Baldur’s Gate 3: Best Warlock Class Build

In Baldur’s Gate 3, the Warlock class is widely considered to be the easiest caster to learn and play, but that doesn’t mean it’s not powerful. Warlocks don’t have as many spell slots as other spellcasters, but they make up for that with an incredibly powerful Cantrip and access to some of the game’s best control spells.

The best Warlock builds in BG3 take advantage of these class strengths. Typically, Baldur’s Gate 3 builds are based on a subclass, which takes the form of a Patron for Warlocks. The Great Old One brings useful spells and lots of class flavor, making it the prime choice for players looking to get started on the right foot with the Warlock class.

Updated December 23, 2023 by Erik Petrovich: To make the best Warlock build BG3 players have to do two things: make the right choices for a character’s stats and spells, and equip them with the best Warlock items BG3 players can get their hands on. A previous version of this guide to the best Warlock BG3 build recommended an endgame-appropriate set of the best Warlock gear. Now, the Best Warlock Equipment section contains Act-appropriate suggestions. The previous endgame item recommendations can still be found in the Act 3 subsection of the Best Warlock Items, but now players can also find a full list of Warlock gear that can be acquired in Acts 1 and 2.

As a guide-in-progress, this BG3 best Warlock build walkthrough will be continually updated with new information on what makes the Great Old One the best Warlock build BG3 offers to players.

Warlock Class Introduction & Overview

Warlock Playstyle & Signature Abilities

“Bound by a pact to an all-powerful patron, warlocks trade their loyalty for supernatural abilities and unique magic.”

Warlocks are spellcasters whose power is derived from an external power, usually a Patron Devil or other powerful, enigmatic being. The class has access to a number of powerful spells, mostly themed around control and the powers beyond comprehension, as well as the unique Eldritch Blast cantrip that is the basis of the majority of Warlocks’ damage output. It’s this cantrip that is almost solely responsible for the Warlock being such a popular multiclass option for other classes.

Though Warlocks only have a few spell slots for the majority of the game, these slots uniquely refresh with either a Short or Long Rest. It doesn’t mean BG3 Warlock builds can be totally carefree when it comes to slinging spells in combat, but it does keep Warlocks going longer than classes that fully rely on their Spell Slots, no matter how many are available. Though Warlocks might not have the versatility of the Wizard, nor the metamagics of the Sorcerer, they do have access to unique otherworldly powers that are the envy of the other spellcaster classes.

Warlock Subclasses

• The Archfey: Can Charm, Fear, and control enemies in a variety of ways. Also grants Beguiling Defence later on, granting total Charm immunity, and Misty Step+Invisibility when hit.
• The Fiend: Focuses on dealing damage and empowering oneself through dark means. Can gain temporary Hit Points by killing enemies and greatly improve ability checks.
• The Great Old One: Grants unique controlling spells, the ability to impose Disadvantage on incoming attacks, and Mortal Reminder, which Frightens enemies with Critical Hits.

Warlock Class Proficiencies

• Warlock Armor Proficiencies: Light Armor
• Warlock Saving Throws: Charisma & Wisdom
• Warlock Skill Proficiencies: Choose from Arcana, Deception, History, Intimidation, Investigation, Nature, & Religion
• Warlock Weapon Proficiencies: Simple Weapons

Warlock Class Features – Level By Level

Warlock Spell Slots & Known Spells – Level By Level

Best BG3 Warlock Build: Great Old One Overview & Creation Tips

What Makes The Great Old One the Best BG3 Warlock Subclass?

“Warlocks bound to Eldritch beings in the Far Realms work toward inscrutable goals, gaining strange powers over entropy and the mind.”

The Great Old One Warlock is one of the best Warlock builds because of its access to powerful, battle-turning control spells that complement the class spell list. By binding oneself to a pact with the Great Old One, Warlocks gain the Mortal Reminder passive which makes enemies Frightened on crits.

At Level 1, The Great Old One gives Warlocks access to Tasha’s Hideous Laughter or Dissonant Whispers, and then at Level 3, they can use Detect Thoughts and Phantasmal Force. Playing as a Great Old One Warlock means committing nearly entirely to being a spellcaster, so only engage in combat from a distance.

The Great Old One eeks ahead of The Fiend because of its more battle-influential spells. Compared to The Archfey, many differences between the two patrons are mostly aesthetic as they both can control combat very well.

Great Old One Subclass Features – Level By Level

Best BG3 Warlock Build: Roleplay & Character Creation Choices

Best BG3 Warlock Race: Githyanki

The Githyanki are a powerful race option for a number of classes thanks to its powerful racial spells granted at levels one, three, and five, as well as the Astral Knowledge ability. Astral Knowledge grants the Warlock proficiency in one ability’s related skills, which pairs extremely well with the Warlock’s innately high Charisma. With this Githyanki racial ability, which recharges once every long rest, Warlocks have little trouble getting the results they want out of dialogue dice rolls.

