Baldurs Gate 3 Warlock Build Guide Subclasses Feats Stats Races Skills

Power meets pact in Baldur’s Gate 3 as the Warlock proves how far ambition can go. Whether you swear loyalty to a fiendish patron or whisper to an ancient being, the right subclass, feats, and build turn dark bargains into unstoppable strength.

To deal with such powerful creatures, Warlocks need to have strong mental power. They need to be able to make a deal with the devil and survive. As such, their primary ability score is Charisma.

There’s no single best class in Baldur’s Gate 3, and the game gives you as many opportunities for creative problem solving as it does for punching. Finding the best class really just boils down to how you want to play. Even when playing solo, you’ll still manage the rest of your party, so you’ll get to experiment with multiple classes at once.

Read on to find out everything you need to know about the Warlock class in Baldur’s Gate 3, and learn all about the best Warlock subclass, feats, and build.

Update (April 15): Added details of the new subclass introduced in Patch 8, which also adds cross-play support and a photo mode.

Is Warlock the best class for you in BG3?

The Warlock suits players who enjoy mixing magic with bold personality and flexible combat choices. Its pact system offers distinct playstyles, from controlling the battlefield with eldritch blasts to relying on clever invocations and bargains with powerful patrons. While Warlocks have fewer spell slots than traditional casters, their short-rest recovery and strong cantrips make them steady damage dealers who thrive in both dialogue and combat. This class fits those who like striking a balance between roleplay depth and solid mechanical strength.

Warlocks sacrifice the number of spells that they know for sheer power. Every Warlock spell slot is the same – the highest level available – and they recharge on a short rest instead of a long rest. Warlocks aren’t as versatile as other caster classes, but what they do, they do well.

Warlocks are a great class for you if you want to play a dedicated caster class, but don’t want to deal with all the prep work that classes like Wizards require. You’ll still get to use (a lot of) magic, but you won’t have to manage a binder full of spells every morning.

Warlock class features

Warlock class features center on a pact with a powerful patron that grants spellcasting through short-rest pacts and Eldritch Blast as a core cantrip. You regain slots after a short rest, enabling sustained combat presence without full rests. Invocations customize your role, from ranged damage boosts like Agonizing Blast to utility options such as Devil’s Sight for darkvision or Repelling Blast to control enemy positions. These elements pair with subclass choices to shape versatile builds focused on burst damage or support.

Hit Points

• Hit Dice – 1d8 per warlock level
• Hit Points at 1st Level – 8 your Constitution modifier
• Hit Points at higher levels – 5 your Constitution modifier per warlock level after 1st

Cantrips

The Warlock starts with two cantrips from the Warlock cantrip list.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Warlock Cantrips

Warlock cantrips in Baldur’s Gate 3 form the foundation of the class’s combat rhythm, offering consistent damage and utility without consuming spell slots. Eldritch Blast stands out as the core choice, scaling with level and synergizing with invocations like Agonizing Blast to boost damage. Mage Hand adds tactical flexibility for manipulating objects or triggering traps, while Minor Illusion can distract enemies or create opportunities for stealth. Choosing cantrips that complement your subclass features helps maintain steady performance between short rests.

Spells

The Warlock starts with two spells from the Warlock spell list, two of which are exclusive to your subclass.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Warlock Spells

Warlock spells in Baldur’s Gate 3 draw from pacts with otherworldly patrons, granting access to potent blasts like Eldritch Blast and crowd-control options such as Hunger of Hadar. The class relies on a limited number of spell slots that recharge on short rests, allowing frequent use of high-level abilities like Hypnotic Pattern or Fireball. Pair them with invocations for added range or utility, such as Agonizing Blast to boost damage or Repelling Blast to shove enemies away. Cantrips remain reliable throughout playthroughs, while slots scale with levels for sustained power in tough fights.

Actions

Warlocks have one action, “Fey Presence,” which is exclusive to The Archfey subclass.

