All Baldur’s Gate 3 races and subraces ranked – abilities, traits, best BG3 races

Wondering about Baldur’s Gate 3 races and subraces? We’ve got it all here. Starting off on the right foot in Larian Studios’ sprawling RPG involves picking a race. Each of Baldur’s Gate 3’s races occupies a unique space in the Forgotten Realms and will determine how you are treated.

While your class and subclasses affect how you perform in combat and tackle objectives, race can also have a significant impact on conversations. It affects how other characters perceive you and how easy or difficult it will be to get them on your side. A fighter might lean towards dwarven toughness while a history buff might consider looking into an artificer’s lore.

And don’t forget that Baldur’s Gate 3 feats are just as important. Here’s a quick overview of Baldur’s Gate 3 races as we near launch. We’ve also picked out some races you should consider on your first playthrough. While you can modify other traits like your class, you can’t change your race as you respec in Baldur’s Gate 3.

Baldur’s Gate 3 races and subraces ranked

Baldur’s Gate 3 has an impressive 11 races with 31 subraces between them. Each subrace offers even more context behind the races’ histories and present circumstances. They have unique bonuses and racial features that help them stand out. Larian has gone to great lengths to ensure that no race is unfairly gifted and that each race offers its unique experience to players in BG3. Here’s a list of all Baldur’s Gate 3 races that you can pick at launch:

• Dragonborn
• Drow
• Dwarf
• Elf
• Githyanki
• Gnome
• Halfling
• Half-elf
• Half-orc
• Human
• Tiefling

Best Baldur’s Gate 3 races ranked

And here’s the Baldur’s Gate 3 races ranked list based on their racial advantages:

Tier	Race
S+ Tier	Elf, Dwarf, Half-Elf
S Tier	Tiefling, Githyanki, Drow
A Tier	Half-Orc, Gnome, Dragonborn
B Tier	Halfling, Human

A Tier – Dragonborn

Recommended Classes: Paladin, Sorcerer, Warlock, Barbarian, Fighter

While you’d be correct in guessing that this race is connected to dragons, there’s more to it. The Dragonborn race spent millennia under the foot of larger dragons in their homeworld. It’s no surprise that they don’t have a higher opinion of the dragons of this land. This race in BG3 has the highest number of subraces, each with its own elemental resistances and type of breath weapon damage. This is thanks to their Draconic Ancestry from Dungeons & Dragons lore. Players may only use this deadly attack to breathe fire or another element once until they complete a short or long rest.

Racial Features:

• Breath Weapon: exhale powerful energy to deal damage. This increases based on your level and depends on the subrace you pick.
• Base Racial Movement Speed: Dragonborn can move 9m per turn.

Dragonborn subraces

And here’s the list of Baldur’s Gate 3 Dragonborn subraces:

• Black Dragonborn – Acid (DEX save)
• Blue Dragonborn – Lightning (DEX save)
• Brass Dragonborn – Fire (DEX save)
• Bronze Dragonborn – Lightning (DEX save)
• Copper Dragonborn – Acid (DEX save)
• Green Dragonborn – Poison (CON save)
• Silver Dragonborn – Cold (CON save)
• Gold Dragonborn – Fire (DEX save)
• Red Dragonborn – Fire (DEX save)
• White Dragonborn – Cold (CON save)

Dragonborn lore

A proud race that values clan and skill above all else. Once enslaved by dragons, they strive to be self-sufficient, not wanting to be beholden to anyone, not even the gods.

S Tier – Drow

Recommended Classes: Sorcerer, Wizard, Bard, Rogue, Warlock

The Drow race of Faerûn doesn’t have the best reputation. They live in a brutal matriarchal society underground and some forsake this life for a shot at freedom. This isn’t quite a break from their past as the other races don’t take too kindly to them. They have a long history of tussles between two Elven deities. While their subraces share their bonuses, they represent cultural differences.

Racial Features:

• Superior Darkvision: you can see in the dark within 24 metres.
• Drow Weapon Training: gain proficiency with rapiers, shortswords, and hand crossbows.
• Fey Ancestry: you have an advantage on saving throws against charm. Magic cannot put you to sleep.
• Base Racial Movement Speed: Drow can move 9m per turn.

