Choosing a Fighter subclass in Baldur’s Gate 3 changes how your character plays. I’m a long-time player and I’ve seen builds that carry a whole run and others that fizzle. This piece cuts to what matters, from feel to party fit, and I’ll say which choices I reach for most often.
Battle Master: Control with Purpose 🎯
Battle Master gives you tools that affect the battlefield directly. In my experience, the maneuvers are the reason you pick this subclass — tripping, disarming, and forcing movement matter more than raw numbers in many fights. Honestly, nothing beats turning one enemy into a liability for the rest of the party.
Why pick it? Because you want predictable utility every short rest. Precision Attack, Riposte, Trip Attack—these let you shape fights. There are exceptions: if your group has three controllers already, you’ll be overlapping roles. But usually, a Battle Master lets you be the strategic center.
- When to pick: you like tactical play and helping teammates.
- Downside: it’s less flashy solo (depends on your niche).
Eldritch Knight: Spells and Swords ⚔️✨
I’ve noticed Eldritch Knight feels slow at first. You don’t get many spells early on, but those defensive options (Shield, Blur, Mirror Image) change your survivability. Watch this: once War Magic arrives you can cast and attack more fluidly. It’s a mid-to-late game grower.
| Level | Key Feature (BG3 style) |
|---|---|
| 3 | Weapon Bond, a few 1st-level spells |
| 7 | War Magic: blend casting and attacks |
| 13 | Expanded spell utility (3rd-level spells usable) |
Be clear: Eldritch Knight needs gear that supports Int and concentration (yes, you’ll care about War Caster). To be fair, this subclass rewards patient players. It won’t beat a dedicated wizard at raw spells, but it gives you personal defenses that keep you standing.
Champion: Simple, Reliable, Maybe Underrated đź’Ş
Champion is straightforward: improved crits and steady damage. Some folks call it boring. I disagree—Champion is a silent assassin in long fights. Are critical builds flashy? Not always. But when you stack attacks and get the right items, you start landing big swings consistently.
Controversial take: Champions are underrated in group play. They often outscale expectations because they don’t waste resources. Surprisingly, pairing Champion with a Barbarian or a crit-boosting item can feel unfair (to enemies, not teammates!).
How I usually decide (short)
If I need control: Battle Master. If I want a tank that casts: Eldritch Knight. If I want raw crit consistency with low fuss: Champion.
Multiclassing: Useful but tricky 🔄
Multiclass choices depend on what you value. We found Fighter 2 for Action Surge is a common stop. Fighter 3 if you want the subclass and its signature tools. Beyond that, think carefully—splitting levels delays key Fighter features.
- Fighter 2 / Paladin X — burst with Divine Smite (great for short fights)
- Fighter 3 / Rogue X — Battle Master synergies with Sneak Attack (trip + sneak? yes.)
- Fighter 3 / Wizard X — Eldritch Knight gets more spells faster (if you want more magic)
This doesn’t always work for every party—depends on your playstyle and campaign length. There are exceptions.
Gear and Feats I Recommend 🛡️
Specific picks matter. Pick Sentinel or Polearm Master on Battle Master if you plan to lock foes down. War Caster feels essential on Eldritch Knight in many runs (keeps spells up when you’re in melee). For Champion, Great Weapon Master and Savage Attacker are straightforward power options.
Quick tip: if you want durability early, choose a shield and high-AC items. If you want damage later, invest in weapon upgrades — this is what scales.
Early vs Late Game
Battle Master: strong at level 3 and stays useful because maneuvers recharge on rests. Eldritch Knight: slow start, stronger by mid-to-late game. Champion: steady curve—never the flashiest, but reliable across acts.
One weird insight
Oddly enough, a poorly optimized Champion can outperform a sloppy Battle Master in chaotic fights. Why? Because consistency sometimes beats clever plays gone wrong. (Yes, I said that—fight me!)
// Example macro-style build notes (for me)
Fighter (Battle Master) lvl3:
- Maneuvers: Precision Attack, Trip Attack, Riposte
- Feat: Sentinel or Great Weapon Master
- Early gear: reach polearm or greatsword
To wrap—well, not a formal wrap—Battle Master is my go-to for most groups. Eldritch Knight is for players who enjoy spells and planning. Champion is a terrific, low-fuss choice that works surprisingly well (sometimes better than people expect). Pick what fits your party, your items, and your mood. By the way, I’ll be tweaking builds after the August 3, 2023 launch-era balance and my own testing through 2024 and into 2025.
Questions? Ask me which subclass fits your current party—between us, I’ll tell you what I’d play tonight!
