Complete Guide To Playing Fighters In Baldur's Gate 3

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Fighter Overview

Skills, Proficiencies, and Starting Equipment

Feats

Subclass: Battlemaster

Subclass: Eldritch Knight

Subclass: Champion

Of all possible playable classes in Baldur's Gate 3, few commands the battlefield in the way the Fighter class does. A reliable class with extraordinary versatility, you can never go wrong when picking this class. For Dungeons & Dragons veterans as well as new faces at the table, this class works well under any hand.

In any standard playthrough of Baldur's Gate 3, you'll at least have one fighter to rely on, but if you're hoping to make your own fighter or just don't know what path you want to take them on, this guide has you covered. From feats to maneuvers, the Fighter class is a broad class worth mastering.

Fighter Overview

Wood Elf Fighter Uses Action Surge And Faces Down Goblin Giant On Bridge

"Fighters have mastered the art of combat, wielding weapons with unmatched skill and wearing armour like a second skin."

The Fighter is a combat-focused class that can either specialize as a front-line damage tank or as a skilled ranged-support character. They have no access to spells without subclassing into Eldritch Knight, but a fighter's proficiencies in all types of weapons and armor makes them a versatile combat class worth having in your party.

Fighters also boast an extraordinary action economy with their access to Action Surge, a number of beneficial Bonus Actions, access to Reactions, and even Extra Attacks per Action. That's a lot of actions.

Lae'zel is a Fighter, and her immense usefulness from the beginning of the game makes her a fantastic party member.

Fighter Class Progression
Level	Proficiency Bonus	Feats
1	2	Second Wind, Choice of Passive Fighting Style
2	2	Action Surge
3	2	Subclass Choice
4	2	Ability Score Improvement or Choice of Feat
5	3	Extra Attack

Skills, Proficiencies, and Starting Equipment

Stats And Equipment Display Of Wood Elf Fighter With Blazing Sword

The Fighter specializes in physical-based skills and abilities.

Additionally, the Fighter has one of the highest starting health pools, at ten + your Fighter's Constitution modifier. Upon level-ups, they enjoy a 6 + CON modifier bonus to their HP.

Saving Throws: Strength, Constitution.
Skills: Choose two from Athletics, Acrobatics, Animal Handling, History, Insight, Intimidation, Perception, and Survival.
Proficiencies: All armor, Shields, Simple and martial weapons.
Starting Equipment: Longsword, Shortbow, Scale Mail, Leather Boots.

Their stats typically lean toward Strength and Constitution, but Dexterity-based Fighters work just as well.

With so many opportunities for weapon-swapping in the game, their proficiency in all weapons and armor and their ability to enjoy ability scores high in either Strength or Dexterity means that they're an extremely versatile and easy-to-build class perfect for both beginners and veterans.

Feats

Wood Elf Fighter Uses Second Wind During Combat

Feats are where the Fighter class really shines.

All of their feats synchronize exceptionally well, and none of their early-game feats compete with one-another for action economy. It is possible to make use of all the Fighter feats in a single turn, and for that reason, they typically dominate the battlefield in terms of the amount of actions and bonus actions they can make (right up there with Rogues).

Their class feat pool is one of the smallest of the classes, but their potential between the class feats and their subclass feats means you shouldn't underestimate a Fighter.

Feat Level	Feat	Effect(s)
1	Second Wind	Use your Bonus Action to regain HP equal to 1d10 + your Fighter level. Can use once per rest.
1	Fighting Style (Passive)	Choose one of the following to gain a passive bonus: Archery - +2 bonus to attack rolls with ranged weapons Defense - +1 to AC when wearing armor Dueling - +2 to attack rolls when wielding a melee weapon with one hand while the other is empty Great-Weapon Fighting - Reroll 1's and 2's when wielding a 2-handed weapon with both hands Protection - Impose disadvantage on enemies when they attack allies within 1.5m if you're wielding a shield Two-Weapon Fighting - Add ability modifier to damage of an off-hand attack
2	Action Surge	Gain 1 additional Action for a turn. You can use this once per rest.
5	Extra Attack	Attack twice during an attack Action.

Other Feats

Spoilers Are Ahead

Drow Rogue Gains The Ability To Use Inkblot Illithid Power In Camp

When activating your Illithid Powers enough times, you'll gain a special feat specific to your class.

