Summary

Players who want to experience the story ofBaldur’s Gate 3without interrupting the world of Faerun with their custom character can rely on one of the game’sOrigin Charactersto get the job done. Similar toDivinity Original 2, which was also created byBaldur’s Gate 3devs at Larian Studios, Origin Characters are playable characters that function as companions but also work as main player characters. Possessing their own personality and narrative, Origin Characters significantly impact the overall outcome ofBaldur’s Gate 3.

However, withseven Origin Charactersavailable, players may have difficulty choosing who to play as the character in their first playthrough. After all, this main character becomes the star of theBaldur’s Gate 3story, but which character represents the best parts of the game for the best first impressions?

Gale the Wizard in Baldur’s Gate 3

Updated on April 3rd, 2025, by Rhenn Taguiam:As players brace themselves for the 12 new Subclasses about to arrive in Baldur’s Gate 3 gameplay, players of the acclaimed Larian Studios title are likely going to get wild trying to get their new characters to find ways of “breaking” the game with all-powerful builds. However, players might want to consider selecting the most ideal character they can play with, especially since the game considers a lot of options for storylines and endings depending on the player’s Origin of choice and the way they interact with the game. On top of choosing who are the best party members and things to do in Act 1 of the game, players may also want to try out another “variant” of their chosen Origin’s theme so their favorite characters don’t get shelved in specific archetypes and roles. Players can have a lot more fun seeing Wyll exact divine vengeance, Shadowheart having a little more cunning, Astarion calling the forces of darkness, and Lae’zel letting loose her inner beast - among others.

Human, Wizard

Notable Traits

Netherese Orb (needs to regularly consume Magic Items or may die)

D&Dplayers know that Wizards have a reputation for making things go boom, particularly with a devastating Fireball. OriginGalemakes for a decent introduction to the Class. As the resident Wizard among the available Origins, he immediately gives players access to some of the game’s most versatile Spells.

Gale can become an Evocation Wizard in Baldur’s Gate 3

While players have the option of tinkering with Gale’s eventual Class and build, having a status effect in place whenever he gets hungry for Magic Items can make him a bit of a drag. Sincesome magic itemsare both useful and hard to come by, it can be difficult for new players to sacrifice valuable trinkets to satiate Gale’s hunger, especially when going unfed can pose a Disadvantage to his various Actions.

Player Considerations For Gale In Act 1

When players begin their playthrough as Gale, they are immediately confronted with a horrible reality: Gale has to consume Magic Items, or something terrible will happen. For first-timers, this can be a rather tricky situation - some of the first Magic Items in the game can be among the most powerful they can obtain for a while, such as the Everburn Blade. Would these items be worth sacrificing? While the Everburn Blade is a must-keep, other Magic Items players obtain through regular means throughout the Act are open season for Gale’s consumption. The only recommended ones to keep are either Rare (Blue) items or Uncommon (Green) items that are directly related to a current build the players are using.

Gale’s default class as aWizardworks best, especially given his backstory involving the arcane. The Wizard remains one of the most versatile classes inBaldur’s Gate 3given their access to a large roster of spells.

As far as subclassing goes, turning Gale into anEvocation Wizardis the most practical choice. This gives him access to massive firepower across his character progression. Given the difficulty of some encounters inBG3, havingaccess to damaging spellsat the onset can let players eliminate threats with relative ease

Gale as an Eldritch Knight

Recommend 1st Class: Eldritch Knight

A surprising reveal about the story of Gale in Baldur’s Gate 3 is his breakup with the Goddess Mistral that involves quite a bombshell - a literal Mana Bomb, to be exact. This awkward encounter between the Wizard and the very Goddess of Magic aside, players can transform Gale into a character outside his magical archetyping and focus in his heartbreak - specifically an Eldritch Knight.

This will allow players to enjoy Gale’s magically-charged story arc while having a character capable of holding off on his own in the battlefield without requiring a lot of frontline support.

