Latest Major Patch for Baldur's Gate 3: Key Details Revealed

On January 28, the closed stress test for Patch 8 of Baldur’s Gate 3 kicked off on both PC and consoles, marking the final major update for this critically acclaimed game. This significant patch introduces 12 new subclasses, cross-play functionality across platforms, and a sophisticated photo mode, elevating the gaming experience to new heights.

Table of Content

• New Subclasses in Baldur’s Gate 3
• Sorcerer: Shadow Magic
• Warlock: Pact Blade
• Cleric: Death Domain
• Wizard: Blade Song
• Druid: Circle of Stars
• Barbarian: Path of the Giant
• Fighter: Mystic Archer
• Monk: Drunken Master
• Rogue: Swashbuckler
• Bard: College of Glamour
• Ranger: Swarmkeeper
• Paladin: Oath of the Crown
• Photo Mode
• Cross-Play
• Gameplay, Combat, and Story Improvements

New Subclasses in Baldur’s Gate 3

Each of the twelve classes in Baldur’s Gate 3 receives a unique subclass, each with fresh spells, dialogues, and visual effects, enhancing the depth and diversity of gameplay.

Sorcerer: Shadow Magic

Embrace the darkness with the Shadow Magic subclass, which allows sorcerers to summon a hellhound to immobilize foes and cloak themselves in a veil of darkness, visible only to themselves. At level 11, they can teleport between shadows, adding a tactical edge to their arsenal.

Warlock: Pact Blade

Warlocks with the Pact Blade subclass forge a pact with a Shadowfell entity, enabling them to enchant a weapon from level 1. By level 3, they can enchant another, and at level 5, they can strike three times per turn, a feature that might seem overpowered or even buggy!

Image: x.com

Cleric: Death Domain

Clerics in the Death Domain specialize in necrotic spells that ignore enemy resistances, enabling them to resurrect the dead or even cause corpses to explode. This subclass is perfect for players who prefer a darker twist on the traditional religious role without the focus on healing.

Wizard: Blade Song

Wizards with the Blade Song subclass become formidable in melee combat. Activating Blade Song provides ten turns to gather special charges through attacks and spells, which can then be used to heal allies or damage enemies, offering versatile combat strategies.

Druid: Circle of Stars

Druids of the Circle of Stars can switch between constellations, gaining bonuses that allow them to adapt to various battlefield roles, significantly enhancing their versatility and effectiveness.

Barbarian: Path of the Giant

Barbarians on the Path of the Giant can enter a rage that increases their size and throwing damage, adding fire or lightning effects. Their weapons return to them after being thrown, with additional bonuses to throwing skills and carrying capacity.

Image: x.com

Fighter: Mystic Archer

Mystic Archers combine magic and archery, firing enchanted arrows that can blind, deal psychic damage, or banish opponents to another dimension. This subclass brings a touch of traditional elven combat to the battlefield.

Monk: Drunken Master

Monks with the Drunken Master subclass rely on alcohol-induced strength to deliver devastating physical blows. Enemies hit by the monk become more vulnerable to subsequent attacks, making them formidable fighters.

Rogue: Swashbuckler

Swashbucklers embody the pirate archetype, excelling in close combat with dirty tricks like throwing sand to blind, quick thrusts to disarm, or taunts to demoralize opponents. A perfect fit for fans of Astarion.

Bard: College of Glamour

Bards of the College of Glamour are the rock stars of the Forgotten Realms, using their charisma to charm enemies into submission—making them flee, approach, freeze, fall down, or drop their weapons.

Image: x.com

Ranger: Swarmkeeper

Swarmkeepers, akin to beekeepers, command hordes of tiny creatures to debuff enemies. The swarms come in three types: bee swarms to repel, honey swarms to stun with shock, and moth swarms to blind opponents. Switching swarm types is only possible upon leveling up.

Paladin: Oath of the Crown

Paladins following the Oath of the Crown are the epitome of lawfulness and righteousness. They gain abilities that boost allies, draw enemy attention, and absorb damage, making them the ultimate tank-like subclass focused on team-based play.

Photo Mode

The long-awaited photo mode comes with extensive camera settings and advanced post-processing effects, allowing players to capture high-quality screenshots of their adventures.

Image: x.com

Cross-Play

Cross-platform multiplayer is now available across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Windows, and Mac. The closed stress test was launched to fine-tune this functionality, ensuring a seamless and bug-free experience for players.

Gameplay, Combat, and Story Improvements

Patch 8 brings numerous enhancements to the game:

• Successfully detecting items during Perception checks now marks them on the mini-map and logs them in the battle journal.
• Fixed an issue where certain ally abilities weren’t properly displayed after dialogue in the High Hall.
• Items like scrolls and potions inside unlocked containers can now be used during conversations.
• Neutral and friendly NPCs no longer become hostile when stepping on surfaces created during combat.
• Resolved a bug causing characters to get stuck climbing stairs occupied by companions.
• Fixed an issue with moving platforms in the Shan Trial location, preventing characters from falling to their deaths.
• Corrected a glitch where neutral NPCs would initiate combat without cause.
• Keris will stop engaging in unnecessary fights with Mintara.
• Resolved a loading screen freeze at 0% when joining modded multiplayer sessions.
• Improved server performance in the Adamantine Forge.
• Fixed an issue where you could tell Astarion that Gandrel was looking for him, even if Gandrel refused to reveal his target.
• Mintara no longer gets stuck while watching over Taniel in Act 2.
• Your character will no longer mistakenly believe Shadohurt is dead if she isn’t.
• Discovered merchants will now appear on the world map regardless of distance.

Image: x.com

Patch 8 for Baldur’s Gate 3 is slated for release in February or early March 2025. After this update, Larian Studios will shift its focus to bug fixes, with no further major updates planned.