Racial features

• Race speed: 9 meters.

A person knows how to wield spears, pikes, halberds, glaives, use shields and wear light armor. Resourcefulness allows him to choose a third skill as a bonus, and persistence increases his maximum carry weight by exactly a quarter.

Subraces

In DB 3, humans do not have subraces.

Class selection

The best classes for a person: any.

Githyanki

Race Features: an unearthly civilization with a thirst for revenge

The warlike githyanki were once slaves of the illithids, and now they hate them and fight the intellect flayers. Ruthlessness made the lean people good at close combat. Through an ancient alliance with red dragons, they are able to fly them.

Racial features

• Race speed: 9 meters.

Hardiness in battle taught the githyanki to wield short, long, two-handed swords and light, medium armor. Travelers in the Astral Sea can buff themselves one skill of their choice once before a long rest. Githyanki are prone to psionic abilities and from the first level know the magic hand focus to move objects by telekinesis. Racial spells are based on intelligence.

Subraces

The githyanki have no subraces.

Class selection

The best class for a githyanki should be a hybrid or no swords, light, medium armor, and depend on intelligence, so only the wizard remains. In general, the race is universal, you can choose any class.

Dwarf

Race features: famous and strong blacksmiths

Born in dark dungeons, dwarves are raised by stern blacksmiths and warriors. Despite their short stature, they are resistant and heavy, which allows them to act as strong tanks. Many dwarves oppose the hated goblins and orcs as they raid their lands.

Racial features

• Race speed: 7.5 meters.
• Vision in the dark: 12/24 meters.

Miners are able to wield a battle axe, hatchet, light and war hammer. The survivability of dwarves is manifested in resistance to poison.

Subraces

Gold Dwarves they honor family, customs and painstaking work, and are also more optimistic than their brethren, since they were not touched by the war. The subclass's health increases by 1 per level. Shield Dwarves took part in the battles against goblins and orcs, go to the end and are ready for anything to achieve the goal. Their strength is manifested in the ability to wear light and medium armor.

In the past Dvergari were slaves of the illithids, and liberation did not rid them of their gloomy and bitter nature. The Arrogant Abyssal Subclass has innate dark vision up to 24 meters, and resisting the Mind Flayers has given them increased resistance to illusions, charms, and paralysis.

Class selection

The best classes for a dwarf vary greatly by subrace:

• golden dwarf: barbarian, priest, warrior, paladin; druid, monk
• Shield Dwarf: sorcerer.
• Dvergar: bard, ranger, rogue (ranged), sorcerer, sorcerer, wizard.

half-elf

Race Traits: Wanderers with faerie heritage and human blood

Half-elves have the best features of humans and their second race, but because of incest, they cannot find a place for themselves. They are so rare that sometimes they do not meet their own kind in a lifetime. All half-elves are individuals, and therefore can be unpredictable, but many of them do not like the rules.

Racial features

• Race speed: 9/10.5 meters.
• Vision in the dark: 12 meters.

Along with human blood, the half-elves were given the ability to wield spears, pikes, halberds, glaives, shields, and wear light armor. The elven half endowed them with resistance to charm and immunity to magical sleep.

Subraces

High Elf, although not fully, but still connected with the magical Land of Fairies, because it can master the focus of choice. Wood half-elf talented in agility, like his ancestor, because he has the skill of stealth. Long journeys served to increase the speed of the sabras by 1.5 meters (10.5 in total). Half-elf drow, growing under the sky, most often comes from the incest of humans and the drow of the Seldarine. They can create "Dancing Lights" to light the way.

Class selection

The best classes for a half-elf are based on medium range and heavily dependent on subrace:

• High Elf: wizard.
• Wood half-elf: ranger, rogue, monk; bard (college of swords).
• Half-elf drow: sorcerer, sorcerer.

Halfling

Race Traits: Tiny and adventurous connoisseurs of homeliness

Halflings like to live in small cozy houses, being in peace and comfort. Because of their small stature, they are agile, but at the same time they are not deprived of courage, which is why they sometimes become nomads. By nature, halflings are lucky, courageous, and responsive.

Racial features

• Race speed: 7.5 meters.

On attack, ability, and critical failure dice rolls, halflings can re-roll the die once and use the last value. The bravery of the race stands out in its resistance to fear.

Subraces

Lightfoot Halfling extremely sociable, likes to travel with a mountain of acquaintances and, in combination with a small build, has an increased chance of success on stealth checks. hardhearted the halfling is said to be of dwarven ancestry, which is why they have high resistance to poisons. This sub-race can always stand up for itself and is strong at heart.

