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Baldur's Gate 3 will have one of the most complex combat systems in the RPG genre on release thanks, in part, to it being based on the Fifth Edition of Dungeons and Dragons' ruleset. Though there are some major changes to adapt the formula to a video game, most strategies work in Baldur's Gate 3 as they do in the TTRPG – including the benefits of a well-rounded party.
It's a good idea to have one or two melee-focused party members, a perfect slot for the Fighter Class to fill in. The best Fighter build in BG3 is one that takes the class' melee prowess and turns it into a close-quarters devastator via the Battle Master subclass.
Updated August 4, 2023 by Erik Petrovich: With the full release of Baldur's Gate 3 a lot of things have changed from the Early Access version. Thanks to the new subclasses and expanded maximum level, players' ideas about the best Fighter build in BG3 have changed, and will very likely continue to evolve as fans get deeper into the game. This guide has been updated to be accurate to the full release version of Baldur's Gate 3, but it doesn't recommend build choices past Level 5. Check back regularly for more advice on how to make the best Fighter build as the Baldur's Gate 3 community continues to learn more about how the class plays at higher levels.
As a guide-in-progress, this build will be continually updated with more information about choices in the mid to late game as players make their way through the expansive Baldur's Gate 3.
Best Fighter Build Overview
Battle Masters are paragons of tactical superiority, combining combat maneuvers and experience in the field to dominate every fight.
The Battle Master Fighter build is named after the Subclass that players select at Level 3, which grants a powerful new set of skills to the Fighter that rely on a new resource: Battle Maneuvers. At Level 3, Fighters can unlock three Battle Maneuvers from a list of six, most of which have both a ranged and melee version that unlock together.
These Battle Maneuvers, paired with the Fighter's base Action Surge and Second Wind actions, make them a serious force in melee combat – as long as they actually hit the enemy, that is. They are great at controlling enemy locations with certain Battle Maneuvers, rooting them in place or pushing them away, and can also be a source of minor buffs for the party.
Battle Master Fighters rarely spent too much time away from direct melee combat, and in a party with ranged damage and support sources, they should spend as much time as they can up-close and personal with enemies. It's perfectly fine to start a fight with a shot from a Crossbow, but when Initiative rolls, be prepared to close that distance quickly.
Battle Master Fighter Character Creation
Best Fighter Race: Gold Dwarf
The Gold Dwarf dwarves other races when it comes to the best Fighter race in Baldur's Gate 3 because of their Dwarven Toughness passive, granting extra HP, and the base passives of Dwarves in general. The Dwarven Resilience racial grants resistance and Advantage against Poison-type damage, which pops up a lot in Act 1.
A good alternative to the Gold Dwarf is the Githyanki, which gain Githyanki Psyonics to further enhance their ability to control the battlefield (and jump around from enemy to enemy as if on a trampoline). However, the Half-Orc or Dragonborn races are decent Racial good choices, too.
Best Fighting Style: Great Weapon Fighting
Upon creating a Fighter character in Baldur's Gate 3, players are asked which Fighting Style they would like to follow. There are six choices: Archery, Defence, Duelling, Great Weapon Fighting, Protection, and Two-Weapon Fighting. These all have their own bonuses and drawbacks, but ultimately the Great Weapon Fighting style is best because it simply increases the baseline amount of damage every Two-Handed weapon can do. However, the Defence style is good for Fighters who will spend a lot of time in close combat.
Best Fighter Subclass: Battle Master
There are three subclasses available to Fighters in Baldur's Gate 3: Battle Master, Champion, and Eldritch Knight. The Eldritch Knight, like the Rogue's Arcane Trickster, is an opportunity for Fighters to dip into the Arcane a little bit and gain some spell slots. The Champion is an all-around average choice thanks to its boosts to Critical Hits.
However, Battle Master's Superiority Dice mechanic is much more suited for melee combat Fighters, and the Battle Maneuvers they can learn can be absolutely devastating. Choose Battle Master if you plan to have other spellcaster companions, which ultimately is a good idea as it makes for good party composition.
Best Fighter Proficiencies and Background: Soldier
The Fighter's focus on Strength and Constitution gives them a big boost to Ability Checks that rely on those stats. As such, gaining proficiency with Athletics and Intimidation via the Soldier background is the best route to go to further improve two skills that are already pretty powerful for this class. Just be prepared to muscle your way through dialogue and RP encounters, foregoing alternative solutions, to earn Inspiration.
Best Battle Master Battle Maneuvers (Superiority Dice)
The Battle Master's unique mechanic is Battle Maneuvers. Upon reaching Level 3 and selecting the Battle Master subclass, players gain access to melee and ranged attacks that offer powerful additional effects. When using these abilities, though, they use one of the Fighter's limited Superiority Dice. Each day, players get eight Dice to spend on these abilities, each of which uses just one. Of the six choices presented to players, Menacing Attack, Pushing Attack, and Riposte are the ones players should prioritize, though Riposte can be replaced with Rally if your party lacks healing.
Menacing Attack
- Normal Weapon Damage + 1d8
- Chance to inflict Frightened condition, which roots enemies in place and imposes Disadvantage on their checks and Attack rolls
Pushing Attack
- Normal Weapon Damage + 1d8
- Chance to push enemies 4.5m in the direction the attack comes from
- Can require repositioning to aim enemies just right, like over a tall ledge, or into a flaming pit.
Riposte
- When enemies miss with an attack, the Fighter can retaliate for Normal Weapon Damage + 1d8
- Must be pre-activated as a Reaction on the Fighter's turn
Baldur's Gate 3 is available for PC and will release for PlayStation 5 on September 6, 2023. A version for Xbox Series X/S is currently in development.