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The Ultimate Human Build Guide: Conquer Baldur’s Gate 3

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So, you’re thinking of rolling a Human in Baldur’s Gate 3 (BG3)? Excellent choice! The humble Human, often overlooked in favor of flashier races, is a powerhouse of versatility and adaptability in the Forgotten Realms. But what’s the best build for a Human in BG3?

The answer, as with most things in life (and especially D&D), is: it depends! However, if we’re aiming for a potent combination of damage, utility, and survivability, a Paladin build is a phenomenal choice for the Human race. The inherent strengths of the Paladin class are amplified by the Human’s racial abilities, creating a force to be reckoned with. Specifically, an Oath of Vengeance Paladin is where this build truly shines, but other oaths can also be effective.

Why Paladin? Why Human?

Let’s break down why this pairing works so well:

Human Versatility: The Human’s +1 to all ability scores is deceptively powerful. It allows you to create a more well-rounded character from the start, making it easier to meet multiclassing requirements or simply shore up weaknesses. Furthermore, the extra skill proficiency granted to Humans allows you to pick up crucial skills like Persuasion, Insight, or Athletics.
Paladin Powerhouse: Paladins are divinely-empowered warriors with incredible damage output, substantial survivability, and a suite of useful spells. They are equally effective in melee combat and as support characters. Their Divine Smite ability allows them to deal massive radiant damage with their weapon attacks, making them formidable single-target damage dealers.
Synergy: The Human’s all-around stat boost makes the Paladin’s stat dependency less of an issue. Paladins need Strength (for attacks), Charisma (for spells and class features), and Constitution (for hit points and concentration). The Human’s stat boost helps you balance these attributes more effectively. The added skill proficiency also helps make them more versatile and useful for out-of-combat challenges.

Building Your Human Paladin

Here’s a suggested breakdown for building your Human Paladin:

Ability Scores (at level 1): Prioritize Strength, Charisma, and Constitution. A good starting spread might look something like: Strength 16, Dexterity 10, Constitution 14, Intelligence 8, Wisdom 10, Charisma 14. Remember, you get a +1 to all of these with the human race.
Oath Selection: The Oath of Vengeance is ideal for maximizing damage. Vengeance Paladins excel at hunting down and punishing their enemies. Their Channel Divinity options and spells are geared towards dealing damage and controlling the battlefield. However, Oath of Devotion and Oath of Ancients also provide strong options, focusing on support and survivability, respectively.
Fighting Style: Great Weapon Fighting or Defense. Great Weapon Fighting allows you to re-roll 1s and 2s on damage dice when wielding a two-handed weapon, increasing your overall damage output. Defense gives you a +1 bonus to AC which is good for survivability, but more useful in solo play.
Key Feats: At level 4, consider taking Great Weapon Master. This feat allows you to deal significant bonus damage at the cost of accuracy (or make an additional attack as a bonus action on a critical hit or a kill), significantly boosting your damage output. Another option is Ability Improvement, improving your Strength or Charisma. At level 8, you can take another Ability Improvement. At level 12, consider Savage Attacker to roll your weapon damage twice and use the higher result.
Equipment: Focus on acquiring heavy armor and powerful two-handed weapons (if you chose Great Weapon Fighting) as soon as possible. Look for items that boost your Strength, Charisma, or Constitution. There are many very powerful specific weapons and armor pieces found throughout the game, making it important to always be on the lookout for new gear.

Playstyle

Your Human Paladin should be a frontline fighter, charging into battle and delivering devastating blows with Divine Smite. Use your spells to buff yourself, debuff enemies, or heal allies as needed. Your Channel Divinity options will depend on your chosen Oath, but they are all powerful tools that can turn the tide of battle. The added skill proficiency that humans get should be used to support this playstyle, or shore up character weaknesses. Persuasion skills will often allow you to avoid a fight, and the extra carrying capacity comes in handy for loot.

