Explore the array of playable Baldur's Gate 3 races, including their unique abilities, as you decide which race is the best fit for your adventure while delving into the comprehensive list of races and subraces available in the game.
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| All Baldur’s Gate 3 Races, Subraces, and their Abilities: guide on all playable races |
Baldur’s Gate 3 takes the Dungeons & Dragons essence and masterfully translates it into a video game, perfectly capturing the essence of expansive player choice.
The game offers a wide array of customization options, letting players shape their character's appearance, classes, subclasses, and race through the character creator before immersing themselves in the game. The character creation is epitomized by the eleven core races players can pick, each holding distinct abilities and proficiency that might sway your preference towards one over another.
If you are looking for the details on the Baldur’s Gate 3 races, subraces, and their abilities, you have landed on the right page. Here we will tell you all about the 11 Baldur’s Gate 3 races present in the game as it's important to have some knowledge about your race selection.
Check Out: Complete Baldur’s Gate 3 Classes and Subclasses Guide
All Baldur’s Gate 3 Races
There are a total of 11 Baldur’s Gate 3 races that are currently playable in the game. The following are their names:
- Elf
- Tiefling
- Drow
- Human
- Githyanki
- Dwarf
- Half-Elf
- Halfling
- Gnome
- Dragonborn
- Half-Orc
Players should keep in mind that many of these Baldur’s Gate 3 races have subraces too, which we have detailed below.
Baldur’s Gate 3 races, subraces, and their abilities
Elves
- Skills Boosted: Perception
- Weapons Proficiency: Longswords, Shortswords, Longbows, Shortbows
- Notable Traits: Darkvision up to 12 meters, Charm resistance, Sleep immunity
- Subraces: High Elves gain a Cantrip, and Wood Elves gain an extra movement speed of 1.5 and Stealth proficiency
- Best Suited Classes: Ranger, Fighter, Rogue
High Elves' free Cantrip adds a valuable dimension to their abilities, while Wood Elves naturally excel in stealthy roles, ideal for Rogues.
Dragonborn
- Skills Boosted: Strength and Charisma
- Notable Traits: Ancestry determines scale color, elemental breath attack, and resistance
- Subraces: Multiple races
- Acid: Black and Copper Dragonborn
- Lightning: Blue and Bronze Dragonborn
- Fire: Brass, Gold, and Red Dragonborn
- Poison: Green Dragonborn
- Cold: Silver and White Dragonborn
- Best Suited Classes: Paladin, Fighter, Warlock
Dragonborn stand out with their unique breath attacks, particularly effective for frontline combat.
Drow
- Skills Boosted: Perception
- Weapons Proficiency: Rapiers, Shortswords, Hand Crossbows
- Notable Traits: Darkvision up to 24 meters, Charm resistance, Sleep immunity
- Subraces: Lolth-Sworn Drow evoke fear due to their red eyes, Seldarine Drow do not
- Best Suited Classes: Rogue, Warlock, Sorcerer, Bard
Drow's exceptional Darkvision proves invaluable in navigating the Underdark, making them perfect for exploration.
Dwarves
- Weapons Proficiency: Battleaxes, Handaxes, Light Hammers, Warhammers
- Notable Traits: Darkvision up to 12 meters, Poison resistance
- Subraces: Gold Dwarves gain additional HP upon leveling up, Shield Dwarves become proficient in Light and Medium Armor, Duregar enjoy extended Darkvision and Charm or Paralysis resistance
- Best Suited Classes: Barbarian, Fighter, Paladin
Gold Dwarves bolster Clerics and Druids with their survivability, while Shield Dwarves shine as front-line Fighters.
Half-Elves
- Weapons Proficiency: Spears, Pikes, Halberds, Glaives, Light Armor, Shields
- Notable Traits: Darkvision up to 12 meters, Charm resistance, Sleep immunity
- Subraces: High Half-Elves select a Cantrip, Wood Half-Elves boost movement speed and gain Stealth proficiency, Drow Half-Elves gain the Dancing Lights Cantrip
- Best Suited Classes: Warlock, Sorcerer, Bard, Paladin
The adaptability of the High Half-Elf's free Cantrip proves valuable, while Wood Half-Elves excel as Rogues and Bards.
Tieflings
- Notable Traits: Darkvision up to 12 meters, Fire damage resistance
- Subraces: Asmodeus Tieflings gain the Produce Flame Cantrip, Mephistopheles Tieflings get Mage Hand, Zariel Tieflings receive the Thaumaturgy Cantrip
- Best Suited Classes: Bard, Warlock, Wizard, Paladin
Tieflings, with their fire resistance, prove resilient against foes employing fire-based attacks, making them great tanky options.
Humans
- Weapons Proficiency: Spears, Pikes, Halberds, Glaives, Light Armor, Shields
- Notable Traits: Extra skill proficiency, 25% increased carrying capacity
- Best Suited Classes: Any
While Humans might seem straightforward, their versatility enables them to excel in a variety of classes.
Githyanki
- Weapons Proficiency: Light Armor, Medium Armor, Shortswords, Longswords, Greatswords
- Notable Traits: Temporary proficiency in all skills associated with an Ability, Githyanki-exclusive Cantrips
- Best Suited Classes: Wizard, Barbarian, Fighter, Paladin
Githyanki's adaptable features equip them for success across various classes.
Halflings
- Notable Traits: Frightened resistance, Ability rerolls on a roll of 1
- Subraces: Lightfoot Halflings gain Stealth advantages and proficiency, Strongheart Halflings boast Poison resistance
- Best Suited Class: Rogue
Lightfoot Halflings are naturally attuned to Rogue roles, while Strongheart Halflings offer durability for frontline combat.
Gnomes
- Notable Traits: Advantage on Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma Saving Throws
- Subraces: Forest Gnomes gain Darkvision and Speak with Animals, Deep Gnomes possess extensive Darkvision and Stealth advantages, Rock Gnomes gain Darkvision and a bonus to History checks
- Best Suited Class: Wizard
Gnomes, with their Intelligence boost, are ideal for Wizards. Opt for a Rock Gnome to further enhance Constitution and History.
Half-Orc
- Skills Boosted: Intimidation
- Notable Traits: Darkvision up to 12 meters, Health point gain at 0 HP, Critical Hits inflict triple damage
- Best Suited Classes: Fighter, Barbarian, Paladin, Cleric
Half-Orcs, with their resilience and damage boosts, excel in physical confrontations, making them ideal for Fighters and Barbarians.
And that brings us to the end of the selection of available Baldur’s Gate 3 races, each bringing its unique abilities to the table.
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