Baldur’s Gate III Race and Class Overview

Larian Studios’ upcoming Baldur’s Gate III will be using the fifth edition of Dungeons & Dragons as its roleplaying system. And while that system sure seems to be popular these days, it’s perfectly understandable if you don’t know its subclasses and racial bonuses off the top of your head, seeing how up until now there hasn’t been any major 5E CRPGs.

But, if you wouldn't mind knowing what to expect from Baldur’s Gate III when it comes to character customization, you can now check out this PC Gamer article that goes over the game’s available races, and this one that covers its classes and their respective subclasses.

Here’s a quick excerpt:

Humans

Unless you're reading this article from an intergalactic spaceship, you're probably pretty familiar with the human race. They're the most common race in the land of Faerûn and are known for being clever, tenacious, and adaptable. They're also a jack of all trades because instead of favoring certain ability scores or having special racial perks, humans simply get a small bonus to all of their ability scores.

Ability bonus: +1 to strength, dexterity, constitution, wisdom, intelligence, charisma

Tiefling

Tieflings are often the victims of violence and prejudice thanks to their red skin and imposing horns—the result of an ancient pact that infused their bloodline with the essence of a god called Asmodeus, the overlord of the Nine Hells. Though that pact means tieflings are often outcasts and pariahs in civilization, it does afford them some powerful abilities.

Ability bonus: +1 intelligence, +2 charisma

Subraces: Asmodeus Tiefling

Racial Features:
  • Darkvision: You can see in dim light within 60 feet as if it were bright light and in darkness as if it were dim light, but you can't see color.
  • Hellish Resistance: You have resistance to fire damage.
Dwarf

I don't think dwarves need much introduction because they're pretty much what you'd expect them to be in any fantasy setting. They're boisterous, greedy, deeply protective of their traditions, and always eager to chop a goblin or orc in two.

Ability bonus: +1 wisdom

Subraces: Hill dwarf

Racial features:
  • Dwarven Weapon Training: Proficient with handaxes, battleaxes, light hammers, and warhammers.
  • Dwarven Resilience: Advantage on saving throws against poison and resistance to poison damage.
  • Dwarven Toughness: Your HP is increased by 1 and increases by an additional point at every level.