All Subclasses Added In Patch 8, Ranked

Summary

• Patch 8 of Baldur’s Gate 3 introduces brand-new subclasses for customization and powerful abilities.
• College of Glamour for bards, Arcane Archer for fighters, and Circle of Stars for druids are standout options.
• Oath of The Crown for paladins and Hexblade for warlocks offer unique playstyles and multiclass potential.

The final update for Baldur’s Gate 3, known as Patch 8, has launched, expanding the world of Larian Studios’ isometric RPG and introducing several highly anticipated features. Among them are brand-new subclasses now available, offering even more ways to customize characters. Players can now personalize their journey through the Forgotten Realms even further, whether by creating focused builds or mixing subclasses through multiclassing.

However, among the new abilities and spells added with these update, a few stands out as the best subclasses introduced in Patch 8 of Baldur’s Gate 3, providing players with even greater power when planning their builds. For those looking to start a fresh save and wondering which path is worth exploring in a new run, these are the top choices.

Updated April 15, 2025 by Eduardo Ariedo: Patch 8 of Baldur’s Gate 3 has finally been released, and players can now enjoy all the major features Larian promised for this final update. The new subclasses are one of the main highlights, and with their mechanics now adapted to the isometric RPG format, it’s easier to assess which ones stand out as the best in the game.

12

College Of Glamour (Bard)

Fun And Versatile For Those Who Like Field Control

• Source: Xanathar’s Guide to Everything

The College of Glamour is a subclass for bards that combines healing and control abilities. Mantle of Inspiration grants temporary hit points to allies and charms enemies that attack during the spell’s duration. Meanwhile, Mantle of Majesty lets players command charmed enemies to flee, approach, or immobilize.

Despite its high capacity for battlefield manipulation, the College of Glamour subclass falls short when it comes to direct support. Therefore, players need to adapt the overall party composition to compensate for this limitation, ensuring all classes have good synergy to leverage the abilities of this Bard subclass.

11

Arcane Archer (Fighter)

Unique Ranged Attack Options

• Source: Xanathar’s Guide to Everything

For players interested in creating a character that attacks from a distance, but doesn’t want to choose Ranger, Fighters will have a new option with Patch 8. The subclass for them is Arcane Archer, which mixes magical abilities with good marksmanship.

In addition to new bow attack animations, Arcane Archers gain several abilities. One of the standout mechanics is Arcane Arrows, which allows them to imbue their shots with a variety of spells, ranging from high-damage attacks to crowd-control effects that banish enemies from the battlefield for a turn. However, this subclass can feel more situational compared to other Fighter options.

10

Circle Of Stars (Druid)

A Flexible Subclass For Players

• Source: Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything

With a well-crafted build, the Druid can be one of the best classes in Baldur’s Gate 3. And with the addition of the Circle of Stars in Patch 8, this versatility can get even better. Players can choose between three starry forms, each granting powerful abilities.

Thus, whether as a healer, fighter, or even a ranged attacker, each of these forms makes the druid a flexible option that can fit into many different compositions. On the other hand, players need to keep careful track of what needs to be done, as it’s difficult to switch forms during combat.

9

Oath Of The Crown (Paladin)

An Excellent Option To Protect The Team

• Source: Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide

The Oath of the Crown will reward players with various abilities focused on protecting the group as a whole, increasing the class’s tanking capacity. So, for those struggling to keep allies alive, this can change the game.

However, despite being a subclass focused on tanking enemy damage, and excelling at it, players will need to manage the rest of the party’s build to ensure consistent damage output. Unfortunately, the Oath of the Crown Paladin falls short in this regard, unlike the other Paladin subclasses available in Baldur’s Gate 3.

8

Way Of The Drunken Master (Monk)

A Funny Concept For Tabletop RPG Characters

• Source: Xanathar’s Guide to Everything

Monks have unique characteristics for melee classes in Dungeons & Dragons, such as high mobility and the large number of attacks they can make. This has been translated into Baldur’s Gate 3. The Way of the Drunken Master will give even more flavor to this class.

However, this subclass includes several changes from its tabletop versions. One example is the ability to drink alcohol to recover the monk’s Ki points, but these adjustments have made it one of the best Monk subclasses in Baldur’s Gate 3.

7

Swashbuckler (Rogue)

A New Charismatic Subclass

• Source: Xanathar’s Guide to Everything

The Swashbuckler subclass brings a more agile and charismatic playstyle to rogues. Inspired by duelists and fearless adventurers like pirates, it allows players to enjoy unique combat and mobility abilities during combat.

