Discover the best Sorcerer class spells that you should be using in Baldur’s Gate 3, for damage, survivability, and crowd control!
In Baldur’s Gate 3, the Sorcerer is an elemental spellcaster emphasizing high damage and survivability. The Sorcerer has multiple subclasses each can emphasize different elemental types. Each subclass has a unique set of always-prepared spells. What separates the Sorcerer as the strongest damage dealer for a spellcaster in BG3 is metamagic.
Metamagic is a unique resource that allows the spellcaster to manipulate magic. The two most powerful are Twinned and Quickend. Twinned allows you to use a single target ability on multiple targets,while Quickened allows you to cast a spell with a bonus action. This is the primary reason for the Sorcerer’s damage but their spellbook can be limited. In this best spells for the Sorcerer class, we will discuss our favorite spells and how to use them in Baldur’s Gate 3!
What are the Best Spells for the Sorcerer Class in Baldur’s Gate 3
Disintegrate, Fireball, and Globe of Invulnerability are the best Sorcerer class spells in Baldur’s Gate 3. Disintegrate is the most powerful single target spell in BG3 and with Twinned Magic and Quickend, the Sorcerer can cast this spell two times in one combat round. Fireball is the most powerful area damage spell and can be amplified with the Sorcerer Elemental Affinity Draconic Bloodline passive. Lastly, Globe of Invulnerability is a spell that prevents all damage inside a dome, which can make the hardest bosses in honour mode easy (Ansur).
Below are the strongest spells for the Sorcerer class in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Disintegrate: best single target damage spell in BG3
- Fireball: strongest area damage spell in BG3
- Globe of Invulnerability: survivability skill within a dome
- Counterspell: shuts down enemy spellcasters
- Haste: Additional action per turn
- Call Lighting: powerful lighting spell used against constructs
- Banishment: the best single target crowd control spell
- Scorching Ray: early game burst damage spell
- Mirror Image: early spell for survivability
- Chromatic Orb: strongest overall early damage spell
Related:
10 Chromatic Orb
Chromatic Orb features in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Description: Allows spellcasters to fire a ball of energy and deal the desired damage type to enemies.
- School: Evocation spell
- Cost: Action + Level 1 Spell Slot
- Range: 18 meters
- Concentration: No
- Upcast: Deals an extra 1d8 damage of the chosen type for each Spell Slot Level above 1st.
- Subclass: All
The strength of Chromatic Orb is that you can pick different types of elemental damage. This element creates a surface in a small 3-meter area. Our favorite is cold because this element can trigger the prone status effect, stunning an enemy for one turn. Moreover, when a target attempts to move through the ice, they have a chance to slip and fall.
As early as level 3, your Sorcerer can use Metamagic Twinned and cast Chromatic Orb twice using one spell slot. Orb is considered a single-target spell, thus you can double your damage and stun potential. Another important part of the spell is you can upcast it. Meaning, that you will increase the damage by consuming a higher-level spell. Thus, Chromatic Orb remains a powerful spell throughout your Baldur’s Gate 3 campaign. Its flexibility and Twinned Metamagic combination are the reasons we think Chromatic Orb is one of the best spells for the Sorcerer Class in Baldur’s Gate 3.
9 Mirror Image
Mirror Image features in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Description: Allows spellcasters to create 3 illusory duplicates of themselves to distract attackers.
- School: Illusion spell
- Cost: Action + Level 2 Spell Slot
- Range: Self
- Concentration: No
- Upcast: No
- Subclass: All
We it comes to survivability, Mirror Image is simply one of the strongest spells in all of Baldur’s Gate 3. This spell ramps up your Armour Class (AC) by 9 and makes you nearly impossible to hit. Additionally, Humans and Half-Elfs can equip shields increasing their AC by another 2. Thus, you can obtain obscenely high AC which helps avoid attacks. This is vital when playing solo when every encounter you’re the only target.
The best way to use Mirror Image is by casting the spell just before combat. If you enter turn-based mode, cast the spell, and use a bonus action for a helpful elixir, you will start combat with 10 turns of Mirror Image active. Pre-buff is the best way to avoid using the skill on turn one where you need to unload as much damage as possible to eliminate threats. Combine Mirror Image with Shield and Misty Step for an ultra-defensive Sorcerer built for Solo gameplay.
8 Scorching Ray
Scorching Ray features in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Description: Allows spellcasters to hurl 3 rays of fire at targets within range. You can either target a single creature or multiple creatures with the rays. Each ray rolls a separate Attack Roll and deals Fire damage.
- School: Evocation spell
- Cost: Action + Level 2 Spell Slot
- Range: 18 meters
- Concentration: No
- Upcast: Hurls an additional ray for each Spell Slot Level above 2nd.
