11 BEST Baldur’s Gate 3 Race [Complete Guide]

Have you ever played Dungeons and Dragons? If the answer is yes then you will love Baldur’s Gate 3. The game has complex systems that can be taken advantage of and tweaked to let you live out your dream fantasy adventure. It even includes multiple different races to choose from so, without further ado let us show you the Baldurs Gate 3 Best Race for your adventure.

How Many Races Are There?

There are a total of 11 base races in Baldur’s Gate 3. Each race has some sort of sub-race which can vary the skillset by offering additional bonuses and perks should you choose it. We will detail each race with their skillsets, sub-races, and some flavor text to help get you invested in their race.

Race	Base Racial Features	Subraces
Human	Base Racial Speed Civil Militia Human Versatility	N/A
Halfling	Base Racial Speed Brave Lucky	Lightfoot Halfling Strongheart Halfling
Tiefling	Base Racial Speed Darkvision Hellish Resistance	Asmodeus Tiefling Mephistopheles Tiefling Zariel Tiefling
Half-Orc	Base Racial Speed Relentless Endurance Menacing Savage Attacks Darkvision Intimidation Proficiency	N/A
Half-Elf	Base Racial Speed Civil Militia Darkvision Fey Ancestry	High Half-Elf Wood Half-Elf Drow Half-Elf
Elf	Base Racial Speed Darkvision Elven Weapon Training Fey Ancestry Perception Proficiency	High Elf Wood Elf
Dwarf	Base Racial Speed Dwarven Combat Training Darkvision Dwarven Resilience	Gold Dwarf Shield Dwarf Duergar Dwarf
Drow	Base Racial Speed Drow Weapon Training Fey Ancestry Superior Darkvision Perception Proficiency Darkness Faerie Fire	Lolth-Sworn Drow Seldarine Drow
Dragonborn	Breath Weapon Draconic Ancestry	Black Dragonborn Blue Dragonborn Brass Dragonborn Bronze Dragonborn Copper Dragonborn Gold Dragonborn Green Dragonborn Red Dragonborn Silver Dragonborn White Dragonborn
Githyanki	Base Racial Speed Astral Knowledge Martial Prodigy Githyanki Psionics Mage Hand Githyanki Psionics Jump Misty Step	N/A
Gnome	Base Racial Speed Gnome Cunning	Deep Gnome Forest Gnome Rock Gnome

Human Race

The human race stands as a versatile and resilient cornerstone of civilization. With remarkable adaptability to various environments and cultures, humans possess a diverse range of skills and attributes that make them a common and influential presence throughout the realms.

Physically, humans exhibit a wide spectrum of appearances, encompassing a variety of skin tones, hair colors, and facial features. Their average stature falls within the middle range, but their true strength lies in their boundless potential for growth and advancement in a multitude of professions and roles.

Racial Features

Humans have no inherent subrace, similar to ourselves on Earth. Instead, we do have three good racial features which can be seen as very versatile and useful. Some would even argue that humans are the Baldurs Gate 3 Best Race but they would be slightly exaggerating.

Features	Description
Base Racial Speed	You have a movement range of 9 meters per turn.
Civil Militia	You can adequately use weapons and armor from the Spears Class, Pikes Class, Halberds Class, Glaives Class, Light Armour Class, and Medium Armour Class.
Human Versatility	You can choose proficiency in any extra skill you desire. You also get increased carry capacity.

Halfling Race

The halflings are a diminutive and spirited race known for their boundless curiosity, hearty laughter, and affinity for simple pleasures. Often dwelling in cozy, tucked-away communities, halflings embrace a life filled with camaraderie and merriment.

Physically, halflings are characterized by their diminutive stature, standing around three to four feet tall on average.

Despite their small size, they possess a sturdy and resilient constitution, allowing them to endure the challenges of the world with surprising fortitude. Their features are round and friendly, and their eyes often sparkle with mischievous glints.

