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Baldur’s Gate 3will have one of the mostcomplex combat systems in the RPGgenre on release thanks, in part, to it being based on the Fifth Edition ofDungeons and Dragons' ruleset. Though there are some major changes to adapt the formula to a video game, most strategies work inBaldur’s Gate 3as they do in the TTRPG – including the benefits of a well-rounded party.
It’s a good idea to have one or two melee-focused party members, aperfect slot for the Fighter Classto fill in. The best Fighter build inBG3is one that takes the class' melee prowess and turns it into a close-quarters devastator via the Battle Master subclass.
Updated July 15, 2025 by Erik Petrovich:With the release ofPatch 8 for Baldur’s Gate 3, Fighter builds have gained another subclass option to choose from: Arcane Archer. Though this new subclass offers a new way to play this class, the best BG3 Fighter build that takes advantage of the class' strengths the most uses the Battle Master subclass. As you journey through Baldur’s Gate 3, the best Fighter builds can benefit greatly from picking up a few permanent buffs. Though these often require you to go out of your way, the best permanent buffs can grant powerful stat upgrades and new abilities that push the best Fighter build to its limits. This guide has been updated to include brief information on the new Arcane Archer Fighter subclass, as well as a new section that covers the best Fighter permanent buffs and stat upgrades that are worth hunting down.
Fighter Class Introduction & Overview
The Baldur’s Gate 3 Fighter Class, Explained
“Fighters have mastered the art of combat, wielding weapons with unmatched skill and wearing armour like a second skin.”
Fighter Playstyle & Signature Abilities
The Fighter is a class that’s meant to be played up-close-and-personal. Whether that’s through sheer brutality or magical assistance is up to the player – no matter their choice of Subclass, Fighters gain a few abilities that set them apart from other melee-oriented classes like the Barbarian.
At Level 1, Second Wind grants a Bonus Action Self-Heal ability once per combat, then at Level 2, players get an Action Surge to grant an extra Action once each combat. Later on, Fighters gain better Saving Throws, Extra Attacks, and Fighting Styles, too.
Players choose their Fighter Subclass at Level 3, which can completely change how combat is approached. Though Fighters may lack the raw power of a Barbarian, the class' ability to stay alive in combat and control the battlefield from the front lines makes them a great addition to a party lacking melee specialists.
Base Fighter Class Proficiencies: Armor, Weapons, Saving Throws, & Skill Choices
When you first start creating your Fighter Build,BG3offers a selection of basic Class Proficiencies, and a choice of two Fighter Skill Proficiencies.
In addition to Armor, Weapon, and Saving Throw proficiencies that vary for each class, the pool of Skills you can choose from are different for each class.
These cannot be changed once you get past character creation without resetting your build.
All Fighter Subclasses
There are a total of threeBG3subclasses Fighter players can try out, each of which focuses on different aspects of the class, and offers a selection of unique skills, proficiencies, and other features.
As you level up in one of theseBG3Fighter subclasses, you will gain more abilities that are unique to your subclass choice. Your choice of Fighter subclass can be changed by speaking with Withers, but you will start at Level 1 and have to make your BG3 Fighter build from scratch.
Though this chart displays information for all subclasses, if you want to make best Fighter buildBG3has to offer, you should go for the Battle Master.
(new with Baldur’s Gate 3 Patch 8)
Fighter Class Features – Level By Level
The max level inBaldur’s Gate 3is Level 12, and most of the time, each level you gain will grant something new for your Fighter build. In character creation, you gain the basics for the Fighter class, then steadily gain Feat Choices, new spells and abilities, subclass features, and increase your Proficiency Bonus.
This chart displays everything you can expect to get at each Level-Up as a Fighter in yourBaldur’s Gate 3journey.
+2
+3
+4
BG3 Fighter Subclass Choice – Battle Master
Overview Of BG3 Fighter Battle Master Subclass
“Battle Masters are paragons of tactical superiority, combining combat maneuvers and experience in the field to dominate every fight.”
What Makes Battle Master the Best Fighter Subclass?
The Battle Master Fighter build is named after the Subclass that players select at Level 3, which grants a powerfulnew set of skills to the Fighterthat rely on a new resource: Superiority Die, used to fuel Battle Maneuvers. At Level 3, Fighters can unlock three Battle Maneuvers from a list of six, most of which have both a ranged and melee version that unlock together.