With the Swashbuckler, rogues gain advantages in one-on-one combat with Rakish Audacity, being able to apply Sneak Attack more consistently. Additionally, the ability Fancy Footwork allows characters to avoid attacks of opportunity, providing a more dynamic approach.

6

Death Domain (Cleric)

An Excellent Option For Dealing More Damage

• Source: Dungeon Master’s Guide

The Death Domain is a powerful subclass for Clerics aiming to maximize damage. Through spells like Toll The Dead and Inflict Wounds, clerics can quickly eliminate enemies, especially single targets. This subclass excels at causing significant damage spikes, making it a lethal choice in battles.

What enhances the damage of the Death Domain Cleric in Baldur’s Gate 3 is Reaper, a passive ability learned at level 1. This feature allows any Necromancy cantrip that targets a single enemy to affect two instead. It’s a powerful tool for dealing with groups and ending fights more efficiently. However, despite the increase in offensive potential, this Cleric Domain lacks strong support skills, requiring party compositions to be carefully adjusted around it.

5

Swarmkeeper (Ranger)

One Of The Best Subclasses For The Ranger

• Source: Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything

One of the most creative subclasses added in Patch 8 of Baldur’s Gate 3, the Swarmkeeper Ranger is perfect for players who want to bring chaos to the battlefield during combat. The Swarm mechanic is especially fun to use, allowing different types of damage and a good amount of crowd control against enemies.

However, despite being entertaining, it doesn’t outperform the Gloom Stalker. Still, it stands out as a fresh option for Ranger players looking to move away from traditional builds available in Larian’s isometric RPG, making Swarmkeeper one of the best subclasses introduced in the game’s Patch 8.

4

Bladesinging (Wizard)

For Wizards Who Wish To Expose Themselves In Fights

• Source: Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything

The new Wizard subclass for Baldur’s Gate 3, Bladesinging, aims to add mobility to the Wizard class so that their usual fragility is not a problem for them during combat. Thus, it will be possible to combine physical attacks with magic with this subclass.

One of the best aspects of Bladesinging in Baldur’s Gate 3 is the new animations Larian Studios added with Patch 8, making it especially fun to watch the variety of attacks performed while using Bladesong. Additionally, Song of Defense is a level 10 skill that provides strong sustain in exchange for spell slots.

3

Hexblade (Warlock)

A Favorite Subclass Of Many Warlocks And Perfect For Multiclass

• Source: Xanathar’s Guide to Everything

One of the most popular subclasses among Warlocks is the Hexblade, which was initially left out of Baldur’s Gate 3 but was officially added with Patch 8 of the game. Along with the ability to create magical weapons, this option will also allow players to curse enemies, forcing souls to obey commands.

One of the Hexblade Warlock’s greatest strengths in Baldur’s Gate 3 lies in its multiclass potential. The ability to use Charisma for both attack and damage rolls, introduced with Patch 8, makes this subclass an excellent option for other Charisma-based classes like Bard and Paladin.

2

Shadow Magic (Sorcerer)

An Excellent Option For Honour Mode And Dealing Significant Damage

• Source: Xanathar’s Guide to Everything

The Shadow Magic subclass for Sorcerers will be an excellent option for players trying to complete Honour Mode. This is because it will have abilities that prevent the character from being knocked down in combat, such as Strength of the Grave, which allows the character to drop to 1 HP instead of falling unconscious when reduced to 0.

Moreover, Shadow Magic is a subclass that shines during combat in areas with plenty of shadows. These areas are quite common in Baldur’s Gate 3, especially in Act 2 and 3. Thanks to Shadow Walk, it will be possible to move through dimly lit places. This mobility can be extremely useful for catching unprepared enemies.

1

Path Of Giants (Barbarian)

One Of The Most Fun Subclasses On TTRPG And Baldur’s Gate 3

• Source: Bigby Presents: Glory of The Giants

Barbarians are among the best tanks in both Baldur’s Gate 3 and Dungeons & Dragons. Some subclasses, like the Path of Giants, also show a bit of the versatility the class possesses. Despite still retaining the main characteristics, like causing a lot of damage, new abilities are added.

Thus, the Path of Giants Barbarian, in addition to increased size and reach, can use new abilities gained to reposition allies by literally throwing them across the battlefield. Enemies and weapons can also be tossed, causing even more damage to adversaries, making it a fun and chaotic option, and one of the most entertaining subclasses in Patch 8.