The Fighter's Illithid Power is "Psionic Pull." This power is especially handy for melee-combating Fighters, like Lae'zel, who might struggle to get in close against enemies. Alternatively, it can be used to separate specific enemies from their groups - a handy one-up against ranged spellcasters that might cause serious issues behind their front line.

Name	Type of Action	Effect(s)
Psionic Pull	Bonus Action	Pull a creature or object towards you up to 18m.

Wood Elf Battlemaster Fighter Faces Goblin With All Maneuvers Ready

The only feat the Battlemaster enjoys before reaching seventh level is "Combat Superiority." This feat allows you the ability to learn and use maneuvers through the expenditure of special dice known as "Superiority Dice." In Baldur's Gate 3, you are allotted four of these.

Each maneuver uses a DC save mechanic.

Maneuver save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Strength modifier.

Unlike in standard Dungeons & Dragons gameplay, you do not get a choice to use your Dexterity instead of Strength for your maneuver save. Additionally, Battle Master used to have the "Student of War" feat, which allows the learned proficiency of an artisan tool of your choice. Baldur's Gate 3 does not have this.

All Maneuvers
Maneuver	Type of Action	Effect(s)
Menacing Attack	Action	Deal 1d8 of your weapon's damage type + your STR modifier. On a failed WIS save, the target is Frightened.
Pushing Attack	Action	Deal 1d8 of your weapon's damage type + your STR modifier. On a failed STR save, push the target back 4.5m.
Rally	Bonus Action	Give an additional 8HP to an ally within 18m.
Riposte	Reaction	When a creature misses you with a melee attack, make a melee attack back.
Trip Attack (Melee/Ranged)	Action	Hit an enemy for 1d8 of your weapon's damage type + your STR modifier (on melee attack) or your DEX modifier (on ranged attacks). On a failed STR save, the target is tripped and knocked Prone.
Disarming Attack	Action	Hit an enemy for 1d8 of your weapon's damage type + your STR modifier. On a failed STR save, the target drops the weapons they're holding.

Subclass: Eldritch Knight

Lae'zel Levels Up And Chooses Eldritch Knight Subclass Fighter

Much like the Battlemaster, the Eldritch Knight only gets one feat: Spellcasting. This allows a fighter to cast spells, and up until the seventh level, an Eldritch Knight can know only two cantrips and four level one spells (of which only two can be prepared at the third level and three can be prepared at the fourth and fifth levels).

All Eldritch Knight spells fall under the Wizard spellcasting class, and this means that their spellcasting ability is Intelligence.

Spell Save DC: 8 + proficiency bonus + Intelligence modifier.
Spell Attack Modifier: 8 + Intelligence modifier.

Weapon Bond, Eldritch Knight's bread-n-butter, is not available in Baldur's Gate and serves as a slight but manageable debuff to the class overall, at least when compared to tabletop.

