Dungeons & Dragons 5th (D&D5e) edition, which Baldur’s Gate 3 is based on, has released numerous subclasses over its ten years of existence. We’ve only seen a fraction of those in BG3, so it’s exciting to think about the new ones we might get in the inevitable expansion. Here are the top 10 subclasses we would love to see in the Baldur’s Gate 3 DLC.
Top 10 Subclasses We Need in the Baldur’s Gate 3 DLC
Between the Player’s Handbook and the two official subclass sourcebooks, Xanathar’s Guide to Everything (XGE) and Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything (TCE), there are plenty of exciting D&D5e subclasses we need in the BG3 expansion. I wanted to outline some of the most popular ones from the TTRPG for each class. Here’s a brief overview of each one:
- College of Creation Bard
- Twilight Domain Cleric
- Shepherd Druid
- Psi Warrior Fighter
- Mercy Monk
- Swarmkeeper Ranger
- Soulknife Rogue
- Clockwork Soul Sorcerer
- Genie Warlock
- Blade Singer Wizard
Most of these are from Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything, but the Shepherd is from Xanathar’s. Let’s dive into the gritty details.
College of Creation Bard
I’ve ran countless games as a Dungeon Master and a lot of my Bard players always tend to favor the College of Creation Bard. It’s an incredibly fun subclass concept where your Bard can animate objects around them, like turning dancing chairs and tables into allies.
Bards can be a pseudo-summoning class in Baldur’s Gate 3 that summons dancing construct allies to help you in a fight. They can also create non-magical objects, so they’d be the perfect class to create perhaps temporary keys, Thieves Tools, explosives, and all manner of throwable items in a fight.
Twilight Domain Cleric
This is by far one of the most powerful Cleric subclasses that didn’t get implemented in BG3. Twilight Clerics come with a slew of supportive abilities to buff their allies. They have these AOE auras to grant temporary HP, initiative bonuses, and Darkvision and remove harmful conditions. Their Level 6 feature even allows them to take flight, and it would be interesting if they could perhaps share this feature with their allies for a brief moment. For one, this would be the perfect Selune-themed subclass to respec Shadowheart into once she’s free of Shar’s influence.
Shepherd Druid
Druid was tough since there were a lot of fun subclass choices for them that didn’t get implemented. While Stars and Wildfire are some of my favorites, The Shepherd is an iconic one due to its animal theme. Shepherd Druids are the best summoning subclass in the game, allowing the player to call upon packs of beasts while buffing them with offensive and defensive abilities. Yes, the incredibly Conjure Animals spell isn’t in the game but perhaps this could be a special ability that only Shepherd Druids have access to.
Psi Warrior Fighter
With all the Mind Flayers running about and the looming threat of the Netherbrain, psionics play a big part in Baldur’s Gate 3’s story. This is the perfect premise to introduce Psionic subclasses like the Psi Warrior Fighter into the game. These mentally-enhanced vanguards combine telekinetic abilities with swordplay.
Besides blasting away enemies, Psi Warrior Fighters can even telekinetically enhance their jumps and even protect allies with psionic barriers. It’s a highly evocative subclass that perfectly fits into the Mind Flayer narrative. Perhaps the Illithids experimented on your character and now they have these psionic powers.
Mercy Monk
The Monk received a lot of love from Larian with some much-needed buffs, and most of the subclasses in the game are great at dealing tons of damage. That said, there’s a really popular supportive Monk subclass called the Way of Mercy. These Monks weave dealing damage with Hand of Harm and distributing healing and supportive effects with Hand of Healing. They can even cure harmful conditions or Poison enemies as they switch between damage and support. It’s a dynamic subclass to play, and we need more support-themed classes in BG3.
Swarmkeeper Ranger
I think the Swarmkeeper Ranger is one of the most interesting Ranger subclasses, and Larian definitely needs to implement it with some tweaks. They’re all about being a humanoid hive or nest for a swarm of critters that aid them in combat.
Swarmkeeper Rangers can attack foes, move enemies, and help the Ranger maneuver around the battlefield, even allowing them to fly. Perhaps Larian can make the swarm its own entity on the battlefield with the companion system. Best of all, they can suit any playstyle, whether it be a ranged or melee-focused one.
Soulknife Rogue
Similarly to the Psi Warrior Fighter, the Soulknife Rogue is what you get when you introduce psionics to the sneakiest class in D&D. It’s not yet confirmed what the DLC will be about, but with the unresolved Vlaakith plot and the Githyanki, we might be getting an Astral Sea story of psionics and overthrowing rulers. This is where classes like the Psi Warrior, Soulknife, and Aberrant Mind Sorcerer below come into play. These Rogues are telepaths, telekinetics, and overall masterful teleporting cloak-and-mind-dagger combatants that any roguish player would enjoy.
Aberrant Mind Sorcerer
The last of the three psionic subclasses is the Aberrant Mind Sorcerer, which is what you get when you mix Mages and Mind Flayer or Cthulhu-inspired horrors. These Sorcerers are masters of telepathic spells like Dissonant Whispers, Calm Emotions, Detect Thoughts, and Telekinesis and can cast them more often. I would expect the DLC to add even more psionic spells and even implement the Aberrant Mind’s ability to Summon Aberrations. You would probably be able to summon Intellect Devourers or even a mini Mind Flayer.
Hexblade Warlock
Warlocks could definitely use a lot of love in the DLC, not just an extra class. First, their Eldritch Invocations that grant extra spells should grant those spells without expending a spell slot. Second, we need the proper Hexblade subclass, as playing a melee-oriented Pact of the Blade Warlock feels awkward, suboptimal, and requires multiclassing. If a Hexblade is too nitpicky then there are plenty of other interesting Warlock subclasses like the Undead or the Genie but mainly we need those gameplay fixes to make this class enjoyable to its fullest.
Bladesinging Wizard
Finally, one of the classes I am most excited about is the Blade Singer Wizard, which mixes melee weapons and spellcasting. Think of it as a contrast to the Eldritch Knight that doesn’t wear armor but instead focuses on Intelligence and Dexterity, both of which grant AC. Its core ability is the Blade Song, which boosts spellcasting, movement, and defenses.
Eventually, you even get an Extra Attack that allows you to both attack and cast spells interchangeably during the same Attack action. They’re an incredibly fun subclass to play and are the best Gish build in D&D overall.
That concludes my list of the top 10 subclasses we would love to see in the Baldur’s Gate 3 DLC. Who knows, maybe we’ll even get the full Artificer class, but that’s a discussion for another time. For more BG3 content while we wait for the expansion check out our article on Solasta versus BG3 and more similar games.
