Baldur's Gate 3 Races, Classes Revealed Ahead of Early Access

Larian Studios has revealed the classes and races featured in the upcoming Baldur’s Gate 3 Early Access. Right from day one of Early Access, players will be able to choose from 16 races/subraces along with 6 classes. As soon as the game launches in Early Access, players will be able to create their custom characters using humans, githyanki, elves, drow, half-elf, dwarves, halflings, and tieflings.

Apart from these races, players will also have access to subraces of each of these races. The game provides around 25 hours of content, designed for multiple playthroughs. Along with their custom creations, players would be able to jump in the game as a solo or in a party of four players in multiplayer each with their own unique character.

Some of the races in the game such as the Drow and Glithyanki are pretty rare for certain areas so depending on the area that you are currently exploring, your interactions will be unique and since the world of Baldur’s Gate 3 is extremely reactive to even the smallest of decisions, choosing these decisions will have huge ramifications in the long run.

Alena Dubrovina, Lead Character Artist at Larian Studios further explains:

When the cinematic dialogues were introduced for BG3, we realized that we need to make a huge quality leap for the character art. We wanted to make characters look their best and put the bar very high. We had to be innovative to make such a large range of heads at the quality that we wanted.

We decided to use scanned faces in our production to create characters as realistic as possible. We scanned 40 people of different ages and ethnicity. While scouting for models we focused on features that would fit one of the fantasy races, we looked for faces that either had something unique about them or were very versatile to fit different characters.

Eventually, we transformed that into approximately 150 unique heads of various races that you can see in-game now, and that number will keep growing. Some of the scanned heads kept their features, but others became a starting point for creating new faces. We also used scanned data as a learning resource because there is no better sculptor than nature.

According to the official playlist, the Day 1 Early Access will come with the following classes at launch:

Human

The most common face to see in Faerûn, humans are known for their tenacity, creativity, and endless capacity for growth. They live fully in the present – making them well suited to the adventuring life – but also plan for the future, striving to leave a lasting legacy.

Githyanki

Githyanki are peerless warriors from the Astral Plane, known for their legendary silver blades and red dragon mounts. They seek the total destruction of mind flayers, whose ancient empire enslaved the githyanki for millennia.

Elf

High Elf

Heirs of the mystical Feywild, high elves value magic in all its forms, and even those who do not study spellcraft can manipulate the Weave.

Wood Elf

Wood elves spend their reclusive lives in Faerûn’s forests. Decades of training in archery and camouflage are enhanced by an otherworldly swiftness.

Drow

Seldarine Drow

Drow are the result of an ancient schism between the elven deities Corellon Larethian and Lolth. The latter’s’ treachery drove the drow into the Underdark, where they splintered into warring factions. Seldarine drow can be found seeking allies from all over Faerûn, aiming to settle their conflict with Lolth – and each other – by any means necessary.

Lolth-Sworn Drow

Raised by Lolth’s cult in the city of Menzoberranzan, these Drow extol the virtues of their corrupt and merciless goddess. Lolth marks her followers with bright red eyes so the Underdark will learn to fear drow on sight.

Half-Elf

High Half-Elf

A touch of the Feywild remains in half-elves with this bloodline, and even those untrained in magic possess a hint of wild power.

Wood Half-Elf

Like their wood elf parent, these half-elves have a quickened stride and eye for stealth. Yet many break away from isolation in Faerûn’s forests to explore the rest of the Realms.

Drow Half-Elf

The most half-drow result from liaisons between Seldarine drow and surfacers. While half-drow inherit a few magical gifts, they aren’t usually raised in the Underdark.

Dwarf

Gold

Gold dwarves are known for their confidence and keen intuition. The culture of their Deep Kingdom values family, ritual, and fine craftsmanship.

Shield

Shield dwarves survived a long fall from grace, surrendering many of their ancient kingdoms in wars with goblins and orcs. These losses have to lead to a cynical mindset, yet shield dwarves will endure anything to restore their ancestral homelands.

Hafling

Lightfoot Halfling

Lightfoot halflings are stealthy but social, traveling all over Faeûn to make names for themselves.

Strongheart Halfling

Legends say dwarven blood gave stronghearts their hardiness. Resistant to poison and wellsprings of endurance, these halflings easily hold their own.

Tiefling

Asmodeus Tiefling

Bound to Nessus, the deepest layer of the Hells, these tieflings inherit the ability to wield fire and darkness from the archdevil Asmodeus’ infernal bloodline.

Mephistopheles Tiefling

Descended from the archdevil Mephistopheles, these tieflings are gifted with a particular affinity for arcane magic.

Zariel Tiefling

Tieflings from Zariel’s bloodline are empowered with martial strength and can channel searing flame to punish their enemies.

Act 1 of the game will have nearly 600 NPCs to meet and they are drawn to the Sword Coast from all over the Forgotten Realms. With a lot of character creator options, the game will ensure that none of the two characters are the same. Apart from the races, the six races included in the Early Access are Cleric, Fighter, Ranger, Rogue, Warlock, and Wizard where each of them further has an additional two subclasses.