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Baldur’s Gate 3 might still be in Early Access but it still follows a lot of the normal TTRPG Dungeons & Dragons. In fact, it’s completely based on the game and even its story follows directly after the events of Descent into Avernus, the adventure module released in 2019. Although the game’s not completely ready for release yet, players have been able to play the Early Access version of the game, which features the opening part of the game, half of the companion characters and most of the classes – albeit some are missing.
One of the first choices when creating a character is the Baldur’s Gate 3 race. There’s a large variety to choose from, whether you want to be the stoic and strong dwarves race or if you want to be the elegant and magical Elves race. Each Baldur’s Gate 3 race has a different buff to your general stats as well as certain features that are unique to those characters. In this guide, we’ll go through the various races that exist in-game and what their buffs are.
In this guide, we’ll go through the various Baldur’s Gate 3 Races that exist in-game and what their buffs are.
Human race
Ability: +1 to Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Wisdom, Intelligence, and Charisma.
Racial Features: Base Racial Speed.
Subraces: None
The most common face to see in Faerün, humans are known for their tenacity, creativity, and endless capacity for growth.
As a human, you’re the most generic race. You won’t be treated any differently by NPCs nor will anyone really acknowledge your race at all. Humans are the safest race to go with, no matter what you want to play as thanks to their general buffs in all stats, but you sadly don’t get any special feats or abilities.
Elf race
Ability: +2 Dexterity Score
Racial Features:
- Darkvision: Grants a creature the ability to see in the dark out to a range of 18m
- Keen Senses: You have proficiency in the Perception skill.
- Fey Ancestry: The Feywild casts a veil over your mind. You have advantage on saving throws against being Charmed, and magic can’t put you to sleep.
- Proficiencies: Longsword Proficiency, Shortsword Proficiency, Longbow Proficiency, Shortbow Proficiency.
Elf Subraces
High Elf
Heirs of the mystical Feywild, high elves value magic in all its forms, and even those who do not study spellcraft can manipulate the Weave.
- Intelligence +1
- Base Racial Speed
- 1 High Elf Cantrip
Wood Elf
Wood elves spend their reclusive lives in Faerün’s forests. Decades of training in archery and camouflage are enhanced by an otherworldly swiftness.
- Fleet of Foot
- Mask of the Wild
- Wisdom +1
Half-Elf race
Ability: Charisma +2 and +2 Ability score points to spend as the player sees fit in any of the other five Abilities. (Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence or Wisdom).
Racial Features:
- Fey Ancestry: The Feywild casts a veil over your mind. You have advantage on saving throws against being Charmed, and magic can’t put you to sleep.
- Darkvision: Grants a creature the ability to see in the dark out to a range of 18m
Half-Elf Subraces
High Half-Elf
A touch of the Feywild remains in half-elves with this bloodline. and even those untrained in magic possess a hint of wild power.
- Base Racial Speed.
- 1 High Elf Cantrip among 13 available to choose from.
Wood Half-Elf
Like their wood elf parent. these half-elves have a quickened stride and eye for stealth. Yet many break away from isolation in Faerün’s forests to explore the rest of the Realms.
- Fleet of Foot (Your base walking speed is 9m.)
- Mask of the Wild. (You were raised to blend into your natural surroundings. You gain proficiency in Stealth.)
Drow Half–Elf
Most half-drow result from liaisons between Seldarine drow and surfacers. While half-drow inherit a few magical gifts, they aren’t usually raised in the Underdark.
- Base Racial Speed.
- Dancing Lights Evocation Cantrip.
Dwarf race
Ability: +2 Constitution Score
Racial Features:
- Dwarven Resilience: You have advantage on saving throws against Poison, and you have resistance against Poison damage.
- Proficiencies: Battleaxe Proficiency, Handaxe Proficiency, Light Hammer Proficiency, Warhammer Proficiency
- Darkvision: Grants a creature the ability to see in the dark out to a range of 18m
Dwarf Subraces
Gold Dwarf
Gold dwarves are known for their confidence and keen intuition. The culture of their Deep Kingdom values family, ritual, and fine craftsmanship.
- Dwarven Toughness: Your Hit Point maximum increases by 1, and it increases by 1 again every time you gain a level.
- Base Racial Speed.
- Wisdom +1
Shield Dwarf
Shield dwarves survived a long fall from grace, surrendering many of their ancient kingdoms in wars with goblins and Orcs. These losses have lead to a cynical mindset, yet shield dwarves will endure anything to restore their ancestral homelands.
- Base Racial Speed.
- Strength +2
- Proficiencies: Light Armor Proficiency, Medium Armor Proficiency.
Tiefling race
Ability: N/A
Racial Features:
- Darkvision: Grants a creature the ability to see in the dark out to a range of 18m
- Hellish Resistance: Your blood protects you from flame, abyssal or otherwise. You have resistance to Fire and take only half damage from it.