These Battle Maneuvers, paired with the Fighter’s base Action Surge and Second Wind actions, make them a serious force in melee combat – as long as they actually hit the enemy, that is. They are great at controlling enemy locations with certain Battle Maneuvers, rooting them in place or pushing them away, and can also be a source of minor buffs for the party and debuffs for enemies.
Battle Master Fighters rarely spent too much time away from direct melee combat, and in a party with ranged damage and support sources, they should spend as much time as they can up-close and personal with enemies. It’s perfectly fine to start a fight with a shot from a Crossbow, but when Initiative rolls, be prepared to close that distance quickly.
Battle Master Subclass Features – Level By Level
In addition to everything you unlock while leveling as a Fighter , your Subclass also determines what you unlock at certain levels. As a Fighter, you can select a subclass at Level 3.
For the purposes of this guide to theBG3best Fighter build, choose the Battle Master when prompted to choose a Subclass.
Best Battle Master Battle Maneuvers (Superiority Dice)
TheBattle Master’s unique mechanic is Battle Maneuvers. Upon reaching Level 3 and selecting the Battle Master subclass, players gain access to melee and ranged attacks that offer powerful additional effects. When using these abilities, though, they use one of the Fighter’s limited Superiority Dice.
Each day, players get eight Dice to spend on these abilities, each of which uses just one. Of the choices presented to players, Menacing Attack, Pushing Attack, and Riposte are the ones players should prioritize first, though Riposte can be replaced with Rallyif your party lacks healing.
Rally benefits parties more at low levels as the total amount of HP that the Fighter gives to an ally doesn’t improve. Maneuvering Attack, too, can be useful for parties without a way to reliably get squishy allies out of range of opportunity attacks, but it’s a bit more situational.
BG3 Fighter Build Race, Background, Proficiency, Feats, & Stat Choices
Best BG3 Fighter Race: Half-Orc
The Half-Orc race comes with a few notable racial abilities that help the best BG3 Fighter build become even more powerful and resilient. The race comes with Darkvision, and proficiency in Intimidation, but its real draw for Fighters comes from the Savage Attacks and Relentless Endurance passive features.
Savage Attacks lets players add an additional Damage Dice on top of their normal critical hit damage, but only with melee weapon attacks. Relentless Endurance prevents the Fighter from going down, restoring them to 1 HP upon reaching 0, only once per long rest.
For the Battle Master build, which is a close-range melee build, these two abilities let the character persist through death and absolutely pile damage onto opponents with critical hits – just be sure to pick up abilities and gear that reduces the Critical Hit threshold.
A good alternative to the Half-Orc is the Githyanki, which gain Githyanki Psyonics to further enhance their ability to control the battlefield (and jump around from enemy to enemy as if on a trampoline).
However, the Gold Dwarf or Dragonborn racesare decent Racial choices, too, thanks to inherent defensives that benefit melee characters considerably.
Best BG3 Fighting Style: Great Weapon Fighting
Upon creating a Fighter character inBaldur’s Gate 3, players are asked which Fighting Style they would like to follow. There are six choices: Archery, Defence, Duelling, Great Weapon Fighting, Protection, and Two-Weapon Fighting.
These all have their own bonuses and drawbacks, but ultimately the Great Weapon Fighting style is best because it simply increases the baseline amount of damage every Two-Handed weapon can do. However, the Defence style is good for Fighters who will spend a lot of time in close combat.
Best Fighter Backgrounds in BG3: Soldier or Outlander
The Fighter’s focus on Strength and Constitution gives them a big boost to Ability Checks that rely on those stats. As such, gaining proficiency with Athletics and Intimidation via the Soldier background is the best route to go to further improve two skills that the class already exemplifies.
Just be prepared to muscle your way through dialogue and RP encounters, foregoing alternative solutions, to earn Inspiration.
However, Fighters can also gain proficiency in Athletics via the Outlander background, which replaces Intimidation with Survival. Its Inspiration mostly comes from achieving feats in the wilderness, like felling a large beast, or finding a mythical location.
Athletics and Survival are great for exploring the world, while Athletics and Intimidation is better for an in-your-face Fighter. Either way, Fighters have plenty of opportunities to naturally trigger Inspriation from these two Backgrounds.
Best BG3 Fighter Skill Proficiency Choices: Perception and Intimidation (or Insight)
Fighters get a choice of two skills from a list of eight, but both of the recommended backgrounds above cover two of the choices, leaving six to choose from.
If you go with the Soldier background, proficiency in Athletics and Intimidation are already granted. In this case, choose instead to go with Insight and Perception, as the game gives players a lot of dialogue checks involving these two skills.