Racial Features

The halflings are an interesting race due to their jack-of-all-trades nature and skill distribution. If someone tells you that the halfling race is the Baldurs Gate 3 Best Race then they are clearly lying to you or themselves. This is seen in their racial features as listed below.

Features	Description
Base Racial Speed	You have a movement range of 7.5 meters per turn.
Brave	You are more likely to not get frightened.
Lucky	You get a reroll on your attack, ability, and saving throws if you roll a one.

There are two subraces that have some nice perks but nothing special. These are the Lightfoot Halflings and Strongheart Halflings.

Subrace	Benefit
Lightfoot Halfling	Naturally Stealthy: You are less likely to be detected while in stealth.
Strongheart Halfling	Strongheart Resilience: You are resistant to Poison and have a greater chance of not being poisoned.

Tiefling Race

The tiefling are a captivating and enigmatic race with infernal origins. Born of mortal bloodlines intertwined with fiendish heritage, tiefling possess a striking and otherworldly appearance that often sets them apart from other races.

Tieflings’ most distinctive feature is their unique physical traits, which manifest as a result of their infernal ancestry. These can include sharp horns sprouting from their foreheads, pointed tails that swish behind them, and eyes that blaze with an array of fiery colors.

Their skin tones range from deep reds to purples, and they may bear intricate patterns or markings reminiscent of their fiendish lineage.

Racial Features

Tieflings are an interesting case since they are the demons of the game and you know that your edgy friend is going to be playing this simply because it has horns but there are actually reasons to play this race besides that one reason. You will see why tiefling are considered the Baldurs Gate 3 Best Race.

Tieflings have three racial features which are quite standard and expected of demons. These are listed below.

Features	Description
Base Racial Speed	You have a movement range of 9 meters per turn.
Darkvision	You have a sight range of 12 meters in complete darkness.
Hellish Resistance	You take half of the damage that other races would from fire-based attacks.

Now the most interesting part of the race is the subraces. Each subrace has a unique playstyle and how your journey proceeds is dependent purely on which subrace you choose to play. The three of them are listed below and each of them is quite detailed.

Subrace	Benefit
Asmodeus Tiefling	Produce Flame: You produce a small flame in your hand that lights up the surrounding area in a 9-meter radius and does damage when thrown. Hellish Rebuke: When you take damage from an enemy you torch them with hell fire. Darkness: You cast a cloud of inky blackness which obscures and blinds any creatures caught within it. All ranged attacks are also nullified.
Mephistopheles Tiefling	Mage Hand: You can create a spectral hand that can interact with objects up to 18 meters from your current position. Burning Hands: You turn your hands into flamethrowers by shooting flames from your fingertips, igniting anything flammable. Flame Blade: You produce a sword of flame that does fire damage and produces light in a 3-meter area around you.
Zariel Tiefling	Thaumaturgy: You get an increased chance of success with your Performance and Intimidation attempts. Searing Smite: Any enemy hit by your weapon is burned and will take fire damage for a short duration. Branding Smite: Any enemy hit by your weapon can no longer turn invisible or go into stealth for the remainder of that fight.

Half-Orc Race

The half-orcs stand as a testament to the union of human and orc bloodlines. Possessing a unique blend of physical might and emotional complexity, half-orcs navigate a world that often misunderstands and underestimates their true nature.

Half-orcs inherit a striking appearance that reflects their mixed heritage. Their features are a fusion of human and orc traits, resulting in broad shoulders, powerful builds, and distinct facial characteristics.

Their skin tones range from deep green to various shades of gray, while their prominent tusks and prominent brows give them an unmistakable presence.

Racial Features

Another interesting race as they have no subraces but rather make up for this lack in the racial features department by having an abundance of features that can facilitate your gameplay and adventure.

Some people who like “orcs” will definitely be singing the praises of this race as the Baldurs Gate 3 Best Race. There are six racial features as described below.

