In Baldur’s Gate 3, Half-Orcs are known for their strength, ferocity, and resilience, making them fantastic picks for melee-based combat classes.
Source: Larian Studios
The Half-Orc race offers a compelling choice for players looking to combine brute strength, durability, and unique racial abilities. As a Half-Orc, you have access to distinct traits that can greatly influence your character’s playstyle and effectiveness in combat. This guide will provide an overview of how the Half-Orc race works and suggest some effective builds for your character.
Half-Orc in Baldur’s Gate 3
Creatures of intense emotion, half-orcs are more inclined to act then contemplate – whether the rage burning their bodies compels them to fight, or the love filling their hearts inspires acts of incredible kindness.
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Abilities
Upon release of the full game, racial choices will no longer be tied to specific ability score bonuses. Each character will get a +2 and +1 bonus to spend on whatever ability stat they would like, regardless of race.
Consequently, this means that the non-ability score traits and racial features are vitally important selecting the appropriate build. Moreover, you won’t be as restricted to certain races when min-maxing by only being able to select a specific race for optimal ability score.
Racial Features:
- Darkvision
- Half-Orcs can see in the dark up to 12 meters
- Relentless Endurance
- Once per rest, when you are reduced to 0 hit points but not killed outright, you can drop to 1 hit point instead
- Menacing
- Gain proficiency in the Intimidation skill.
- Savage Attacks
- When you score a critical hit with a melee weapon, you can roll one of the weapon’s damage dice an additional time, then add the number to the extra damage of the critical hit.
Sub-Races
There are no sub-races for Half-Orcs.
Best Builds for Half-Orcs
Barbarian
This build capitalizes on the Half-Orc’s innate strength, combining it with the Barbarian’s rage ability to deal devastating melee damage. Choose a two-handed weapon like a greataxe or greatsword and the Berserker sub-class to maximize damage output. Prioritize Strength and Constitution for ability score improvements.
Fighter
This build focuses on becoming a master of melee combat, using the Half-Orc’s Savage Attacks and Action Surge from the Fighter class to deal consistent damage. Consider wielding a versatile weapon like a longsword and a shield for versatility in offense and defense.
Paladin
Half-Orcs can also make for powerful Paladins. Their high Strength and Constitution make them well-suited for the frontlines, and their Relentless Endurance can help them stay in the fight even when they’re injured. The Oathbreaker subclass is a good choice for this build, as it gives them access to a variety of abilities that can help them dominate their enemies.
Conclusion
Half-Orcs are a versatile race that can be built to fit a variety of playstyles, but pair best with melee classes where brute strength can really shine. Remember that these are just a few suggestions, and you can mix and match classes, backgrounds, and playstyles to create a Half-Orc character that suits your preferences best. Experiment with different combinations to fully enjoy the rich role-playing experience that Baldur’s Gate 3 has to offer.
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