Tiefling Subraces
Asmodeus Tiefling
Bound to Nessus, the deepest layer of the Hells. these tieflings inherit the ability to wield fire and darkness from the archdevil Asmodeus infernal bloodline.
- Base Racial Speed.
- Intelligence +1
- Charisma +2
- Thaumaturgy Transmutation Cantrip.
- At Level 3: Hellish Rebuke once per Long Rest.
Mephistopheles Tiefling
Descended from the archdevil Mephistopheles, these tieflings are gifted with a particular affinity for arcane magic.
- Base Racial Speed.
- Intelligence +1
- Charisma +2
- Mage Hand Conjuration Cantrip.
- At Level 3: Legacy of Cania: Burning hands (Cast as level 3) once per Long Rest
Zariel Tiefling
Tieflings from Zariel ‘s bloodline are empowered with martial strength and can channel searing flame to punish their enemies.
- Base Racial Speed.
- Strength +1
- Charisma +2
- Thaumaturgy Transmutation Cantrip.
- At Level 3: Legacy of Avernus: Searing Smite (Cast as level 3) once per Long Rest
Githyanki race
Ability: +1 Intelligence Score and + 2 Strength Score
Racial Features:
- Choice of skill proficiency
- Base Racial Speed
- Proficiencies: Light Armor Proficiency, Medium Armor Proficiency, Shortsword Proficiency, Longsword Proficiency, Greatsword Proficiency
- Githyanki Psionics: Mage Hand Conjuration Cantrip
Level Up Features: Githyanki Psionics – Jump (Level 3)
Subraces: None
Githyanki are peerless warriors from the Astral Plane, known for their legendary silver blades and red dragon mounts. They seek the total destruction of mind flayers, whose ancient empire enslaved the Githyanki for millennia.
Halfling race
Ability: +2 Dexterity Score.
Racial Features:
- Lucky: When you roll a 1 for an attack roll, ability check, or saving throw, you can reroll the die and must use the new roll.
Halfling Subraces
Lightfoot Halfling
Lightfoot halflings are stealthy but social. traveling all over Faerün to make names for themselves
- Naturally Stealthy: Your nimble nature makes you skilled at concealment. You have proficiency in Stealthchecks.
- Base Racial Speed.
- Charisma +1.
Strongheart Halfling
Legends say dwarven blood gave stronghearts their hardiness. Resistant to poison and wellsprings of endurance, these halflings easily hold their own.
- Strongheart Resilience: You have advantage on saving throws against Poison and resistance to Poison damage.
- Base Racial Speed.
- Constitution +1.
Drow race
Ability: +1 Charisma Score and +2 Dexterity Score.
Racial Features:
- Base Racial Speed
- Fey Ancestry: The Feywild casts a veil over your mind. You have an advantage on saving throws against being Charmed, and magic can’t put you to sleep.
- Proficiencies: Rapier Proficiency, Shortsword Proficiency, Hand Crossbow Proficiency
- Superior Darkvision: This creature can see in the dark within 24m.
Drow Subraces
Lolth–Sworn Drow
Raised by Lolth’s cult in the city of Menzoberranzan. This drow extol the virtues of their corrupt and merciless goddess. Lolth marks her followers with bright red eyes so the Underdark will leam to fear drow on sight.
- Dancing Lights Evocation Cantrip.
Seldarine Drow
Drow is the result of an ancient schism between the elven deities Corellon Larethian and Lolth. The latter’s treachery drove the drow into the Underdark, where they splintered into warring factions. Seldarine drow can be found seeking allies from all over Faerün, aiming to settle their conflict with Lolth – and each other – by any means necessary.
- Dancing Lights Evocation Cantrip
That’s it for now, but once the game leaves Early Access there will more than likely be more races. It’s almost certain that we’ll be seeing the base races, so expect Dragonborn and Gnomes to be available. But it’s also likely that we’ll be seeing some of the other races, like Genasi, Eladrin, Aasimar and so forth! Until then, here are all the races in BG3!
Baldur’s Gate 3 races guides
- Baldur’s Gate 3 Sorcerer Build guide
- Baldur’s Gate 3 Wizard guide
- Baldur’s Gate 3 Rogue Guide
- Baldur’s Gate 3 Fighter guide
- Baldur’s Gate 3 Barbarian guide
- Baldur’s Gate 3 Warlock guide
- Baldur’s Gate 3 Druid Guide
- Baldur’s Gate 3 Ranger Guide
- Baldur’s Gate 3 Cleric guide
- Baldur’s Gate 3 Gods
Baldur’s Gate 3 spell guides
- Sorcerer Metamagics Baldur’s Gate 3
- Best Wizard Spells in Baldur’s Gate 3
- Best Ranger spells in Baldur’s Gate 3
- Best Cleric spells in Baldur’s Gate 3
- Best Druid spells in Baldur’s Gate 3
- Best Warlock spells in Baldur’s Gate 3
- Best Sorcerer Spells in Baldur’s Gate 3