Eldritch Knight Spell List

Spell Level	Spell Name	Casting Time	Concentration? (Y/N)	Effect
Cantrip	Acid Splash	1 Action	N	Throw a bubble of acid that deals 1d6 Poison damage to a struck target on a failed DEX saving throw. Those that start their turn on the acid must also roll to avoid taking damage and suffer a half movement penalty.
Cantrip	Blade Ward	1 Action	N	Gain resistance to Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing damage from weapons.
Cantrip	Chill Touch	1 Action	N	Touch a creature and deal 1d8 Necrotic damage. They are prevented from healing on their next turn, and undead creatures receive disadvantage on their attacks for one turn.
Cantrip	Dancing Lights	1 Action	Y	Create wisps of light in a 9m radius.
Cantrip	Fire Bolt	1 Action	N	Deal 1d10 of fire damage.
Cantrip	Friends	1 Action	Y	Enchant a creature to gain advantage on Charisma-based checks against it for up to 10 turns. When the spell ends, the creature knows it was Charmed.
Cantrip	Light	1 Action	N	Infuse object with light for 100 turns. If used on a creature, they must succeed a DEX saving throw or be illuminated.
Cantrip	Mage Hand	1 Action	Y	Create spectral hand to interact with and move objects up to 18m away.
Cantrip	Minor Illusion	1 Action	N	Create a distracting illusion that compels a creature to investigate. Does not interrupt hiding.
Cantrip	Poison Spray	1 Action	N	Puff noxious gas and deal 1d12 Poison damage on a failed CON save.
Cantrip	True Strike	1 Action	Y	Gain advantage on your next attack roll against a chosen target.
Cantrip	Shocking Grasp	1 Action	N	Melee attack spell that deals 1d8 Lightning damage. Gain advantage when attacking metal-clad enemies with this spell. Additionally, on a failed INT save, the target loses their ability to make Reactions for one turn.
1	Burning Hands	1 Action	N	Shoot fire from your hands for 3d6 Fire damage on a failed DEX save or half as much on a successful one.
1	Charm Person	1 Action	N	Gain advantage on ability checks made against the charmed creature and prevent it from attacking on a failed WIS saving throw. Enemies have advantage on their saving throw. At the end of the spell's duration, target may accuse you of having charmed them.
1	Colour Spray	1 Action	N	Create dazzling lights that Blinds creatures withina 17ft cone that have 33 or less hit points overall.
2	Chromatic Orb	1 Action	N	Create an orb that deals 3d8 Thunder damage or 2d8 Acid, Cold, Fire, Lightning, or Poison damage. This orb creates a surface of its damage type where it lands.
1	Disguise Self	1 Action	N	Change all aspects of your appearance by giving you the choice of changing your race and gender.
1	Expeditious Retreat	1 Action	N	Gain Dash as a Bonus Action until your next long rest.
1	False Life	1 Action	N	Give yourself 7 temporary hit points until your next long rest.
1	Feather Fall	1 Bonus Action	N	Slow the descent on falling creatures and become immune to fall damage.
1	Find Familiar	1 Action	N	Gain the service of a familiar. These familiars can be: Cat - Can distract enemies. Crab - Can slow enemies. Frog - Skin can poison enemies. Rat - Can disease enemies. Raven - Can launch precise attacks. Spider - Can poison enemies.
1	Fog Cloud	1 Action	Y	Create a dense 4m fog that Obscures and Blinds enemies. Ranged attacks cannot come in or out of this fog.
1	Grease	1 Action	N	Cover the ground in grease 4m wide. Creatures that try to move on this ground must make a DEX save or fall Prone.
1	Jump	1 Action	N	Touch a creature to triple its Jump distance.
1	Longstrider	1 Action	N	Increase a touched creature's movement by 3m.
1	Magic Missile	1 Action	N	Fire 3 missiles of 1d4 + 1 Force damage. These attacks never miss.
1	Mage Armor	1 Action	N	When a creature is not wearing armor, increase its AC to 13 + its DEX modifier.
1	Protection from Good and Evil	1 Action	N	Protect one creature against being Charmed, Frightened, or possessed by an aberration, celestial, elemental, fey, fiend, or undead. These creatures also have disadvantage on attacking rolls against the target.
1	Ray of Sickness	1 Action	N	Shoot a ray of energy that on a failed CON save deals 2d8 Poison damage to a target. The foe is then Poisoned.
1	Sleep	1 Action	N	Put creatures of a combined 24 hit points to Sleep.
1	Thunderwave	1 Action	N	Release a 5m wide wave that deals 2d8 Thunder damage and pushes enemies and objects back on a failed CON save. On a successful save, creatures take half damage and remain stationary.
1	Witchbolt	1 Action	Y	Make a ranged spell attack. On a hit, deal 1d12 Lightning damage. On each subsequent turn, you may use your Action to automatically deal 1d12 Lightning damage again without needing to roll. The spell ends if your concentration is broken or the target moves out of range (18m).

This class is confirmed to be part of the official release of Baldur's Gate 3. It is not available in Early Access. According to the Player's Handbook, this class will specialize in improvements in overall stats and performance with increased proficiency bonuses and critical chances.

Regardless, any class chosen for the fighter typically does well. Whether you're hoping for a tricky Battle Master, a spellcasting Eldritch Knight, or the all-around reliable Champion, the Fighter proves itself time and time again to be a remarkable combat class with exceptional versatility in gameplay and roleplaying potential.

NEXT: Baldur's Gate 3: Should You Pick An Origin Character Or Create Your Own?

TheGamer

Baldur's Gate 3: Complete Guide To Fighters