The Best Sorlock Build in Baldur’s Gate 3

This guide focuses on the key aspects of a Sorlock build in Baldur’s Gate 3 (BG3): character creation, spells, progression, companions, and gear!

This build has been updated for the Patch 7 version of Baldur’s Gate 3.

All About Sorlock Build Guide

The Sorclock build in Baldur’s Gate 3 combines the best from the Warlock and Sorcerer classes. You gain access to a wider variety of spells while retaining the hard-hitting combination of Hex and Eldritch Blast. Players who enjoy simplistic gameplay, with high Charisma, useful for influencing dialogue, will enjoy the Sorc build. Moreover, you gain bonus action utility thanks to the Metamagic Quicken spell.

The downsides to the Sorclock build are limited higher-tier spells and a cantrip focus build. However, the Eldritch Blast cantrip is the best overall and doesn’t require a spell slot to cast. Thus, the Sorclock excels when camp supplies are low and you lack spell slots. Expect gear to be important to the Sorclock performance, especially the Potent Robes found in Act 2.

Sorlock Build Pros	Sorlock Build Cons
Easy of Play	Limited Spell Book
Spell Slots	Cantrip Focus
Bonus Action Utility	Gear Dependent

Features and Mechanics of Sorlock

The following list presents all the essential Sorlock Build Mechanics and Features in Baldur’s Gate 3:

• Classes: 4 Warlock, 8 Sorcerer
• Subclasses: The Fiend, Draconic Bloodline
• Background: Entertainer
• Skills: Deception, Intimidation
• Ability Score
  • Strength: 8
  • Dexterity: 16
  • Constitution: 14
  • Intelligence: 10
  • Wisdom: 10
  • Charisma: 16
• Saving Throw: Charisma, Wisdom
• Armour Proficiency: Light armour
• Weapon Proficiency: simple weapons

How to Play Sorlock

The Hex and Eldritch Blast combination is the best way to play the Sorclock build. Hex debuffs enemies and allows for extra damage each time the spell lands. At max level, your Eldritch Blast will hit three times, each triggering extra damage. With the Sorcerer Metamagic quickened you can use the combination a second time, hitting 6 times each turn. While Warlock’s spell slots are few, you should save them for Hellish Rebuke, Misty Step, and Hex. The Sorcerer’s spellbook is expanded with more slots, allowing the use of Fireball, Counterspell, and Ice Storm.

On turn one, move close to the target so you can Hex debuff them. You want to select the ability score influencing the enemy’s ability checks. Strength is the only score that determines if the enemy can be shoved or forceabiliy moved; therefore, go with this option. Follow up on the Hex attack with Eldritch Blast, which consumes both your action and bonus action. On turn two, evaluate the situation and either crowd control with Ice Storm, Command or Banishment, or AOE blast with Fireball. If you lack spell slots or need single-target damage, continue with Eldritch Blast. If a target dies, you do not have to spend a spell slot to reapply Hex, thus you can keep this combination and rotation throughout your entire combat encounter.

Character Creation

Race Choice for Sorlock

Wood Half-Elf is the best racial choice for a Sorlock build because you gain shield proficiency and the highest movement speed in all Baldur’s Gate 3 races. Additionally, the Half-Elf race gains access to Darkvision, Fey Ancestry, and other weapon proficencies. Remember that Half-Elf differs from Elf, mainly in the Shield proficiency, which is critical for this build.

A secondary choice is the Human race, which gains shield proficiency, skill proficiency, and increased carrying capacity. Lastly, the Asmodeus Tiefling is a powerful race due to Hellish Resistance, Hellish Rebuke, and Darkness spells.

Here is the best race choice for a Sorlock build in Baldur’s Gate 3:

1. Wood Half-Elf: Shield Proficiency and Movement
2. Human: Shield Proficiency and Carry Capacity
3. Asmodeus Tieflings: Fire Resistance and Darkness

Sorlock Best Subclass – The Fiend & Draconic Bloodline

The best subclasses for the Sorlock build are The Fiend Warlock and the Draconic Bloodline Sorcerer because they both increase your survivability passively. The Fiend passive Dark One’s Blessing grants you temporary hit points based on your charisma modifier when killing an enemy. Meanwhile, the Draconic Bloodline Sorcerer’s passive resilience boosts your AC to 13 while wearing clothes without the need for Mage Armour. Using our preferred race and shield setup, you can easily hit 20 AC or higher in Act 3, easily avoiding attacks.

