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 iconic game. This update promises to elevate the gaming experience with 12 new subclasses, cross-play functionality across all platforms, and a sophisticated photo mode. Here's how Patch 8 is set to revolutionize one of the most acclaimed games of our time.

Table of Contents

• 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 will receive a unique subclass, enriched with new spells, dialogues, and stunning visual effects, enhancing the depth and variety of gameplay.

Sorcerer: Shadow Magic

This subclass delves into the darkest arts, allowing sorcerers to summon a hellhound to immobilize foes and create a veil of darkness visible only to them. At level 11, they gain the ability to teleport between shadows, offering strategic advantages in combat.

Warlock: Pact Blade

Warlocks with the Pact Blade form a pact with an entity from the Shadowfell, enabling them to enchant weapons from level 1. By level 3, they can enchant another, and at level 5, they can strike thrice per turn—a feature that might seem overpowering or buggy!

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Cleric: Death Domain

Clerics specializing in the Death Domain wield necrotic spells that bypass enemy resistances, capable of resurrecting the dead or causing corpses to explode. This subclass is perfect for players interested in religious characters but who prefer combat over healing.

Wizard: Blade Song

Wizards employing Blade Song become formidable in melee combat, gaining ten turns to accumulate special charges through attacks and spells. These charges can then be used to heal allies or deal devastating damage to foes.

Druid: Circle of Stars

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

Barbarian: Path of the Giant

Barbarians on the Path of the Giant enter a rage, increasing in size and throwing weapons with enhanced damage, adding fire or lightning effects. After throwing, the weapon magically returns to their hand, complemented by improved throwing skills and increased carrying capacity.

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Fighter: Mystic Archer

Mystic Archers blend magic with archery, firing enchanted arrows that can blind enemies, deal psychic damage, or banish opponents to another dimension, embodying the essence of traditional elven combat.

Monk: Drunken Master

Monks of the Drunken Master subclass harness alcohol-induced strength to deliver powerful physical blows. Enemies struck become more vulnerable to subsequent attacks, making these monks formidable in combat.

Rogue: Swashbuckler

Swashbucklers, the quintessential pirate archetype, excel in close combat with tactics like throwing sand to blind enemies, quick thrusts to disarm, or taunts to demoralize, perfect for fans of Astarion.

Bard: College of Glamour

Bards from 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.

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Ranger: Swarmkeeper

Swarmkeepers control hordes of tiny creatures that debuff enemies. Available in three types, bee swarms repel foes, honey swarms stun with shock, and moth swarms blind opponents. Switching swarm types is possible only upon leveling up.

Paladin: Oath of the Crown

Paladins following the Oath of the Crown are the epitome of lawfulness and righteousness, gaining abilities that boost allies, draw enemy attention, and absorb damage, making them essential for team-based play.

Photo Mode

Long-awaited by players, the photo mode introduces extensive camera settings and advanced post-processing effects for high-quality screenshots, allowing gamers to capture and share their favorite moments in stunning detail.

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Cross-Play

Cross-platform multiplayer will now be available across all supported platforms, including PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Windows, and Mac. The closed stress test primarily focuses on fine-tuning this feature to ensure a seamless and bug-free experience.

Gameplay, Combat, and Story Improvements

Patch 8 brings a host of enhancements to improve gameplay:

• Items detected during Perception checks are now marked on the mini-map and logged in the battle journal.
• Fixed an issue where certain ally abilities weren’t displayed correctly after dialogue in the High Hall.
• Scrolls and potions in unlocked containers can now be used during conversations.
• Neutral and friendly NPCs no longer turn hostile when stepping on surfaces created during combat.
• Resolved bugs causing characters to get stuck climbing stairs or on moving platforms in the Shan Trial location.
• Corrected glitches where neutral NPCs would initiate combat without cause and where loading screens would freeze at 0% in modded multiplayer sessions.
• Improved server performance in the Adamantine Forge.
• Fixed issues related to dialogue with Astarion and Gandrel, Mintara's behavior, and character perceptions about Shadohurt.
• Discovered merchants now appear on the world map regardless of distance.

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