Gale casting a spell in Baldur’s Gate 3

Best Skills To Prioritize For Gale

Gale’s riveting backstory involving a failed love and the gripping potential of mass deaths make him someone easy to sympathize with. And with his scholarly training, Gale is easily the go-to guy for all things magic. Ensuring this in-game requires that he has access to the following Skills:

High Elf, Rogue

Vampire, Vampire Bite (2d4 Piercing, Humanoid Target becomes Bloodless while Astarion becomes Happy)

Aside from being the resident seduction mascot ofBaldur’s Gate 3, the charmingAstarionspices up gameplaywith his nature as a vampire. The Mindflayer parasite somehow allows him to survive in daylight, providing a layer of intrigue separate from his vampiric origins. He gives players a look into the depth of character development present in the Larian Studios title.

Astarion the Rogue in Baldur’s Gate 3

His default Class, Rogue, grants Astarion access to an expanded skillset that gives players opportunities to overcome RPG hiccups such as traps, locked objects, and even Stealth. This also encourages experimentation with gameplay elements such as Sneak Attacks, incentivizing more creative ways to play. While Astarion can complicate relationships with his preference for violent solutions, this also provides unique interactions with other characters.

Player Considerations For Astarion In Act 1

When players use Astarion for their playthrough, they are immediately met with Astarion’s astonishment that he can finally walk in daylight unscathed. However, Astarion constantly grapples with the thought of revealing his true nature to his allies, fearing what they might think of him. Whereas Astarion as a Companion reveals his nature as a Vampire when he attempts to bite the player, players using Astarion are actually given a choice. Players have three ways of revealing Astarion’s nature as a Vampire to allies: he can choose to try and bite someone at night, confess his true nature to another Companion, or Bite an enemy within the vicinity of his allies.

TheRoguefits Astarion’s personality and his nature as a vampire. The Rogue is perhaps the one Class (aside from the Bard) that has access to the most Skill Proficiencies, making Astarion a jack of all trades. This makes the Rogue a worthwhile first Class, as there’s no need to shuffle between multiple party memberswhen dealing with the environment.

For his subclass, despite the versatility of the Arcane Trickster, theThief Rogueis the most straightforward choice. Sneak Attacks and Cunning Actions allow Astarion to become a more proactive member in combat without having to worry about which abilities to use.

Astarion the Rogue in Baldur’s Gate 3

Recommend 1st Class: Great Old One Warlock

Fans might be surprised to learn that Astatrion, in all his charm, is actually initially designated as a Rogue. And while he gets a dedicated storyline as a vampire inBaldur’s Gate 3, his backstory might not be as front and center compared to the others’, as players may have thought. One interesting spin to this would be transforming Astarion into a Great Old One Warlock, replacing his Rogue stealthiness with the innate utility of the CHA Class.

The obscurity attached to the eldritch components of the Great Old One can make for the perfect backdrop to Astarion’s story, as the mystifying elements of his character become more apparent.

Astarion as Great Old One Warlock

Best Skills To Prioritize For Astarion

Despite having access to some of the best quips and comebacks in the game, Astarion’s initial build as a Rogue means he’s not as adept at conversations as players may want him to be - at least, in a mechanical sense. Should players have a chance to respec or tweak his character, the most ideal Skills to improve are:

The Blade of Frontiers (Rapier Proficiency)

Despite his initial appearance as a swashbuckler,Wyllmakes a surprising debut as a Warlock inBaldur’s Gate 3. Being a person who taps into power provided by a Patron, selecting Wyll as one’s main Origin already implies interactions with an unseen force, making it interesting to see their perspective toward the Mindflayer invasion. Moreover, Wyll actively chasing fellow Origin Karlach prior to the story also sets up unique interactions between them.

Wyll’s classification as a Warlock gives him fewer spells compared to Wizards and Sorcerers, but he can also defend himself with weapons. A limited spell list can make it easier for fans to understandD&Dspellcasting mechanicswithout sacrificing creative options. His inclination towards Charisma can make him quite the ideal first character, covering the dialogue needs in the game.

