The latest update for Baldur’s Gate 3 has introduced an exciting range of new subclass options for each of the twelve character classes, greatly expanding how players can build and level their parties. These subclasses are inspired by the rich lore of Dungeons & Dragons, and while the specific gameplay mechanics remain under wraps, players can gain insights into their potential functionalities by exploring their tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) roots.
Moreover, many of these new subclasses align with existing magic items in Baldur’s Gate 3, which previously echoed their TTRPG abilities. This means that players may have encountered weapons or apparel that hinted at these now officially integrated subclasses. As such, each of these twelve items is explicitly designed to enhance or complement their associated class features, bringing new strategies into play.
12 Balduran’s Giantslayer: Emulating the Path of Giants Barbarian
A Weapon for Warriors of Colossal Strength
Before the introduction of the Path of Giants subclass, Balduran’s Giantslayer functioned as a legendary greatsword allowing barbarians to embody a similar aesthetic. When its powers are activated, the wielder enlarges to the size of a large creature, significantly enhancing their combat capabilities with a strength-based melee damage boost, additional hit points, and improved saving throws.
These characteristics mirror those of the Path of Giants barbarian’s raging abilities, which similarly augment size and physical damage. What sets this weapon apart is its compatibility with the new subclass features, providing not only increased melee damage but also added elemental effects and reach. Though the Giantslayer becomes available later in the game, it is ideal for maximizing the subclass’s potential.
11 The Harmonic Dueller: Fits the Themes of a Glamour Bard
Leaning into the Power of Performance
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The Harmonic Dueller is a rapier designed to enhance the wielder’s performance skill, particularly suitable for the glamour bard subclass. This bardic archetype specializes in captivating performances that inspire allies and distract foes. The rapier’s musical undertones make it a perfect fit, augmenting a bard’s ability to thrive in social encounters and combat alike.
Functioning as a +1 rapier, the Dueller allows players to add their charisma modifier to damage rolls when a performance check succeeds, relying on a rather manageable DC of 15. This setup is especially advantageous for high-level bards with an emphasis on charisma, enabling impressive melee capabilities that complement their spellcasting prowess.
10 The Staff of Cherished Necromancy: Perfect for Death Domain Clerics
Harnessing Necrotic Energy into Spells
The death domain cleric excels in manipulating necrotic magic for devastating spells, contrasting with the light domain cleric. The Staff of Cherished Necromancy amplifies these capabilities, giving spellcasters an edge with necromantic spells. Although its effectiveness was dialed back but not diminished following patch six, the staff remains a formidable asset in a cleric’s arsenal.
Key advantages include imposing disadvantage on enemy saving throws against their necromancy spells and granting a powerful ability called Life Harvest, which allows the next necromancy spell cast after defeating an enemy to cost no spell slot. This means powerful spells like *Circle of Death* and *Create Undead* can be unleashed without resource expenditure, enhancing a necromancy-focused cleric’s potential.
9 The Gloves of Belligerent Skies: Underrated & Great for Circle of Stars Druids
Maximizing the Effects of Certain Damage Types
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The Gloves of Belligerent Skies may be overlooked due to their low rarity, but they present powerful capabilities when paired with a circle of stars druid. This subclass gains unique benefits from Wild Shape and possesses spells with a focus on radiant damage. These gloves enhance the effectiveness of spells dealing lightning, thunder, and radiant damage, creating opportunities for impressive damage output.
When enemies take damage from these types, the gloves inflict a reverberation effect that reduces their saving throw bonuses and potentially knocks them prone. This stackable effect synergizes effectively with spellcasting strategies, making it an optimal choice for the stars druid.
8 The Titanstring Bow: A Great Early Option for the Arcane Archer
Strength and Dexterity Combined to Great Effect
The Titanstring Bow is an ideal ranged weapon for characters who invest in both strength and dexterity, making it exceptional for fighters and particularly for the arcane archer subclass. While stronger bow options may emerge later on, this +1 longbow greatly aids players in progressing through the first two acts of the game.
The bow allows its wielder to add their strength modifier to damage rolls and has a tactical ability to push targets back upon a successful hit once per short rest. This feature mirrors one of the arcane shots available to the subclass, making it a versatile tooling for ranged damage builds.