Class selection

The best classes for a halfling are:

• Lightfoot Halfling: bard, ranger, rogue.
• Hardhearted Halfling: barbarian, priest, druid, warrior.

gnome

Race Features: Underground Little Inventors

Gnomes are agile and cunning, but more fragile than their fellow dwarves. They are drawn to inventions, they are very perky, but they are often underestimated. When you select a gnome, a music box with the original soundtrack from the game will appear in your inventory.

Racial features

• Race speed: 7.5 meters.
• Vision in the dark: 12/24 meters.

Talkative, impulsive, and intelligent, Dwarves are known for their bonuses on checks for three abilities: intelligence, wisdom, and charisma.

Subraces

rock gnome curious, prone to travel, more often than other subclasses are on the surface and, as a result, have double the history skill. Life underground endowed the people with night vision at 12 meters.

forest gnome less than others, prefers a solitary life in distant and quiet places, hidden from civilization. Thanks to the Speak with Animals skill, they can understand animals. From the main race, they got darkness vision at 12 meters.

born underground Deep Gnome can see 24 meters ahead at night. Among the three subclasses, svirfneblin are the most advanced in stealth and have an advantage on stealth checks.

Class selection

The best classes for a gnome are those that get a large bonus on their Intelligence, Charisma, and Wisdom saving throws:

• rock gnome: bard, priest, druid, sorcerer, sorcerer, monk.
• forest gnome: bard, priest, sorcerer, sorcerer, monk.
• Deep Gnome: tracker, rogue.

Dragonborn

Race Traits: Self-cultivating dragon humanoids

The majestic Dragonborn highly value freedom and strive to achieve independent living, having been enslaved by dragons in the past. Proud by nature, the people honor the clan and conduct in accordance with the code of honor.

Racial features

• Race speed: 9 meters.

From their ancestors, the Dragonborn inherited their strength and strength. Depending on the ancestor, the power of the race is manifested in various elemental breaths in a cone 5 meters close with a guaranteed half damage to the enemy, as well as in resistance to the same element.

Subraces

Black/Copper dragonborn - acid.

Blue/bronze dragonborn - lightning.

brass/gold/red dragonborn - fire.

Green dragonborn - poison.

Silver/White dragonborn - ice.

Class selection

The best classes for a dragonborn are based on melee combat: barbarian, bard, priest (storm domain), warrior, paladin, sorcerer (descendant of dragons with different elements), monk.

Half-orc

Race features: the result of incest between humans and orcs for the sake of survival

Due to their high proportion of human blood, half-orcs act with their hearts, and they are also ionate and confident in battle. Some of them aspire to good deeds, as orcs are known for terrorizing nearby states, but part of the race is the opposite.

Racial features

• Race speed: 9 meters.
• Vision in the dark: 12 meters.
• Skills: intimidation.

When half-orc's health drops to 0 instead of dying, it restores it to 1. Furious fighting style increases his critical damage multiplier from 2 to 3.

Subraces

Orcs have no subraces.

Class selection

The best classes for a half-orc are based on melee weapons: barbarian, priest, warrior, paladin, rogue (assassin), monk.

Is there a better race in Baldur's Gate 3? Which one to choose

Due to the high variability of decisions, the best race of Baldurs Gate 3 is different for everyone depending on preferences. Each class is not strictly tied to a single combat style, depends on the chosen abilities and can be combined with other archetypes when leveling up. Race will affect the perception of characters in the world at completely different stages of the age, both for the better and for the worse. The conclusion about which race to choose in BG 3 is individual, but several strong and versatile species can be distinguished:

• Githyanki they have spells that are useful for any class - in particular, it is worth highlighting "Astral Knowledge", which buffs any ability. The downside is the lack of night vision.
• Elves suitable for almost any class - it is less beneficial for them to choose only barbarian and paladin, since they do not need stealth or magic focus.
• tieflings they actually work well with all classes, it's just that their bonuses are a little less significant. The choice of this race will affect the fact that many people will perceive the hero biased in a bad way.
• Drow can be called the most popular race with a lot of content, especially suitable for ranged classes. There is a downside to this, as the creatures' reactions can be upsetting.

Half-orcs - ideal if you want to play a character with close range in battles. Human still remains the most flexible species, but other races have more advantageous differences. Height gnomes compensated by a unique ability, but it is random, and the low speed is constant. Other types cannot be called weak, but they also have some disadvantages, or are not so beneficial. As a result, we recommend choosing the race for which it would simply be nice to spend a long time in the Forgotten Realms.

We hope that our guide helped you decide on the choice of race in Baldur's Gate 3. If you have any questions, then ask them in comments - The author of the article will try to help. Share your opinion about the races and who you started playing for. Follow Baldur's Gate 3 section, on our website.