The Githyanki give Warlocks an improved Mage Hand from level 1, the ability to improve party member’s Jump distance at Level 3, and the Misty Step skill at Level 5 – three extremely useful abilities. Githyanki also give Warlocks armor proficiencies the class wouldn’t normally have access to, namely light and medium armor, to further improve their defensive capabilities. It’s really an all-in-one race that’s hard to pass up in favor of another, weaker option.

Best BG3 Warlock Proficiencies and Background: Sage

The Sage gains Advantage on Arcana and History checks, which complements a Warlock’s own RP choices during dialogues. These are both Intelligence checks, an Ability Score that Warlocks don’t generally put a lot of effort into developing.

Gaining Proficiency with these two skills knocks out two of the default choices for Warlocks, leaving Deception, Intimidation, Nature, Insight, and Religion. Choose Deception and Insight for their relatively high frequency of ability checks during dialogues.

Best BG3 Eldritch Invocations: Agonizing Blast & Repelling Blast

At Level 2, all Warlocks get to choose two Eldritch Invocations, unique abilities that can grant passive or active skills. At Level 2, only a few Eldritch Invocations are available to choose from, but as Warlocks level up more powerful options become available. Even from this starting point, though, Warlocks can pick up two incredibly powerful passives: Agonizing Blast, and Repelling Blast, both of which empower the Warlock’s iconic cantrip Eldritch Blast.

Eldritch Blast is the Warlock’s bread and butter, and Agonizing Blast outright increases the damage of Eldritch Blast by the Warlock’s Charisma modifier. This affects each hit, so at later levels when Warlocks get two or three Eldritch Blast beams with each cast, it becomes a seriously powerful spell.

Repelling Blast, on the other hand, doesn’t improve the damage of Eldritch Blast. Instead, it gives it the ability to push targets by 4.5m in the opposite direction they are hit. Be sure to position the Warlock correctly so that enemies hit can be reliably pushed off of ledges and into chasms practically for free.

Best Warlock Ability Scores & Stat Distribution

Feats, Spells, & Leveling Choices For Great Old One Warlocks

Best Warlock Equipment: Armor & Accessories

This section covers the best equipment for Great Old One Warlocks in BG3 across all three Acts. Some pieces from early Acts may still be powerful in later ones, though, and will remain equipped through several Acts.

• Items with bolded names are new options for the build in each Act, and may replace older pieces of equipment.
• Items with unbolded names must be acquired in earlier Acts, but are strong enough that they don’t need to be replaced in Acts 2 or 3.

Best Great Old One Warlock Items & Equipment: Act 1

Best Great Old One Warlock Items & Equipment: Act 2

Best Great Old One Warlock Items & Equipment: Act 3

Best Warlock Multiclass Choices & Builds

Players can choose to Multiclass beginning at Level 2. Look for the “Add Class” button on the top right of the level up overview menu – this will open up a new menu where players can choose one of any other class in Baldur’s Gate 3 when selected.

Bard Multiclass – Warlock 10/Bard 2

The Warlock, being a Charisma-based caster, tends to do very well when it comes to rolling dice in conversations and crowd controlling enemies. Though speccing into Bard doesn’t necessarily improve the Warlock’s damage output, by putting just one point into this class, a Warlock can provide even more utility to the party through the Song of Rest and Bardic Inspiration abilities. Two levels grants the Jack of All Trades feature, which grants the player Expertise in two additional skills – perfect for dialogue checks.

Song of Rest gives an extra short rest, which gives the Warlock another way to refresh their limited spell slots, while Bardic Inspiration can be used for some useful support skills. Multiclassing as a Bard and a Warlock makes CC a key part of the character’s spell list, so plan to stand back and set up plays for allies rather than getting involved in the fighting first-hand.

Make sure this character is the party’s “main” character to take advantage of its strong dialogue skills.

Sorcerer Multiclass – Warlock 9/Sorcerer 3

By putting three levels into the Sorcerer class as a Warlock, players unlock the powerful Metamagic system and two charges, which can greatly improve the class’ ability to deal damage with Eldritch Blast. Metamagic lets Warlocks use Quickened Spell and Twinned Spell to great effect, adding additional Eldritch Blast casts or damage, and opening up the potential for a Warlock to double-cast spells like Haste.

Additionally, both classes rely on Charisma, and can both take advantage of a player’s high CHA stat without forcing them to invest in others. Three levels in Sorcerer lets players choose a Sorcerer subclass. In this case, the best option is the Draconic Bloodline, because it adds HP and increases Unarmored AC to 13. Many multiclass options grant additional armor proficiencies, but not the Sorcerer.