Guide:Races Guide by Phantomsplit: Difference between revisions

| [[Githyanki]] || [[Intelligence]] || [[Mage Hand]]*

|-

|-

| [[Tiefling#Mephistopholes_Tieflings|Mephistopholes Tiefling]] || [[Charisma]] || [[Burning Hands]], [[Flame Blade]], [[Mage Hand]]*

|}

== [[Dragonborn]] ==

|+ Draconic Ancestry Table

|-

|-

|-

|-

|-

|-

|-

|-

|-

|-

|-

|}

==== Build Synergy ====

== [[Drow]] ==

|+ Dwarven Subrace Features

|-

|-

|-

| Duergar Magic granting the ability to cast [[Enlarge/Reduce]] on self once per Long Rest starting at 3rd Level, and [[Invisibility]] on self once per long rest || [[Dwarven Toughness]] granting one additional hit point per character level || [[Proficiency]] in Light and Medium Armor

|}

==== Build Synergy ====

The Gold Dwarves' additional HP per level goes great with classes that get up close in melee. Combine this with the tough [[Feats|feat]] on a [[Barbarian|barbarian]] to make a super tank. The Shield Dwarves' additional armor proficiencies go great on characters like squishy casters such as [[wizard|wizards]], [[sorcerer|sorcerers]], lore [[bard|bards]], and [[warlock|warlocks]] as it allows you to leave your [[Dexterity]] at 14 and wear medium armor for an overall [[Armour Class|armor class]] of 16 before accounting for magical bonuses. This combined with dwarven weapon proficiencies makes it feasible (but far from ideal unless you have access to spells likely not to be in BG3 without mods) to make a melee [[Sorcerer|sorcerer]] or [[Wizard|wizard]] character. And lastly the Duergar's Enlarge ability goes great with a melee class that gets multiple attacks such as a monk. Normally in tabletop the bonus damage from [[Enlarge|enlarge]] does not apply to unarmed strikes but in BG3 you are able to apply this additional damage. The Duergar's [[invisibility]] spell could be very nice for a sneaky type of character including [[rogue]] as well as many other classes if they build themselves this way. The duergar race overall synergizes excellently with Shadow Monk.

==== Build Synergy ====

As mentioned in the [[Guide:Baldur's Gate 3 Races Guide#Racial_Spellcasting|Racial Spellcasting]] section, you may need to be a little careful about what cantrip you pick if you are going [[Elf#High_Elves|High Elf]]. If your character is not going to have a high [[Intelligence]] then do not pick one of the spells listed in the [[Guide:Baldur's Gate 3 Races Guide#Racial_Spellcasting|Racial Spellcasting]] table. Of the remaining options some standout choices include [[Light]] (which you can cast on the weapon of an ally who does not have darkvision and make them shed their own light), [[Minor Illusion]] (which you can use to draw creatures to a certain area whether to sneak by them or ambush them) and [[Mage Hand]] (if you do not intend to use the Mage Hand to shove your enemies, or are not playing a race like [[Githyanki]] or a class like [[Arcane Trickster]] [[Rogue]] which automatically gets this spell). The wood elves' movement speed bonus is very helpful for melee characters who may need to close the gap with enemies, while their proficiency in [[stealth]] is great for characters who will be doing your sneaking around.

* [[Darkvision (Passive Feature)|Darkvision]] out to 40 ft

* [[Fey Ancestry]] making them impossible to put to sleep magically and granting [[advantage]] on saving throws to avoid being [[Charmed (Condition)|charmed]].

Normally in Dungeons and Dragons Fifth Edition, Half-Elves get "Skill Versatility" allowing them to be proficient in two skills of their choice. This option does not appear to be present in BG3 and they must choose one of the below variant Half-Elf options which grants the additional following features:

In tabletop the Half-Elf is the second most common race for players to pick behind variant human. This is largely due to their ability score bonuses where they get a +2 to [[Charisma]] (as well as flexible ability scores they can put elsewhere) in combination with Charisma focused classes like [[Bard]], [[Warlock]], [[Sorcerer]], [[Paladin]], and possibly even some charming [[Rogue|Rogues]]. They are also desired in tabletop for their [[Darkvision (Passive Feature)|Darkvision]] and Skill Versatility options. Of the above three features (ability score bonuses, darkvision, and skill versatility), only Darkvision will be available to Half-elves in BG3. This significantly shakes them up. The [[Fey Ancestry]] is a nice feature, but rather niche and by no means a reason why most people pick this class in tabletop.