Recommended Background for Sorlock

Entertainer is the best background for a Sorlock because you gain proficiency in Acrobatics and Performance, dexterity, and charisma-based skills. Acrobatics is a helpful movement skill while Performance is useful in dialogue, and the Sorlock has 16 or higher Dexterity and Charisma, granting high bonuses to both. Below are the best Background choices for the Sorlock build:

1. Entertainer: Proficiency in Acrobatics (dexterity) and Performance (charisma). You live to sway and subvert your audience, engaging common crowds and high society alike. 
2. Noble: Proficiency in History (intelligence) and Persuasion (charisma). You were raised in a family among the social elite, accustomed to power and privilege. A noble companion is Minthara.
3. Charlatan: Proficiency in Deception (charisma) and Sleight of Hand (dexterity). You’re an expert in manipulation, prone to exaggeration, and more than happy to profit from it. A Charlatan companion is Astarion.

Ability Score

The best ability score for Sorlock Build is 16 Charisma, 16 Dexterity, and 14 Constitution.  Charisma is your Sorcerer spellcasting modifier and will determine the likelihood of landing and damage. Dexterity gives you AC when using light armor or clothing, as well as determining how early you go in combat. Constitution is helpful for extra health and better concentration saving throws.

Below is the best ability score for a Sorlock in Baldur’s Gate 3:

• Strength: 8
• Dexterity: 16
• Constitution: 14
• Intelligence: 10
• Wisdom: 10
• Charisma: 16

This selection assumes you will take the Ability Improvement feat at level 6 to land on even numbers for Charisma and Constitution. Your second feat will be +2 to Charisma, obtaining 20. This is the max score without gear or bonuses. However, you can push your Charisma to 24 with a Birthright helmet and Mirror of Loss bonus. Make sure to check out our Permanent bonus guide on how you can boost your ability score through quests.

Recommended Skills for Sorlock

Deception and Intimidation are the best skills for the Sorlock because they scale in effectiveness with Charisma and aid in dialogue, exploration, and discovery. Depending on your background, these skills will change your default proficiency. However, you want to ensure your character is proficient in Acrobatics, Persuasion, and Intimidation.

Illithid Powers For Sorlock

The best Illithid Powers for a Sorlock build are Luck of the Farm Realms, Black Hole, and Cull of the Weak. Luck of the Farm helps with critical hits and burst damage and, combined with Cull of the Weak, can trigger AOE damage passively. Black Hole requires you to take the Astral Tadpole in Act 2, but it sucks in 5 enemies, slows them, and can be recast for free. This is helpful in certain large-scale boss fights with many enemies. Below are the best Illithid Tadpole Powers for the Sorlock build in Baldur’s Gate 3:

• Favourable Beginnings: The first Attack roll or Ability check you make against any target gains a bonus equal to your Proficiency Bonus. Helpful passively boosts damage based on your level.
• Luck of the Far Realms: When you make a successful Attack roll against a foe, you can change that attack into a Critical Hit. It requires Favourable Beginnings and is used once per long rest.
• Black Hole: Summon a black hole that pulls in up to 5 nearby enemies and potentially Slows them. Requires Displace or Psionic Dominance.
• Cull of the Weak: When you bring a creature down to fewer hit points than your number of evolved illithid powers, it dies and all nearby creatures take 1~4 Psychic damage. It requires a concentrated blast, which is useful to get AOE damage passively.
• Mind Blast: Spew forth a conical wave of psychic energy and possibly Stun targets within. Deals 4d8+Spellcasting Ability Modifier Psychic damage. It can be accessed by consuming astral-touched tadpoles.
• Freecast: Spell slots, charges, and similar resource costs for your next action or spell are removed. Requires Shield of Thralls or Mind Sanctuary and used once per long rest.

Best Sorlock Build – Level Progression in Baldur’s Gate 3

Level 1

At level 1, the Warlock will want to select Eldrich Blast cantrip with the Hex spell. This is your one-two combo using Hex as a bonus action, and Eldritch Blast as an action. This combination becomes more powerful at higher levels where Eldritch Blast gains multiple beams. Additionally, we will multiclass this build later, so you won’t be taking Mages Armour, though expect your Armour Class (AC) to be low at the start. You can either use Light armour or clothing, but switch to clothing once you multiclass at level 5.

During the initial parts of the Sorlock build, you will have limited spell slots. Therefore, use the spell slot for Hex and Hellish Rebuke if they will kill an enemy. Look to obtain a quarterstaff and shield depending on your race to boost AC and stick with Hex and Eldritch Blast combination.

