Baldur’s Gate 3: All playable races, subraces & their abilities

❘ Updated: 2024-06-19T08:09:23

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Selecting a race for your character is a significant initial step in Baldur’s Gate 3, with many diverse options and several subraces offering unique abilities, to say nothing of your many custom appearance options.

Baldur’s Gate 3 allows for deep character customization. Beyond selecting classes and subclasses, players can choose from a variety of races and subraces in the character creator, each contributing to a unique play style and experience in the game.

However, the sheer number of options available in Baldur’s Gate 3 can be quite overwhelming. If you’re particularly stuck on which race to make your character, we’ve provided a breakdown of them all, including their unique abilities.

So, here are all the playable races & subraces you can choose in Baldur’s Gate 3.

All races available in Baldur’s Gate 3, abilities, best class, & more

Drow

Racial Feature: Fey Ancestry, Superior Darkvision, Proficiency in Rapier, Shortsword, and Hand Crossbow, Dancing Lights Cantrip, Proficiency in Perception, Faerie Fire spell (Level 3), Darkness (Level 5)
Subrace: Lolth-Sworn Drow, Seldarine Drow

The Drow are one of the most popular races in Dungeons & Dragons. They’re broken into two distinct groups: Lolth-Sword Drow, who traditionally live in the Underdark, and Seldarine Drow, who reside on the surface. Be careful when selecting this race, as the Drow’s reputation for wickedness precedes them.

Best classes for the Drow

The Rogue fits perfectly with the Drow thanks to the Perception proficiency off the bat, the extra weapon proficiencies, and the spells that you get as you level up, which are hugely beneficial to your build. Faerie Fire, especially, is a great fit, as it will ensure all of your hits are Sneak Attacks if it sticks.

In a similar way to the Rogue, a Warlock would be a great fit for the Drow thanks to the extra proficiencies. Combine that with your Darkvision and Fey Ancestry to give you advantage on being Charmed and you have a pretty powerful combination.

Dragonborn

Racial Feature: Draconic Ancestry and Breath Attack
Subrace: Black, Blue, Brass, Bronze, Copper, Gold, Green, Red, Silver, White
Subrace Features: Black (Acid Breath and Resistance to Acid)
Subrace Features: Blue (Lightning Breath and Resistance to Lightning)
Subrace Features: Brass (Fire Breath and Resistance to Fire)
Subrace Features: Bronze (Lightning Breath and Resistance to Lightning)
Subrace Features: Copper (Acid Breath and Resistance to Acid)
Subrace Features: Gold (Fire Breath and Resistance to Fire)
Subrace Features: Green (Poison Breath and Resistance to Poison)
Subrace Features: Red (Fire Breath and Resistance to Fire)
Subrace Features: Silver (Frost Breath and Resistance to Frost)
Subrace Features: White (Frost Breath and Resistance to Frost)

A relatively new race to the Forgotten Realms, the Dragonborn may lack the wings and tails of the great wyrms of the D&D multiverse, but they still retain some of the power of Bahamut and Tiamat. Namely, their potent breath weapon, as well as a resistance to their chosen element.

Best classes for Dragonborn

The Sorcerer might be the best class for Dragonborn, so long as you focus on a chosen element. The natural resistance to one type is helpful if you’re going to be using it a lot, that way, it’s not as scary to use spells with an AoE in your vicinity, as you can tank some of the damage.

The Cleric and Rogue are also great choices for the Dragonborn, as the Breath Attack gives them a great AoE option during low-levels of play. Playing a Brass or Red Dragonborn might be the best option here, considering how much is flammable in the Baldur’s Gate 3 world.

Dwarf

Racial Feature: Darkvision, Dwarven Resilience, Proficiency in Battleaxe, Handaxe, Light Hammer, and Warhammer
Subrace: Gold Dwarf, Shield Dwarf, Duergar
Subrace Feature – Gold Dwarf: Dwarven Toughness
Subrace Feature – Shield Dwarf: Light and Medium Armor Proficiency
Subrace Feature – Duergar: Superior Darkvision and Duergar Resilience

The dwarves of the Forgotten Realms are much like their Middle-earth counterparts. They reside in underground halls, where they mine gems and craft the greatest weapons and armor in the land. The main exception to this are the Duergar, who reside in the Underdark and often fight for land with the monsters that dwell in the shadows.

