Best Warlock build in Baldur’s Gate 3: Race, skills, subclass & more
Larian StudiosLooking to create a Warlock as powerful as the Patron they get their powers from? Well, to do that you’ll need the best Warlock build in Baldur’s Gate 3.
Despite gaining most of their power from their Patrons, building a powerful Warlock in Baldur’s Gate 3 is no walk in the park. Their skills in both melee, conversation, and spellcasting make them extremely tricky to work out, and the lack of spell slots can often take players by surprise. Especially when compared to the likes of Druids, Wizards, Bards, or Sorcerers.
However, when crafted with care and attention, you can dominate the battlefield with a handy Eldritch Blast or fantastic melee damage. So, to help you achieve this, here’s the best Warlock build in Baldur’s Gate 3.
Contents
- Best race
- Best subclass
- Best skills
- Best Ability Score spread
- Best spells
- Best Illithid powers for a Warlock
- Best multiclass options
- Best build for a Warlock
Best race to choose for a Warlock in Baldur’s Gate 3
Altogether, we recommend choosing from these three races, each granting you an increase in Charisma, the Warlock’s main stat:
- Half-Elf
- Asmodeus Tiefling
- Drow
While there are three different options, we recommend choosing the Drow for their Superior Darkvision, Advantage on Saving Throws, and the Faerie Fire spell they get access to at level 3.
Best subclass for a Warlock in Baldur’s Gate 3
Both current suggestions are pretty powerful, and it comes down to whether you want to incapacitate targets or get more hit points when you kill an enemy.
We recommend choosing The Great Old One for its manipulative spell-casting and support tactics. After all, when it comes to Baldur’s Gate 3, as long as you choose the right companions, a great build isn’t always about damage, but rather providing the opportunity to take an enemy down quickly and efficiently.
Best skills for a Warlock in Baldur’s Gate 3
The Warlock is a Charisma-based class so you’ll want to prioritize gaining proficiency in skills that use such a stat, these are our recommendations:
- Stealth
- Acrobatics
- Sleight of Hand
It’s best to pick a background that gives you proficiency in some of these skills, as that’ll make it easier down the line, like Urchin, for proficiency in Sleight of Hand and Stealth. Don’t worry about Intimidation, Deception, and Persuasion as you’ll get these proficiencies at level 2.
Best Ability Score spread for a Warlock
It’s entirely reasonable to opt for the traditional Ability Score spread given to you when you choose the Warlock, but if you want to move bits around and truly get the most out of your character, pick these scores.
- Strength: 8
- Dexterity: 13
- Constitution: 16
- Wisdom: 10
- Intelligence: 10
- Charisma: 17
Naturally, Charisma is your highest as it’s your spellcasting modifier. Then, Constitution is responsible for your health, Dex is for your armor, and the rest is just to keep those save scores high.
Best spells for a Warlock in Baldur’s Gate 3
Warlocks are magic users, but they’re not as heavy spell-casters as the Druid, Wizard, Sorcerer, or Bard. Nevertheless, there are some fantastic spells you’ll need, especially when controlling the enemy:
- Cantrip: Eldritch Blast
- Cantrip: Poison Spray
- 1st Level: Hex
- 1st Level: Tasha’s Hideous Laughter
- 1st Level: Dissonant Whispers
- 1st Level: Charm Person
- 2nd Level: Crown of Madness
- 2nd Level: Phantasmal Force
- 3rd Level: Hunger of Hadar
- 3rd Level: Grant Flight
- 3rd Level: Counterspell
- 3rd Level: Remove Curse
- 4th Level: Dimension Door
- 4th Level: Banishment
- 4th Level: Blight
- 5th Level: Hold Monster
Best Illithid powers for a Warlock
Luck of the Far Realms
Luck of the Far Realms is a great power to have in Baldur’s Gate 3 and will let your Warlock deal some impressive damage when you really need it. For any sort of melee character like the Warlock, this IIllithid power is perfect.
Psionic Dominance
This is one of those powers that will come in useful on countless occasions. Thanks to its status as a reaction, you can cast this whenever you need to, which will likely save your life on a few occasions. If there’s any power to get hold of, it’s this one.
Black Hole
Gathering all the enemies into one spot so you or your resident Wizard can cast a powerful AoE onto the group is just a fantastic way to control the battlefield. This is where Black Hole comes in. It’s a great control spell and is always useful in a tricky situation.
Best multiclass options for the Warlock
Warlock / Sorcerer
The Warlock and Sorcerer multiclass design has always been a popular and incredibly powerful choice in Dungeons & Dragons and remains as such in Baldur’s Gate 3. It has the powerful magic spells from the Sorcerer, better armor and protection from the Warlock, and overall makes a fantastically powerful spellcasting character.
Paladin / Sorcerer / Warlock
Multiclassing into three different classes isn’t advised in a game like Baldur’s Gate 3 where the level cap is only 12 – but this one is so powerful it’s hard to ignore.
The Paladin should be the focus, bringing a great fighting style and some fantastic healing if needed. Then, the Sorcerer comes with powerful damaging magic, and the Warlock finished it all off with powerful offensives and a great cantrip, letting you dominate no matter the scenario. Plus, they’re all Charisma-based.
Best build for a Warlock in Baldur’s Gate 3
Race: Drow
Background: Urchin
Skills: Acrobatics, Insight
Ability order from highest to lowest: Charisma, Dexterity, Constitution, Strength, Intelligence, Wisdom
Best Warlock build:
| Level | Feature |
|---|---|
| 1 | Subclass: The Great Old One — Cantrips: Eldritch Blast, Blade Ward — Spells: Hex, Tasha’s Hideous Laughter |
| 2 | Eldrich Invocation: Beguiling Influence, Agonizing Blast — Spell: Dissonant Whispers |
| 3 | Pact Boon: Pact of the Chain, Spell: Crown of Madness |
| 4 | Ability Improvement: Charisma +2, Spells: Cantrip – Hellish Rebuke — 2nd Level – Phantasmal Force |
| 5 | Deepend Pact — Eldritch Invocation: Sign of ill Omen — Spell: Hunger of Hadar |
| 6 | Spell: Counterspell |
| 7 | Eldritch Invocation: Mast of Many Faces — Spell: Dimension Door |
| 8 | Ability Improvement: Charisma (max out) or Dexterity — Spell: Banishment |
| 9 | Eldritch Invocation: Repelling Blast — Spell: Remove Curse |
| 10 | Cantrip: Poison Spray — Spell: Grant Flight |
| 11 | Mystic Arcanum — Spell: Hold Monster |
| 12 | Feat: Mobile — Spell: Blight |
Check out our other Baldur’s Gate 3 guides:
Best Sorcerer build | Best Bard build | Best Rogue build | Best Fighter build | Best Ranger build | Best Barbarian build | Best Druid build | Best Wizard build | Baldur’s Gate 3: What’s the max level cap? | Best Baldur’s Gate 3 classes tier list | How to revive characters in Baldur’s Gate 3 | Can you multiclass in Baldur’s Gate 3 | Baldur’s Gate 3 Soul Coins: How to get them & what they are | Baldur’s Gate 3: Fastest ways to get XP & level up | Baldur’s Gate 3: How to respec your character | Baldur’s Gate 3 Karmic Dice: What are they?