Below are the various suggested unlocks:

• Eldritch Blast (cantrip)
• Friends (cantrip)
• Hex (spell)
• Hellish Rebuke (spell)

Level 2

At level 2, you gain Eldritch Invocations to aid your Eldritch Blast. Select both Agonizing Blast and Repelling Blast. These two will add your charisma modifier (+5 at 20 Charisma) to your Eldritch Blast attack while giving a knockback effect on the first hit. We forgo the Mage Armour bonus here since we will get a +3 in clothing after taking Draconic Bloodline Sorcerer.

The spell to select at this level is Command, one of the best crowd control spells in the game. While your character won’t be responsible for stuns, this can force enemies to drop weapons, flee, and grovel and knock them prone. Useful when you absolutely must CC a target.

Level 3

At level 3, select the Pact of the Chain to gain familiars in combat. The decision at this level isn’t critical, and overall, all three choices won’t impact your build. Having a distraction in combat is helpful. Also select Misty Step for a mobility tool using a bonus action.

Level 4

At level 4, select +2 Charisma via the Ability Improvement feat. This will boost your overall damage and chance to hit targets. Next, select Scorching Ray as your spell and Mage Hand as your cantrip. This will be the last Warlock level before swapping to the Sorcerer until level 12.

Level 5

At level 5, multiclass to the Sorcerer by hitting the + icon in the upper left of your level-up screen. Select the Sorcerer, then take the Draconic Bloodline subclass to gain resilience and a dragon ancestry. The Ancestry aids the element you pick with six levels into Sorcerer. The Resilience passive forgos the need to use Mage Armour in clothing but still get +3. For spell selection, take Chromatic Orb and Magic Missile. Chromatic Orb is a helpful CC damage tool when its used with the Ice Element. Cantrips can be selected based on usage, however, Firebolt, Light, Ray of Frost, and Shocking Grasp are helpful.

Level 6

At level 6, you gain metamagic, and we suggest Careful and Twinned. Careful helps if you cast a fireball at friendly targets mixed with enemies. This aids them from being hit by friendly fire. Twinned allows single-target spells like Chromatic Orb to target multiple enemies at once. Metamagic is a unique resource, and you will use it sparingly at the start because of the few points it makes. However, you gain access to more points as you level, allowing spell casting via bonus action with Quickened.

For spell selection, take Shield for a defensive spell. When you are about to be hit, Shield will trigger giving you a surge of AC and helping avoid attacks for a turn.

Level 7

At level 7, you gain Quickened Spell, which allows bonus action spell casting with the Sorcerer resource. You can do the Hex and Eldritch Blast combination twice at this stage. However, you will need to long rest to replenish Metamagic, but it gives you much more burst. For spell selections, feel free to take something you use. Thunderwave is a helpful knockback, but Eldritch Blast can also serve this function. Ideally, you want many different element types of damage, so when an enemy is resistant or immune, you have options.

Level 8

At level 8, take another +2 into Charisma via the Ability Improvement feat. Also, select the Shatter spell and Minor Illusion cantrip. Shatter is helpful because its thunder damage, rounding out your elemental damage, but this can be flexed out depending on your preference.

Level 9

At level 9, you unlock level 3 spells, and you should take Fireball. You can respec at this point to remove Shatter for another level 3 spell like Haste or Counterspell. However, Fireball gives you AOE damage when combined with Hex and Eldritch Blast’s single target focus. Remember, fireball has friendly fire, so activate Careful metamagic if allies are in the radius.

Level 10

At level 10, you will have six levels into Sorcerer and, therefore, gain Elemental Affinity and Resistance based on your draconic ancestry. For this Sorclock build, that will be Fire, and also you want to learn Counterspell. Counterspell lets you use a spell slot to stop an enemy spell from working. Like with the Shield spell, it’s smart to save at least one level 3 or higher spell slot for emergencies, especially if the enemy tries to use a spell that makes you lose control of your character. If you play alone, getting stunned or losing control will often defeat you. By saving a spell slot for Counterspell, you’ll have a better chance to protect yourself, using it as a reaction when needed. Below are your various unlocks at this level:

• Counterspell (learned spell) – allows spellcasters to interrupt another caster’s spellcasting, causing it to fail and have no effect.
• Elemental Affinity Damage (subclass feature) – When you cast a spell that deals damage of the type associated with your draconic ancestry, you add your Charisma modifier to the damage. For this build, it means you will do more damage with fire-based spells.
• Elemental Affinity Resistance (subclass feature) – When you cast a spell that deals damage of the type associated with your draconic ancestry, you can spend 1 Sorcery Point to gain Resistance to that damage type. For this build, it means we can gain fire resistance.