Astarion in Baldur’s Gate 3

Player Considerations For Wyll In Act 1

When players use Wyll for their playthrough, they are confronted with their immediate “debt” to their Patron, Mizora. This places Wyll front and center to a lot of the more “infernal” activities in the game - a lot of which will make themselves apparent as early as Act 1. There will be an encounter in the game where Wyll is asked to either kill or spare a potential Companion. If players want to keep the said Companion, they have to spare her despite suffering a consequence. Should they decide to kill said Companion, they are granted a powerful sword.

Wyll’s interesting backstory makes it ideal for the swordsman to pursue theWarlockfor an initial playthrough. The Warlock establishes a decent middle ground between thehyper-versatile Wizardand the straightforward Fighter.

As aFiend Warlock, eventual Feats can help Wyll avoid death (Dark One’s Blessing). He can also get a pseudo-Bardic Inspiration once per Short Rest (Dark One’s Own Luck) on top of more powerful weapon attacks (Pact of the Blade).

Wyll the Warlock in Baldur’s Gate 3

Recommend 1st Class: Oath Of Vengeance Paladin

A renowned folk hero like Wyll being revealed as a Warlock with a dark past makes for an interesting character inBaldur’s Gate 3, and his access to effective utility makes him a much-needed asset to teams. However, fans who want to add a bit of challenge to their playthroughs can set up Wyll as an Oath of Vengeance Paladin, with the headcanon that his contract with Mizora was an unfortunate setup that constantly questions Wyll’s morals.

Not only is this a decent way to eventually transition Wyll into an Oathbreaker (should players want to), but his more damage-charged toolkit can help Wyll dish out more damage in the battlefield as opposed to the Warlock’s unnecessary flexibility.

A close up of Wyll the Warlock in Baldur’s Gate 3

Best Skills To Prioritize For Wyll

Wyll’s naturally high CHA Mod means he’s built perfectly to become the team’s Face. As a player character, this makes Wyllideal for most conversations. However, players may want to ensure that Wyll can have access to both equal dialogue and battlefield opportunities with the following skills:

Zariel Tiefling, Barbarian

Hellish Resistance (Fire Resistance), Infernal Fury (via Soul Coins, +1d4 Fire Damage when Raging or

Karlachthe Tiefling makesan idealBaldur’s Gate 3companiondue to her stakes in both the story and the world of Faerun at large. Act 1 of the campaign already puts Karlach at a crossroads, as she’s forced to mediate a conflict between her kind and Druids; meanwhile, fellow Origin Wyll is out for her blood. The reveal (and active mention) of Tieflings being discriminated against in the Forgotten Realmsalso makes for an interesting character development opportunity between Karlach and the people she talks to. Players who choose her and opt for her ideal Class, the Barbarian, also get access to quite a decent tank. Unlike the straightforward Fighter, the Barbarian can teach first-time players how to balance gameplay elements such as Rage and Unarmored Defense, maximizing damage output without being overwhelmed by spellcasting rules.

Player Considerations For Karlach In Act 1

A frequent complaint about Karlach’s story as an Origin is how many of her interactions seem to be more of a catalyst to another character’s own journey, and most of her story pays off too far into the main game. This can play to the advantage of newcomers, as Karlach has a more straightforward tale to tell compared to the more complex questlines of other Origins. Karlach also has the advantage of constant voice-over narration, giving players more insights about her thoughts in a more auditory fashion compared to other Origins who become subdued as player characters.

Karlach’s sheer “chill ferocity” makes her a lovable Companion, and her “can-do” attitude makes her fit theBarbarianClass. However, whereas the game suggests she take the Wild Heart Subclass, a first playthrough could benefit better from theBerserker Barbarian.

Compared to the former’s situational perks, the Berserker Barbarian improves Karlach’s Rage (Frenzy) by giving her access to more damaging attacks (Frenzied Strike) and enhanced throws (Enraged Throw). For players who want astraightforward attacker-tankwithout the complex options tied to the Warrior and Monk, Karlach as a Barbarian is a must-try.