Features

• Warlock Spell Slot – Used to cast Warlock spells, which can be regained by taking a short rest

Proficiencies

• Weapons – Simple Weapons
• Armor – Light Armor
• Saving Throws – Wisdom and Charisma
• Skills – Choose two skills from Arcana, Deception, History, Intimidation, Investigation, Nature, and Religion

Warlock subclasses

Warlock subclasses in Baldur’s Gate 3 offer distinct playstyles shaped by their patrons. The Fiend grants powerful offensive abilities and resilience through temporary hit points, suiting aggressive spellcasters. The Great Old One focuses on control and psychic damage, rewarding those who manipulate enemies through fear and confusion. The Archfey emphasizes deception and mobility, providing crowd control and defensive tricks ideal for support or trickster builds. Each subclass defines how a Warlock blends magic, tactics, and personality within a party.

The Warlock has a total of four subclasses, which are unlocked at at the beginning of the game. During character creation, you must pick the otherworldy patron that you’ve decided to serve.

The Fiend

Warlocks with The Fiend subclass have struck a deal with a hellish fiend who strives for corruption and destruction. If you forge a pact with a fiend, you’ll receive a feature exclusive to The Fiend called “Dark One’s Blessing,” which will grant you four temporary hit points whenever you defeat a hostile creature.

The Fiend also has two exclusive spells – Burning Hands and Command.

The Great Old One

Those serving The Great Old One are bound to a mysterious being from the Far Realm, who might not even know you exist, The Great Old One will grant you a feature exclusive to this subclass called “Mortal Reminder,” which will frighten a creature and any nearby enemies after you land a critical hit unless they succeed a Wisdom saving throw.

The Great Old One also has two exclusive spells – Dissonant Whispers and Tasha’s Hideous Laughter.

The Archfey

If you choose The Archfey as your subclass, your patron is a lord or lady of the fey, a creature from before the time of mortal races. If you’re bound to The Archfey, you’ll gain an action named “Fey Presence,” which will charm or frighten nearby foes.

The Archfey also has two exclusive spells – Faerie Fire and Sleep.

Hexblade

Added in April 2025’s Patch 8, the Hexblade’s patron is a magical weapon embodying a being from the Shadowfell. You’ll get new proficiencies with armor and weapons, and you’ll also get new spells and abilities. You’ll get things like Hexblade’s Curse that lets you add your proficiency to attack rolls against a cursed enemy and, at level 6, Accursed Specter that lets you resurrect a slain enemy as a spirit that fights for you (and heals you when it deals damage).

Best Warlock subclass and build in BG3

The Fiend stands out as the strongest Warlock subclass in Baldur’s Gate 3, offering Dark One’s Blessing for temporary hit points on kills and Fiendish Resilience to resist chosen damage types, boosting survivability during aggressive play. Pair it with Pact of the Tome for versatile cantrips like Guidance and Shillelagh, prioritizing Charisma to 20 via Ability Score Improvements or feats such as Ability Improvement. Key Eldritch Invocations include Agonizing Blast and Repelling Blast to maximize Eldritch Blast’s damage output and control, while spells like Fireball and Hunger of Hadar handle crowds effectively.​

Baldur’s Gate 3 races don’t really have any direct impact on your class, but certain races and subraces come with features that play well with certain classes like extra movement or proficiency with certain weapons. For Warlocks, it’s best to focus on weapon and armor proficiencies:

• Drow‘s Drow Weapon Training adds weapons like the rapiers and hand crossbows
• Humans‘ and Half-Elves‘ Civil Militia add spears, pikes, halberds, and glaives along with shields
• Githyanki Martial Prodigy means you get medium armor along with longswords and greatswords
• Dwarven Combat Training gets you battleaxes, handaxes, light hammers, and warhammers. The Shield Dwarf subrace also gets you Medium Armor

When you’re creating and leveling up your Warlock, Charisma (for spellcasting) is your most important stat. Your second most important stat kind of depends on how you play outside of combat, but Constitution is also a good option for the hit points – Warlocks, like Sorcerers, have a tendency to be glass cannons. Make Charisma your highest stat and Constitution your second highest.