Level 11

At level 11, take Ice Storm with your first level 4 spell. Ice Storm is helpful in coating the entire ground with ice and possibly knocking enemies prone. While the spell hits hard, it should be used when no allies are in the radius as a means to stun and disable enemies.

Level 12

The last level for the build you gain a feat and another spell. The feat choice is dependent on your gameplay. However, Spell Sniper reduces critical roll by 1. This leads to more burst damage from Hex and Eldritch Blast combination. Alert is helpful to go first in combat and never become surprised, and Elemental Adapet is helpful if you use fireball every turn.

You can select another damage spell at this level or Banishment for spells. Banishment is one of the best single-target CC because it removes a target entirely from the battlefield for two turns. Therefore, in tough battles with one heavy damage dealer, you can banish them and eliminate the other targets.

Best Companions for Sorlock

Shadowheart, Astarion, and Lae’zel make the best companions for the Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Sorlock Build Guide. We do not recommend additional front-line fighters and damage dealers.

• Shadowheart (Cleric – Life) – utilizes Shadowheart to buff, heal, and stun enemies.
• Astarion (Rogue – Thief) – used for ranged bow attacks, locking, picking, and stealing.
• Lae’zel (Fighter – Battlemaster) – have her the front-line attention-getter doing Fighter to level 12.

Best Gear for Sorlock Build

Beginner

Here’s the best beginner gear, items, and equipment for Sorlock Build in Baldur’s Gate 3:

Gear Slot	Best Gear Item	Effect
Head	Circlet of Blasting	Free Scorching Ray
Cape	–
Chest	The Protecty Sparkswall	+1 Spell Saves
Gloves	Gloves of Cinder and Sizzle	Free Scorching Ray
Boots	Disintegrating Night Walkers	Mobility & Misty Step
Necklace	Amulet of Misty Step	Free Misty Step
Ring	Ring of Absolute Force	Free Thunderwave
Ring	Fetish of Callarduran Smoothhands	Free Invisibility
Weapon 1 Main Hand	Melf’s First Staff	Free Acid Arrow
Weapon 1 Off-Hand	Adamantine Shield	+2 AC
Weapon 2 Ranged	Bow of Awareness	+1 Initiative

• Circlet of Blasting: Sold by Blurg in the Myconid Colony (Alternative Haste Helm).
• The Protecty Sparkswall: Looted in Gilded Chest in Grymforge X: -645 Y: 360 (Alternative Poisoner’s Robe).
• Gloves of Cinder and Sizzle: Sold by Lady Esther at Rosymorn Monastery Trail (Alternative Gloves of Missile Snaring, or Gloves of Hail of Thorns).
• Disintegrating Night Walkers: Found in Underdark from Ne’re NPC (Alternative Cinder Shoes or Boots of Speed).
• Amulet of Misty Step: Found in a Gilded Chest (X386 Y8) in Defiled Temple (Alternative Moondrop Pendant).
• Ring of Absolute Force: Dropped by Sergeant Thrinn in Grymforge (Alternative Ring of Colour Spray).
• Fetish of Callarduran Smoothhands: Found in Grymforge Abandoned Refuge (Alternatives The Sparkswall, or Sunwalker’s Gift if Human).
• Melf’s First Staff: Sold by Blurg in the Myconid Colony (Alternatives The Spellsparkler, or Staff of Crones).
• Adamantine Shield: Complete the Adamantine Forge Quest in Grymforge use if Human or Half-Elf Race (Alternatives Glowing Shield, or Wood Woad Shield).
• Bow of Awareness: Sold by Vendor Roah Moonglow in the Shattered Sanctum. You can use it even without proficiency for extra initiative!

Advanced

The following table presents the best gear, items, and equipment for the Sorlock Build in Baldur’s Gate 3:

Gear Slot	Best Gear Item	Effect
Head	Birthright	+2 Charisma
Cape	Cloak of the Weave	+1 Spell Save & Roll
Chest	Potent Robe	+1 AC, Charisma Modifier boost
Gloves	Quickspell Gloves	Cantrips Bonus Action
Boots	Helldusk Boots	Mobility & Hellcrawler
Necklace	Spellcrux Amulet	Restore spell slot
Ring	Killer’s Sweetheart	Auto Critical
Ring	Shifting Corpus Ring	Free Invisibility and Blur
Weapon 1 Main Hand	Markoheshkir	Free Spells, +1 Roll
Weapon 1 Off-Hand	Viconia’s Walking Fortress	If Human/Half-Elf
Weapon 2 Ranged	Darkfire Shortbow	Free Haste Spell

