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Discover the best Fighter subclasses in Baldur’s Gate 3 ranked from best to worst, including the upcoming Arcane Archer subclass in Patch 8.
The Fighter class is a great choice for players who want to focus on dealing damage and being a tough tank in Baldur’s Gate 3. Fighters have a high hit point pool and access to a variety of armor and weapons, making them very durable in combat. They also have a few abilities that can help them deal more damage, such as Action Surge and Second Wind. The Fighter’s downside is a lack of spell casting, lower dexterity, and vulnerability to stuns. Moreover, you won’t have other classes’ dialogue or exploration bonuses, but can make up for it in pure raw damage.
In this guide, we will be ranking all subclasses of Fighter in Baldur’s Gate 3 from the best to worst, and tell you how the upcoming Arcane Archer subclass will play out for the Fighter class.
What are Fighter subclasses in BG3? Explained
Fighter currently has three subclasses, Battle Master, Champion, and Eldritch Knight. Each subclass grants access to new features during level progress, allowing players to experience a new playstyle with Fighter and choose a certain playstyle for their build.
Here are all Fighter subclasses in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Battle Master: A versatile subclass for the Fighter giving you Superiority Dice and extra control over attacks.
- Champion: A subclass that emphasizes critical strikes and the simplest and most straightforward. Moreover, grants passive bonuses to critical hits but lacks the extra utility of BM.
- Eldritch Knight: A subclass that combines the martial prowess of the Fighter with spellcasting. Although, the spells overall are weaker compared to other spellcasters.
- Arcane Archer: A subclass that masters the dual arts of magic and marksmanship. Remove the foes from the battlefield for a turn or unleash Psychic damage on foes.
Fighter Class Action Surge Ability – Explained
Before we rank the subclasses and explain their roles and features, it is best that you learn about Fighter Action Surge ability and how it works. The Action Surge ability unlocks at Level 2. It gives you an extra action, a second heal, which is a self-heal and proficiencies in all armor and weapon types. Consider the Fighter a versatile martial class that is ultra simple to play and very effective. At level 5, you unlock Extra Attack allowing you two attacks in one turn, along with Action Surge for even another action.
Below, we have ranked the Fighter Subclasses in Baldur’s Gate 3 from the best to worst order. Each corresponding section explains the role of the subclass and its progression.
Best Fighter Subclasses in BG3, Ranked
1. Battle Master
The best subclass for Fighter is Battle Master, which gains extra resources for maneuvers to be used in combat. These maneuvers give you on-demand crowd control, knockback, and extra damage. Consider this the strongest Fighter subclass and one of the best in the game due to damage and ease of play.
The Battle Master will give you three passives you can pick from, along with Superiority Dice by 4. Superiority dice are a mechanic built into Fighter Attacks and can be replenished during a short rest.
Battle Master Features
While leveling up, the following features will be available for the Battle Master subclass.
- Superiority Dice: 4 (Level 3): Your Superiority Dice are d8s. You have 4. They fuel your Battle Master manoeuvers and are expended upon use. You regain expended Superiority Dice after a Short or Long Rest.
- Battle Manoeuvers (Level 3): Manoeuvers are powerful attacks that use superiority dice. You can choose three.
- Battle Manoeuvers (Level 7): Manoeuvers are powerful attacks that use superiority dice. You can choose two more
- Superiority Dice: +1: Gain an additional Superiority Dice
- Battle Manoeuvers (Learned at 10): Manoeuvers are powerful attacks that use superiority dice. You can choose two more.
- Improved Superiority Dice: The size of your Superiority Dice increases to 1d10.
2. Champion
The Champion subclass is a good subclass for the Fighter in Baldur’s Gate 3 because it has a unique bonus to critical damage. The Champion Fighter subclass has a unique advantage in burst damage while maintaining the hallmarks of the FIghter. It’s a tough, durable, two-handed playstyle subclass and unlocks at Level 3.
The Champion Fighter Subclass will give you Improved Critical which reduces your need to roll a D20 for a critical strike instead of a 19 or 20. This subclass is also very simple to understand and is the easiest to play for any new Baldur’s Gate 3 player.
Champion Features
While leveling up, the following features are available for the Champion subclass.
- Improved Critical Hit (Level 3): The number for you to land a Critical Hit is reduced by 1 during Attack. This effect can stack
- Remarkable Athlete: Jump (Level 7): The jump distance increases by 3m/10ft.
- Remarkable Athlete: Proficiency (Level 7): You can add half of your Proficiency Bonus to any Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution checks that you are not proficient in.
- Fighting Style (Level 10): Choose one additional fighting style. The available fighting styles are as follows.
- Archery: Gain a +2 bonus to Ranged Weapon Attacks.
- Defense: Gain a +1 bonus to Armour Class while wearing Armour.
- Dueling: When you are wielding a melee weapon that is not Two-Handed or Versatile in one hand, and no weapon in the other hand, you gain a +2 bonus to damage rolls with that weapon, increasing your chance to do heavy damage.
- Great Weapon Fighting: When you roll a 1 or 2 on a damage die for an attack with a Two-Handed melee weapon, that die is rerolled once.
- Protection: When you have a Shield, impose a Disadvantage on an enemy who attacks one of your allies when you are within 1.5m/5ft.
- Two-Weapon Fighting: When you make an offhand attack, you can add your Ability Modifier to the damage of the attack.