Features	Description
Base Racial Speed	You have a movement range of 9 meters per turn.
Relentless Endurance	You are immune to being killed instantly and instead, drop down to one health from an attack that would have otherwise killed you.
Menacing	You are more proficient in Intimidation.
Savage Attacks	Every time you score a critical hit you can increase the damage from this hit once during an engagement with an enemy.
Darkvision	You have a sight range of 12 meters in complete darkness.
Intimidation Proficiency	Your Proficiency bonuses can be added to your Intimidation checks.

Half-Elf Race

The half-elves embody the intriguing union of human and elven heritage. Possessing a blend of grace, adaptability, and a touch of the mystical, half-elves navigate the realms with a unique perspective that bridges two worlds.

Physically, half-elves inherit the best traits of both their human and elven ancestors. They often possess the elegant features and pointed ears of elves but with a slightly more human-like stature. Their appearances can vary widely, reflecting the diverse beauty of both races, and their charisma tends to shine through in their radiant smiles and expressive eyes.

Racial Features

You could say that the half-elf is the Baldurs Gate 3 Best Race simply due to the number of perks that come along with selecting this race. They have a total of four racial features which are listed below.

Features	Description
Base Racial Speed	You have a movement range of 9 meters per turn.
Civil Militia	You can adequately use weapons and armor from the Spears Class, Pikes Class, Halberds Class, Glaives Class, Light Armour Class, and Medium Armour Class.
Darkvision	You have a sight range of 12 meters in complete darkness.
Fey Ancestry	You are immune to sleep magic and have a chance to resist magical charms.

Each subrace of the half-elves offers unique and interesting gameplay paths for you to follow and fulfill your dream fantasy adventure. The three subraces are shown below.

Subraces	Benefit
High Half-Elf	Cantrip: You can learn one spell of your choice from the wizard spell list.
Wood Half-Elf	Fleet Of Foot: You gain an increase in your base speed from 9 meters to 10.5 meters per turn. Stealth Proficiency: You get an added bonus to your stealth checks making you more stealthy overall.
Drow Half-Elf	Dancing Lights: You can create dancing whisps of light that provide you and your allies vision within a 12-meter radius.

Elf Race

The elves are an ancient and ethereal race, characterized by their timeless grace, deep connection to nature, and mastery of magic. Possessing an innate elegance and wisdom, elves stand as guardians of ancient knowledge and the natural world.

Elves are distinguished by their slender and graceful figures, often taller than humans but with an air of otherworldly beauty. Their pointed ears and delicate features lend them an ethereal quality that sets them apart from other races.

Their eyes hold a pearl of timeless wisdom, and their skin tones can range from pale, luminous hues to deep, rich tones, often reflecting the environments they inhabit.

Racial Features

The Elves have five racial features and only two subraces. These features capture the aesthetic of the lives perfectly allowing for prime roleplaying opportunities. They are one of the Baldurs Gate 3 Best Race if you want to roleplay as the standard person playing this kind of game for the first time.

Features	Description
Base Racial Speed	You have a movement range of 9 meters per turn.
Darkvision	You have a sight range of 12 meters in complete darkness.
Elven Weapon Training	You can adequately use weapons from the: Longswords Class, SHortsword Class, Shortbow Class, and Longbow Class.
Fey Ancestry	You are immune to sleep magic and have a chance to resist magical charms.
Perception Proficiency	Your Proficiency bonuses can be added to your Perception checks.

The two subraces of the elves allow you to play as either a High Elf (no not that kind of high) or a Wood Elf. Each of them has their own strengths that fit their environment and character archetypes.

Subrace	Benefit
High Elf	Cantrip: You can learn one spell of your choice from the wizard spell list.
Wood Elf	Fleet Of Foot: You gain an increase in your base speed from 9 meters to 10.5 meters per turn. Stealth Proficiency: You get an added bonus to your stealth checks making you more stealthy overall.

Dwarf Race

The dwarves stand as stalwart and enduring figures, known for their unwavering determination, craftsmanship, and deep connection to the earth. With a rich cultural heritage and a spirit forged in the heart of the mountains, dwarves are a resilient and respected presence in fantasy worlds.