7 The Drunken Cloth: Made for the Drunken Master Monk
Fighting Under the Influence
Among the various items in Baldur’s Gate 3, several enhance a character’s abilities while inebriated, seemingly crafted for the drunken master monk subclass. While the game doesn’t enforce drinking as a mechanic for this character type, the Drunken Cloth allows monks to benefit from an appropriate narrative flair.
This item grants advantage on constitution saving throws and bonus hit points at the start of each round when the wearer is intoxicated, adding flavorful interaction without impeding existing features. Other items, such as the Amulet of the Drunkard, offer similar perks and complement the playful nature of the drunken master.
6 The Whispering Promise: Compliments the Oath of the Crown
An Uncommon Ring that Powers Up This Paladin’s Oath
Some players might miss the opportunity to acquire the Whispering Promise, given its obscure location early in the game. This ring significantly boosts the capabilities of support and healing characters, particularly those following the Oath of the Crown paladin path.
When the paladin activates their channel oath ability to heal allies, the ring provides a 1d4 bonus to attack rolls and saving throws for those healed. This effect operates like the *Bless* spell, transforming the paladin’s healing potential into a dual-purpose support and buffing ability without the need for concentration.
5 The Abyss Beckoners: Empowering the Swarmkeeper Ranger’s Summons
Good Gloves for a Summoner Build
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The Abyss Beckoners are essential for players wanting to enhance their swarmkeeper ranger’s companion abilities, filling a notable gap in summoner items in the game. Available early in act one, these gloves emit a demonspirit aura, which provides summoned creatures nearby with resistance to all damage types except psychic.
This feature significantly extends the longevity of summons, allowing them to act as formidable meat shields in battle. However, there’s a risk involved, as the gloves can cause summoned creatures to go feral and attack indiscriminately. Despite their drawbacks, they offer a thematic link to the swarmkeeper ranger subclass.
4 The Gibus of the Worshipful Servant: Strong for Swashbuckler Rogues
Playing into Having a High Charisma
The swashbuckler subclass incentivizes rogues to invest in charisma, earning an initiative bonus that unlocks further capabilities based on their charisma score. The Gibus of the Worshipful Servant amplifies this focus, granting a momentum boost at the start of each combat that correlates with the wearer’s charisma.
This hat’s availability is contingent upon including the Dark Urge origin character in your party, highlighting the unique narrative tie-in for players. Swift action is paramount in Baldur’s Gate 3, and this combination of hat and subclass positions your rogue as the fastest combatant in the game.
3 The Justiciar’s Scimitar: A Powerful Melee Option for Shadow Sorcerers
A Probable Glitch Makes This Sword a Sleeper Hit for Spellcasters
Exclusively in the shadow sorcerer domain lies the power to manipulate magic from the Shadow Weave. The Justiciar’s Scimitar arrives as an ideal weapon, dealing extra damage from the shadows and potentially blinding opponents. This weapon’s notable advantage is that it does not require a proficiency to wield, opening avenues for sorcerers to utilize melee combat effectively.
2 The Diadem of Arcane Synergy: A Boon for Hexblade Warlocks
Boosting Melee Damage as High as It Will Go
Hexblades stand apart in their emphasis on melee combat, gaining access to armor and martial weaponry uncommon for warlocks. The Diadem of Arcane Synergy emerges as a compelling choice for maximizing melee damage. Each time the wearer inflicts a condition, they gain bonus melee damage equal to their spellcasting modifier.
This synergy allows hexblades to potentially double their charisma modifier for weapon attacks, vastly increasing damage potential. Moreover, inflicting conditions on allies—like casting beneficial buffs—further enhances hexblade martial capabilities.
1 The Helmet of Arcane Acuity: Perfectly Matches Bladesinging Wizards
A Helmet for Characters that Combine Swords and Spells
Like hexblades, bladesinging wizards combine magic with melee, benefiting greatly from equipment that boosts melee prowess in tandem with their spellcasting abilities. The Helmet of Arcane Acuity reverses this dynamic: after dealing a melee attack, the wearer receives a boost to their spell save DC.
This enhancement allows bladesinging wizards to strike foes and subsequently unleash powerful area-of-effect spells with increased effectiveness. Despite most wizards being restricted from wearing light armor, the bladesinging subclass permits this flexibility, making it an ideal fit for this spell-sword archetype.
Source: Larian Studios/YouTube (1, 2, 3)
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