Best Race For cleric in BG3

Table of Contents

Baldur’s Gate 3 offers several excellent race options for Clerics. Let’s explore some of the most advantageous choices. Drow excel as Clerics, boasting Superior Darkvision, Fey Ancestry, and useful racial spells like Faerie Fire and Darkness. Forest Gnomes are another great pick for Clerics, especially those who want to communicate with animals. They also enjoy other beneficial traits like Darkvision and Gnome Cunning.

Clerics, as divine champions, can serve as either holy guardians or destroyers while carrying out their deity’s will. While any race could potentially earn the gods’ favor, some options in Baldur’s Gate 3 can make your journey smoother than others.

The game offers a diverse array of racial bonuses. While many can greatly benefit a Cleric, others provide little advantage. This guide aims to help you choose the best races for your next Cleric character and which ones to avoid. Note that this list doesn’t consider multiclassing options.

Gold Dwarf

Clerics often find themselves near the front lines of battle, with some Domains even granting heavy armor proficiency for better survival. However, unlike traditional tank classes such as Fighters or Paladins, Clerics have hit point totals more akin to Bards or Warlocks.

Choosing a Gold Dwarf can help level the playing field. Dwarven Resilience offers protection against poisons, while the Gold Dwarves’ unique trait, Dwarven Toughness, provides the extra hit points needed to prevent you from being easily overwhelmed while shielding your team.

Drow

Drow not only offer interesting roleplaying opportunities but also come with several advantages that make them excellent Clerics. Perception proficiency and Superior Darkvision are valuable assets, while Fey Ancestry guards against some nasty effects.

The racial spells Drow receive can also be game-changers. While Dancing Lights isn’t particularly impressive, Faerie Fire and Darkness are solid options for a Cleric. Light Domain Clerics already have access to Faerie Fire, but Darkness isn’t typically available to any Domain.

Forest Gnome

Nature Domain Clerics can cast Speak with Animals, but what if you want to play a different kind of Cleric while still chatting with critters? That’s where Forest Gnomes shine, allowing you to converse with woodland creatures regardless of your chosen Domain.

These small forest dwellers also come with other useful abilities, the most notable being the excellent Gnome Cunning. Gaining broad protection against effects targeting three different ability scores is significantly more powerful than most other racial traits.

Strongheart Halfling

Strongheart Halflings possess tools that help keep your Cleric alive. The ability to protect themselves from poisons (a Strongheart-specific feature) and Fear is beneficial for Clerics of any Domain.

However, the main draw of playing a Halfling is undoubtedly Halfling Luck. The usefulness of rerolling attacks may vary depending on your chosen Domain, as some are more likely to make attack rolls than others. Nonetheless, this feature will come in handy outside of combat regardless of your specialization.

Wood Elf

When considering the best race for cleric in BG3, Wood Elves offer a versatile package that can benefit various Cleric builds. Their Keen Senses and Darkvision make them excellent scouts, while Fey Ancestry provides crucial protection against charm and sleep effects.

The Mask of the Wild feature grants Stealth proficiency, allowing Clerics to be more sneaky when needed. This can be particularly useful for Trickery Domain Clerics or those who prefer a more subtle approach. Fleet of Foot increases movement speed, which can be a lifesaver in both combat and exploration scenarios. For those wondering about the best race for tempest cleric in BG3, Wood Elves can be an excellent choice. Their increased speed allows Tempest Clerics to quickly position themselves for optimal use of their lightning and thunder abilities. Additionally, their natural proficiency in Perception complements the Tempest Domain’s focus on awareness and readiness.

When exploring BG3 best race for cleric options, it’s important to consider how racial features synergize with your chosen Domain and playstyle. Wood Elves offer a balanced mix of combat utility, exploration benefits, and defensive capabilities that can enhance any Cleric build.

Remember, while these races offer significant advantages, the best choice ultimately depends on your preferred playstyle and the specific challenges you anticipate in your Baldur’s Gate 3 adventure. Experiment with different combinations to find the perfect fit for your divine champion.

Wood Elves stand out as the speedsters in Baldur’s Gate 3, outpacing all other races (except Wood Half-Elves, whose Shield proficiency is redundant for Clerics). Their swift movement benefits both melee-focused Clerics, who need to close distances quickly, and those preferring to keep foes at bay.

Comparing Wood Elves to Drow, who appeared earlier, we see they share many bonuses. However, Wood Elves trade the situational usefulness of spells for the more universally applicable increased movement speed.

Duergar

Duergar’s strength as Clerics largely stems from their potent Duergar Magic. While Enlarge could benefit melee-oriented Clerics, Invisibility is the real gem here.

Even Trickery Domain Clerics can only turn invisible with their Channel Divinity ability, and only when shrouded in darkness. Duergar not only get these spells but also enjoy Dwarven Resilience (shared with Gold Dwarves and Strongheart Halflings) and the added protection of Duergar Resilience against mental attacks.

Githyanki

Githyanki, arguably the strongest race in Baldur’s Gate 3 overall, unsurprisingly excel as Clerics. Astral Knowledge is a standout racial ability, allowing competence in areas typically outside a Cleric’s expertise, such as diplomacy or thievery.

Githyanki Clerics also gain racial spells through their Githyanki Psionics, normally unavailable to them. Mage Hand and Enhance Leap are solid options, while Misty Step offers great battlefield mobility.

When considering the best race for cleric in BG3, Githyanki offer unique advantages. Their psionic abilities and Astral Knowledge make them versatile and adaptable, suitable for various Cleric builds, including the best race for tempest cleric in BG3. The combination of spell-like abilities and skill flexibility can greatly enhance a Cleric’s effectiveness in both combat and non-combat situations.