Alternative Human Builds

While Paladin is a fantastic option, the beauty of the Human race lies in its flexibility. Here are a few other strong builds you might consider:

Ranger: The Human’s extra skill proficiency is incredibly valuable for Rangers, who rely on a wide range of skills both in and out of combat. This is a great choice if you like the Ranger class and want to try the class out, or you are playing in a group that already has someone to fill the frontline fighter role.
Fighter: Straightforward and effective. Fighters benefit from the balanced stat distribution and can easily adapt to different fighting styles.
Wizard (Evocation): While the article mentions this, I would say that the wizard class needs to be played carefully to get the full benefit. Evocation Wizards excel at dealing area-of-effect damage, and the Human’s versatility can help them stay alive long enough to unleash their spells.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, the “best” build is the one you enjoy playing the most. However, if you’re looking for a powerful, versatile, and engaging build for your Human character in Baldur’s Gate 3, the Oath of Vengeance Paladin is an excellent choice. Embrace the versatility of the Human race, customize your build to fit your playstyle, and prepare to become a legend in the Forgotten Realms. Remember that the Games Learning Society provides a wealth of resources for understanding game mechanics and strategy, so be sure to check out GamesLearningSociety.org for more in-depth analyses and discussions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Does the Human’s bonus skill proficiency stack with the Rogue’s expertise?

No, the Human’s bonus skill proficiency does not directly stack with the Rogue’s expertise. Expertise doubles your proficiency bonus for a skill you are already proficient in. However, you can choose a skill with your Human bonus that the Rogue class doesn’t automatically grant, thus expanding your skill set.

2. Is it better to dual-wield or use a two-handed weapon as a Human Paladin?

For an Oath of Vengeance Paladin focused on maximizing damage, a two-handed weapon is generally superior, especially when paired with the Great Weapon Fighting style and the Great Weapon Master feat. Dual-wielding can be effective, but it requires an additional feat (Dual Wielder) and doesn’t benefit as much from Divine Smite.

3. How important is Charisma for a Paladin?

Charisma is crucial for Paladins. It determines the effectiveness of your spells, powers your Channel Divinity options, and influences dialogue checks. Aim for a high Charisma score, especially if you plan on using your spells frequently.

4. What’s the best armor for a Human Paladin?

Heavy armor is the best choice for Paladins, providing the highest AC. Look for full plate armor as soon as possible. Specific magical armor pieces with beneficial effects are also highly desirable.

5. Can I multiclass my Human Paladin?

Yes, you can multiclass your Human Paladin. Popular options include Warlock (for additional spellcasting and Eldritch Blast), Sorcerer (for Metamagic and more spell slots), and Fighter (for Action Surge and additional combat proficiencies).

6. What are some good spells for a Human Paladin?

Essential Paladin spells include:

Bless: Buffs your allies’ attack rolls and saving throws.
Divine Favor: Adds radiant damage to your weapon attacks.
Shield of Faith: Increases AC.
Cure Wounds: Heals allies.
Branding Smite: Deals extra radiant damage and prevents the target from turning invisible.

7. How does the Human’s increased carrying capacity work?

The Human race gets an increased carrying capacity, effectively allowing them to carry a quarter more weight without becoming encumbered. This is good for looters, and for making it easier to have backup weapons.

8. What are some good early-game weapons for a Human Paladin?

Look for any two-handed weapon with decent damage. Greatswords, mauls, and greataxes are all good options. Upgrade to magical weapons as soon as you find them.

9. Is it worth investing in Intelligence for a Human Paladin?

Generally, no. Intelligence is the least important stat for a Paladin. Focus on Strength, Charisma, and Constitution.

10. How does Divine Smite work?

Divine Smite allows you to expend a spell slot to deal additional radiant damage on a successful weapon attack. The higher the spell slot, the more damage you deal. It’s a Paladin’s signature ability. It can be turned on or off in the “reactions” menu, allowing you to make sure it’s only used when you want it to be.

11. What are the benefits of choosing a different Oath?

Oath of Devotion: Focuses on protecting allies and upholding ideals of righteousness. Offers strong support abilities and defensive buffs.
Oath of Ancients: Embraces nature and joy. Provides healing and resistance to spell damage.

12. How do I respec my character in BG3?

You can respec your character by talking to Withers at your camp after he is unlocked via a quest. This allows you to reallocate your ability scores, choose different skills, and even change your class. It costs a small amount of gold.

13. What skills should I choose for my Human Paladin?

Persuasion (Charisma), Athletics (Strength), and Insight (Wisdom) are all excellent choices. You can also pick skills that complement your party’s strengths and weaknesses.

14. Is the Human race viable in the late game?

Absolutely! The Human’s versatility and the power of the Paladin class ensure that you remain a force to be reckoned with throughout the entire game. The human race may not be flashy, but they are consistent and adaptable, which is an asset in a long game.

15. Where can I learn more about Baldur’s Gate 3 mechanics and strategies?

Many online resources are available, including wikis, forums, and video guides. Don’t forget to check out resources available from the Games Learning Society, which studies the educational potential of video games. You can find more information on the Games Learning Society website.