Introduction
Githyanki are an interesting race with a long history in real-world DnD lore, dating back to at least 2nd edition when Planescape widened canonical DnD lore’s view of the multiverse and presented multiverse-spanning conflicts like that between the Githyanki and the Mind Flayers.
Baldur’s Gate 3’s Githyanki give players an interesting mix of proficiencies and innate spellcasting, making them arguably the strongest race in the game. Their traits are broadly useful across most classes, and while not every class benefits evenly, every class gets something. Because the Githyanki’s traits are so good, other races like the Half-Elf, Human, the Mountain Dwarf are often outright worse than the Githyanki when considering the same class.
Lae’zel, one of the NPC companion characters, is a Githyanki. Githyanki clerics have the unique option to select Vlaakith as their deity.
Table of Contents
Disclaimer
RPGBOT uses a color coding scheme to rate individual character options.
- : Bad, useless options, or options which are extremely situational. Nearly never useful.
- : OK options, or useful options that only apply in rare circumstances. Useful sometimes.
- : Good options. Useful often.
- : Fantastic options, often essential to the function of your character. Useful very frequently.
RPGBOT is fan content published under Larian’s Fan Content Policy. This is not official content, and RPGBOT has no official relationship with Larian.
Githyanki Traits
With innate spellcasting, armor and weapon proficiencies, and skill proficiencies via Astral Knowledge, the Githyanki’s traits provide a perfect mix of benefits that is broadly useful for every class in the game.
- : Standard.
- : Proficiency in as many as 5 skills if you choose Intelligence or Wisdom, and you can change the selection on a Long Rest. Changing proficiencies daily is a neat trick, but realistically you’ll get more use out of choosing an ability score and sticking to that for the whole game. This allows you to avoid spending permanent proficiencies on those skills.
- : Mage Hand is useful for all sorts of shenanigans like pulling levers, shoving enemies, and sometimes entering small holes intended for things like wild shaped druids or characters in gaseous form. Enhanced Leap is great for getting across obstacles like chasms and difficult terrain. Misty Step is arguably the most impactful tactical movement spell in the game, allowing you to travel long distances safely without worry about opportunity attacks, hazards, or enemies and all without consuming your Bonus Action.
- : Swords, light armor, medium armor. Medium armor is a huge boost in AC for many characters, especially in the early game before those characters get access to powerful armor/clothing intended for their class like magic robes for wizards. Weapon proficiencies aren’t universally useful since most classes get any proficiencies that they might reasonably use, but melee Clerics that don’t get martial weapon proficiencies and Pact of the Blade Warlocks will both get some use out of them.
Classes
Barbarian
The Barbarian benefits the least from the Githyanki’s traits. You can’t cast spells while raging and the armor and weapon proficiencies are redundant. You can still get some use out of the innate spellcasting and Astral Knowledge, but other classes will benefit more.
Bard
Access to medium armor without going for College of Valor, plus the additional spellcasting to diversify your options, plus Astral Knowledge to complement the Bard’s already excellent skills. Excellent all around.
Cleric
The innate spellcasting includes options not available to the Cleric, and Astral Knowledge will improve your limited skill capabilities. Access to better weapons will be useful for any cleric hoping to stand in melee.
Druid
The innate spellcasting includes options not available to the Druid, and Astral Knowledge will improve your limited skill capabilities. The weapon proficiencies provide a decent Finesse weapon with the Shortsword, but you may find that magic staves and other items tailored for the Druid are more effective.
Fighter
The innate spellcasting offers some much-needed utility and mobility for melee fighters, and Astral Knowledge will improve your limited skill capabilities.
Baldur’s Gate 3 includes numerous magic items which seem to be tailor-made for Githyanki Eldritch Knights. These items won’t remain powerful long enough that it should dictate your build, but they’re nice for a few levels.
Monk
The innate spellcasting is nice, but with the Monk’s speed you may not get much benefit from Enhanced Leap and Misty Step. Astral Knowledge makes it much easier to replace a rogue by allowing you to focus on Dexterity-based skills.
Paladin
The innate spellcasting offers some much-needed utility and mobility, and Astral Knowledge will improve your skill options so that you can go beyond Face skills.
Ranger
The innate spellcasting offers some much-needed utility and mobility, and Astral Knowledge will improve your limited skill capabilities so that you can more easily replace a Rogue with a Ranger.
Rogue
Medium armor isn’t always useful, but there are some armors that allow you to add your full Dexterity modifier, allowing you to reach an incredibly high AC. Astral Knowledge gives you ever more skills.
Sorcerer
Medium armor provides some much-needed protection at low levels, and the innate spellcasting lets you stretch your spell slots further throughout the day. Astral Knowledge will improve your skill options so that you can go beyond Face skills.
Warlock
Medium armor provides some much-needed protection at low levels, and the innate spellcasting lets you stretch your spell slots further throughout the day. Astral Knowledge will improve your skill options so that you can go beyond Face skills.
Wizard
Medium armor provides some much-needed protection at low levels, and the innate spellcasting lets you stretch your spell slots further throughout the day, though the granted spells are on your spell list and Enhanced Leap is a ritual. Astral Knowledge may not be especially useful since there are so few Intelligence-based skills.