Choosing the Outlander background grants Survival instead of Intimidation, so if you go this route, choose Perception and Intimidation for your starting skills.
Best Fighter Ability Scores & Stat Distribution
To create the bestBG3Fighter build, we recommend putting the majority of points into your Strength, followed by Constitution and Dexterity.
The primary stats for most Battle Master Fighter spells and abilities inBG3are Strength and Constitution, but Dexterity should follow closely behind to aid your other combat skills.
Charisma, Wisdom, and Intelligence are not essential for the Battle Master Fighter build.
16
14
8
10
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Best BG3 Fighter Leveling Choices
Best Fighter Spells, Feats, & Other Choices At Every Level
Though many classes have a lot of leveling choices, as a melee class, thisBG3Fighter build doesn’t have a lot of choices to make while leveling. In fact, at Level 2, Level 5, and Level 9, you won’t have a major choice to make at all. However, Fighters can get more Feats than most other classes, and your Battle Maneuvers grant this bestBG3Fighter Build impactful abilities without a spellbook.
This table displays recommendedBG3Fighter build choices for every level, including recommended Feats, Maneuvers, and Fighting Style for this Fighter build.BG3players will find these abilities work better for the Battle Master Fighter build than others. Feel free to mix and match Battle Maneuver choices if you don’t like the recommendations below, but don’t replace the Feats or other leveling choices as these are foundational for the build.
Cleric
Support
Difficult to CC (Charm & Sleep), hybrid Damage and Support spells
Wizard
Ranged Damage
Access to all Spells makes Gale the most versatile starting companion
Rogue
Melee Damage/Utility
Lockpicking is incredibly useful outside of Combat, and Sneak Attacks can be deadly
The best Fighter companions inBG3are Shadowheart as your primary ranged Support, Gale as a ranged damage-dealer and CC source, and Astarion as your main ally in melee combat (who can also set up strong Stealth maneuvers).
Though you can change the class and specialization of any of your companions, these three come with strong pre-determined class and spec combos to balance out your Fighter party composition.
If you are dead set on including a character in your party, simply talk to Withers to respec them to one of the optimal Fighter companion classes listed above. This way, you won’t miss out on that character’s questline, and you won’t have to suffer from an improperly balanced party.
Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Fighter Build Equipment
Get The Best BG3 Fighter Gear In All Three Acts
This section covers the best equipment for Battle Master Fighters in BG3 across all three Acts. Some pieces from early Acts may still be powerful in later ones, though, and will remain equipped through several Acts.
Grymskull Helm
Drops from a particularly major boss enemy in the Adamantine Forge
One of the options available from the Adamantine Forge
Gloves of the Growling Underdog
Looted from a chest inside the Shattered Sanctum (near Dror Ragzlin)
Looted on a body in the Whispering Depths
Everburn Blade
Kill, or disarm, the devil boss Commander Zhalk at the end of the Nautiloid tutorial zone
Purchased from Dammon, but players must have Infernal Iron
Reaper’s Embrace
Drops from a particularly major boss at the end of Act 2
Gauntlets of Surging Accuracy
Either rewarded by, or dropped by, Lann Tarv in Moonrise Towers
Periapt of Wound Closure
Purchased from Lady Esther just outside the Rosymorn Monastery (Act 1)
Killer’s Sweetheart
Found on the ground after the Self-Same Trial in the Gauntlet of Shar
Ring of Protection
Steal the Druid Idol in the Emerald Grove for Mol (Act 1)
Kill, or disarm, the devil boss Commander Zhalk at the end of the Nautiloid tutorial zone (Act 1)
Found after defeating Ansur in the Wyrmway
Cloak of Protection
Purchased from Quartermaster Talli in the Last Light Inn (Act 2)
Either rewarded by, or dropped by, Lann Tarv in Moonrise Towers (Act 2)
Helldusk Boots
Found in a chest at the top of Wyrm’s Rock Fortress
Found on the ground after the Self-Same Trial in the Gauntlet of Shar (Act 2)
Looted after beating Ansur in the Wyrmway
N/A
Best BG3 Fighter Build Consumables & Permanent Buffs
InBaldur’s Gate 3, Fighter builds can be enhanced further with the use of specific consumables. Certain potions, like the Elixir of Heroism, will grant combat-oriented bonuses for this best Fighter build, while others, like the Elxir of Bloodlust, will enhance the Fighter’s innate ability to stay in melee combat and keep swinging, even if the odds are against them.
