In addition to classes, character race is an equally important aspect of any Dungeons & Dragons experience, and Baldur’s Gate is not shy of that. While the previous titles in the series featured quite a many races for you to choose from, the official Baldur’s Gate 3 release features a handful more races. Some of them are your usual vanilla races that every modern RPG features, while others are typically restricted to only the table-top RPGs. Regardless, if you had a character in mind, chances are that each of these races in Baldur’s Gate 3 will allow you to live your high-fantasy dreams.
Today, we check out the confirmed races that you can choose while building your character in Baldur’s Gate 3. In-game, players can choose between 11 Dungeons & Dragons races. Each has its background and even sub-races for you to pick from. Depending on their sub-races, the characters also receive some stats advantages. That said, here are all the Baldur’s Gate 3 races:
Elf
| Ability Increase | +2 Dexterity |
| Sub-Race | High Elf, Wood Elf |
A staple character of any fantasy game, players can pick an Elf as their race in Baldur’s Gate 3. Elves are dexterous, getting +2 points on dexterity as their race feature. Furthermore, they are proficient in using longswords, shortswords, and longbow, and shortbow. Choosing them also gives you the choice of deciding between two sub-races:
- High Elf: High Elves are the heir of Feywild, preferring magic in all of its forms. Because they are also academic, you gain additional +1 intelligence if you pick them as sub-race. Furthermore, because of their intelligence, this will make you gravitate your character towards wizardry.
- Wood Elf: Wood Elves are closer to nature, and are quick at their feet. As such, they have a higher movement speed. Furthermore, thanks to “Mast of the Wild”, wood elves are good at stealth. Finally, because of the +1 wisdom point, they can inch towards divine spellcasting of various types.
Tiefling
| Ability Increase | +2 Charisma |
| Sub-Race | Asmodeus Tiefling, Mephistopheles Tiefling, Zariel Tiefling |
A descendant of living that made a pact with a strong devil in some form or other, Tieflings carry a devilish appearance, be it in the form of horns, tails, red skin, etc. However, they have control over their temperament. Tieflings are charming individuals, bringing +2 charisma, and are more proficient during charisma checks.
Tieflings have three sub-races to choose from. The sub-races depend on which devil their ancestors made a pact with:
- Asmodeus Tiefling: Asmodeus Tieflings are the descendants of people making a pact with the devil Asmodeus. This sub-class gives players +1 on intelligence and enables them to use Asmodeus spellcasting during encounters.
- Mephistopheles Tiefling: The descendants of people making a pact with the demon Mephistopheles, These Tieflings receive +1 on intelligence and can cast Mephistopheles spellcasting.
- Zariel Tiefling: These Tieflings’ descendants made a pact with the devil Zariel, and as such players playing this sub-class receive +1 on strength and can cast Zariel spellcasting.
Drow
| Ability Increase | +1 Charisma, +2 Dexterity |
| Sub-Race | Lolth-Sworn Drow, Selderine Drow |
While the Elf race in Baldur’s Gate 3 leans toward the good or neutral stances, Drows are the complete opposite. These elves ventured into the Underdark and became evil, thanks to the influence of the spider goddess Lolth (and not Lilith, which we see in Diablo 4). Drows brings with the the dexterity of the elves, and as such gets +2 dexterity.
Additionally, Drows are charismatic individuals, giving them +1 charisma. Drows have two sub-races to choose from:
- Lolth-Sworn Drow: Lolth-Sworn Drows are absolute devotees of the spider god Lolth. Though they don’t receive any ability boost, playing as this sub-race will sometimes provide you with some interesting dialog choices.
- Selderine Drow: These are the Drows that have shunned the blessings and influence of Lolth, and roam Faerun to gather allies and put an end to the conflict between Lolth and others for good. Like the previous sub-class, Selderine Drows also don’t receive any ability boost.
Human
| Ability Increase | +1 on every Ability |
| Sub-Race | None |
The most vanilla class in any RPG like Baldur’s Gate 3, humans are the most common race in Faerun and live among almost every community in the universe. While they have no sub-class specialization, because well, they are only one species, humans have +1 on every ability. This makes them the most versatile race in Baldur’s Gate 3, as you can be an adept master of any of the available classes in-game.
Githyanki
| Ability Increase | +1 Intelligence, +2 Strength |
| Sub-Race | None |
A race that I cannot stand because of their pompous attitude, and that annoyance hardly changes even if you have Lae’Zel in your party (a prominent companion in Baldur’s Gate 3). Githyanki are warriors from the Astral Plane, known for their red dragon mounts. They are proficient fighters and hate Mind-Flayers for enslaving their race for millennia. Hence, they seek absolute destruction of them.