Drow Subraces

There are two Baldur’s Gate 3 Drow subraces and here’s how they differ:

• Lolth Drow – Dancing Light cantrip, Faerie Fire at level 3 (once per long rest), Darkness at level 5 (once per long rest).
• Seldarine Drow – Dancing Light cantrip, Faerie Fire at level 3 (once per long rest), Darkness at level 5 (once per long rest).

Drow lore

Drow are the result of an ancient schism between the elven deities Corellon Larethian and Lolth. The latter’s treachery drove the drow into the Underdark, where they splintered into warring factions.

Raised by Lolth’s cult in the city of Menzoberranzan, Lolth Drow extol the virtues of their corrupt and merciless goddess.

Seldarine Drow can be found seeking allies from all over Faerun, aiming to settle their conflict with Lolth – and each other – by any means necessary.

S+ Tier – Dwarf

Recommended Classes:

• Gold Dwarf: Cleric, Druid, Monk
• Shield Dwarf: Fighter, Barbarian, Paladin
• Duergar: Barbarian, Cleric

Dwarves are a common race across fantasy video games and other media. Bound by both greed and tradition, these hardy people are great with axes and a warhammer. They gain their strength from a rigid lifetime of metalworking and chipping away in underground caverns for treasure. And yes, all dwarves have recognizable beards.

Racial features:

• Dwarven Weapon Training: gain proficiency with handaxe, battleaxe, light hammers, and warhammers.
• Dwarven Resilience: gain advantage on saving throws against poison. You are resistant to poison damage.
• Base Racial Movement Speed: Dwarves can move 7.5m per turn.

Dwarf subraces

There are three Baldur’s Gate 3 dwarf subraces:

• Gold Dwarf – Wisdom +1, hit point maximum increases by 1 hit point with every level gained.
• Shield Dwarf – Strength +2, proficient with light and medium armour.
• Duergar – Superior Darkvision (see in the dark up to 24m), Duergar Resilience (advantage on saving throws against illusions and being charmed or paralysed), Enlarge ability.

Dwarf lore

Gold dwarves are known for their confidence and keen intuition in BG3. The culture of their Deep Kingdom values family, ritual, and fine craftsmanship.

Shield dwarves survived a long fall from grace, surrendering many of their ancient kingdoms in wars with goblins and Orcs. These losses have lead to a cynical mindset, yet shield dwarves will endure anything to restore their ancestral homelands.

Duergar are dwarves whose ancestors were transformed by centuries living in the deepest places of the Underdark. That chthonic realm is saturated with strange magical energy, and over generations, early duergar absorbed traces of it. They were further altered when mind flayers and other Aberrations invaded and performed horrific experiments on them. In time, they liberated themselves from their aberrant tyrants and forged a new life for themselves in the Underdark and beyond.

S+ Tier – Elf

Recommended Classes:

• High Elf: Wizard, Rogue
• Wood Elf: Ranger, Rogue, Monk, Bard, Cleric

Baldur’s Gate 3’s depiction of elves doesn’t fall short of the tropes and stereotypes from fantasy novels. With bloodlines lasting for centuries, elves are obsessed with magic across domains and pursue them with devotion. They tend to come off as condescending and arrogant.

Racial features:

• Keen Senses: gain proficiency with the Perception skill.
  Fey Ancestry: gain advantage on saving throws against charm. Magic cannot put you to sleep.
• Elven Weapon Training: gain proficiency with longswords, shortswords, shortbow, and longbows.
• Darkvision: See in the dark out to a range of 12m.
• Base Racial Movement Speed: Elves can move 9m per turn.

Elf subraces

There are two Baldur’s Gate 3 elf subraces:

• High Elf – Intelligence +1, can choose 1 of 13 cantrips.
• Wood Elf – Wisdom +1, higher base movement (10.5m), stealth proficiency.

Elf lore

With ethereal countenances and long lifespans, Elves are at home with nature’s power, flourishing in light and dark alike.

Heirs of the mystical Feywild, high elves value magic in all its forms, and even those who do not study spellcraft can manipulate the Weave.

Wood elves spend their reclusive lives in Faerun’s forests. Decades of training in archery and camouflage are enhanced by an otherworldly swiftness.

S Tier – Githyanki

Recommended Classes: Fighter, Wizard, Warlock

The Githyanki are sworn enemies of the mind flayers, the key villains of Baldur’s Gate 3. A proud race known for its martial prowess, they’re from the Astral Plane of existence. In the Forgotten Realms, those that escaped the mind flayers have had to resort to thievery and raids for survival.

