Since its release, Baldur’s Gate 3 has taken the RPG genre to a new extent. Being one of the biggest releases of 2023, Baldur’s Gate 3 still maintains a stable fanbase, and the most prominent reason behind it is that Larian Studios never abandoned this game after its launch. This game received regular updates and patch notes to add new content to it. Recently, it received Patch 8 in April 2025, which introduced 12 new subclasses, enriching the game's character customization and strategic depth.
If one is confused about which subclass to go with, here’s the ranked list to know about them in more detail.
Rogue as it is, the Swashbuckler adds an enticing mix of flexibility and edge to the class abilities, like Fancy Footwork, which allows the character to avoid opportunity attacks after a melee strike against a foe, and Panache for crowd control via charm or taunt, adding much to offensive and mobile capabilities. Furthermore, sneak attacking doesn’t even require the advantage factor, which only adds to the already-exemplified prowess of the subclass.
Bladesinging is the art that unites sword and sorcery, transforming the wizard into a far more survivable and versatile spellcaster. The Bladesong ability increases speed, Armor Class, and Constitution saving throws that match the taste of a player wanting a dynamic melee spellcaster.
Swarmkeeper Rangers call upon spirits of nature to swarm their foes. With options such as Cloud of Jellyfish (dealing lightning damage), Flurry of Moths (dealing psychic damage and blinding), and Legion of Bees (dealing piercing damage with knockback), they offer crowd control and damage types in spades. The added ability to teleport enhances battlefield mobility.
The Hexblade is a title bestowed upon Warlocks who wield the cursed weapons and call forth the spirits of their defeated foes to fight alongside them. This subclass offers a fair amount of opportunity for melee combat balanced against malign necrotic spellcasting, and the ability to heal by siphoning soul essence from enemies makes it an awesomely formidable choice for brute aggression styles.
The Drunken Master introduces a new mechanic where consuming alcohol restores Ki. This new mechanic works well in harmony with abilities such as Intoxicating Strike—to buff enemies—and Sobering Realization—to deal damage to them. Thus, combat becomes a funny yet somewhat realistic action.
The Arcane Archers combine archery with magic, which gives them the ability to banish foes to the Feywild or do psychic damage that could blind foes. While these powers can be quite impressive, their usefulness largely depends on the situation they find themselves in.
The Circle of Stars Druid channels the celestial power into Starry Forms for healing, damage, or support. Their versatility is a strong asset, but certainly not a match for other subclasses that are more straightforward in combat.
Sorcerers of Shadow Magic thrive upon the powers of darkness, including the abilities of Shadow Walk and the summoning of a Hound of Ill Omen. Their extremely focused specialization in darkened surroundings may appear to be a hindrance, but it uniquely benefits them in certain situations.
Death Domain Clerics use necrotic damage to express the use of their abilities, such as Toll the Dead and corpse explosions. The flavor, however, is certainly there; if abilities don't deal damage, they really lose uniqueness and start to overlap with a whole bunch of other classes.
Oath of the Crown Paladins focuses on protecting allies and maintaining order. Abilities like Divine Allegiance allow them to absorb damage for teammates. However, their defensive nature may not appeal to players seeking a more aggressive playstyle.
The Path of Giants Barbarian becomes bigger and stronger, thus inflicting more melee damage. They are fun, surely, but it doesn't make the subclass much different from any other Barbarian.
The College of Glamour utilises charm and inspires its followers to sway the battlefield. Abilities like Mantle of Inspiration and Mantle of Majesty serve to provide crowd control and support functions. Unfortunately, the charm-attack-resolving powers may have less luck against special enemies.
These are the newly added subclasses in Baldur's Gate 3. While all of them have added something new to the game, not all of them are equally useful. However, undoubtedly, these subclasses significantly expand character customization and suit a variety of playstyles.