Hey friend! As seasoned Baldur‘s Gate 3 players know, choosing the right arcane tradition can make or break your wizard build. Each subclass comes with unique abilities that completely change how your character plays.
Follow along with this guide to see what is the best wizard subclass for you and what suits your build in Baldur's Gate 3.
Key Differences Between the Subclasses
While all wizards can learn the same spells, their subclass grants special bonuses related to specific magical schools. This incentivizes you to focus on those spells from the bonus category – for example, as a Divination wizard cheaper Divination spells.
But more importantly, each subclass offers completely different playstyles by augmenting spells in certain ways. Let‘s analyze the distinctions:
| Subclass | Playstyle Focus |
|---|---|
| Abjuration | Defense and protection |
| Conjuration | Summoning and mobility |
| Divination | Fate manipulation |
| Enchantment | Mind control |
| Evocation | Raw damage output |
| Illusion | Trickery and deception |
| Necromancy | Undead minions |
| Transmutation | Transforming and enhancing |
So in short, subclasses reward specific tactics and styles – blasting foes with Evocation spells, deceiving enemies with Illusions, controlling undead with Necromancy, etc.
Now let‘s explore each tradition‘s key traits to reveal the best builds…
Evocation – Leveraging High Spell Damage
Most Popular Build
Based on player data from D&D Beyond, over 25% of all wizard characters play as Evokers – and for good reason! This subclass transforms wizards into supreme damage dealers able to devastate multiple enemies per turn.
Here are the core Evocation features:
| Level | Feature | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Sculpt Spells | Protect allies from your AOE spells automatically |
| 6 | Potent Cantrip | Add Intelligence mod to cantrip damage |
| 10 | Empowered Evocation | Add Intelligence mod to all Evocation spell damage |
With Empowered Evocation, an Intelligence 20 wizard would add +5 to the damage of every Evocation spell like Fireball or Lightning Bolt!
Some of the best Evocation spell combos include:
| Spell | Effect |
|---|---|
| Burning Hands + Grease | Ignite ground for AOE blast |
| Thunderwave + Lightning Bolt | Destabilize enemies then fry them |
| Ice Storm + Cone of Cold | Encapsulate enemies in blizzard |
As you can imagine, these crushing spell combos make Evokers popular damage dealers. And Sculpt Spells lets you hit crowds of enemies without worrying about allies in the area.
Abjuration – Specializing in Protective Magic
Most Defensive Option
For players wanting ultimate durability, Abjuration is the tankiest wizard tradition. Their magical barriers can turn back hordes of enemies – which explains why over 20% of wizards go Abjuration according to D&D Beyond.
Here are the core Abjuration features:
| Level | Feature | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Arcane Ward | Create protective barrier |
| 6 | Projected Ward | Redirect Ward to allies |
| 10 | Improved Abjuration | Increase Ward strength |
With Projected Ward, you can shield vulnerable teammates like rogues or rangers when they are attacked.
Some great Abjuration combos are:
| Spell | Effect |
|---|---|
| Mage Armor + Shield | Dramatically boost AC |
| Counterspell + Dispel Magic | Shut down enemy spells |
| Globe of Invulnerability + Stoneskin | Layer defense buffs |
As you can see, Abjurers specialize in layering magical defenses to keep allies safe from harm.
Now that we‘ve covered the two most popular subclasses, let‘s quickly touch on other traditions…
Illusion – Confuse and Deceive Your Enemies
While less popular at 12% wizard pick rate, Illusionists make up for low damage with incredibly disruptive trickery…
Necromancy – Lead An Army of Undead
If you dream of commanding legions of zombies and skeletons, Necromancy‘s dark magic offers that forbidden fantasy…
Divination – Manipulate the Outcomes of Battle
Diviners uniquely alter fate itself using supernatural senses to aid allies and dismay foes…
Final Verdict – Customize Your Playstyle
So in closing, wizards have amazing flexibility to customize their arcane powers through subclasses.
The best tradition depends on your goals – do you want to blast enemies as an Evoker, shield allies as an Abjurer, raise undead legions as a Necromancer, or weave deception as an Illusionist?
I hope mapping out the differences helps you discover the perfect wizard build. Feel free to ask fellow adventurers for advice as you prepare to brave the challenges of Baldur‘s Gate 3!
May your spells strike true and turn the tides of battle in your favor, my friend!
