Baldur's Gate 3 offers an enormous amount of depth for Dungeons & Dragons veterans, but it also contains a number of straightforward options that can be perfect for newcomers. The new RPG from Larian Studios takes place in the DnD world of the Forgotten Realms and uses character-building aspects like races and classes from the tabletop game. As classes define the basic abilities that characters will receive and how combat encounters will play out, choosing the right one is essential.
Making a custom character in Baldur's Gate 3 can be daunting, with a dizzying array of 12 classes that each present tempting possibilities. Although it might be easy to guess the general inclination of a barbarian or a ranger, understanding the distinctions between a sorcerer and a wizard isn't as simple at first glance. None of these options are bad, with years of refinement in both Dungeons & Dragons and the Early Access period for Baldur's Gate 3 behind them, but some are easier to get the hang of than others.
5 Paladin
Paladins aren't the simplest class in Baldur's Gate 3, mixing physical ability with a dash of spellcasting. Because of this, optimizing the best paladin build in Baldur's Gate 3 and playing to its highest potential is something that might require some level of experience in Dungeons & Dragons or the earlier Baldur's Gate games. The upside is that paladins can be played reasonably well without sweating all the details, presenting far fewer pitfalls than some of the less beginner-friendly classes in the game.
DnD rookies picking up a paladin for the first time might be best off with a so-called sword and board focus, wielding a weapon in one hand and a shield in the other. Paladins can make for excellent tanks, so having a balanced offense and defense should allow the character to take some hits without crumpling. Paladins don't gain access to spells until their first level up, offering a brief window to get used to the basics of physical combat before worrying about magic.
4 Ranger
Adapting to the ranger class is a similar process to taking on a paladin, with a focus on damage from physical weapons and a side array of spells first introduced at second-level. Rangers are a good introductory choice for damage at a distance, making it possible to minimize damage taken by clever positioning rather than heavy armor. Beast Master rangers have a unique draw in their ability to summon animal companions, providing a little cuddly but ferocious fellowship on lonely journeys.
The most important spell to understand as a ranger is hunter's mark, which allows an individual enemy to be targeted to receive additional damage. The ability to swap hunter's mark to new foes gives it significant versatility and power in combat, proving an essential early boost to efficacy for rangers in Baldur's Gate 3. Like with paladins, it isn't necessary to have a thorough understanding of the wider spell list at the start of a game, and figuring out how to best make use of other magical possibilities can come naturally with time.
3 Barbarian
Barbarians are all about might, making them a simple melee class to acclimate to. As long as barbarians are laying into enemies with a vengeance, they're doing the basics right. Barbarian efficacy in combat can be increased by entering Rage, which boosts damage and strength to make the path to victory easy. Rage is a simple feature that can be activated in a bonus action, with the only crucial strategy lying in knowing when to activate it. At low levels, barbarians can rage twice in between rests, so it might be best not to blow it on minions if a tough fight is looming.
Choosing the Berserker subclass for barbarians can be a fun starting pick, unlocking the unique feature of picking up and throwing objects and enemies. Keeping an eye out for these opportunities in combat can lead to an enormous amount of fun, as tossing one foe into another is as amusing as it is effective. Barbarians don't select a subclass until third-level, so this particular commitment doesn't have to be made immediately. Players interested in using a Baldur's Gate 3 Origin character can opt for Karlach for a barbarian playthrough.
2 Warlock
Warlock is the easiest Baldur's Gate 3 magic-oriented class for beginners, avoiding the pitfalls that both wizard and sorcerer open up. While those classes have dauntingly long spell lists, warlocks have a comparatively simple array of options, making it easier to pick a focus without experience. Warlocks gain their magic from otherworldly patrons, an unusual path to power that makes for interesting roleplay avenues.
The best feature of Warlock for beginners is access to the eldritch blast spell, which deals force damage to targets. Although its efficacy can vary wildly, its overall impact at lower levels is significant, providing an easy combat staple without any of the confusion of more complicated magical abilities. Warlocks are also proficient with simple weapons whenever the situation calls for it, offering a comfortable fallback when resistances or immunities are preventing magic from doing the trick.
1 Fighter
If there's a class that could be considered a default option for Baldur's Gate 3, it has to be the fighter. These martial characters shy away from gimmicks or frills and focus on the basics of taking hits and dealing damage. A first-level fighter should be able to get up close and personal with enemies without needing to master any spells or unusual abilities, making the class a perfect way to enter the fray without sweating the details. Prioritizing strength can make the best Baldur's Gate 3 combat trick, shove, easier to pull off, while optimizing around dexterity improves defense and ranged capabilities.
Like with paladins, sword and board is a solid option for the fighter class, but there are plenty of other options that are similarly straightforward. Fighters can be specced as archers, duelists, dual-wielders, and more, and they deliver predictably effective results in any configuration. Experience with martial characters in essentially any game will translate well into playing a fighter, and this combination of simplicity and versatility ultimately guarantees their spot as the easiest Baldur's Gate 3class for DnD rookies.