Discover the most overpowered race you’re not using in Baldur’s Gate 3, the Duergar Dwarf, with innate invisibility and enlarge!
The Most Overpowered Race in Baldur’s Gate 3
Because you possess innate invisibility, and the Enlarge spell, the Duergar Dwarf race is the most overpowered race that you’re not using in Baldur’s Gate 3. Dwarfs are often overlooked race due to their appearance, small stature, and lower movement speed. However, with Patch 5 introducing Honour Mode difficulty, you are seeing a resurgence in usage of the Deurgar Dwarf race in BG3. In this guide, we will explain everything you need to know about the most overpowered race in Baldur’s Gate 3, the Duergar.
Duergar Race in Baldur’s Gate 3
The Duergar race is a subrace of the Dwarves. Dwarfs were popular in early access, specifically the Shield Dwarf, because it uniquely gave a +2 and +2 bonus to ability scores. However, upon the release of the full version of BG3, Larian Studios changed racial bonuses to a standardized +2 and +1. This left the dwarfs lacking because of their lower movement speed of 7.5 meters per turn rather than most at 9 meters. Playing a melee build, especially early, can be dreadful using the Dwarf. But, there are many item sets to counter this with the full release of the game, and now is a great time to consider the Dwarf, and the subrace Duergar.
By default, Dwarves are granted the following racial traits:
- Dwarven Combat Training: Gain proficiency in Battleaxes, Handaxes, Light Hammers, and Warhammers.
- Darkvision: Can see in the dark up to 12m.
- Dwarven Resilience: You have Resistance to Poison damage.
- Base Racial Speed: 7.5 Meters of movement per turn
Duergar Subrace Traits
The Duergar is a subrace of the Dwarf, similar to High and Wood Elf. Once you select Dwarf, you can pick between Gold Dwarves, Shield Dwarves, and Duergar, each with unique sub-racial traits. The Duergars were once enslaved by Mind Flayers, which forced them to adapt to live and operate in the Underdark.
In addition to Dwarf racial traits, the Duergar are granted these additional sub-traits:
- Super Darkvision: Can see in the dark up to 24 meters.
- Duergar Resilience: You have Advantage Ion Saving throws against illusions, as well as against being Charmed or Paralysed.
- Enlarge (at level 3): Once per long rest, gain 1d4 extra weapon damage, and gain advantage on strength checks and saving throws.
- Invisibility (at level 5): Once per battle, gain invisibility where characters cannot see you with the naked eye.
With these powerful bonuses, let us explain why Duergar is the Most Overpowered Race You’re Not Using in Baldur’s Gate 3.
Why Duergar Race is Overpowered in Baldur’s Gate 3
The Duergars possess both powerful offensive and defensive racial features that allow them to survive and do more damage than their counterpart’s races. For example, Enlarge reproduces the effects of the Elixir of the Colossus bonus by adding extra 1d4 weapon attack damage. Without the need to consume this Elixir, you can instead drink Elixir of Cloud Giant Strength increasing your strength to 27 until a long rest, in combination with Enlarge which stacks both bonuses. Moreover, you can add a simple Oil of Accuracy to your weapon for another +2 to Attack Rolls for 10 turns, which, you guessed it, stacks onto each other.
From the image above, you can see the raw damage using the Balduran’s Giantslayer Greatsword as a Barbarian. Additionally, the invisibility spell is invaluable when playing Honour Mode. In this difficulty, survivability is vital to your overall survival, because if your team wipes, you cannot reload your save. With the Duergar Dwarf’s innate invisibility, you can flee potential fights where you will not win.
I learned this the hard way playing Honour Mode strolling into the Owlbear fight early in Act 1 like I always do. Quickly I discovered that I would be facing not only one 118 HP enemy, but two. By turn two, my entire team had wiped escape for a Gloom Stalker Ranger with Potion of Invisibility. This on-demand invisibility gives the Duergar an overpowered defensive spell that doesn’t require a scroll, potion, or anything besides an action. And these two reasons make it one race you should consider playing!
How to Use Duergar Dwarf
The best use of the overpowered Duergar Dwarf is using melee-focused classes like the Barbarian, Fighter, and Paladin. Early in Act 1, the Duergar will be painful to play due to lack of mobility. However, you can counter that mobility issue early in Act 1 with Amulet of Misty Step or Disintegration Nightwalker Boots. Moreover, Haste Helm and Crusher Ring also give increased movement speed that can make up for the lethargic movement. Lastly, consider the Vengeance Paladin, which we ranked as the best build in Baldur’s Gate 3 Patch 5 because it has an innate Misty Step spell starting at level 5.
Duergar Build Gear and Items
As you transition to higher levels and Acts, you want to build toward strength, bonuses to attack rolls, and weapon damage. This example is one of my favorite Barbarian multiclass builds, meant to beat Tactican solo!
Here’s an example of the gear used to make the overpowered Duergar build:
- Horns of the Berserker: +2 to Attack Rolls when the creature has taken damage, and 2 Necrotic Damage when you don’t have full health (Act 3).
- Enraging Heart Garb: Triggers Wrath (+1 melee damage) when Barbarian Rages, and +2 Constitution (Act 2).
- Helldusk Gloves: 1d6 fire damage with weapon attacks (Act 3).
- Helldusk Boots: Hellcrawler teleport ability and cannot be forcibly moved (Act 3).
- Surgeon’s Subjugation Amulet: Free stun on critical hit (Act 2).
- Killer’s Sweetheart: Auto Critical after a kill (Act 2).
- Ring Of Regeneration: Automatic 1-4 healing per turn (Act 3).
- Balduran’s Giantslayer: +3 Legendary Greatsword (Act 3).
While these items synergize well with the Barbarian, you can easily change to medium or heavy armour to accommodate a Fighter or Paladin build. Anything that increases melee damage, attack rolls, or extra elemental damage while attacking with a melee weapon. After the Nerf to Dwarf +2 and +2 stats, I figured the Dwarf race was dead. However, the Duergar is surely one of the most overpowered races you’re not using in Baldur’s Gate 3, and hopefully, you will after this article!
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