In case you were not conscious, Patch 8 of Baldur’s Gate 3—which is including 12 complete new subclasses—by chance received launched on the PlayStation 5 for a bit, yesterday. It’s since been pulled, and Larian recommends rolling again the patch in the event you did handle to put in it, however that is not stopped theorycrafters from digging into the brand new goodies.
Typically-speaking, I’d let one thing like this lie—and I really feel obliged to state that every one of that is topic to vary—however given the screenshots I’m about to quote are being posted to a subreddit of over 180,000 individuals, I determine the displacer beast is already out of the bag of holding on this one. Besides, so far as unintentional leaks go, “getting the vast majority of your playerbase frothing on the mouth with build-crafting enthusiasm” is not a horrible final result.
As for what’s on provide? A affirmation that official, non-modded blade cantrips are on their method! In case you are not conversant in Dungeons & Dragons 5e, let me clarify: The “blade” class of cantrips, which incorporates Booming and Green Flame Blade, are a few of the finest cantrips from the TTRPG. They allow a bunch of various builds, such because the notorious Sorcadin—however they’re additionally an enormous boon to current subclasses. The Arcane Trickster rogue, for instance, advantages massively from them—it is mainly free injury.
The actual trick is {that a} blade cantrip counts as a weapon assault, which suggests you’ll be able to slap your Divine Smites, Sneak Attacks, Superiority Dice—something that journeys on an assault—over it. This screenshot of Booming Blade even implies that, in contrast to the TTRPG, Larian’ll allow you to mix it with the Extra Attack feat—although there’s each probability that that is only a bug and will not be within the full construct as a result of that is, er, busted to the Nine Hells and again.
I will not go over all 12 subclasses’ construct potential, or we’ll be right here all day (although person r/_Veni_Vidi_Vigo_ is posting tons extra examples). There’s some actually thrilling honourable mentions to get by means of, nonetheless.
The Giant barbarian is poised to be nutty. While thrown weapon builds aren’t a lot to put in writing residence about within the TTRPG, in Baldur’s Gate 3, absolutely the cavalcade of magic gadgets devoted to throwing your sword at one thing makes them extraordinarily robust. At degree 6, the BG3 model of the subclass will get its D&D counterpart, Elemental Cleaver, which supplies any weapon the “thrown” property and permits them to return to the person’s hand.
This blows open the quantity of weapons this type of construct can successfully use, for the reason that Eldritch Knight—the prior king of hurlers—does not change the weapon’s precise property with its Bonded Weapon feat. In different phrases, you’ll be able to hurl a greatsword at somebody to ascertain dominance. What a day.
The Swashbuckler rogue additionally seems extremely nutty. Rakish Audacity merely provides you entry to Sneak Attack in the event you’re inside 1.5 ft of the goal and do not have drawback—whereas its TTRPG equal additionally requires you to be spatially 1v1ing them to achieve the identical profit. The actual eye-boggler listed here are the Dirty Tricks bonus actions, which all seem to mechanically confer benefit whereas additionally having a secondary impact, comparable to blinding your enemy with pocket sand or disarming them.
Hexblade warlock is identical unimaginable 1-level dip it is all the time been. Weapon proficiencies, armour proficiencies, Charisma-scaling melee weapons, you identify it—however the true shocking homebrewery happening right here is with the Drunken Master monk subclass. Now, granted, the entire monks in Baldur’s Gate 3 got a facelift in comparison with their 5e counterparts—however the Drunken Master nonetheless will get some new distinctive toys.
Intoxicating Strike, for instance, lets individuals doubtlessly get drunk after you clock them. This is not thrilling (drawback on Dexterity checks helps you push individuals about, however that is it). However, it additionally will get one thing referred to as Life of the Party at degree 7—which supplies you a stacking armour class and assault enhance towards your chosen goal. In addition, this subclass does not care concerning the results of getting drunk, that means weapons just like the Punch-Drunk Bastard may shine on them.
Ultimately, there’s tons to be enthusiastic about. While most of this is likely to be topic to vary over the course of the stress take a look at, it is nonetheless a scrumptious early style of what is to come back. It’s no marvel we’re all nonetheless enjoying this dang factor. I’m going to have so many new builds to strive, and no DM to be upset at me for attempting them.
