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Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Fighter build

The best BG3 Fighter build includes the optimal subclass, race, background, skills, and weapon, so our expert guide runs through all of these factors.

Baldur's Gate 3 Fighter build: an orcish looking character wearing a light leather armor, carrying a large sword on their back.

What is the best Baldur’s Gate 3 Fighter build? The BG3 fighter is a person of action, a master of violence, and a solid addition to any party if you think you’ll get into a scrape or two during your adventures. The Fighter is proficient with a range of weapons and can be an excellent damage dealer if you build them correctly.

You should also consider which BG3 class to choose when you begin your journey. If you’re considering the Fighter in Baldur’s Gate 3, we’ve done a deep dive into the class’ skillset to craft the best skills, subclass, and even race for taking the fight to the mind flayers. Here is the best BG3 Fighter build.

Baldur's Gate 3 Fighter build: an orcish looking character wearing a light leather armor, carrying a large sword on their back.

Best BG3 Fighter build

The best Baldur’s Gate 3 Fighter build is:

  • Subclass – Eldritch Knight
  • Race – Githyanki
  • Background – Outlander
  • Skills – Strength and constitution
  • Weapon – Swords

Best Fighter subclass

The best subclass for the Fighter is the Eldritch Knight.

The Eldritch Knight subclass adds an extra dimension to the Fighter class by giving them access to spells, similar to the Wizard. The scope of their magic use is obviously a lot narrower than their arcane counterpart, but having a defensive spell or two up your sleeve can really save you if things get a little hairy.

Baldur's Gate 3 Fighter build: an orcish looking character wearing a light leather armor, carrying a large sword on their back.

Best Fighter abilities

Here are the best abilities for the Fighter:

  • Strength – 17
  • Dexterity – 13
  • Constitution – 14
  • Intelligence – 11
  • Wisdom – 12
  • Charisma – 8

As you can see, your Fighter won’t be the most charismatic soul, but what they lack in conversational expertise, they more than make up with brute force. With a healthy strength ability they’ll be dealing a ton of damage with their melee attacks, and high constitution will keep them safe if the enemy has the gall to fight back.

Best Fighter race

The Githyanki don’t only add two points to your strength ability, but they’re a nimble race, with a decent starting dexterity stat. Committing to a Githyanki Fighter will not only give you the brute strength needed to pound your enemies but are agile enough that you can avoid getting hit more often than not.

Best Fighter background

The best background for Fighter is Outlander.

The Outlander background lends itself to the Fighter, with proficiencies in both athletics and survival. Being a Fighter is all about survival, and that’s something the Outlander offers in spades.

Baldur's Gate 3 Fighter build: an orcish looking character wearing a light leather armor, carrying a large sword on their back.

Best Fighter Spells and leveling

If you choose to go down the Eldritch Knight path, you’ll have a handful of spells at your disposal should you need them. Here are the best spells to unlock as the Eldritch Knight:

Level 3

  • Ray of Frost
  • Shocking Grasp
  • Chromatic Orb
  • Burning Hands
  • Longstrider

Level 4

  • Thunderwave
  • Mobile

Level 5

  • Savage Attacker

Level 7

  • Melf’s Acid Arrow
  • Shatter

Level 8

  • Blindness
  • War Caster

Level 10

  • Blade Ward
  • Scorching Ray

Level 11

  • Shield

Level 12

  • Heavy Armour Master

Equipment

Here is the best equipment for the fighter:

Sarevok’s Horned Helmet

  • The number you need to roll a critical hit is reduced by one. You can’t be frightened, and cannot be afflicted with other emotion-altering conditions.

Reaper’s Embrace

  • All incoming damage is reduced by 2. Cannot be moved against your will by any spell or action.

Sword of Chaos

  • On a hit, regain 1-6 hit points.

 

Baldur's Gate 3 Fighter build: a close up look at an orcish looking character wearing a light leather armor, carrying a large sword on their back.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Fighter character creation overview

The Fighter class isn’t the most complex to play in BG3; it usually revolves around hitting your enemies repeatedly in the face with a sharp object. There are some interesting niche abilities and subclasses available to you once you level up, however.

Class features

  • Strength saving throw proficiency
  • Constitution saving throw proficiency
  • Light armor proficiency
  • Medium armor proficiency
  • Heavy armor proficiency
  • Shield proficiency
  • Simple weapon proficiency
  • Martial weapon proficiency
  • Second Wind

Battle Master subclass

You unlock the Battle Master subclass at level 3. It focuses your combat prowess even further, solidifying your status as a battlefield veteran. The features of this subclass are:

  • Superiority Dice
  • Menacing Attack
  • Pushing Attack
  • Rally
  • Riposte
  • Trip Attack
  • Disarming Attack

Eldritch Knight subclass

The Eldritch Knight subclass allows your Fighter to combine the arcane with their physical powers, giving you access to a small suite of spells to both help your party and hinder your foes. The spells in this subclass are:

  • Burning Hands
  • Chromatic Orb
  • Magic Missile
  • Mage Armour
  • Protection from Evil and Good
  • Thunderwave
  • Witch Bolt

Now you know how to outfit your Fighter in Baldur’s Gate 3, it’s time to get out there and bash some skulls. We also have the best Baldur’s Gate 3 Cleric build and the best Baldur’s Gate 3 Wizard build if you like to take a slightly more democratic approach to things.