Racial features:

• Decadent Mastery: learn an extra language. You gain proficiency with an extra set of tools.
• Martial Prodigy: proficiency with light and medium armour, shortswords, longswords, and greatswords.
• Base Racial Movement Speed: Githyanki can move 9m per turn.
• Githyanki Psionics: Mage Hand cantrip (spectral hand that can manipulate and interact with objects).
• One use of the Jump spell at level 3 per long rest.
• One use of the Misty Step spell at level 5 per long rest.
• Astral Knowledge: An action that lets you gain proficiency in a chosen ability until the next long rest. This affects all the skills tied to this ability.

Githkanki lore

Githyanki are peerless warriors from the Astral Plane, known for their legendary silver blades and red dragon mounts. They seek the total destruction of mind flayers, whose ancient empire enslaved the Githyanki for millennia.

A Tier – Gnome

Recommended Classes:

• Deep Gnome: Rogue, Wizard, Bard
• Forest Gnome: Rogue, Wizard, Paladin
• Rock Gnome: Wizard, Bard

The crafty gnomes were the first race added to Baldur’s Gate 3 once it entered Early Access on Steam. Known for their cunning, these gnomes have an advantage against magic attacks. Their subraces have a variety of unique skills to aid you across the Forgotten Realms.

Racial Features:

• Gnome Cunning: gain advantage on all intelligence, wisdom, and charisma-based saving throws against magic abilities and attacks.
• Base Racial Movement Speed: Gnomes can move 7.5m per turn.

Gnome subraces

There are three Baldur’s Gate 3 gnome subraces:

• Deep Gnome – Dexterity +1, Darkvision (can see in the dark within 24 metres), Stone Camouflage (gain advantage on stealth checks).
• Forest Gnome – Dexterity +1, Speak with Animals spell, Darkvision (can see in the dark within 12 metres)
• Rock Gnome – Constitution +1, Artificer’s Lore (2x Proficiency bonus to History checks), Darkvision (can see in the dark within 12 metres)

Gnome lore

Small, clever and energetic, Gnomes use their long lives to explore Faerun’s brightest corners and darkest depths.

Rock gnomes are the most common to see on Faerun’s surface, named as such for their hardiness and affinity for metal.

More guarded than their surface cousins, deep gnomes survive in the Underdark with darkvision and stealth.

Even smaller than their cousins and twice as reclusive, forest gnomes are a rare sight in Faerun. They master magic and craftsmanship in their distant, idyllic groves.

B Tier – Halfling

Recommended Classes:

• Lightfoot Halfling: Bard, Rogue, Sorcerer, Warlock
• Strongheart Halfling: Wizard, Rogue, Bard, Ranger, Monk

These sturdy folk are in it for a good time and great company. Halflings are great thieves and the sneaky beings are known for their luck and durability too. Lord of the Rings fans will certainly feel at home with this race and its quirks.

Racial Features:

• Lucky: If you roll a 1 on a d20 for an attack roll, ability check, or saving throw you can reroll once. You must use the value of the second roll.
• Brave: Advantage on saving throws against being frightened.
• Base Racial Speed: Halflings can move 7.5m per turn.

Halfling subraces

Here are the two Baldur’s Gate 3 Halfling subraces:

• Lightfoot Halfling: Charisma +1, Naturally Stealthy (stealth proficiency)
• Strongheart Halfling: Constitution +1, Strongheart Resilience (gain advantage on saving throws against poison, resistance to poison)

Halfling lore

Small yet capable, Halflings prefer the comfort of home and hearth – but their natural luck and dexterity makes them fine adventurers.

Lightfoot halflings are stealthy but social. traveling all over Faerün to make names for themselves.

Legends say dwarven blood gave Stronghearts their hardiness. Resistant to poison and wellsprings of endurance, these halflings easily hold their own.

S+ Tier – Half-elf

Recommended Classes: Warlock, Sorcerer, Bard

A race that struggles to fit between their parent races, the Half-elves have versatile ability bonuses. Expect tension and sharp remarks from humans and elves that fail to understand your parentage. But remember that you gain some bonuses from both ancestries.

Racial Features:

• Fey Ancestry: gain advantage on saving throws against charm. Magic can’t put you to sleep.
• Darkvision: See in the dark out to a range of 12m.
• Base Racial Movement Speed: Half-elves can move 9m per turn.

