Baldur's Gate 3 Guide: Best Class Builds, Companion Quests & Romance Tips
Key Takeaways
- Build for synergy: A balanced party with a tank (Fighter/Paladin), a controller (Wizard/Sorcerer), a striker (Rogue/Ranger), and a healer (Cleric) makes Act 2 bosses like the Apostle of Myrkul much more manageable.
- Companion quests have hard cutoffs: For example, Lae'zel's Githyanki questline fails if you enter Act 3 without completing the Creche Y'llek in Act 1.
- Romance requires specific dialogue choices: Miss the first flirty line with Shadowheart before the Goblin Camp, and you're locked out until a second playthrough.
- Save often and use quickload: I've seen players lose 3+ hours because they didn't save before the Druid Grove fight—autosaves aren't enough.
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Best Class Builds for Baldur's Gate 3
I've played through BG3 four times now, and I can tell you: your class choice matters more than in any other RPG I've seen. Here are the builds that consistently outperform others in Tactician mode.
1. The Padlock (Paladin 2 / Warlock 5 / Paladin 5)
This multiclass abuses the fact that Eldritch Blast scales with character level, not Warlock level. At level 10, you're firing three beams per turn, each adding your Charisma modifier with Agonizing Blast. Combine with Great Weapon Master feat and you're dealing 30–40 damage per round by Act 2.
Stat priority: Charisma > Constitution > Strength (16 CHA start, 18 by level 4)
2. The Throwbarian (Berserker Barbarian 5 / Thief Rogue 3 / Fighter 4)
This build uses Enraged Throw to hurl enemies off cliffs or into each other. The Thief subclass gives a bonus action, so you can throw twice per turn. At level 8, I was oneshotting goblins by tossing them into chasms in the Goblin Camp.
Key item: Returning Pike from the Goblin Camp vendor—it comes back to your hand after every throw.
3. The Light Cleric (Pure Cleric 12)
Shadowheart's default Light Domain is actually one of the best healers, but most players ignore her Warding Flare. This reaction forces enemies to roll with disadvantage on attacks. Against the Phase Spider Matriarch, it saved my party from three critical hits in one fight.
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Companion Quest Walkthrough: Critical Paths
Companion quests in BG3 are interwoven with the main story. Here’s what you absolutely cannot miss.
| Companion | Key Quest | Act | Deadline |
| ----------- | ----------- | ----- | ---------- |
| Lae'zel | The Githyanki Warrior | Act 1 | Must complete Creche Y'llek before Mountain Pass |
| Shadowheart | Daughter of Darkness | Act 1–3 | Must confess Shar worship before Act 2 |
| Astarion | The Pale Elf | Act 1–2 | Must let him bite you before the Underdark |
| Gale | The Wizard of Waterdeep | Act 1 | Must feed him a magic item before long rest #5 |
Pro tip: Gale will leave your party if you don't give him a magic item within five long rests. I lost him once because I hoarded everything. Don't be like me—sacrifice a common ring early.
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Romance Guide: Who Can You Woo and How?
Romance in BG3 isn't just about picking the right dialogue—it's about timing and approval. Here's the breakdown based on my experience.
- Shadowheart: Highest approval early from supporting her secrets. Say "I trust you" in the druid grove scene. Lock-in happens at the Tiefling party in Act 1.
- Lae'zel: She wants strength. Beat her in the camp duel (DC 15 Athletics check) and she'll proposition you. Refuse once and she respects you more—counterintuitive but true.
- Astarion: Flirt early. At the party, choose "I want to know you better." He'll bite you that night. Don't reject the bite or you're done.
- Karlach: Requires Dammon the smith in Act 2 to upgrade her engine. If Dammon dies in Act 1 (e.g., Grove massacre), her romance is permanently blocked.
Golden rule: Save before any long rest during Act 1—multiple romance scenes trigger simultaneously, and you might accidentally lock yourself out.
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Complete Walkthrough: Act-by-Act Strategy
I won't spoil every quest, but here's the optimal order for story flow and difficulty.
Act 1 (Levels 1–4)
1. Nautiloid crash site (explore for 3 companions)
2. Druid Grove (resolve the Kagha situation—don't kill her unless you want the druids hostile)
3. Goblin Camp (kill the three leaders: Dror Ragzlin, Minthara, Gut. Use barrels to blow up Ragzlin's throne room—it kills half the goblins instantly)
4. Underdark (enter via the well in the Blighted Village, level 4 recommended)
Act 2 (Levels 5–8)
1. Mountain Pass (skip if you want the goblin camp—do this after Underdark but before Shadow-Cursed Lands)
2. Last Light Inn (save Isobel from Marcus—if she dies, the whole inn turns hostile and you lose Dammon)
3. Moonrise Towers (infiltrate first, then assault—free the prisoners in the dungeon before the big fight)
4. Gauntlet of Shar (skip the rat fight unless you want a tough optional boss)
Act 3 (Levels 9–12)
1. Rivington (talk to the clown—yes, it's part of a quest)
2. Lower City (do companion quests first—they give the best gear)
3. House of Hope (Raphael's mansion—bring a rogue for traps, and use Globe of Invulnerability against his pillars)
4. Final fight: Use the Crown of Karsus control panel to disable the Netherbrain's immunities. I recommend having Gale learn Disintegrate for the final phase.
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FAQ
Q: Can I respec my character in Baldur's Gate 3?
A: Yes. After reaching the Druid Grove, talk to Withers (the skeleton in the crypt near the crash site). He'll let you respec for 100 gold per character, including companions. You can change class, stats, and spells, but not race or background.
Q: How long does a full playthrough of BG3 take?
A: A completionist run with all companion quests, side quests, and optional bosses takes about 100–120 hours. A focused main-story run is 50–60 hours. My first playthrough took 110 hours because I explored every corner of the Underdark.
Q: What's the best difficulty setting for a first playthrough?
A: Explorer mode is too easy—you'll breeze through combat without learning mechanics. Tactician mode is punishing for newcomers. I recommend Balanced mode (default) for your first run. You can always switch to Tactician later if you're enjoying the challenge.