Dwarves possess a stout and sturdy build, often shorter than humans but compensated by their impressive strength and resilience. Their stocky frames are a testament to their enduring nature, and their strong features reflect their tenacity.

Dwarves are characterized by their prominent beards mostly among males of the race, which hold great cultural significance, often serving as a symbol of honor and wisdom.

Racial Features

The Dwarves have four racial features and three subraces which play a good role in how your gameplay experience will go. The racial features are actually really good since they are applied to all the subraces.

Features	Description
Base Racial Speed	You have a movement range of 7.5 meters per turn.
Dwarven Combat Training	You can adequately use weapons from the: Battleaxe Class, Handaxe Class, Light Hammer Class, and Warhammer Class.
Darkvision	You have a sight range of 12 meters in complete darkness.
Dwarven Resilience	You are resistant to Poison damage and have an extra chance to resist poison.

Alongside the racial features, there are subraces that provide unique gameplay types putting Dwarves up there in the running for Baldurs Gate 3 Best Race due to the unique and powerful benefits you gain from each subrace, especially the Duregar Dwarves.

Subrace	Benefit
Gold Dwarf	Dwarven Toughness: Your maximum health increases by one point each time you gain a level.
Shield Dwarf	Dwarven Armour Training: You can adequatly use armor in the Light Class and Medium Class.
Duergar Dwarf	Superior Darkvision: You have a sight range of 24 meters in complete darkness. Duregar Resilience: You have more of a chance to resist illusions, charms, and paralysis effects.

Drow Race

The drow are a complex and enigmatic race of dark elves, known for their intricate society, mastery of magic, and their connection to the shadowy realms below. With a reputation as both fearsome adversaries and intriguing characters, drow weave tales of darkness, intrigue, and subterranean mystery.

Drow possess a striking and alluring appearance, often distinguished by their ebony skin that glistens with an otherworldly sheen. Their features are both elegant and sharp, exuding an air of sinister allure.

Drow often have white or silver hair, and their eyes radiate a range of colors, including deep red, violet, or even shades of blue, reflecting their complex emotions and magical heritage.

Racial Features

The Drow have a total of five racial features alongside two subraces. The subraces aren’t that essential in terms of gameplay but rather help in facilitating the lore for your character. These two subraces are the Lolth-Sworn and Seldarine both being evil and non-evil respectively.

The racial features on the other hand are quite important to your gameplay and these are listed in the table below and explained as well.

Features	Description
Base Racial Speed	You have a movement range of 9 meters per turn.
Drow Weapon Training	You can adequately use weapons from the: Rapier Class, Shortsword Class, and Hand Crossbow Class.
Fey Ancestry	You are immune to sleep magic and have a chance to resist magical charms.
Superior Darkvision	You have a sight range of 24 meters in complete darkness.
Perception Proficiency	Your Proficiency bonuses can be added to your Perception checks.
Darkness	You cast a cloud of inky blackness which obscures and blinds any creatures caught within it. All ranged attacks are also nullified.
Faerie Fire	You shower the field with colorful light and reveal all those who are hit by it. Attacks against these targets are now at an advantage which means they have the potential to do more damage.

Dragonborn Race

The dragonborn are a race of proud and mighty beings, bearing a deep connection to the ancient and majestic dragons. With their formidable presence, dragonborn embody the awe-inspiring traits of these legendary creatures, while carving their own path in the world.

Physically imposing, dragonborn stand taller and more robust than humans, radiating an aura of strength and power. Their defining feature is their draconic heritage, visible through the reptilian scales that cover their bodies.

These scales can come in a range of colors and patterns, reflecting the influence of the dragon ancestry they draw from. Definitely in the running for Baldurs Gate 3 Best Race.