Best classes for Dwarf

As a class with a lot of physical bulk, the Dwarf is an excellent choice for the Barbarian, Fighter, Ranger, or Paladin. The extra hit points (for the Gold Dwarf) or Saving Throws (for the Duergar) are hugely beneficial to a class that’s on the front lines.

Additionally, the Shield Dwarf is also an excellent Sorcerer or Wizard. This is thanks to the extra Armor Proficiency, which means you can wear better gear at low levels and won’t have to wait an eternity until the good magic robes appear.

Elf

Racial Feature: Darkvision, Fey Ancestry, Proficiency in Longsword, Shortsword, Longbow, and Shortbow, Proficiency in Perception,
Subrace: High-Elf, Wood-Elf
Subrace Feature – High Elf: Wizard Cantrip
Subrace Feature – Wood Elf: Proficiency in Stealth, Fleet of Foot

The long-lived elves are among the oldest races in the Forgotten Realms. Residing in massive forests and ancient cities, the fae-blooded elves are masters of magic, using their arcane arts to protect their lands from the forces of evil.

Best classes for Elf

For the High Elf, the best class is the Sorcerer, Wizard, or Warlock, as that extra Cantrip can be extremely useful. Giving Fire Bolt to a Ranger or Rogue is also handy, as it can be used to ignite things at the start of combat.

For the Wood Elf, a Barbarian, Monk, or Rogue with Fleet Foot will easily fly across the battlefield. However, a heavily armored class, like a Paladin with the Oath of the Ancients, can also benefit from the Wood Elf’s gifts.

Githyanki

Racial Feature: Githyanki Psionics: Mage Hand Conjuration Cantrip, Astral Knowledge, Proficiency in Light Armor, Medium Armor, Shortsword, Longsword, and Greatsword, Enhance Leap (Level 3), Misty Step (Level 5)

The Githyanki are not native to the Forgotten Realms; they originally hail from the Astral Plane. Long ago, they were enslaved by the Mind Flayers. However, they rebelled and now hunt their former masters across the multiverse.

Best classes for Githyanki

The extra armor, weapon, and skill proficiencies, and bonus spells make the Githyanki an excellent choice for the Bard. They might look like frogs, but they can sure belt out a tune.

Outside of the Bard, the Githyanki is also an excellent choice for the Fighter or Paladin. The movement spells as you level up can make up for the fact that you’re decked out in heavy gear.

Gnome

Racial Feature: Gnome Cunning
Subrace: Deep Gnome, Forest Gnome, Rock Gnome
Subrace Feature – Deep Gnome: Superior Darkvision, Stone Camouflage
Subrace Feature – Forest Gnome: Darkivision, Speak with Animals
Subrace Feature – Rock Gnome: Darkvision, Artificer’s Lore

Gnomes reside in all corners of the Forgotten Realms, where they are known for their inventiveness and love of partying. The exception to this are the Deep Gnomes, sometimes called the Svirfneblin, who live in the Underdark and have a much sourer mood, brought on by their struggles with the predators underground.

Best classes for Gnome

The best class for the Deep Gnome is either Ranger or Rogue. This is due to Stone Camouflage giving them Advantage on Stealth checks, which is an incredible benefit for both of those classes.

The best class for Forest Gnome is either Druid or Ranger, as the extra Speak with Animals spell means you don’t have to burn other resources to use that power.

The best class for the Rock Gnome is the Wizard, in order to make the best of their enhanced History skill check, brought on by their Artificer’s Lore.

Halfling

Racial Feature: Lucky, Brave
Subrace: Lightfoot Halfling, Strongfoot Halfling
Subrace Feature – Lightfoot Halfling: Naturally Stealthy
Subrace Feature – Stoutheart Halfling: Strongheart Resilience

This legally distinct from the Hobbits race carve out small settlements across the Forgotten Realms, where they keep to themselves and try to avoid the troubles of the larger races. That being said, some go out on adventures of their own, possibly involving magic rings, shadow riders, talking trees, and, worst of all, lawyers.