You’ll pick your Warlock subclass at level 1, but the pact you choose here is actually less important than the Eldritch Invocation you get at level 2 – that said, go with the Great Old One for the most broadly useful features. Your Eldritch Invocation powers up your Eldritch Blast spell – the bread-and-butter spell for Warlocks – and turns it into an Agonizing Blast.

Best Warlock feats in BG3

Prioritize feats that boost Charisma and support Eldritch Blast, such as Ability Score Improvement and Spell Sniper, to maximize both damage and accuracy at range. For melee-focused Pact of the Blade builds, Great Weapon Master or Dual Wielder significantly improve weapon damage and synergy with magical weapons, while options like Mage Slayer or War Caster help maintain pressure on enemy casters and protect concentration during crucial control spells.​

Every four levels, you’ll get the option to either increase your stats or choose a Feat. Feats are special talents that add features to your character. If you’re happy with your stats and start taking Feats, Warlocks can benefit from:

• Actor. Your Charisma Increases by 1, to a maximum of 20. Your Proficiency Bonus is also doubled for Deception and Performance Checks.
• Elemental Adept. Your spells ignore Resistance to a damage type of your choice. When you cast spells of that type, you cannot roll a 1.
• Moderately Armored. You gain Armor Proficiency with Medium Armor and shields, and your Strength or Dexterity increases by 1, to a maximum of 20.
• Spell Sniper. You learn a cantrip, and the number you need to roll a Critical Hit while attacking is reduced by 1. This effect can stack.

Best Warlock subclass for solo play in BG3

Great Old One (GOO) excels as the best Warlock subclass for solo play in Baldur’s Gate 3. Its Mortal Reminder ability triggers fear and critical hits on nearby foes after landing a critical strike, providing crowd control essential without party support [ from previous]. Psychic damage from Entropic Wrath rarely gets resisted, aiding sustained solo fights.​

Why GOO Over Others

Fiend offers strong survivability via Dark One’s Blessing temp HP and Fiendish Resilience, but lacks GOO’s reliable AoE control for handling multiple enemies alone. Archfey provides charm and Misty Escape for evasion, yet its effects prove less consistent without allies to capitalize on them. GOO’s toolkit shines in isolation by immobilizing groups for safe Eldritch Blast follow-ups.​

Solo Build Essentials

Prioritize 17 Charisma, 16 Constitution, and 14 Dexterity; Githyanki race adds Misty Step and armor proficiencies for better mobility and defense. Select Pact of the Tome for versatile utility cantrips and invocations like Agonizing Blast, Repelling Blast, and Book of Ancient Secrets [conversation history].​

Key Level Choices

Use consumables such as Elixirs of Arcane Cultivation for extra slots and Bloodlust for pre-fight buffs. Stealth with Pass Without Trace and terrain advantage ensures solo success on Tactician or Honour Mode.​

Which Warlock spells are best for solo survivability

Armour of Agathys and Mirror Image top the list for Warlock solo survivability in Baldur’s Gate 3. Armour of Agathys creates icy thorns that retaliate with cold damage and temporary hit points, punishing attackers while you kite foes. Mirror Image summons duplicates to confuse enemies, granting advantage on Dexterity saves against targeted attacks without concentration.​

Crowd Control Spells

Spells like Hunger of Hadar and Hold Person excel for solo play by isolating threats. Hunger of Hadar traps multiple enemies in blinding cold and acid damage zones, blocking line of sight for safe Eldritch Blasts. Hold Person paralyzes humanoids, setting up critical hits and preventing melee rushes.​​

Defensive Utility

Key Spells Table

Pair these with GOO subclass features and short-rest recovery for sustained fights, using terrain like cliffs with Repelling Blast for kills [conversation history].