The Ideal Background for Your Eldritch Knight: A Comprehensive Guide

Choosing the right background for your Eldritch Knight in Baldur’s Gate 3 is a crucial step in crafting a powerful and well-rounded character. While the Eldritch Knight is primarily a martial class, their unique blend of combat prowess and arcane abilities means that a background offering specific proficiencies can significantly enhance their capabilities. So, what is the best background for an Eldritch Knight?

The answer is straightforward: backgrounds that grant proficiency in Athletics and either Intimidation or Arcana are ideal. The Soldier background stands out, giving you proficiency in Athletics and Intimidation, which perfectly complements the Eldritch Knight’s role as a front-line fighter. Athletics boosts your ability to shove and grapple enemies, crucial for controlling the battlefield, while Intimidation allows you to dominate social encounters and influence NPCs through sheer presence. This combined effect enhances both combat effectiveness and role-playing potential.

The Significance of Backgrounds for Eldritch Knights

Why Athletics is Essential

Athletics is a Strength-based skill, aligning with the Eldritch Knight’s core stat. Proficiency in Athletics makes you more effective in combat, particularly when it comes to maneuvering enemies on the battlefield, using shoves to disrupt enemy formations, and grappling opponents to pin them down. Given that an Eldritch Knight is intended to wade into the thick of the fight, these maneuvers become invaluable. Moreover, Athletics checks are often used to overcome physical obstacles outside of combat, adding further to the utility of a well-rounded character.

The Power of Intimidation

While Intimidation isn’t directly tied to combat performance, it allows you to play your character with more depth. It’s a Charisma-based skill and might seem out of place for a fighter focusing on Strength and Intelligence. However, the ability to project an aura of fear and control can be beneficial in many situations. For example, you can use Intimidation to get information out of NPCs, avoid unnecessary combat, or establish dominance in social interactions. This creates a multi-faceted character who can handle both the sword and the political arena.

Alternative Background Considerations

If you are set on a non-Soldier background, there are alternatives to consider:

• The Folk Hero: This background provides Animal Handling and Survival proficiencies. While Survival can be useful, Animal Handling has less relevance for the typical Eldritch Knight. The background still offers the necessary background as a martial hero, but it does not grant the optimal skills that make the Eldritch Knight powerful.

• The Noble: Gaining History and Persuasion proficiencies, this background can create interesting role play and social interaction opportunities. However, neither is optimal for a martial class.

• The Guild Artisan: This grants proficiencies in Insight and Persuasion. While these can be beneficial in certain situations, they are less directly applicable to the Eldritch Knight’s combat-focused role.

• Criminal: Deception and Stealth proficiencies, this background will not enhance the character build and is not recommended for the Eldritch Knight class.

Ultimately, the Soldier background provides a combination of Athletics and Intimidation that perfectly complements the core role of an Eldritch Knight, making it the most efficient choice in most circumstances.

FAQs About Eldritch Knights and Backgrounds

H3 1. What race is best for an Eldritch Knight?

The Mountain Dwarf is often cited as the best race, granting a +2 bonus to both Strength and Constitution. This aligns perfectly with the Eldritch Knight’s need for high Strength for melee attacks and Constitution for durability.

H3 2. How can I maximize an Eldritch Knight’s AC?

Maximize your AC by wearing heavy armor and a shield (baseline 20 AC). Choose the Defense Fighting Style at 1st level (21 AC baseline). Utilize defensive spells like Shield to boost your AC to 26 temporarily or use Blur for disadvantage on enemy attacks.

H3 3. What is an Eldritch Knight good at?

Eldritch Knights excel as durable front-line fighters capable of both martial combat and limited spellcasting. They possess high AC, good hit points, and can utilize defensive spells, making them difficult to kill in combat.

H3 4. What are the best weapon styles for an Eldritch Knight?

The best weapon styles include:

• Polearm: Utilize Great Weapon Fighting, Polearm Master, Great Weapon Master, and Sentinel feats.
• Sword and Board: Use Dueling Fighting Style, War Caster, Sentinel, and Shield Master feats.
• Greatsword: Combine Great Weapon Fighting with Great Weapon Master, Sentinel, and Tough feats.

H3 5. Is a Wizard/Fighter multiclass better than a pure Eldritch Knight?

A Wizard/Fighter multiclass can offer greater spellcasting versatility and offensive power than a pure Eldritch Knight. However, this is at the cost of losing high level fighter abilities.

H3 6. Is the Eldritch Knight overpowered?

No. The Eldritch Knight is a balanced class. Their strength comes from tactical application of spells to enhance their melee prowess and not as an offensive spellcaster.

H3 7. Can an Eldritch Knight wear heavy armor?

Yes, Eldritch Knights can wear heavy armor, but this can interfere with spellcasting, potentially causing spell failures. Choosing armor that is appropriate to a character’s proficiencies is imperative.

H3 8. Which weapons are optimal for Eldritch Knights?

The best weapons depend on your style. Longswords with the Dueling Fighting Style are very effective, especially with the Slasher feat, enhancing defense and damage. Choose your weapon based on which is a strategic benefit to your play style.

H3 9. Can an Eldritch Knight learn Fireball?

Yes, Eldritch Knights can learn Fireball and other powerful Evocation spells. They are capable of gaining access to higher level spells from the Wizard spell list.

H3 10. Can an Eldritch Knight dual wield?

Yes, Eldritch Knights can bond to two weapons, but they can only summon one weapon at a time using a bonus action. There is not a dual wield function available in this game.

H3 11. Do Eldritch Knights need a free hand for spellcasting?

Yes, Eldritch Knights need a free hand for spells with somatic components. However, this can be easily managed while using a sword and shield by temporarily dropping or transferring weapons.

H3 12. Is the Magic Initiate feat good for an Eldritch Knight?

Yes, if the feat is the Wizard version. With the Magic Initiate (Wizard) feat, you can cast spells from the Wizard list with your spell slots, in addition to the free cast per day.

H3 13. Can an Eldritch Knight change spells?

Eldritch Knights can change one known spell when they level up. They are mainly limited to Abjuration and Evocation spells unless they multiclass to a different class.

H3 14. Do Eldritch Knights need a spellcasting focus?

No, Eldritch Knights cannot use a spell focus. They must use a component pouch instead.

H3 15. Can an Eldritch Knight learn Shadow Blade and Green Flame Blade?

Yes, Eldritch Knights can learn Shadow Blade at Level 8 and use Green Flame Blade as part of their attacks from an early level.

Final Thoughts

The Soldier background stands out as the optimal choice for an Eldritch Knight, providing vital proficiencies in Athletics and Intimidation. While other backgrounds may offer flavor and niche benefits, the synergy between these two skills enhances both your combat prowess and your roleplaying versatility. This, coupled with smart race choices, optimal fighting styles, and spell utilization, can make your Eldritch Knight a formidable force in Baldur’s Gate 3. Use this guide to make well informed decisions when creating your next character and make sure it is ready to crush your enemies.