Summary
One of the best things aboutBaldur’s Gate 3is that it allows you to play the game however you want, giving you a wide variety of options at every turn. That extends to choosing your race since the game’s options don’t have specific ability scores associated with them as they did at earlier stages in its development.
However, if you are looking to optimize your experience, some subraces have helpful abilities that synergize better with your play style. In this list, we’ll be examining which of them works bestfor a Warlock, one of Baldur’s Gate 3’s most versatile classes.
This list is looking specifically at which races are best for a single-class Warlock.
Gnome Cunning
Advantage On Intelligence, Charisma, And Wisdom Saving Throws
The main reason to play agnomewarlock is for Gnome Cunning. Warlocks already get proficiency in Charisma and Wisdom, but it’s nice to have additional protection against them, Wisdom checks being a particularly common threat. And having advantage on Intelligence saving throws will shore up your defenses against Mind Flayers.
Additionally, getting betterDarkvisionand advantage on Stealth checks will sometimes be relevant for warlocks, although most of them would rather talk or blast their way out of trouble. Still, it’s better than the options the other gnome subraces get; warlocks can already speak with animals, and having expertise in History is nice but hardly game-changing.
Racial Spells
Thaumaturgy, Searing Smite, Branding Smite
The removal of racially based ability scores means one of the main reasons tieflings are a classic warlock option—their boost to Charisma—doesn’t exist in Baldur’s Gate 3. That said, the Zariel subrace gets a racial spell that makes it a solid choice.
The two Smites you gain access to are okay for a melee-based warlock, but as a Charisma-based character, what you really love is access to theThaumaturgyCantrip, which gives you advantage on Intimidation and Performance checks. With the combination of your naturally high Charisma and basically permanent advantage, you’ll be able to scare (or dance) your way out of any situation.
Deal Extra Damage On Melee Weapon Crits
Relentless Endurance
Drop To One HP Instead Of Being Downed Once Per Long Rest
Warlock is a versatile class with many different ways to play it, but among the most popular involves using Pact of the Blade to turn the warlock into a melee combatant. And if you are specifically looking to play a melee-based warlock,half-orcsare built for the job.
Savage Attacks helping you do more damage, and Relentless Endurance helps to make up for the warlock’s general lack of close-quarters defenses. The downside is that, if you aren’t going for this specific build, Savage Attacks is rarely going to come into play, although getting an extra life can still come in handy even as a ranged attacker.
Advantage Against Being Charmed And Immunity To Magical Sleep
Shield Proficiency
Ability To Use Shields Without Penalties
Being descended from wood elves nets this subrace a wide variety of abilities, many of which warlocks can take advantage of. Advantage against being charmed and put to sleep with magic is great since it can be devastating to have one of your party’s primary damage dealers taken out of the fight.
You’ll also get extra movement, which is good in any combat scenario, whether you want to close the distance on an enemy or get further away from one. Finally, Shield Proficiency—which warlocks don’t get innately—will give your AC a nice boost unless you are playing a melee-based warlock and need both your hands for weapons.
Keen Senses
Perception Proficiency
Wood elves and their half-human progeny have most of the same abilities, so the reasons for this subrace’s strength are almost identical to the previous entry on this list. The big difference is that rather than being able to use Shields, full wood elves get Proficiency in Perception.
As you might expect, being able to tell when something dangerous is heading your way can be handy to have in a variety of non-combat situations. Of course, if youarein a fight, it will be worse than the combat utility of the Shield, so which race you choose will probably come down to what you personally value more.
Mage Hand, Enhanced Leap, Misty Step
Astral Knowledge
Gain Proficiency In All Skills Associated With A Given Stat Until Long Rest
Their appearance doesn’t do them any favors with most players, but Githyanki have some exceptional abilities. Githyanki Psionics gives you access to three fairly useful spells (although warlocks can already access two of them), and Medium Armor proficiency gives your warlock a potentially substantial boost in protection over the Light Armor they usually have to wear.
The most important advantage this race provides, though, is Astral Knowledge, which might be the best racial feature in the game. As a warlock, you’ll probably have proficiency in many of the Charisma-based skills, but not much else; Astral Knowledge allows you to be a much more versatile character.
Description
Halfling Luck
Single Reroll Of Ones On Ability Checks, Saving Throws, And Attack Rolls
Strongheart Resilience
Advantage Against Being Poisoned And Resistance To Poison Damage
Halflings are perfect for any main character, but warlocks can take particular advantage of their unique skills. A lot of the effectiveness comes from Halfling Luck; getting to re-roll ones on ability checks and saving throws is good for any class, but cheating on your attack rolls is especially good for warlocks.
Using Pact of the Blade to get extra attacks will mean more chances to accidentally roll ones, but the real benefit comes when usingEldritch Blastsince each beam of the Cantrip triggers its own attack roll. As for why you would play a Strongheart halfling in particular, really either subrace would work, but resisting poison is probably better for warlocks than the ability to get advantage on Stealth checks Lightfoots come with.
Baldur’s Gate 3
WHERE TO PLAY
Baldur’s Gate 3 is the long-awaited next chapter in the Dungeons & Dragons-based series of RPGs. Developed by Divinity creator Larian Studios, it puts you in the middle of a mind flayer invasion of Faerûn, over a century after the events of its predecessor.
