How do I build a high-damage Fighter in Baldur's Gate 3?

Building a high-damage Fighter in Baldur's Gate 3 involves careful planning and understanding of the game's mechanics. Fighters are one of the most straightforward classes in terms of dealing consistent damage, but optimizing them requires attention to detail. HereÔÇÖs a comprehensive guide to creating a Fighter that excels in dealing high damage.

First, letÔÇÖs discuss the core mechanics of the Fighter class. Fighters are martial warriors who rely on Strength or Dexterity for their attacks. They have access to a variety of weapons and armor, making them versatile in combat. The FighterÔÇÖs key feature is their Action Surge, which allows them to take an additional action on their turn, effectively doubling their damage output for that turn. Additionally, Fighters gain multiple attacks as they level up, making them one of the most consistent damage dealers in the game.

When building a high-damage Fighter, the first step is to choose the right race. Races like Half-Orc, Githyanki, or Human are excellent choices. Half-Orcs gain the Savage Attacks feature, which allows them to deal extra damage on critical hits. Githyanki have proficiency with greatswords, which are excellent for high-damage builds. Humans gain an extra skill proficiency, which can be useful for versatility.

Next, focus on your ability scores. Strength is the primary stat for a Fighter, as it directly increases your attack rolls and damage with melee weapons. Aim to start with a Strength score of at least 16 or 17. Dexterity is also important if you plan to use finesse weapons or want a higher Armor Class (AC). Constitution is crucial for survivability, as it increases your hit points. Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma are less important for a pure damage-focused Fighter, but they can be useful for certain dialogue options or multiclassing.

For your Fighting Style, choose Great Weapon Fighting if you plan to use two-handed weapons like greatswords or greataxes. This style allows you to reroll low damage dice, increasing your average damage output. If you prefer a more defensive approach, Defense is a good choice, as it increases your AC by 1 when wearing armor.

As you level up, prioritize the Champion subclass at level 3. The ChampionÔÇÖs Improved Critical feature increases your chance to score a critical hit, which synergizes well with high-damage weapons. At level 4, take the Ability Score Improvement to boost your Strength to 18 or 20. Alternatively, you can take the Great Weapon Master feat, which allows you to take a -5 penalty to your attack roll in exchange for a +10 bonus to damage. This feat is incredibly powerful for high-damage builds, especially when combined with the FighterÔÇÖs multiple attacks.

In combat, your primary strategy should be to position yourself effectively and use your Action Surge wisely. Action Surge can be used once per short rest, so save it for critical moments when you need to burst down a high-priority target. Use your multiple attacks to focus on a single enemy, quickly eliminating them before moving on to the next.

One common mistake is neglecting survivability. While dealing high damage is important, you also need to stay alive. Make sure to wear the best armor available and consider taking the Tough feat at higher levels to increase your hit points. Another mistake is not utilizing your bonus actions effectively. Feats like Great Weapon Master allow you to make an additional attack as a bonus action when you score a critical hit or reduce an enemy to 0 hit points. Always be on the lookout for opportunities to use this feature.

Advanced techniques include multiclassing with other classes like Barbarian or Paladin. A Fighter/Barbarian multiclass can be incredibly powerful, as the BarbarianÔÇÖs Rage feature increases your damage and survivability. A Fighter/Paladin multiclass allows you to smite your enemies, dealing massive burst damage. However, multiclassing requires careful planning to ensure you donÔÇÖt lose out on key Fighter features like Extra Attack.

In terms of D&D 5E rules, BaldurÔÇÖs Gate 3 closely follows the core mechanics. The FighterÔÇÖs Action Surge, Extra Attack, and Fighting Styles are all implemented as per the tabletop rules. However, some feats and abilities may have slight differences, so itÔÇÖs important to read the tooltips carefully.

Specific examples of high-damage Fighter builds include a Half-Orc Champion with a greataxe and the Great Weapon Master feat. This build maximizes critical hit damage and benefits from the Half-OrcÔÇÖs Savage Attacks. Another example is a Githyanki Battle Master with a greatsword, using maneuvers like Trip Attack and Precision Attack to control the battlefield and deal consistent damage.

In conclusion, building a high-damage Fighter in BaldurÔÇÖs Gate 3 involves choosing the right race, optimizing your ability scores, selecting the appropriate Fighting Style and subclass, and using feats like Great Weapon Master to maximize your damage output. Pay attention to your positioning in combat, use your Action Surge strategically, and consider multiclassing for additional versatility. By following these steps and avoiding common mistakes, you can create a Fighter that excels in dealing high damage and dominating the battlefield.