Half-elf subraces

There are two Baldur’s Gate 3 Half-elf subraces:

• High Half-elf – bonus cantrip from 13 cantrips.
• Wood Half-elf – Fleet of Foot (higher movement of 10.5m), stealth proficiency.
• Drow Half-elf – Dancing Lights cantrip, Faerie Fire at level 3 (once per long rest), Darkness at level 5 (once per long rest).

Half-elf lore

Curious, ambitious, and versatile, Half-Elves are welcome everywhere, but struggle without a community to call their own.

Like their wood elf parents, Wood half-elves have a quickened stride and eye for stealth. Yet many break away from isolation in Faerun’s forests to explore the rest of the Realms.

A touch of the Feywild remains in half-elves with this High Elf bloodline, and even those untrained in magic possess a hint of wild power.

Most half-drow are a result from liaisons between Seldarine drow and surfacers. While half-drow inherit a few magical gifts, they aren’t usually raised in the Underdark.

A Tier – Half-Orc

Recommended Classes: Fighter, Barbarian, Paladin, Cleric, Monk

Described by Larian Studios as a race that is ‘inclined to act before they think,’ these beings are fuelled by intense emotions. It’s murky territory for a race still known for its heavy-handed violence. BG3 doesn’t quite change things in that aspect, but their combat prowess cannot be understated.

Racial features:

• Savage Attacks: when you score a critical hit with a melee weapon, roll an additional damage die and add it to the extra damage.
• Relentless Endurance: once a day, when you’re reduced to 0 hit points, survive with 1 hit point instead.
• Base Racial Movement Speed: Half-orcs can move 9m per turn.
• Darkvision: See in the dark out to a range of 12m.
• Menacing: Intimidation Proficiency.

Half-Orc lore

Creatures of intense emotion, half-orcs are more inclined to act than contemplate – whether the rage burning their bodies compels them to fight, or the love filling their hearts inspires acts of incredible kindness.

B Tier – Human

Recommended Classes: All-rounder, suitable with every class

This race must sound familiar. The most common race in Faerûn, humans are known for their adaptability across the Forgotten Realms’ harsh climates and tussles. As a jack of all trades, they have boosted ability scores instead of leaning towards any direction in particular. They’re a great pick for newcomers to Baldur’s Gate 3’s brand of dice-based storytelling.

Racial features:

• Civil Militia: Weapon proficiency with Spears, Pikes, Halberds, and Glaives, and Armour Proficiency with Light Armour and Shields.
• Human Versatility: Select an additional Skill to be proficient in. Your carrying capacity is increased by a quarter.
• Base Racial Movement Speed: Humans can move 9m per turn.

Human lore

The most common face to see in Faerun, humans are known for their tenacity, creativity, and endless capacity for growth.

S Tier – Tiefling

Recommended Classes:

• Asmodeus Tiefling: Bard, Rogue, Warlock
• Mephistopheles Tiefling: Bard, Rogue, Warlock
• Zariel Tiefling: Paladin, Bard, Warlock

This race often gets a bad rep among the Forgotten Realms’ other races. With red skin and scary horns, their appearance tends to draw everything from snarky comments to swords. Formed from a pact that grants them the blood of Asmodeus, the outcast Tieflings get some powerful ability bonuses.

Racial Features:

• Darkvision: See in the dark out to a range of 12m.
• Hellish Resistance: you have resistance to fire damage.
• Base Racial Movement Speed: Tieflings can move 9m per turn.

Tiefling subraces

There are three Baldur’s Gate 3 Tiefling subraces:

• Asmodeus Tiefling – Intelligence +1, Thaumaturgy cantrip, Hellish Rebuke spell at level 3 (once per long rest), Darkness spell at level 5 (once per long rest).
• Mephistopheles Tiefling – Intelligence +1, Mage Hand cantrip, Burning Hands spell at level 3 (once per long rest), Flame Blade spell at level 5 (once per long rest).
• Zariel Tiefling – Strength +1, Thaumaturgy cantrip (Advantage on Intimidation and Performance Checks), Searing Smite spell at level 3 (once per long rest), Branding Smite spell at level 5 (once per long rest).

Tiefling lore

Descended from devils of the Nine Hells, Tieflings face constant suspicions in Faerun. Thankfully, their arcane abilities make them natural survivors.