Recommend 1st Class: Circle of the Moon Druid

As a former member of Mizora’s demonic legions, the Tiefling Karlach has a settle to score with Wyll’s Warlock Patron. And while Karlach turns out to be much sweeter than her rather burly exterior, players can also get her out of her initial Barbarian setup and try something rather radical - like building her as a Circle of the Moon Druid.

This might seem far out of left field for some, but the thematic imagery of Karlach discarding her demonic heritage to embrace the calm of nature can be a sight to behold - especially with the trajectory of her story.

Best Skills To Prioritize For Karlach

Despite Karlach’s quest for vengeance, her naturally kind and protective nature makes her among the perfect tanks in the game. With this in mind, building her STR as well as specific Skills can make her an ideal protector on the battlefield.

Fear of Wolves (WIS Save near Wolves or become Frightened)

Players who want a more “local” flavor to their firstBG3experience may want to chooseShadowheartas their first Origin character. She’s one of the first characters players will encounter in the game, and her amnesiac nature can help her become the reader-insert that can immerse players in both Faerun culture and Shadowheart’s eventual significance to the plot.

Shadowheart’s preferred Class, the Cleric, can transform her into one of the most reliable characters in a combat setting. Having immediate access to healing spells on top of being bulky can give players the flexibility to choose other companions and customize them as they see fit, providing leeway for early-party tinkering.

Player Considerations For Shadowheart In Act 1

Playing as Shadowheart means awakening alone in the Nautiloid, with the Mysterious Artifact nearby. When she gets brought to the Ravaged Beach, Shadowheart can fight hard against two Intellect Devourers (instead of the usual three), although she can climb the rocks on the right of the field to escape. When Shadowheart traverses near the Mountain Pass, she realizes parties are out to retrieve her Mysterious Artifact. This cannot happen. A Companion will confront her about it, and a cutscene can happen when left unresolved. It’s advised to make Shadowheart try the Noblestalk from the Underdark and explore the outskirts of the Abandoned Refuge in the same location.

Since the main set of Origins lacks a natural healer, designating Shadowheart as aClericensures that the team possesses at least some way to survive tough encounters.

While Shar’s domain of darkness ties Shadowheart to the story as a Trickery Cleric, a first playthrough could use her as aLife Clericto support the rest of the team. The Life Cleric focuses heavily onsecuring the team’s survivability, possessing a wide array of buffing and healing spells that ensure the party can take care of the fiercest threats.

Recommend 1st Class: Arcane Trickster Rogue

While the core of the Shadowheart story in Baldur’s Gate 3 involves coming to terms with her relationship with the Goddess Shar, this can still happen without Shadowheart always having to become a Cleric.

As Shar controls the Domain of Trickery, Shadowheart and her unique charm could work as an Arcane Trickster Rogue - giving the party a snarky and sarcastic Rogue who can dispatch foes before they can even react to her presence.

Best Skills To Prioritize For Shadowheart

While Shadowheart begins the game with no idea about her real past, her training as a Cleric of Shar gives her unprecedented knowledge of both religion and the occult. She can capitalize on this backstory with the following Skills:

Player-dependent Bonuses

Larian Studios givesBG3players the option to create a Custom Origin character, much like inDivinity: Original Sin 2. However,BG3takes things up a notch withThe Dark Urge.This Custom Origin template has a completely different story compared to the traditional “foreigner in a foreign land” take on the typical custom option.np

While remaining customizable, the Dark Urge has plenty of unique dialogue options and a much darker story route, which can be perfect for players who want a little chaos in theirplaythrough. Although decisions for the Dark Urge fall on the grittier side of the RPG spectrum, their approach to story events is different enough that they’re worthy of a wild first playthrough or a radical second round for the overall game.

Player Considerations For The Dark Urge In Act 1

While the Dark Urge begins similarly to a Custom Origin, the players are immediately plagued with immense bloodlust. This constantly becomes a narrative interruption throughout the experience, especially frequently in Act One. When players encounter a musically inclined NPC north of the Emerald Grove, a chain of events will help the Dark Urge tap into their deeper urges - advancing the rest of their story. Players who want a character with some ties to the first two games are advised to try the Dark Urge, as their story beats are often callbacks to the prior Baldur’s Gate entries.

