What is the best class for a high-damage playthrough in Baldur's Gate 3?
If you're aiming for a high-damage playthrough in Baldur's Gate 3, the best class to consider is the Fighter, specifically the Champion subclass, or the Paladin, particularly the Oath of Vengeance. Both classes excel in dealing consistent and burst damage, but they achieve this in slightly different ways. Let's break down the mechanics, strategies, and optimizations for each class to help you decide which one suits your playstyle.
The Fighter class is a straightforward, high-damage dealer with a focus on martial prowess. The Champion subclass enhances this by improving your critical hit chance, which can lead to devastating damage spikes. At level 3, Champions gain Improved Critical, which allows you to score a critical hit on a roll of 19 or 20. This increases your chances of dealing double damage, making it a reliable source of high damage output. Fighters also have access to Action Surge at level 2, which grants an additional action during combat. This can be used to attack multiple times in a single turn, significantly increasing your damage potential. By level 5, Fighters gain Extra Attack, allowing you to make two attacks per turn, further boosting your damage output.
To optimize a Fighter for high damage, focus on Strength as your primary ability score, as it directly increases your melee attack and damage rolls. Dexterity can be a secondary focus if you prefer a ranged or finesse weapon build, but Strength is generally more effective for melee combat. Constitution is also important, as it increases your hit points, allowing you to survive longer in combat. For feats, consider taking Great Weapon Master at level 4. This feat allows you to take a -5 penalty to your attack roll in exchange for a +10 bonus to damage, which can lead to massive damage hits, especially when combined with your increased critical hit chance. Another useful feat is Savage Attacker, which lets you reroll damage dice and take the higher result, ensuring more consistent high damage.
The Paladin class, particularly the Oath of Vengeance, is another excellent choice for a high-damage playthrough. Paladins combine martial prowess with divine magic, allowing them to deal burst damage through their Smite abilities. At level 2, Paladins gain Divine Smite, which allows you to expend a spell slot to deal extra radiant damage on a successful melee attack. This can be used after you confirm a hit, making it a powerful tool for finishing off enemies or dealing massive damage in critical moments. The Oath of Vengeance subclass enhances this further with abilities like Vow of Enmity, which grants advantage on attack rolls against a chosen enemy, increasing your chances of hitting and critting.
To optimize a Paladin for high damage, focus on Strength as your primary ability score, similar to the Fighter. Charisma is also important, as it affects your spellcasting and the saving throws of your enemies against your spells. Constitution is crucial for survivability. For feats, consider taking Great Weapon Master, as it synergizes well with the Paladin's Smite abilities. Another useful feat is Polearm Master, which allows you to make an additional attack with the butt end of your weapon, increasing your overall damage output. Additionally, the Sentinel feat can be useful for controlling the battlefield and ensuring you can land your attacks.
In terms of combat tactics, both classes benefit from positioning and teamwork. Use your Fighter or Paladin to engage enemies in melee combat while your allies provide support from range or cast spells to debuff enemies. For Fighters, use Action Surge strategically to maximize your damage output during critical moments, such as when facing a tough boss or a group of enemies. For Paladins, save your spell slots for Divine Smite when you need to deal burst damage, and use your Channel Divinity abilities like Vow of Enmity to ensure your attacks land.
Common mistakes to avoid include neglecting your Constitution score, which can leave you vulnerable in combat, and spreading your ability scores too thin. Focus on your primary damage-dealing stat (Strength for melee, Dexterity for ranged) and Constitution to ensure you can survive long enough to deal damage. Another mistake is not using your class abilities effectively. For Fighters, remember to use Action Surge and Second Wind to stay in the fight longer. For Paladins, don't forget to use your Smite abilities and Channel Divinity to maximize your damage output.
Advanced techniques for optimization include multiclassing. For example, a Fighter can multiclass into Barbarian to gain Rage, which increases your damage and survivability. A Paladin can multiclass into Warlock to gain access to Eldritch Blast and additional spell slots for Smite. However, multiclassing requires careful planning to ensure you don't lose out on important class features.