* Wood Half-Elf movement speed bonus is nice on all characters, but especially nice on melee characters who can use this to get into range of their target. Their stealth proficiency is nice on sneaky characters as it opens you up to put proficiencies from [[background]] and your starting class elsewhere.

== [[Half-Orc|Half-Orcs]] ==

Normally in D&D 5e there is an optional rule which allows a player to use a set of features for humans referred to as "variant human." This is seen as the most powerful race mechanically due to the variant human's feature which grants them a [[Feats|feat]] at level 1. However variant human will not be in BG3 (without mods) and therefore I'll go no further here.

* [[Proficiency]] with [[Spears]], [[Pikes]], [[Halberds]], and [[Glaives]], [[Armour#Light_Armour|Light Armor]], and [[Shields]].

* [[Proficiency]] with one [[Skills|skill]] of your choice.

====Build Synergy====

==[[Githyanki]]==

* [[Proficiency]] with light and medium [[Armour|armor]].

* [[Proficiency]] with [[shortswords]], [[longswords]], and [[greatswords]].

* Githyanki Psionics granting the ability to cast:

** [[Mage Hand]] at level 1 which is invisible when you cast it this way. (For this spell see the [[Guide:Baldur's Gate 3 Races Guide#Racial_Spellcasting|Racial Spellcasting]] section)

====Build Synergy====

[[Jump]] (the spell) is extremely useful in Baldur's Gate 3 based off Larian's design of combat areas and their changes to the regular [[Jump (Bonus Action)|jump]] movement ability. It is especially useful with a high [[Strength]] character. A high Strength character with the Jump spell cast on them can jump extremely long distances, to the point it is a feasible option for bypassing some obstacles. Or at the very least it greatly increases the ability of a melee character to get into range with enemies as they will be able to jump so far with this spell. Even if the Githyanki character is not the one to use this spell, it can still be immensely beneficial if cast on an ally with high Strength or limited mobility.

==[[Gnome|Gnomes]]==

|-

| The ability to cast the following spells using [[Charisma]] as the spellcasting ability modifier when applicable:

* [[Hellish Rebuke]]* (one free cast per long rest, available at level 3)  

* [[Darkness]] (one free cast per long rest, available at level 5)

* [[Branding Smite]]*** (one free cast per long rest, available at level 5)

|}

* In my opinion Mephistopheles Tiefling is the most difficult one to say has clear synergy with specific builds. [[Mage Hand|Mage hand]] is a nice utility spell and good to have as a cantrip. [[Burning Hands]] conversely does pretty good damage at low levels, but scales very poorly by the time you are character level 4. [[Flame Blade]] is a great spell for some builds, but the fact you can only cast it once per long rest and it requires concentration can make it tough to recommend building a character around this spell when you get it from a racial feature. Because if you do not have another source of this spell, you build your whole character around using this spell, but then lose [[Concentration|concentration]] then your build has just shut down until you long rest again. If you are able to cast Flame Blade using spell slots then it could be worthwhile. Unfortunately only [[Druid|Druids]] get access to this spell and they use [[Wisdom]] for their spellcasting ability modifier while this racial form of Flame Blade uses [[Charisma]], meaning you will have a tough time getting the spell to work well in both casting scenarios. The only situation I see this spell being useful enough to consider building a character around is on a Pact of the Blade [[Warlock]] who can use it using Charisma, and if they lose concentration on Flame Blade then they can revert back to using their typical weapon attacks.

* Zariel Tiefling is a great option for [[Charisma]] based spell sword characters, whether that be a Pact of the Blade [[Warlock]], [[Paladin]], Swords [[Bard]], Valor [[Bard]], or even a [[Fighter]] or [[Rogue]] who had some [[Ability Scores|ability score]] points to spare and put them in Charisma. The two smite spells let you do a bit more damage in combat and are not something to scoff at. [[Thaumaturgy]] is also a great spell for party face characters to have, which this high [[Charisma]] character can likely fill the shoes of.

[[Category:Guides]]