BG3 Human Handbook: Baldur’s Gate 3 Race Guide – RPGBOT

Introduction

Humans in Baldur’s Gate are mechanically distinct from the tabletop rules. Variant Humans simply don’t exist, and the base human’s traits have been entirely rewritten. The Human’s signature trait is Civil Militia, which offers proficiency in some armor, shields, and some weapons. This is tempting for classes like wizards which don’t get those things, but it also means that the majority of classes gain almost nothing from the Human’s traits.

While some may overlook humans as the boring option in a magical world full of fantasy races, that shouldn’t stop you from playing one. Sometimes it’s fun to play the “straight man” in a party full of oddballs.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Disclaimer
• Human Traits
• Classes
  • Barbarian
  • Bard
  • Cleric
  • Druid
  • Fighter
  • Monk
  • Paladin
  • Ranger
  • Rogue
  • Sorcerer
  • Warlock
  • Wizard

Disclaimer

RPGBOT uses a color coding scheme to rate individual character options.

• Red: Bad, useless options, or options which are extremely situational. Nearly never useful.
• Orange: OK options, or useful options that only apply in rare circumstances. Useful sometimes.
• Green: Good options. Useful often.
• Blue: 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.

Human Traits

• Base Racial Speed: 9 m / 30 ft: Standard.
• Civil Militia: The weapon proficiencies likely aren’t useful, but light armor and shields can be a helpful addition for many classes which have poor AC (sorcerers, wizards, etc.). However, remember that those classes will often find magic items which fill your hands and/or armor slot which will be more appealing later in the game, and for classes that already get these proficiencies you’re not benefiting from half of your racial traits.
• Human Versatility: An additional skill proficiency. Most characters get proficieny in just 4 skills, so a 5th is great. You also increase your carrying capacity, but in a game where you can magically send items back to camp, that doesn’t matter unless you’re hauling items like exploding barrels.

Classes

Barbarian

Your traits are effectively reduced to a single additional skill proficiency.

Bard

Bards already get proficiency with light armor, but don’t get shields unless you take Valor Bard, so for other bards you’ll benefit from the shield proficiency.

Cleric

Your traits are effectively reduced to a single additional skill proficiency.

Druid

Your traits are effectively reduced to a single additional skill proficiency.

Fighter

Your traits are effectively reduced to a single additional skill proficiency.

Monk

Monks can’t use armor or shields even if you get proficiency, so your traits are effectively reduced to a single additional skill proficiency.

Paladin

Your traits are effectively reduced to a single additional skill proficiency.

Ranger

Your traits are effectively reduced to a single additional skill proficiency.

Rogue

Two-weapon fighting is excellent for rogues, but proficiency with shields is still great. If your rogue prefers to fight at range, they still benefit from a shield’s bonus to AC as long as one is equipped.

Sorcerer

Sorcerers can cast Mage Armor, but it consumes a precious spell known. Light armor and a shield will boost your AC considerably, but you might skip armor and get Mage Armor via Camp Casting.

Warlock

Warlocks get light armor already and they can cast Mage Armor via the Armor of Shadows invocation, but it’s really not worth the cost of an invocation. A shield will boost your AC considerably, which is great for Pact of the Blade builds.

Wizard

Light armor and a shield will boost your AC considerably, but you might skip armor and get Mage Armor via Camp Casting.