Best classes for Halfling

The best classes for both subraces are Bard, Ranger, or Rogue. The Advantage on Stealth checks or Poison resilience is incredibly useful to all three classes, especially as they often take on the scout role in the party.

Half-Elf

Racial Feature: Fey Ancestry, Darkvision, Proficiency with Spear, Pike, Halberd, Glaive, Light Armor, and Shield
Subrace: Half Drow Elf, Half Wood Elf, Half High Elf
Subrace Feature – Half Drow Elf: Dancing Lights Cantrip
Subrace Feature – Half Wood Elf: Proficiency with Stealth and Fleet of Foot
Subrace Feature – Half High Elf: Wizard Cantrip

Half-elves have been around for as long as humanity and elves have been on good terms. They’re usually welcome in both communities, though many decide to strike out on their own and become adventurers, traveling between the lands of both of their ancestries.

Best classes for Half-Elf

The same classes that work for the various elven races are also the best choices for their half-elf equivalent. The only difference is that you have a few additional weapon choices, most of which you probably won’t use.

Human

A screenshot from the game Baldur's Gate 3

Racial Feature: Human Versatility, Proficiency with Spear, Pike, Halberd, Glaive, Light Armor, and Shield

Humankind is the most populous race in the Forgotten Realms, being found in every corner of the world. While they might among the most short-lived people in the land, their tenacity and ambition has led many to become important heroes, helping to hold back the forces of evil.

Best classes for Human

Humans are easily the worst race choice in Baldur’s Gate 3, with some dire abilities. It is mind-boggling why they don’t get the bonus Feat option from D&D 5E, which would have made them one of the better choices.

If you really want to play a human, the best choice is probably Sorcerer of Wizard, as you can at least get some use out of the extra armor and skill proficiencies.

Half-Orc

Racial Feature: Darkvision, Relentless Endurance, Menacing, Savage Attacks

Orcs were at odds with pretty much every other race for the longest time in the Forgotten Realms. Relationships have cooled over the past century, leading to the creation of Orc settlements and the establishment of connections with other races. This has resulted in Half-Orcs, who retain the might of the children of Gruumsh.

Best Classes for Half-Orc

The best class for Half-Orc is Barbarian or the Champion subclass for the Fighter. You’re all about dealing lots of damage and making the most of your crits, which your Savage Attacks feature helps with. Relentless Endurance will also ensure that you’re harder to defeat in combat.

Tiefling

Racial Feature: Darkvision and Hellish Resistance
Subrace: Asmodeus Tiefling, Mephistopheles Tiefling, Zariel Tiefling
Subrace Feature – Asmodeus Tiefling: Produce Flame Cantrip, Hellish Rebuke (Level 3), Darkness (Level 5)
Subrace Feature – Mephistopheles Tiefling: Mage Hand Cantrip, Burning Hands (Level 3), Flame Blade (Level 3)
Subrace Feature – Zariel Tiefling: Thaumaturgy Cantrip, Searing Smite (Level 3), Branding Smite (Level 5)

Tieflings are the result of a coupling between humanity and fiends. While Tieflings share the blood of demons and devils, they aren’t necessarily evil. However, their fiendish appearance and supernatural powers mean it can be hard for them to fit in, which is why many choose the path of the adventurer.

Best classes for Tiefling

The best classes for Asmodeus Tieflings and Mephistopheles Tieflings are Bard, Cleric, Druid, or Warlock. The extra damaging and debuff spells are extremely useful for these builds, especially as you level up.

For the Zariel Tiefling, the best class choices are Barbarian, Fighter, Paladin, or Ranger. The smiting powers are excellent additions to your arsenal, making this one of the best melee-focused races in the game.

When choosing your next character for Baldur’s Gate 3, why not consult our Baldur’s Gate 3 class tier list, find out the max level cap, or the details of multiclassing.