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 is set to be the final major patch for the game, introducing 12 new subclasses, cross-play functionality across platforms, and an eagerly awaited photo mode. Let's delve into how this update elevates one of the most celebrated games of modern times.
New Subclasses in Baldur’s Gate 3
Each of the twelve classes in Baldur’s Gate 3 will receive a unique subclass, enhancing gameplay with fresh spells, dialogues, and visual effects.
Sorcerer: Shadow Magic
Embrace the darkness with the Shadow Magic subclass. Sorcerers can now summon a hellhound to pin down enemies and create a veil of darkness, visible only to themselves. At level 11, they gain the ability to teleport between shadows, adding a strategic layer to their combat prowess.
Warlock: Pact Blade
Warlocks now forge a pact with an entity from the Shadowfell, enchanting weapons to become magical from level 1. By level 3, they can enchant another weapon, and at level 5, they can strike three times per turn—a feature that might seem either a bug or an overpowered advantage!
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Cleric: Death Domain
Clerics in the Death Domain specialize in necrotic spells that bypass enemy resistances. They can resurrect the dead or cause corpses to explode, ideal for players who prefer a darker twist to their religious characters without focusing on healing roles.
Wizard: Blade Song
Wizards become formidable in melee combat with the Blade Song subclass. Activating this ability grants ten turns to accumulate charges through attacks and spells, which can be used to heal allies or deal damage to foes.
Druid: Circle of Stars
Druids can now switch between constellations with the Circle of Stars subclass, gaining bonuses that allow them to adapt to various battlefield roles and enhance their versatility.
Barbarian: Path of the Giant
Barbarians enter a rage, growing in size and throwing weapons with increased damage, now with fire or lightning effects. The weapon returns to their hand after throwing, and they gain 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, deal psychic damage, or banish opponents to another dimension. This subclass encapsulates traditional elven combat techniques.
Monk: Drunken Master
Monks channel their strength through alcohol with the Drunken Master subclass, delivering devastating physical blows. Enemies hit by the monk become more vulnerable to subsequent attacks, making them formidable fighters.
Rogue: Swashbuckler
Embody the pirate archetype with the Swashbuckler subclass, perfect for Astarion fans. Excelling in close combat, they use dirty tricks like throwing sand to blind enemies, quick thrusts to disarm, or taunts to demoralize.
Bard: College of Glamour
Bards in the College of Glamour become rock stars of the Forgotten Realms, charming enemies and supporting allies. Their charisma can enchant foes into submission, causing them to flee, approach, freeze, fall down, or drop their weapons.
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Ranger: Swarmkeeper
Rangers take on the role of Swarmkeepers, commanding hordes of tiny creatures. These swarms come in three types—bee, honey, and moth—each with unique debuffing effects on enemies. Switching swarm types is only possible upon leveling up.
Paladin: Oath of the Crown
Paladins adhering to the Oath of the Crown are the epitome of lawfulness and righteousness. They gain powerful abilities to boost allies, draw enemy attention, and absorb damage for teammates, focusing on team-based play.
Photo Mode
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Players have eagerly awaited the addition of a photo mode with extensive camera settings. Advanced post-processing effects will ensure high-quality screenshots, allowing players to capture their adventures in stunning detail.
Cross-Play
Cross-platform multiplayer will finally be available across all supported platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Windows, and Mac. Larian launched the closed stress test primarily to fine-tune cross-play functionality, aiming to eliminate bugs and smoothly integrate this feature.
Gameplay, Combat, and Story Improvements
Patch 8 brings several enhancements to gameplay, combat, and story:
- Successfully detecting items during Perception checks will now mark them on the mini-map and log 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 expected to release in February or early March 2025. Following this update, Larian Studios will shift focus to bug fixes, with no further major updates planned.
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