Baldur's Gate 3's Early Access period is almost here, giving players their first look at Larian's new RPG. On October 6, players will be able to enter the game and explore Dungeons and Dragons' Forgotten Realms setting alone or with friends. Baldur's Gate 3 is based on the D&D Fifth Edition ruleset, and uses many of the same spells, races, and classes.

BG3's Early Access launch will have eight races to choose from, most of which come with additional subraces. This makes a total of 16 racial choices for players to craft their perfect character from. Next players will pick their class, of which there will be 6 at Early Access launch. Again, these are divided into subclasses, giving a total of 13 distinct choices.

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Going to the Races

baldurs gate 3 in-game visuals

With a single exception, the eight races available in the Baldur's Gate 3 Early Access are pretty standard D&D fare. As the game is heavily based on the Fifth Edition ruleset, this means we can make some assumptions about their capabilities:

  • Human: One of the two races without a subrace, Humans are tenacious, creative, and versatile, allowing them to excel with any class.
  • Elf: Dexterous and perceptive, Elves are a staple Dungeons and Dragons race with two available subraces. Wood Elves are generally more wise and stealthy, whereas High Elves are intelligent and favor wizardry.
  • Drow: The stealthy and magical Drow, or Dark Elves, are a result of a schism in the Elven pantheon. They have two subraces, each of which takes a different side in the conflict. The Seldarine Drow fight against the will of Lolth, the Spider-Queen, while the Lolth-Sworn Drow are her devoted servants.
  • Half-Elf: A result of Human and Elven relationships, Half-Elves are charismatic, versatile, and even get some Elven magic. Their two subraces are Wood Half-Elves and Drow Half-Elves, each of which picks up more traits from their respective Elven parent.
  • Dwarf: Stout, stubborn, and tough, Dwarves are a subterranean folk with two subraces available. Gold Dwarves are wise and confident, and make excellent artisans. The Shield Dwarves are more battle-themed, with a proud martial heritage.
  • Halfling: The nimble Halflings are another classic D&D race, again with two subraces. Lightfoot Halflings are stealthy and charismatic, whereas the Strongheart Halflings are surprisingly durable for their size.
  • Tiefling: The result of relationships between Fiends and Humans, the intelligent and charming Tieflings face prejudice wherever they go. They are also the only race with three subraces in Early Access: Asmodeus Tieflings are bound to the deepest layer of the Hells, and gain powers of fire and shadow. Mephistopheles Tieflings are gifted with a particular affinity for arcane magic. Finally, Zariel Tieflings are the strongest of their kind, combining martial power with searing flame.
  • Githyanki: The final playable race in BG3's Early Access period are the tough and otherworldly Githyanki. Wanderers of the Astral Plane, the Githyanki are heavily connected to the game's plot.

RELATED: Baldur's Gate 3 Confirms Minimum Requirements for Early Access Launch

A Class Act

baldur's gate 3 companion

While there are less class choices in Baldur's Gate 3 than there are races, they're sure to be more impactful in minute-to-minute gameplay. Once again, we can make some assumptions about how the various classes will play based on their Fifth Edition counterparts.

  • Cleric: Wielding divine power in the name of their god, a Cleric in Baldur's Gate 3 can heal allies and smite foes. The Light Domain subclass focuses on healing, the Light Domain on fire damage, and the Trickery Domain on stealth and cunning.
  • Fighter: The quintessential warrior class, the Fighter is the toughest martial character in the game. The Battle Master is a versatile subclass that allows the Fighter to learn special moves, while the Eldritch Knight mixes weaponry with arcane magic.
  • Ranger: Warriors of the wild, Rangers blend druidic magic, martial skill, and tracking abilities. The Hunter Ranger subclass focuses on fighting giant beasts and hordes, while the Beast Master brings a pet of their own into battle.
  • Rogue: Rogues in Baldur's Gate 3 are a stealthy, skill-orientated class able to deal huge amounts of damage in the right situation. The Arcane Trickster subclass adds magic into the mix, while the Thief specializes in stealth and acrobatics.
  • Warlock: Unlike Wizards, Warlocks gain their magical powers by entering into a pact with a powerful entity. Warlocks who have sworn themselves to the Fiend gain fiery powers, while those who deal with the Great One focus on psychic effects.
  • Wizards: The quintessential fantasy spellcaster, Wizards make up for their squishiness through their mastery of magic. School of Evocation Wizards focus mostly on destructive spells, while School of Abjuration Wizards prefer buffing and defense.

If the Early Access period of Divinity Original Sin 2 is anything to go by, we can expect Baldur's Gate 3 to remain in a pre-release state for around a year. It's almost certain that more classes will be introduced over this period, including other D&D staples like the Bard and Barbarian. Whether more races are added is less certain, as they'll require a great deal more work on Larian's part.

Baldur's Gate 3 enters early-access on October 6 for PC and Google Stadia.

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