In summary, both the Fighter (Champion) and Paladin (Oath of Vengeance) are excellent choices for a high-damage playthrough in Baldur's Gate 3. The Fighter offers consistent damage with increased critical hit chances and multiple attacks, while the Paladin provides burst damage through Smite abilities and divine magic. By focusing on your primary ability scores, choosing the right feats, and using your class abilities strategically, you can create a powerful character capable of dealing massive damage in combat.
The Fighter class is a straightforward, high-damage dealer with a focus on martial prowess. The Champion subclass enhances this by improving your critical hit chance, which can lead to devastating damage spikes. At level 3, Champions gain Improved Critical, which allows you to score a critical hit on a roll of 19 or 20. This increases your chances of dealing double damage, making it a reliable source of high damage output. Fighters also have access to Action Surge at level 2, which grants an additional action during combat. This can be used to attack multiple times in a single turn, significantly increasing your damage potential. By level 5, Fighters gain Extra Attack, allowing you to make two attacks per turn, further boosting your damage output.
To optimize a Fighter for high damage, focus on Strength as your primary ability score, as it directly increases your melee attack and damage rolls. Dexterity can be a secondary focus if you prefer a ranged or finesse weapon build, but Strength is generally more effective for melee combat. Constitution is also important, as it increases your hit points, allowing you to survive longer in combat. For feats, consider taking Great Weapon Master at level 4. This feat allows you to take a -5 penalty to your attack roll in exchange for a +10 bonus to damage, which can lead to massive damage hits, especially when combined with your increased critical hit chance. Another useful feat is Savage Attacker, which lets you reroll damage dice and take the higher result, ensuring more consistent high damage.
The Paladin class, particularly the Oath of Vengeance, is another excellent choice for a high-damage playthrough. Paladins combine martial prowess with divine magic, allowing them to deal burst damage through their Smite abilities. At level 2, Paladins gain Divine Smite, which allows you to expend a spell slot to deal extra radiant damage on a successful melee attack. This can be used after you confirm a hit, making it a powerful tool for finishing off enemies or dealing massive damage in critical moments. The Oath of Vengeance subclass enhances this further with abilities like Vow of Enmity, which grants advantage on attack rolls against a chosen enemy, increasing your chances of hitting and critting.
To optimize a Paladin for high damage, focus on Strength as your primary ability score, similar to the Fighter. Charisma is also important, as it affects your spellcasting and the saving throws of your enemies against your spells. Constitution is crucial for survivability. For feats, consider taking Great Weapon Master, as it synergizes well with the Paladin's Smite abilities. Another useful feat is Polearm Master, which allows you to make an additional attack with the butt end of your weapon, increasing your overall damage output. Additionally, the Sentinel feat can be useful for controlling the battlefield and ensuring you can land your attacks.
In terms of combat tactics, both classes benefit from positioning and teamwork. Use your Fighter or Paladin to engage enemies in melee combat while your allies provide support from range or cast spells to debuff enemies. For Fighters, use Action Surge strategically to maximize your damage output during critical moments, such as when facing a tough boss or a group of enemies. For Paladins, save your spell slots for Divine Smite when you need to deal burst damage, and use your Channel Divinity abilities like Vow of Enmity to ensure your attacks land.
Common mistakes to avoid include neglecting your Constitution score, which can leave you vulnerable in combat, and spreading your ability scores too thin. Focus on your primary damage-dealing stat (Strength for melee, Dexterity for ranged) and Constitution to ensure you can survive long enough to deal damage. Another mistake is not using your class abilities effectively. For Fighters, remember to use Action Surge and Second Wind to stay in the fight longer. For Paladins, don't forget to use your Smite abilities and Channel Divinity to maximize your damage output.
Advanced techniques for optimization include multiclassing. For example, a Fighter can multiclass into Barbarian to gain Rage, which increases your damage and survivability. A Paladin can multiclass into Warlock to gain access to Eldritch Blast and additional spell slots for Smite. However, multiclassing requires careful planning to ensure you don't lose out on important class features.
In summary, both the Fighter (Champion) and Paladin (Oath of Vengeance) are excellent choices for a high-damage playthrough in Baldur's Gate 3. The Fighter offers consistent damage with increased critical hit chances and multiple attacks, while the Paladin provides burst damage through Smite abilities and divine magic. By focusing on your primary ability scores, choosing the right feats, and using your class abilities strategically, you can create a powerful character capable of dealing massive damage in combat.