Racial Features

The dragonborn have two inherent racial features. These are Draconic Ancestry and Breath Weapon. Now the breath weapon is simple enough o understand since if you have even a slight inkling about fantasy then you know that dragons have a breath attack and the special thing about this is that it is linked with your Draconic Ancestry.

On the other hand, Draconic Ancestry is applied to the subraces of the dragonborn race. This means that depending on your subraces you receive different perks and stat benefits as outlined in the table below.

Subrace	Benefit
Black Dragonborn	Acid Breath Attack
Blue Dragonborn	Lightning Breath Attack
Brass Dragonborn	Fire Breath Attack
Bronze Dragonborn	Lightning Breath Attack
Copper Dragonborn	Acid Breath Attack
Gold Dragonborn	Fire Breath Attack
Green Dragonborn	Poison Breath Attack
Red Dragonborn	Fire Breath Attack
Silver Dragonborn	Ice Breath Attack
White Dragonborn	Ice Breath Attack

Githyanki Race

The githyanki are an enigmatic and formidable race with a deep history of conflict and rebellion. Originating from a dark past, the githyanki have carved out their own identity as skilled warriors, cunning spellcasters, and unyielding foes.

Githyanki possess a striking and alien appearance, with tall, lithe bodies covered in a fine silvery or orange skin. Their elongated limbs and angular features give them an otherworldly aspect, and their eyes often glow with intense inner light.

Githyanki are known for their sharp, serrated bone spurs that protrude from their bodies, serving as both defensive tools and symbols of their martial prowess.

Racial Features

The githyanki are a special case where they have no subrace but rather have impressive racial features to supplement this lack.

Features	Description
Base Racial Speed	You have a movement range of 9 meters per turn.
Astral Knowledge	You can add a proficiency bonus to all of your skills from a chosen ability. So basically you can buff yourself in whatever way you see fit.
Martial Prodigy	You can adequately use weapons and Armour from Shortsword Class, Longsword Class, Greatsword Class, Light Armour Class, and Medium Armour Class.
Githyanki Psionics Mage Hand	You can create a spectral hand that can interact with objects up to 18 meters from your current position.
Githyanki Psionics Jump	You can leap great distances with this jump allowing you to reposition, run away, or dive head-first into an engage. The base distance traveled is 22.5 meters with your strength increasing the distance.
Misty Step	A teleport that surrounds you in silver mist and lets you blink up to 18 meters to an unoccupied space within your sight range.

Gnome Race

The gnomes are a whimsical and inventive race known for their boundless curiosity, insatiable creativity, and lighthearted approach to life. Standing as a testament to the power of ingenuity and imagination, gnomes leave an indelible mark on the world around them.

Gnomes possess a diminutive stature, often standing around three to four feet tall, yet their small size is more than compensated by their vibrant energy and enthusiasm.

Their features are often charming and endearing, with mischievous eyes that glint with intelligence and a perpetual sense of wonder. Gnomes are characterized by their distinctive pointed hats and finely crafted clothing, which reflect their love for both practicality and aesthetics.

Racial Features

The gnomes are an interesting race because their racial class perks are quite limited with their true perks based on their individual subraces. The two racial features they have are the following.

Features	Description
Base Racial Speed	You have a movement range of 7.5 meters per turn.
Gnome Cunning	You are given an additional advantage on any saving throws that include Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma.

Now onto the real meat and potatoes of the gnome race, the subraces. There are three distinct subraces and each of them allows for a completely different playstyle so think carefully about this since it will affect your journey the most.

Subrace	Benefit
Deep Gnome	Superior Darkvision: You have a sight range of 24 meters in complete darkness. Stone Camouflage: You gain the advantage of being harder to detect whilst in stealth.
Forest Gnome	Darkvision: You have a sight range of 12 meters in complete darkness. Speak With Animals: You are able to communicate with beasts of the land.
Rock Gnome	Darkvision: You have a sight range of 12 meters in complete darkness. Artificer’s Lore: You can add double your proficiency bonus to any sort of historical information such as names, items,etc.