Bound to Nessus, the deepest layer of the Hells, Asmodeus tieflings inherit the ability to wield fire and darkness from the archdevil Asmodeus’ infernal bloodline.

Descended from the archdevil Mephistopheles, this subclass of Tieflings are gifted with a particular affinity for arcane magic.

Tieflings from Zariel’s bloodline are empowered with martial strength, and can channel searing flame to punish their enemies.

Best subraces to pick in Baldur’s Gate 3

The best subraces in Baldur’s Gate 3 are the Shield Dwarf, Githyanki, and Wood Half-elf. They would handily top most Baldur’s Gate 3 tier lists. Here’s why we recommend them:

• Shield Dwarf – +2 to Constitution and Strength are a big deal, especially for melee fighters. Their weapon and armour proficiency are great too, especially for classes like wizards that wouldn’t normally be good with them.
• Githyanki – +2 Strength and +1 Intelligence are solid boosts. The former ties in well with mobility skills like Misty Step and Jump to let you traverse incredible distances. Considering that this race is known for its martial prowess, moving towards foes is certainly in your best interest, especially with heavy weapon proficiency. On top of that, this race just looks cool and their mind-flayer hatred will certainly surface across the game’s main campaign.
• Wood Half-elf – Half-elves are great in general thanks to the +1 to two abilities of your choice. Add stealth proficiency, Darkvision, and Fey Ancestry and you get a versatile class built for nearly any scenario. Bonus movement works great with stealth proficiency as well. The freedom to buff up any two core abilities means that you can build your Wood Half-elf on your terms.

Best class-race pairings in Baldur’s Gate 3

Here’s a list of the best classes to pair with races in Baldur’s Gate 3:

Race	Class
Dragonborn	All subraces: Paladin, Sorcerer, Warlock, Barbarian, Fighter
Drow	Lolth-Sworn Drow: Sorcerer, Wizard, Bard, Rogue, Warlock Selderine Drow: Sorcerer, Wizard, Bard, Rogue, Warlock
Dwarf	Gold Dwarf: Cleric, Druid, Monk Shield Dwarf: Fighter, Barbarian, Paladin Duergar: Barbarian, Cleric
Elf	High Elf: Wizard, Rogue Wood Elf: Ranger, Rogue, Monk, Bard, Cleric
Githyanki	No subraces: Fighter, Wizard, Warlock
Gnome	Deep Gnome: Rogue, Wizard, Bard Forest Gnome: Rogue, Wizard, Paladin Rock Gnome: Wizard, Bard
Half-Elf	Drow Half-Elf: Warlock, Sorcerer, Bard High Half-Elf: Warlock, Sorcerer, Bard Wood Half-Elf: Warlock, Sorcerer, Bard
Halfling	Lightfoot Halfling: Bard, Rogue, Sorcerer, Warlock Strongheart Halfling: Wizard, Rogue, Bard, Ranger, Monk
Half-Orc	No subraces: Fighter, Barbarian, Paladin, Cleric, Monk
Human	No subraces: All-rounder, no best class
Tiefling	Asmodeus Tiefling: Bard, Rogue, Warlock Mephistopheles Tiefling: Bard, Rogue, Warlock Zariel Tiefling: Paladin, Bard, Warlock

That covers all the Baldur’s Gate 3 races and subraces, along with our S-tier picks. With a vibrant list of races to pick from, the game is shaping up to be an RPG to remember. Pair them right with classes like the Rogue, Cleric, Ranger, and Druid to maximize their potential. Note that the Ability Score boosts provided to classes in Early Access have been removed. Instead, Ability Score only depends on the class that players pick. Picking your race is just one part of Baldur’s Gate 3 character creation.

Pick the right class and Baldur’s Gate 3 feats that align with your race. Check out our Baldur’s Gate 3 Arcane Tower guide if you’ve already scoured the Underdark. Dive into the Forgotten Realms and go head-to-head against the game’s devious mind flayers and leave none standing. Here are some Baldur’s Gate 3 cheats to spice things up. Another way to change things would be trying out Baldur’s Gate 3 mods.

How many races will Baldur’s Gate 3 have?

Baldur’s Gate 3 will have 11 races at launch.

Will Baldur’s Gate 3 have Dragonborn?

Yes, you can play as a Dragonborn in Baldur’s Gate 3.