If you spot any of these useful Fighter consumables as world loot or enemy loot, trader inventories, or otherwise, be sure to pick them up and store them in a bag for later use.
Consumable Effects
Elxir of Bloodlust
Once per turn, when you kill an enemy, restore 5 Temporary HP and gain an additional Action that turn.
Grants +5 to Initiative and prevents you from being Surprised.
Elixir of the Colossus
Grants the Enlarged effect, physically increasing your size, granting extra damage on all weapon attacks, Advantage on Strength checks, and enhanced grappling.
Elixir of Heroism
Grants +1d4 to your Attack and Saving Throw rolls. Grants +10 Temporary HP.
Potion of Speed
Grants Hastened for 3 turns, increasing AC by 2 and granting Advantage on DEX saving throws and an additional Action, and increases movement by 30ft.
Best BG3 Fighter Build Permanent Buffs
ThroughoutBG3you will find numerous ways to permanently increase your stats, gain permanent passive bonuses, or otherwise grant your character a permanent buff. To push the bestBG3Fighter Battle Master builds to the next level, keep an eye out for these five best Fighter permanent buffs as you adventure through the Sword Coast and beyond:
Auntie Ethel’s Hair
Grants +1 to any Ability Score of your choice
Must complete Mayrina’s quest in Act 1, but don’t kill Auntie Ethel. When she reaches low HP, she will offer to be spared. Accept her deal and you will gain Auntie Ethel’s Hair.
Awakened
All Illithid Powers now cost 1 Bonus Action instead of an Action
You must succeed all three Saving Throws inside the Githyanki Creche’s Zaith’isk to get this buff.
You may also absorb this skill when playing as Laezel by passing a DC 30 Arcana check (which will usually require a nat 20 roll) to take the power for your own.
Potion of Everlasting Vigour
Grants +2 Strength on consumption
You must make Astarion bite Araj Oblodra when she asks in Act 2 at Moonrise Towers. Astarion does not want to do this and will end a romantic relationship if forced.
Lovitar’s Love
Grants +2 to Attack Rolls and Wisdom Saving Throws when under 30% HP
Speak to Abdirak in the Shattered Sanctum inside the Goblin Camp. Ask him about being a follower of Lovitar, then pass two Intimidation checks.
The Tharchiate Codex
Once per Long Rest, gain 20 Temporary HP
Find and read “The Tharchiate Codex” within the Sorcerous Vault, which can only be accessed via Sorcerous Sundries in Baldur’s Gate City. You must use the Remove Curse spell to read it.
Mirror of Loss
Grants +2 to one Ability Score of your choice
Find the Mirror of Loss in the Cloister of Sombre Embrace within the House of Grief, found toward the end of Act 2.
Either offer the Necromancy of Thay (and the buff it grants) or pass a DC 25 Religion check to get +2 to any ability score of your choice.
Best BG3 Fighter Multiclass Choices
Maximize Your BG3 Fighter Build With Complimentary Fighter Multiclass Options
Players can choose to Multiclass beginning at Level 2. Look for the “Add Class” button on the top right of the level up overview menu – this will open up a new menu where players can allocate the level to any other class inBaldur’s Gate 3when selected.
Barbarian Multiclass – Fighter 11/Barbarian 1
Choosing the Barbarian class to multiclass into as a Fighter is important for one reason: Rage. Rage is an incredibly powerful ability that lets a character use a bonus action to make an additional attack on their turn, but it requires a bonus action to activate.
As a Level 11 Fighter, players can attack three times in a single turn, but by putting one point into barbarian, they can attack four times minimum every turn – as long as a bonus action isn’t used for another ability.
It’s also viable to put three points into Barbarian to be able to select a subclass, but the character will lose out on the Fighter’s third attack granted at Level 11.
Cleric Multiclass – Fighter 11/Cleric 1
The Cleric multiclass option for Fighters is good for similar reasons as the Barbarian multiclass. Fighters unlock their third attack at Level 11, leaving just one level to put into another class. The Cleric, specifically the War Domain subclass, is an excellent choice because it unlocks a fourth attack, and grants access to some basic Cleric support spells.
It’s not a bad idea to go with the Eldritch Knight subclass instead of the Battle Master subclass for this multiclass choice, as Cleric spells will complement the Eldritch Knight’s toolkit.
Just be sure to select War Domain, as it lets the Cleric take a bonus action to attack an extra time on their turn.