Githyanki does not have any sub-class, but they gain +1 intelligence and +2 strength proficiency. Furthermore, Githyanki is great at using light and medium armors, short, long, and greatswords.
Dwarf
| Ability Increase | +2 Constitution |
| Sub-Race | Gold Dwarf, Shield Dwarf, Druegar |
If you have watched popular fantasy series like Middle Earth and even Snow White, you might be familiar with this class. Dwarves are proficient in the constitution, receiving +2 on the ability. Furthermore, they are great at using Battleaxe, handaxe, light hammer, and Warhammer. Just like classes in Baldur’s Gate 3, Dwarves are divided into three sub-race:
- Gold Dwarf: These dwarves are confident and filled with keen intuition. Gold Dwarves value family, ritual, and fine craftsmanship. As such, they have a bonus +1 wisdom proficiency and Dwarven Toughness.
- Shield Dwarf: These are the more cynical dwarves who have become stern after numerous wars against goblins. They are, however, absolute in restoring their homesteads. Shield Dwarves receive a +2 in strength.
- Druegar: No detail currently available. We will update it once the update launches.
Half-Elf
| Ability Increase | +2 Charisma, +2 ability score on any of your desired ability |
| Sub-Race | Drow Elf, High Elf, Wood Elf |
As the name suggests, the half-elf race in Baldur’s Gate 3 involves one-half of their family belonging to the human. The other half of their family belongs to the elves. As such, they inherit the flexibility from the human side into their ability. Half-Elf gains +2 charisma, and 2 points to assign to any of their desired ability.
This class is further divided into three sub-classes:
- Drow Half-Elf: These elves are the ones where a drow and a human consummate. Mostly, Seldarine Drows are the ones that form liaisons between humans, given their nature. They don’t receive any additional ability boost. However, they can also perform Drow Spellcasting.
- High Half-Elf: Like Drow elves, High Half-Elves have one side of their family belonging to the high elves, and the other side belonging to the human. They don’t receive any additional ability boost but one wizard cantrip.
- Wood Half-Elf: Wood Half-Elves have one side of their family belonging to the wood elves, and another side from the humans. They don’t receive any additional ability boost, but they are quick at their feet.
Halfling
| Ability Increase | +2 Dexterity |
| Sub-Race | Lightfoot Halfling, Strongheart Halfling |
Halflings are pretty much like humans, except half the size. Think of them like a Hobbit. They are determined and prefer simple things in life. Halflings are fast individuals, and as such received +2 Dexterity. There are two different sub-races in Halfling:
- Lightfoot Halfling: These halflings are quick at their feet, and are heavy travelers. As such, they can successfully clear stealth checks and are better at performing stealth. Additionally, this sub-class gives Halflings a +1 charisma.
- Strongheart Halfling: The dwarven blood in these Halflings contributes to their hardiness. As such, the Stronghearts are resistant to poison and have high endurance. Furthermore, this sub-class provides a +1 constitution.
Gnome
| Ability Increase | +2 Intelligence |
| Sub-Race | Deep Gnome, Forest Gnome, Rock Gnome |
Gnomes are another small race living in the world of Baldur’s Gate 3. Compared to the other two small creature races, Gnomes are slower, thanks to having reduced movement speed. However, they are an intelligent race, having +2 intelligence. Gnomes are divided into three sub-races:
- Deep Gnome: Deep Gnomes live in the Underdark, alongside the Drows. Living in the dark lets them look better in the darkness, and perform stealth skillfully. Furthermore, Deep Gnomes get +1 in dexterity.
- Forest Gnome: Smaller than their cousins and much more reclusive, Forest Gnomes are rare to find in Faerun. However, they are masters of craftsmanship and magic. Deep Gnomes receive a +1 in dexterity and darkvision.
- Rock Gnome: The most common Gnome in Faerun. They are hardy and have an affinity to metals. Furthermore, Rock Gnomes have a +1 constitution.
Half-Orc
| Ability Increase | NA |
| Sub-Race | NA |
Half-Orcs are one of the confirmed races getting added with the 1.0 launch of Baldur’s Gate 3. While the name suggests that they are born half-human and half-orc, the background and stats for the character will go live on the launch date.
Dragonheart
| Ability Increase | NA |
| Sub-Race | NA |
Another race getting added with the 1.0 launch of Baldur’s Gate 3 is Dragonheart. They are a much-anticipated race that was confirmed last month, and the necessary information will go live on the launch date.
Ash Singh