Compared to the traditional “protagonist-coded” Custom Origin, the Dark Urge’s murderous impulses set them up for a darker story that even the former’s “evil-aligned” choices can’t surpass. With their lack of a standard appearance, players may instead want to consider sticking with the originalDragonbornoption. Perhaps choose a color that works best with their preferred element, as per Dragon Ancestor in theDraconic Bloodline Sorcerer.

This subclass option allows players to exploreBG3’spotentially game-breaking mechanics, especially with the Class’ Metamagic on top of safety nets such as a higher base AC and extra HP (Draconic Resilience), as well as extra spells, damage, and resiliency tied to their favored element (Elemental Affinity).

Recommend 1st Class: Way of the Four Elements Monk

Thanks to the Dark Urge, players of Baldur’s Gate 3 have a more challenging playthrough that positions their PC in situations that force them to make tough decisions. While originally slated to tap into a Draconic Bloodline as a Sorcerer, a Dark Urge could have a similar access to “wild” powers as a Way of the Four Elements Monk.

Not only is this a Class not assigned to any other character as a “default” Class, but the Monk has a potential to be among the game’s most heavy-hitting Classes with the right approach.

Best Skills To Prioritize For The Dark Urge

The mysterious Dark Urge provides a gateway for evil playthroughs, which, unfortunately for players, means they will likely be the target ofa lot of NPCsthey meet. To ensure the Dark Urge’s protection throughout the run, it’s best to give this Origin Character the following Skills:

Githyanki, Soldier

Githyanki Psionics (Mage Hand Cantrip, Enhance Leap once per Long Rest, Misty Step once per Long Rest)

Newcomers who want to choose an Origin for their first playthrough should consider the Githyanki,Lae’zel. While the Githyanki are an uncommon race inthe world of theForgotten Realms, Lae’zel’s “foreign” perspective makes for a perfect introduction for equally foreign players in the world of Faerun.

Transitioning into Lae’zel also makes sense for the game’s starting cinematic, where Githyanki are seen chasing the Mindflayers as they travel to the Astral Plane. Lae’zel and her kind were shown to have the strongest motivation to fight the established villains, making it easier for players to empathize with them. Not to mention, her ideal Class, the Fighter, is one of the most versatile Classes inBaldur’s Gate 3, making her suitable as a leader-type figure.

Player Considerations For Lae’zel In Act 1

When playing as Lae’zel, players in the Nautiloid will notice that another Githyanki, Losiir, will take her place. He will have the same introductory animation, although he will have a more agreeable demeanor than the more hardened Lae’zel. In Act 1, Lae’zel is still determined to find her Creche to find more answers to the Illithid Parasite in her head. Players should avoid following Lae’zel’s “urgency” to do things at the onset, no matter her internal insistence. Skipping story beats to follow Lae’zel’s instincts may lead to much more challenging battles and add constraints to Lae’zel’s available options.

As a part of the Githyanki pursuing the Mindflayers, Lae’zel is the idealFighter. She is a battle-hardened combatant capable of leading the team regardless of the conflict. Players who want a straightforward first playthrough should consider subclassing her into theBattle Master Fighter.This gives her access to a roster of maneuvers that have varying effects on the battlefield,on top of Action Surge, which allows her to do more in a single turn.

The Battle Master’s versatility can rival the likes of spellcasters such as Wizards, albeit more geared towards fighting enemies efficiently. The right combination ofFighting Style and Featsallows the Fighter to protect the team as a tank while other party members like Astarion make quick work of enemy forces.

Recommend 1st Class: Berserker Barbarian

Snark is part of the charm of Lae’zel as a character, so it’s not much of a surprise that her straightforward nature had her assigned as a Fighter by default. However, fans who want to really tap into Lae’zel’s inner warrior might be interested in having her as a Berserker Barbarian.

The gameplay style of the role is almost as straightforward as the Battle Master Fighter, only this time Lae’zel can truly relish in the thrill of combat.