- Subclass: All
Early in Act 1, we recommend taking Scorching Ray as a fire-bursting damage tool for your Sorcerer Build. The strength of Scorching Ray is that it’s fire damage, but you can cast 3 fire rays at one or more targets. Similar to Magic Missile, this can be helpful to get multiple kills when two or more targets are low on health. As a Draconic Bloodline Sorcerer, this spell can even be more deadly with Elemental Affinity bonus amplifying fire.
Scorching Ray is also available without even learning the spell through Circlet of Blasting, Gloves of Cinder Sizzle, and Hellfire Hand Crossbow. This can be helpful to use the two Act 1 item sets for free use of the spell and save precious spell slots for Fireball early in BG3. Consider Scorching Ray one of the strongest Sorcerer spells due to elemental damage and targeting mechanics.
7 Banishment
Banishment features in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Description: This spell allows spellcasters to send a target to another plane of existence temporarily.
- School: Abjuration spell
- Cost: Action + Level 4 Spell Slot
- Range: 18 meters
- Concentration: Yes
- Upcast: Affect an additional target per level.
- Subclass: All
When facing deadly opponents that can destroy your team in one turn, your Sorcerer will need a crowd control tool like Banishment. This spell requires concentration and sends a target to another realm for two turns. The strength of Banishment is the percentage chance to land is usually high depending on your Charisma. Moreover, you can cast this spell on most enemies because it’s not monster, human, or enemy-type specific.
The best way to use Banishment is in fights with one hard-hitting enemy and multiple “ads” or additional enemies. Banish the highest damage-producing enemy on turn one, and use the rest of your combat power to take out the others. You won’t be able to damage or attack the Banished target, but that’s okay because eliminating other threats is your primary concern. While the Sorcerer class isn’t known for crowd-control, this is one spell worth obtaining in situations requiring a stun.
6 Call Lightning
Call Lightning features in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Description: Allows spellcasters to call down lightning to hit all targets within range. The spellcaster can also continue to call down lightning repeatedly on subsequent turns.
- School: Conjuration spell
- Cost: Action + Level 3 Spell Slot
- Range: 18 meters
- Concentration: Yes
- Upcast: When the spell is cast using a 4th-level spell slot or higher, damage increases by 1d10 Lightning for each Spell Slot Level.
- Subclass: Storm Sorcery
Throughout Baldur’s Gate 3, you will fight metal enemies and constructs. These targets are often vulnerable to Lighting Damage making the Storm Sorcery subclass-specific spell Call Lighting a perfect fight. Vulnerability means the target takes twice the damage. Additionally, you can cast the Water spell and create a puddle of water in an area and electrify it for more passive damage.
Lighting damage can be helpful when facing Grym or completing the Arcane Tower in Act 1. Later in Act 3, you will face the Steel Watcher boss and can earn a legendary bow. Having a lighting-heavy spell that you can recast for free like Call Lighting is critical for making these fights easy.
5 Haste
Haste features in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Description: Target yourself or an ally to become Hastened. The creature has a +2 bonus to Armour Class, an Advantage on Dexterity Saving throws, its Movement Speed is doubled, and can take one additional Action per turn.
- School: Transmutation spell
- Cost: Action + Level 3 Spell Slot
- Range: 9 meters
- Concentration: Yes
- Upcast: No
- Subclass: All
In crafting a formidable Sorcerer build within BG3, prioritizing the Action economy reigns supreme. This entails maximizing the number of actions per turn and capitalizing on additional attacks, particularly with the extra attack feature. Haste emerges as a standout spell in BG3, revered for its potency and widespread usage. This spell not only enhances your Armor Class (AC) and doubles your movement but also crucially doubles your actions while in effect.
The spell remains active for 10 turns, thus, you can enter turn-based mode while in stealth and cast it on yourself and another player with Twinned Metamagic. End your turn to refresh your action, and move into the action to start combat. This combination gives you a huge advantage at the start and could trigger the surprise status effect if done properly.
The biggest concern with Haste is that when it ends, you will become lethargic and skip your next turn. Haste also requires concentration, which can be broken, resulting in a skipped turn. Be careful when you cast it for one of the best Sorcerer class spells in Baldur’s Gate 3, and look for the Darkfire Bow in Act 2.
4 Counterspell
Counterspell features in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Description: Allows allows spellcasters to interrupt another caster’s spellcasting, causing it to fail and have no effect.
