How To Build A Storm Sorcerer In Baldur’s Gate 3

Baldur’s Gate 3 has no shortage of effective spellcasters – full and mixed, but few can compare to the sheer damage potential of the Lightning God themselves, the Storm Sorcerer. However, also in true spellcaster fashion, the Storm Sorcerer remains one of the more complicated builds in need of a little careful prior planning.

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Best operating as a tri-class build in the more difficult echelons of gameplay, you’ll have to plan your level-ups accordingly and select the right spells along your journey. Action economy will be everything, and abusing status conditions will become your favorite pastime. And we have everything you need to know to make the most of it.

Best Storm Sorcerer Races And Backgrounds

For the Storm Sorcerer, there isn’t necessarily a “best race” for this class. However, you can gain some early advantages if you choose Dragonborn.

By electing to take Dragonborn, you can take the Blue or Bronze dragon for a Lightning Breath attack that can scale well with this build and give good, consistent damage without expending spell slots throughout gameplay.

As for Backgrounds, this Storm Sorcerer is actually best as the Dark Urge. With Medicine that scales with Wisdom for the two levels of Cleric and Intimidation that operate well with Charisma, you’ll have two handy proficiencies that come to use often in a playthrough.

Alternative backgrounds that also work include:

• Acolyte (Insight and Religion)
• Criminal (Deception and Stealth)
• Guild Artisan (Insight and Persuasion)
• Noble (History and Persuasion)

Multiclassing As A Storm Sorcerer

This build is best operated as a tri-class build. After strenuous testing on Tactician mode, we have determined the best multiclassing strategy to follow as you level up:

This build gives you second level spell slots early, takes a break for learning spell scrolls and ensures you should have the necessary headband to make this build work, and returns to Sorcerer for a much-needed Ability Score Improvement.

From there, gaining the Cleric Channel Divinity is next on the list before finishing out the build in Sorcerer.

Best Storm Sorcerer Spells

When you begin as a Sorcerer, you’ll want to take spells in the cantrip section of the table above. You’ll have one extra slot left over, and this should either go to Firebolt or Bonechill.

Leveling up, Witchbolt and Chromatic Orb will be your workhorses for the first act of the game, thanks to their Lightning damage and synergy with Twinned Spell.

Magic Missile can be learned later to make up for high-AC enemies (especially in Tactician mode).

As you reach the second-level spell slots, Shatter is your priority.

Misty Step and Invisibility are great for later gameplay, but Invisibility can be commonly found in spell scrolls to learn, and Misty Step can be gained later when you have more spell slots to spare.

The next level will be the Wizard dip, and spells learned from it should include:

1. Enhance Leap
2. Feather Fall
3. Longstrider

You receive three more choices of anything you prefer, and if you have the spell scrolls for any of the spells above, you can study those scrolls and learn something else on the tree.

You’ll soon get the Cleric spells, and Guidance is your number-one priority for cantrips.

Sacred Flame can be useful for low-Dexterity but high AC enemies when you don’t want to use a spell slot. Resistance is generally useful.

The important part of this two-level Cleric dip is primarily in the feats, but preparing Create Water is an important aspect for increasing spell damage.

The late Sorcerer levels should prioritize Lightning Bolt above all other spells. This will be your main source of damage until the very late game where you’ll gain a staff with Chain Lightning.

Ice Storm is another strong spell for the few enemies with Lightning Immunity or Cold Vulnerability or when you need to do some Prone-zoning and setup. Otherwise, other spells to take should include:

1. Haste
2. Counterspell
3. Mage Shield
4. Shield

The first two will be basic utility spells that can make or break an encounter, and the latter could be for preparing against difficult boss fights where killing someone every turn may not be feasible or on builds that do not follow the Dark Urge path.

Best Storm Sorcerer Ability Scores And Feats

Your primary concern with this build is Charisma, which will determine your main spellcasting abilities. It will be upgraded at every opportunity for a perfect 20.

Wisdom will help with several enemy Saving Throws (against Frightened or Auntie Ethel’s dreaded Hold Person).

Dexterity’s early +2 is all you’ll need for armor in the early-to-mid game and will increase your Initiative. Constitution will be rectified soon enough, and it will be upgraded later with an Ability Score Upgrade.

You’ll gain your first Ability Score upgrade at Level 5 (Level 4 Sorcerer), and that should be invested in an equal +1 in Constitution and Charisma.

Your only other upgrade is at Level 11 (Level 8 Sorcerer), and this should gravitate toward Elemental Adept (Lightning) to bypass Lightning damage resistance and prevent the rolling of ones (helpful especially for Witchbolt).

Sorcerer also has access to Metamagic. Metamagic’s most important choices are Twinned Spell and Quickened Spell. All other Metamagics are up to you and your playstyle.

Best Storm Sorcerer Equipment

The sorcerer’s spell list should comprise of as many objects that increase spell attack bonuses, spell damage, and Spell Save DC as possible. But there are a few items which are absolutely crucial to this build:

1. Warped Headband of Intelligence – Allows successful casting of Wizard spells without Ability Score investment.
2. Markoheskir – Allows free cast of any spell and the use of Chain Lightning once per short rest.
3. Daredevil Gloves – Allows the casting of spells at close range without Disadvantage.

Gontr Mael and the Deathstalker Mantle are icings on the cake, giving immensely powerful bonuses. The first will allow you to cast free Haste with no downsides, while the other will give you a repeating Invisibility effect.

How To Use A Storm Sorcerer – Battle Tips, Strategy, And Analysis

The result of the Storm Sorcerer build by the end of the game should appear something similar to this:

This backline unit is extremely adept at dealing massive amounts of Lightning and Thunder damage and fleeing the scene of their deathly crime with the use of Tempestuous Magic.

With as much damage as it deals on any given turn, it will often one-turn hordes of enemies and give lessons in etiquette to the bosses that would normally give you trouble.

A successful Storm Sorcerer in any given combat normally sets up the field on the first turn (either through themselves or through the aide of a helpful Cleric) with Create Water, getting enemies Wet. This condition will double the damage of Lightning and Cold attacks.

After using this spell, Metamagic can allow the dual use of Chromatic Orb or Witchbolt or cast two Lightning Bolts in quick succession.

Stacking with the cleric’s Channel Divinity: Destructive Wrath, you’ll do the maximum allotted damage as well as double the damage from the Wet condition.

And when enemies prove to be too close for your liking, you can shove them over the edge with Thunderwave or run away with Misty Step in preparation for another strong Lightning spell.

Whatever your strategy, Elemental Adept will temper those pesky enemies that think Resistance will save them.

Heart of the Storm’s leftover ability will clear out the stragglers, Tempestuous Magic will allow you to flee the crime scene, and the Deathmantle Cloak will hide you completely from any enemies seeking revenge.

You’ll be an untouchable god of Lightning.

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