We recommend choosing either Defense for the AC bonus or Archery for additional Ranged Weapon Attacks while playing as Champion.
3. Eldritch Knight
The Eldritch Knight subclass allows the pure physical melee Fighter class the ability to cast spells. Consequently, this new hybrid playstyle will grant you some new defensive and self-healing spells and cantrips. However, the downside to this is the Eldritch Knight will sacrifice some damage potential. Furthermore, your pool of spell slots is not very deep.
The Eldritch Knight subclass is the hybrid subclass for the Fighter in Baldur’s Gate 3 because it can cast spells. The subclass selection unlocks at Level 3 for Fighter and grants you cantrips and spell-casting ability. As you advance in this subclass, you will receive additional spells and cantrips.
Eldritch Knight Features
While leveling up, the following features are available for the Eldritch Knight subclass.
- Weapon Bond (Level 3): The weapon in your main hand cannot be knocked out of your hand. It automatically returns to you when thrown.
- Spellcasting Ability: Intelligence (Level 3): An ability score that affects your Arcana, Nature, History, Investigation, and Religion Skills.
- Known Spells (Level 3): Choose 3 Spells from the Wizard spell list, up to Level 1. Eldritch Knight Spells are Always Prepared.
- Level 1 Spell Slots Unlocked: 2 (Level 3): Gain two Level 1 Spell Slots.
- Cantrips Known: 2 (Level 3): Choose any two Cantrips from the Wizard spell list.
- Level 1 Spell Slots Unlocked: 3 (Level 4): Gain an additional Level 1 Spell Slot.
- Known Spells (Level 4): Choose 1 Spell from the Wizard spell list.
- Replacement Spell (Optional) (Level 4): Choose 1 Known Spell and replace it with another Spell from the Wizard spell list.
- Replacement Spell (Optional) (Level 5): Choose 1 Known Spell and replace it with another Spell from the Wizard spell list.
- Replacement Spell (Optional) (Level 6): Choose 1 Known Spell and replace it with another Spell from the Wizard spell list.
- Level 1 Spell Slots Unlocked: 4 (Level 7): Gain an additional Level 1 Spell Slot.
- Level 2 Spell Slots Unlocked: 2 (Level 7): Gain two Level 2 Spell Slots.
- War Magic (Level 7): After casting a cantrip, you can make a weapon attack using a Bonus action.
- Known Spells (Level 7): Choose 2 Spells from the Wizard spell list, but from only Abjuration or Evocation spell schools.
- New Level 2 Spells (Level 7): Six new spells from Abjuration and Evocation spell schools are available.
- Replacement Spell (Optional) (Level 7): Choose 1 Known Spell and replace it with another Spell from the Wizard spell list.
- Known Spells (Level 8): Choose 1 Spell from the Wizard spell list.
- New Level 2 Spells (Level 8): New Level 2 spells unlock.
- Replacement Spell (Optional) (Level 8): Choose 1 Known Spell and replace it with another Spell from the Wizard spell list.
- Replacement Spell (Optional) (Level 9): Choose 1 Known Spell and replace it with another Spell from the Wizard spell list.
- Eldritch Strike (Level 10):
- Level 2 Spell Slots Unlocked: 3 (Level 10): Gain an additional Level 2 Spell Slot.
- Known Cantrips (Level 10): Choose any one Cantrip from the Wizard spell list.
- Known Spells (Level 10): Choose 1 Spell from the Wizard spell list, but from only Abjuration or Evocation spell schools.
- Replacement Spell (Optional) (Level 10): Choose 1 Known Spell and replace it with another Spell from the Wizard spell list.
- Known Spells (Level 11): Choose 1 Spell from the Wizard spell list, but from only Abjuration or Evocation spell schools.
- Replacement Spell (Optional) (Level 11): Choose 1 Known Spell and replace it with another Spell from the Wizard spell list.
- Replacement Spell (Optional) (Level 12): Choose 1 Known Spell and replace it with another Spell from the Wizard spell list.
Patch 8 New Fighter Subclass Arcane Archer
A new subclass Arcane Archer masters the dual arts of magic and marksmanship and will be released in Patch 8. Remove the foes from the battlefield for a turn or unleash Psychic damage on foes.
Note: The actual features and properties of Arcane Archer are unknown at this point. The explanation below is a general overview and playstyle of Arcane Archer Fighter.
Mastering the dual arts of magic and marksmanship, the Arcane Archer subclass offers unique skills on top of new shooting animations. Banish foes to the Feywild, removing them from the battlefield for a turn, or unleash Psychic damage that forces enemies to make a Wisdom saving throw or be blinded until the start of their next turn.
FAQs about Fighter Subclasses in BG3
1. Question: How many Fighter subclasses are there in BG3?
Answer: Currently, there are three subclasses available for Fighter in Baldur’s Gate 3. It includes the Battle Master, Champion, and Eldritch Knight. Moreover, a fourth subclass was announced for the Fighter class called Arcane Archer which will be available in Patch 8, coming out in early 2025.
2. Question: Which is the strongest Fighter subclass in BG3?
Answer: Battle Master is the strongest Fighter subclass in Baldur’s Gate 3 for now. It gives you Superiority Dice and extra control over attacks. The additional Battle Maneuvers make it a flexible subclass.
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