Baldur’s Gate 3 Patch 8 will be a major patch for the game and brings 12 new subclasses to the game that will offer more customization options for characters and new gameplay experiences. This 2025 update should prove to be the last large content patch Larian Studios creates for Baldur’s Gate 3, since the developer announced they would transition work to new games outside the world of Dungeons & Dragons.
Patch 8 also introduces crossplay, cross-platform progression, and a Photo Mode, both enriching the game’s multiplayer and creative experience.
Here’s an in-depth breakdown of the twelve new subclasses and what this means for players who want to reroll their characters.
Overview of the Twelve New Subclasses
Patch 8 adds one new subclass for each of the twelve fundamental classes in Baldur’s Gate 3: Bard, Barbarian, Cleric, Druid, Fighter, Monk, Paladin, Ranger, Rogue, Sorcerer, Warlock, and Wizard.
These subclasses borrow from official Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition material, with some of them including homebrew elements specifically created by Larian Studios to give the Baldur’s Gate 3 experience a boost.
Each of them includes new abilities, animations, visual effects (VFX), spells, cantrips, and, in a few instances, special dialogue options, giving players different new playstyles and roleplaying opportunities.
Here’s the entire list of the new subclasses arriving in Patch 8:
Bard: College of Glamour
- Inspiration: Feywild-based, this subclass focuses on charm and aid.
- Abilities: Abilities such as Mantle of Inspiration provide temporary hit points to companions and are able to charm foes who attack them, while Mantle of Majesty enables bards to have enemies run away, come closer, or shed weapons. This subclass has a mix of support and control and is best for players who prefer a charming, crowd-controlling style.
Barbarian: Path of Giants
- Inspiration: Homebrew-inspired subclass that centers around size and strength.
- Abilities: Makes the barbarian larger in rage, increasing carrying capacity and throwing distance. Adds Elemental Cleaver for elemental damage on thrown weapons and Boot of the Giants for increased shoving. Ideal for players who enjoy a physically imposing, throw-based barbarian.
Cleric: Death Domain
- Inspiration: A dark, necromancy-focused subclass from D&D lore.
- Abilities: Offers necromantic cantrips like Toll the Dead and a homebrew spell that causes corpses to explode, dealing damage to nearby enemies. This subclass suits players drawn to a grim, damage-dealing cleric with a spooky edge.
Druid: Circle of the Stars
- Inspiration: A star-themed subclass from D&D’s Xanathar’s Guide to Everything.
- Abilities: Provides new Wild Shape options (Archer, Chalice, Dragon) based on constellations, as well as Star Maps for spells such as Guiding Bolt and Cosmic Omens for buffs or debuffs. This flexible subclass is attractive to players who want flexibility in combat and utility roles.
Fighter: Arcane Archer
- Inspiration: An elven tradition of archery from D&D.
- Abilities: Casts magic into arrows to give them effects such as banishing, blinding, or psychic damage through Arcane Shots. Encompasses Curving Shot, which bends missed arrows. Suited to players who prefer a mix of martial combat and spell-casting precision.
Monk: Drunken Master
- Inspiration: A combat-heavy, drunken subclass based on D&D.
- Abilities: Exploits alcohol to refill Ki points, increasing AC and hit probability, with Intoxicating Strike making the foe more vulnerable to being hit. This subclass provides a distinct, flavorful melee playstyle for those who prefer atypical combat approaches.
Paladin: Oath of the Crown
- Inspiration: A lawful, defensive D&D subclass.
- Abilities: Includes Divine Allegiance to heal allies and soak up damage, as well as taunts and new dialogue for Oathbreakers. Suitable for tanky, support paladins dedicated to order and protection.
Ranger: Swarmkeeper
- Inspiration: A nature-inspired subclass with a D&D twist.
- Abilities: Summons swarms (e.g., bees) for damage and battlefield control, with potential homebrew tweaks by Larian. Great for players who enjoy tactical positioning and nature-themed abilities.
Rogue: Swashbuckler
- Inspiration: A pirate-inspired subclass from Xanathar’s Guide to Everything.
- Abilities: Enhances agility and charisma with abilities like Fancy Footwork (no opportunity attacks in melee) and consistent Sneak Attack application. Perfect for duelists and charismatic rogues.
Sorcerer: Shadow Magic
- Inspiration: A dark, Shadowfell-connected subclass from D&D.
- Abilities: Features Shadow Walk for teleportation from shadow to shadow, Hound of Ill Omen as a summoned pet, and Strength of the Grave to avoid being knocked down. Perfect for stealthy dark sorcerers.
Warlock: Hexblade
- Inspiration: A Shadowfell-pact subclass that was greatly requested by the fans.
- Abilities: Provides magical weapons of the Shadowfell, necrotic damage, and the capacity for summoning spirits from corpses to heal. Is appealing to those who like a combination of melee and dark magic.
Wizard: Bladesinging
- Inspiration: An elven tradition that combines sword fighting and magic from D&D.
- Abilities: Increases agility and speed with Bladesong, employs weapons as spellcasting foci with fresh animations, and increases combat abilities. Ideal for wizards who desire to combine martial and magical abilities.
Why Reroll Your Character?
The addition of these twelve subclasses in Patch 8 offers strong reasons to reroll your character or begin a new playthrough:
- New Playstyles: Every subclass provides distinct mechanics, from the Drunken Master’s combat fueled by alcohol to the Arcane Archer’s arcane archery, inviting players to try new approaches and roles in their party.
- Improved Roleplaying: Subclasses such as the Oath of the Crown Paladin and College of Glamour Bard include distinctive dialogue and reactivity (e.g., Oathbreaker interactions), enriching the story experience.
- Replayability: New powers, spells, and animations make these subclasses highly replayable, particularly when paired with other multiclassing options and the modding support in the game.
- Crossplay Synergy: Patch 8’s inclusion of crossplay means that players can now play together across platforms, making it the perfect time to try out new builds with friends.
- Photo Mode Showcase: The new Photo Mode allows players to take photos of their exploits, and these visually unique subclasses (e.g., the starry shapes of the Circle of the Stars Druid) offer amazing opportunities for artistic screenshots.
Although Patch 8 currently doesn’t have an official release date, Larian Studios has stated it will be released sometime in 2025, with stress testing already commenced for some players on all platforms (PC, PS5, Xbox, Mac). In anticipation of the update:
- Plan Your Build: Look into the subclasses and think about how they would work in your desired playstyle or party composition. Multiclassing with the current subclasses might also provide potent combinations.
- Complete Current Playthroughs: Because Patch 8 is a large update, finishing current campaigns in advance lets you begin anew with the new content.
- Get Involved with the Community: Keep up with Larian Studios’ announcements and participate in discussions on sites such as Reddit or the official Baldur’s Gate 3 website to receive updates on release information and stress test comments.
- Try Out Mods: The official modding tools made available in Patch 7 can assist you in experimenting with new builds or trying out similar mechanics until Patch 8.
The last big update from Larian Studios, Patch 8 is a celebration of the game’s triumph and proof that it continues to evolve, promising players plenty of reasons to head back into the Forgotten Realms in 2025. Get ready to rebuild your party and head back into Faerûn with fresh eyes and a new build!
