The Ultimate Guide to Mastering Warlocks in Baldur's Gate 3

One of the toughest challenges in tabletop roleplaying games like Dungeons and Dragons is deciding on a race/class combination to commit to for an entire campaign. This holds true for Baldur's Gate 3 as well, which draws directly from DnD 5E's handbook. With a total of 11 races (39 subraces) and 12 classes (40+ subraces/specializations) to choose from, the overwhelming options can lead to "character creation paralysis." While not all options are balanced, there are valid reasons to choose any race or class, including the Warlock.

The Warlock is a popular spellcaster in Dungeons and Dragons, often associated with the constant use of Eldritch Blast. It will be interesting to see how this popularity translates into Baldur's Gate 3. When it comes to pairing the Warlock with a race, it is advantageous to choose a race that enhances magic or charisma, allowing for a strong build. This opens up possibilities such as playing as a human, a Half-Elf (especially a Drow Half-Elf), an Asmodeus Tiefling, and more. The absence of restrictions allows players to freely mix and match to their liking.

Baldur's Gate 3: Warlock Roleplay Features

In Baldur's Gate 3, players have the option to control different characters, including the custom character. Among these characters is Wyll, an Origin character who is a Warlock. Wyll's story directly connects to the parasite in the characters' heads, Karlach the Tiefling Barbarian's story, and the general Warlock background. The role of a Warlock's Patron is significant in Baldur's Gate 3, especially in Wyll's story. While some may find Wyll lacking in "flavor" as a human character, the choices available provide plenty of intriguing story elements that shape Wyll's potential identity.

Warlocks have access to special magic and devil/demon-focused dialogue, which enhances the roleplaying experience. If players are looking for a strong DPS (damage per second) character that offers more depth in terms of roleplay compared to a simple Fighter class, Warlock is an excellent choice. However, it is important to note that the effectiveness of a Warlock build heavily depends on their Charisma proficiency. Despite potential advantages and disadvantages, having a high Charisma bonus for Persuasion or Deception Checks greatly influences verbal interactions. It is important to avoid critical failures in these situations, but being able to rely on Charisma-based actions brings an added advantage.

Baldur's Gate 3: Warlock Gameplay Features

When it comes to gameplay and combat, the Warlock offers a wide range of exciting possibilities. For instance, players can choose to frequently use the Eldritch Blast spell, and this is perfectly fine considering the many available Invocations. These Invocations allow Warlocks to shape and enhance their Eldritch Blast in various ways, such as adding their Charisma modifier to damage through Agonizing Blast, or pushing targets back with Repelling Blast. And these examples are just the beginning, as there are countless other options to explore. In addition to the array of choices for Eldritch Blast, Warlocks possess an expansive and potent spell list, as well as the ability to wield simple weapons and wear light armor. This versatility ensures they are well-prepared for any combat scenario, whether it calls for ranged attacks or close-quarters combat.

Key Features and Statistics of the Warlock

Charisma and Wisdom Saving Throw Proficiencies

Light Armor and Simple Weapon Proficiency

Furthermore, these gameplay options are expanded by the Warlock's subclasses: The Fiend, The Great Old One, and Archfey.

The Fiend SubclassInitial Feature: The Dark One's Blessing

The Great Old One SubclassInitial Feature: Mortal Reminder

The Archfey SubclassInitial Features: Fey Presence, Misty Escape, and Beguiling Defenses

Roleplay and combat are just two aspects of Dungeons and Dragons, including Baldur's Gate 3. Traversal may not seem significant, but the ability to navigate challenging environments, scale buildings, or approach distant targets can be very advantageous. While the Warlock may not excel within city walls like a Way of the Shadow Monk in Baldur's Gate 3, it does gain the Misty Step spell early on. This minor teleportation ability proves to be quite useful. The Warlock possesses spells that enhance combat effectiveness and offer general utility, which are both valuable.

Choosing a class in Baldur's Gate 3 is not a wrong decision, as all classes have their merits. However, the Warlock stands out as an excellent choice for those seeking a well-rounded package of roleplay, combat, spells, simplicity, and utility.

Baldur's Gate 3 comes out on August 3 on PC and September 6 on PS5.