I’ve played Fighters in Baldur’s Gate 3 for years, and I’ll tell you plainly: a Fighter works when you pick a role and commit to it. I’m speaking as someone who’s tested dozens of builds (yes, I farmed a lot of encounters). You’ll see why certain stats, subclass choices, and timing matter — and why some popular advice won’t work the way you expect.
Core stats and why they matter
Want raw hits and steady damage? Go Strength. Want finesse and initiative? Go Dexterity. Constitution matters because more HP and better concentration saves keep you in fights longer. In my experience, people under-value CON early on, and then they die. Honestly, that’s avoidable.
Point buy suggestion (simple):
// Example for STR build
STR 17, CON 14, DEX 12, WIS 13, INT 8, CHA 8
// Example for DEX build
DEX 17, CON 14, WIS 13, STR 12, INT 8, CHA 8
| Level | STR-focused | DEX-focused |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | STR 17 | DEX 17 |
| 4 | Raise STR / feat | Raise DEX / feat |
| 6 | Max primary or CON | Max primary or CON |
| 8+ | Feats / situational | Feats / situational |
There are exceptions (depends on your niche). If you want healing through items or party spells, you can skimp a point or two in CON early. But don’t make that your default move.
Which subclass should you pick?
Champion feels simple and reliable. I’ve noticed some streamers over-praise it, though — it’s not the only good pick. Champion expands crit range and that’s great with high DPR (damage per round), but it’s kind of one-note.
Battle Master rewards player skill. Watch this: proper maneuvers turn a fight. Use Trip Attack to control, Riposte to punish misses, Precision Attack to rescue high-risk swings. This subclass is controversial to some players because it demands attention and timing — and I like that.
Eldritch Knight adds spells and a different tempo. You cast Shield or Absorb Elements and still keep swinging. That’s why I pick it when I want utility without surrendering the front line. Oddly enough, some of the best moments come from mixing a cantrip with a bonus attack (it feels clever).
Races that actually help
Yes, Half-Orc is strong (Relentless Endurance and Savage Attacks), but — controversial point — Half-Orc isn’t always the best pick for every STR build. If you rely on finesse, a Wood Elf or Halfling may outshine them because mobility and saves matter too (surprise!).
- Githyanki — good for Eldritch Knight-like builds (extra proficiencies)
- Half-Orc — crit and durability focus
- Shield Dwarf — solid STR/CON frontline
- Wood Elf — mobility for DEX fighters
- Variant Human — take a feat at level 1 if you want a fast build spike
To be fair, racial choice depends on campaign flavor and party makeup. Don’t pick a race just because someone on a forum said “best.”
Feats and ASIs — why you choose them
Great Weapon Master is the damage king for two-handed swords. But here’s the catch: the -5 attack penalty can wreck you if you don’t have ways to offset accuracy (Precision Attack, advantage, high STR). That’s why I usually take it after I hit 18–20 in my primary stat — I want the why explained: more hits mean more value from the +10 damage and bonus on kills.
Sentinel turns you into a real protector. Pick it when you intend to hold a choke point or babysit casters. Polearm Master gives extra hits with reach and forces opportunity attacks. Lucky is quietly valuable in every single run — I rarely skip it.
“Max your primary stat first, then take feats that fix what you struggle with.” — practical advice I use every session.
Gear priorities (practical)
Early armor choices matter. Heavy armor and a good shield let you tank longer. Upgrade AC before piling on flashy damage modifiers; survivability scales better than raw DPS until you can reliably stay alive in multi-wave fights.
Weapons: pick what fits your attack plan. Two-handed if you want big swings. Sword-and-board if you want to force movement and protect allies. Boots that increase mobility or items that let you close distance are underrated — mobility wins fights as often as raw damage does.
Note: item names and exact drops can change with patches (patches released on 2025-09-12 and 2025-11-05 adjusted loot tables), so check your current build against what you actually find in-game.
Multiclassing — who pairs well with Fighter?
Fighter/Barbarian is raw defense and durability. Rage reduces damage taken and pairs with Action Surge to keep pressure on. Fighter/Warlock gives short-rest spellcasting and Eldritch Blast for ranged slots; it’s flexible but a little weird to optimize. Fighter/Paladin = burst via Divine Smite, and oh my, that can one-shot bosses when timed right!
Common splits I like (examples):
- Fighter 11 / Barbarian 1 — three attacks + rage utility
- Fighter 6 / Warlock 2 / Fighter X — mix of extra attack and short-rest magic
- Fighter 2 / Paladin X — early Action Surge, then smite rules
Combat tips that actually change fights
Action Surge isn’t just for damage. Use it to finish a caster, force a concentration break, or secure an objective. Timing beats raw output. Positioning beats brute force sometimes. Want to split off a dangerous enemy? Shove or pull them into hazards (yes, environmental kills are real!).
- Threat priority: spellcasters first, then ranged DPS, then healers, tanks last — unless you must protect an ally.
- Use reactions thoughtfully — Riposte and counterattacks win rounds when used correctly.
Question: why hold a reaction? Because stopping a single move can save two or three allies. Think like chess, not like a blender.
Short checklist before you play
- Pick primary stat and cap it early.
- Take one defensive ASI if you’re dying too often (CON helps).
- Choose a subclass that fits your attention level (Champion = low fuss; Battle Master = tactical; Eldritch Knight = hybrid).
- Use Action Surge wisely — don’t burn it on the first easy fight.
One counterintuitive insight: sometimes lowering your damage output to improve control or mobility wins more fights overall. I’ve seen a “glass cannon” Fighter melt a boss in one round and then the party wipe on adds. Balance is boring, and it’s also the practical route.
Final note — yes, you should experiment. Try a weird split or a race you like; fun matters. (Between us, the builds I love most are the ones that make me laugh when they work.)
— written by me, a Fighter player who tests builds and re-tests them. I won’t claim there’s one perfect path. There isn’t.
⚔️🛡️