- School: Abjuration spell
- Cost: Reaction + Level 3 Spell Slot
- Range: 18 meters
- Concentration: No
- Upcast: No
- Subclass: All
Largely overlooked, Counterspell is one of the best spells for the Sorcerer Class in Baldur’s Gate 3 because it can negate an opposing spellcaster. Simply use a reaction and a spell slot to cancel a spell if you succeed in a dice roll. This can prevent incoming down, outgoing healing, and crowd control effects. Moreover, you can set your reactions tab to “ask” and not react when the spell doesn’t oppose a major threat.
The best way to use Counterspell is on incoming spells that will influence your turn. Spells like Silence, Hold Person, and any stun or movement-impairing spells are best to cancel. It’s also a good idea to keep one level 3 or higher spell slot available to use Counterspell. Thus, do not spend all your spell slots to avoid an incoming attack that could wipe your party.
3 Globe of Invulnerability
Globe of Invulnerability features in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Description: Create a barrier that makes creatures and objects inside it Immune to all damage.
- School: Abjuration spell
- Cost: Action + Level 6 Spell Slot
- Range: 18 meters
- Concentration: Yes
- Upcast: No
- Subclass: All
When it comes to mitigation damage, nothing beats Globe of Invulnerability. This late-game spell creates a bubble in a small radius where you place it. It requires concentration and reduces all damage to zero within the bubble. The strength of the Globe of Invulnerability spell is in specific fights, it renders the enemies nearly useless. Specifically Ansur for the Balduran’s Giantslayer and Balduran’s Helm and Steel Watcher for Gontr Mael’s Legendary bow. During these fights, you will experience heavy incoming damage but can bypass any threat and simply step into the globe before incoming damage.
You will need to save a level 6 spell slot or find a scroll of Globe of Invulnerability to use it. The Spellcrux Amulet, Markoheshkir Legendary Staff, and Spellpower Staff all have a way to gain a free spell. This is powerful because you can use an offensive level 6 spell and Globe within the same fight. The main concern with Globe of Invulnerability is concentration which can be broken and leave you vulnerable. Therefore, do your best to avoid any incoming damage and remain in the globe during heavy damage mechanics.
2 Fireball
Fireball features in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Description: Allows spellcasters to unleash a streak of fire from their hands that ignites into a large explosion at a chosen point within range.
- School: Evocation spell
- Cost: Action + Level 3 Spell Slot
- Range: 18 meters
- Concentration: No
- Upcast: When using a 4th level slot or higher damage increases by 1d6 Fire for each spell slot level above 3rd.
- Subclass: All
The best area-based damage spell for the Sorcerer is Fireball due to its fire elemental, and massive radius, and you can obtain this spell at level 5. Moreover, Fireball can be upcast and do even more damage, thus it remains a powerful spell regardless of your level. The Draconic Bloodline Sorcerer gains Fire Affinity at level 6, which adds your charisma modifier to damage. With item sets like Birthright and permanent bonuses like Mirror of Loss, you can reach 24 Charisma giving you a +7 damage boost!
The trick to using Fireball is to place the radius so that it doesn’t include your allies. Any ally or enemy inside (including you) will take damage. However, Metamagic Careful can aid you in friendly fire situations. For 1 Sorcery point, prevent harmful Spell effects affecting their allies. This is a low-cost way to possibly avoid friendly fire and eliminate the only downside to Fireball. This is why we ranked Fireball as the second-best spell for the Sorcerer class in Baldur’s Gate 3.
1 Disintegrate
Disintegrate features in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Description: Shoot a thin green ray from your finger. If the spell reduces the target to 0 hit points, it disintegrates into a crumbly ash.
- School: Transmutation spell
- Cost: Action + Level 6 Spell Slot
- Range: 9 meters
- Concentration: No
- Upcast: No
- Subclass: All
The strongest spell for the Sorcerer in BG3 is Disintegrate because of its damage potential combined with items and metamagic. Disintegrate is considered a single-target spell, thus Twinned Magic can be applied to hit two targets at the cost of one spell. In BG3, you will only have one level 6 spell slot, but the Markoheshkir Legendary Staff can negate one spell cost per long rest. Thus, you can cast Disintegrate again with Quickened Metamagic. This allows you to do anywhere between 150-300 single-target damage in a single turn without Haste!
Another advantage of Disintegrate is that it’s force damage. This helps in fights with Raphael and others who require this damage type to eliminate mechanics. The only downside is the range is limited to 9 meters, so positioning is key. However, outright eliminating 2 targets in one turn, is the reason we ranked this as the best spell in Baldur’s Gate 3 for the Sorcerer class.
Metamagic and the ability to cast multiple spells gives the Sorcerer a unique advantage over other spell casters. Sorcerers do not possess a wide variety of spells, but the raw power is what they hold. Consider obtaining spells to fill in the gaps with missing spells to round out your Sorcerer build into one of the best builds in BG3.
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