On January 28, the closed stress test for Patch 8 of Baldur’s Gate 3 kicked off on both PC and consoles. This monumental update marks the final major patch for the game, introducing an array of exciting features including 12 new subclasses, cross-play functionality across platforms, and a comprehensive photo mode. Here's how this update is set to elevate one of the most celebrated games of recent times.
Table of Content
- 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 is set to receive a unique subclass, complete with new spells, dialogues, and visual effects, enhancing the depth and variety of gameplay.
Sorcerer: Shadow Magic
This subclass delves into the darkest corners of magic, allowing sorcerers to summon a hellhound to pin down enemies. They can also shroud themselves in a veil of darkness where only they can see. At level 11, they unlock the ability to teleport between shadows, adding a strategic layer to their gameplay.
Warlock: Pact Blade
Warlocks who choose the Pact Blade subclass form a pact with a Shadowfell entity, enabling them to enchant weapons from level 1. By level 3, they can enchant another weapon, and by level 5, they gain the ability to strike three times per turn—a feature that might seem like either a bug or a significant advantage!
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Cleric: Death Domain
Clerics in the Death Domain specialize in necrotic spells that bypass enemy resistances, allowing them to raise the dead or even cause corpses to explode. This subclass is perfect for players who prefer religious characters but want to steer away from traditional healing roles.
Wizard: Blade Song
Wizards can now engage in melee combat more effectively with the Blade Song ability, which grants ten turns of accumulating special charges through attacks and spells. These charges can be utilized to heal allies or deal additional damage to enemies.
Druid: Circle of Stars
Druids in the Circle of Stars can switch between different constellations, gaining bonuses that enhance their versatility on the battlefield, allowing them to adapt to various combat roles seamlessly.
Barbarian: Path of the Giant
Barbarians following the Path of the Giant can enter a rage that increases their size and allows them to throw weapons with enhanced damage, potentially adding fire or lightning effects. After throwing, the weapon magically returns to their hand, complemented by bonuses in throwing skills and 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. This subclass encapsulates the essence of traditional elven combat techniques.
Monk: Drunken Master
Monks who adopt the Drunken Master subclass harness the power of alcohol to deliver devastating physical blows. Enemies struck by them become more vulnerable to subsequent attacks, making these monks formidable combatants.
Rogue: Swashbuckler
Embodying the pirate archetype, the Swashbuckler excels in close combat, employing dirty tricks like throwing sand to blind enemies, quick thrusts to disarm them, or taunts to demoralize opponents—a perfect fit for fans of Astarion.
Bard: College of Glamour
Bards of the College of Glamour are the rock stars of the Forgotten Realms, using their charisma to charm enemies and support allies. Their enchanting abilities can make foes flee, approach, freeze, fall down, or drop their weapons.
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Ranger: Swarmkeeper
Swarmkeepers command hordes of tiny creatures, debuffing enemies with three distinct swarm types: bee swarms that repel, honey swarms that stun with shock, and moth swarms that blind. Switching swarm types is possible only upon leveling up.
Paladin: Oath of the Crown
Paladins adhering to the Oath of the Crown are the epitome of law and righteousness, gaining abilities that bolster allies, draw enemy attention, and absorb damage for teammates. This tank-like subclass emphasizes team-based play.
Photo Mode
Long-awaited by fans, the photo mode in Patch 8 comes with extensive camera settings and advanced post-processing effects, promising high-quality screenshots that capture the beauty of the game world.
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Cross-Play
Cross-platform multiplayer will now be available across all supported platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Windows, and Mac. Larian launched the closed stress test to fine-tune this feature, ensuring a seamless integration and minimal bugs.
Gameplay, Combat, and Story Improvements
Patch 8 introduces several enhancements to improve the overall gameplay experience:
- Successfully detecting items during Perception checks now marks them on the mini-map and logs them in the battle journal.
- Fixed an issue where certain ally abilities weren’t properly displayed after dialogue in the High Hall.
- Items like scrolls and potions inside unlocked containers can now be used during conversations.
- Neutral and friendly NPCs no longer become hostile when stepping on surfaces created during combat.
- Resolved a bug causing characters to get stuck climbing stairs occupied by companions.
- Fixed an issue with moving platforms in the Shan Trial location, preventing characters from falling to their deaths.
- Corrected a glitch where neutral NPCs would initiate combat without cause.
- Keris will stop engaging in unnecessary fights with Mintara.
- Resolved a loading screen freeze at 0% when joining modded multiplayer sessions.
- Improved server performance in the Adamantine Forge.
- Fixed an issue where you could tell Astarion that Gandrel was looking for him, even if Gandrel refused to reveal his target.
- Mintara no longer gets stuck while watching over Taniel in Act 2.
- Your character will no longer mistakenly believe Shadohurt is dead if she isn’t.
- Discovered merchants will now appear on the world map regardless of distance.
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Patch 8 for Baldur’s Gate 3 is anticipated to launch in February or early March 2025. After this update, Larian Studios will shift their focus to bug fixes, with no plans for further major updates.