• Birthright: Sorcerer’s Sundries store in the Lower City of Baldur’s Gate (Alternative Hood of the Weave, or Helldusk Helmet).
• Cloak of the Weave: Sold by Helsik at the Devil’s Fee (Alternative Cloak of Protection).
• Potent Robe: Complete the Rescue the Tieflings quest (Alternative Helldusk Armour, Robe of Supreme Defences, or Robe of the Weave).
• Quickspell Gloves: Purchased at Lorroakan’s Projection at Sorcerors’s Sundries (Alternative Helldusk Gloves, or Gemini Gloves).
• Helldusk Boots: Gilded Chest on the top floor of Wyrm’s Rock Fortress (Alternative Disintegrating Night Walkers).
• Spellcrux Amulet: Drop by The Warden in Moonrise Towers Prison X: 569 Y: -650 (Alternative Amulet of Greater Health).
• Killer’s Sweetheart: Found inside the Gauntlet of Shar ( X: -833 Y: -729). (Alternative Ring of Free Action).
• Shifting Corpus Ring: Drop by Fist Marcus at the Last Light Inn (Alternative Crypt Lord Ring).
• Markoheshkir: At Ramazith’s Tower (Alternatives Staff of Spellpower, or Incandescent Staff).
• Viconia’s Walking Fortress: Looted from Viconia DeVir during Shadowheart’s companion quest (Alternative Shield of Devotion).
• Darkfire Shortbow: Sold by Dammon Last Light Inn Act 2 (Alternative Gontr legendary bow).

x

Best Sorlock Consumables, Potions, and Items

The following list is the best consumable items that will aid in our Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Sorlock Guide:

• Potion of Speed: 3 turns of an increased action via the Haste condition.
• Elixir of Bloodlust: Once per turn when you kill a foe, you gain HP 5 temporary hit points and an additional action.
• Elixir of Battlemage’s Power: You gain 3 stacks of Arcane Acuity until your next long rest, each stack gives a +1 bonus to its spell Attack rolls and spells save DC for each remaining turn.
• Potion of Invisibility: Become invisible for 1 minute. Attacking or casting spells ends the status.
• Potion of Angelic Slumber: fall asleep for two turns, then restore all spell slots, hit points, and abilities.
• Elixir of Vigilance: gain +5 bonus initiative and you cannot be surprised (ingredients sublimate of bloodstained hook, any ashes).
• Elixir of Viciousness: increase your critical hit chance (ingredients Vitriol of Shadowroot Sac, any Ashes).
• Elixir of Universal Resistance: gain resistance to all damage (ingredients Vitriol of Divine Miasma, any Sublimate).

Permanent Bonuses

Throughout Baldur’s Gate 3, you will have the ability to gain permanent bonuses to your character. These can grant additional spells, ability scores, and other bonuses. Permanent Bonuses are not displayed throughout the campaign but are vital to increase overall combat performance. We have all permanent bonuses here in a guide, but the most important ones for you to collect are listed below.

Act 1	Act 2	Act 3
Auntie Ethel’s Hair: Gain +1 to an Ability Score.	Potion of Everlasting Vigour: Gain +2 Strength.	Mirror of Loss: +2 to an Ability Score of your choice.
Awakened: Use illithid powers as a Bonus Action.	Slayer Form: Ability to transform into the Slayer (dark urge only).	Partial Ceremorphosis: Access to tier 3 illithid Powers.
Scratch: Gain Find Familiar Scratch.	Summon Us: Allows you to summon Us.	Sweet Stone Features: Blessed permanent.
Cheeky Quasit: Gain Summon Quasit Shovel.		Statue of the Gods: +2 to Saving Throws
Loviatar’s Love: 30% Hit Points or less, you gain a +2 bonus to Attack Rolls and Wisdom saving throws.
Necromancy Of Thay: access to powerful spells in Act 3.
Volo’s Ersatz Eye: See Invisibility

Build Summary – Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Sorlock

---

Looking For More About Baldur’s Gate 3?

Thank you for reading the Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Sorlock Build Guide. We provide the latest news and create guides for Baldur’s Gate 3. Also, watch me play games on Twitch or visit my YouTube channel!

• Tier Lists and Rankings
• Builds – All Classes, Companions and Multiclassing
• Comprehensive Guides
• All Permanent Bonuses You Should Get
• Armour List and How to Get Each Gear Item
• Accessories List and How to Get Each Item