Best Baldur's Gate 3 Wizard build: Race, skills, subclass, background & more
If you want to be a master spellcaster, it's worth checking out our breakdown of the best Baldur's Gate 3 Wizard build, including the race, skills, subclass, and background you should select during character creation.
Baldur's Gate 3 is all about player choice, and the Wizard is perhaps one of the best examples of this in the game, with its eight subclasses and the myriad of spells you can learn throughout the game. It can be a hard class to build due to all this choice, but it's a powerful class for helping your companions in combat.
So, take a look at our breakdown of the best Baldur's Gate 3 Wizard build and learn how to master the arcane arts.
Not a fan of the Wizard build? Check out our recommendations for other best builds in Baldur's Gate 3:
- Best Baldur's Gate 3 Barbarian build
- Best Baldur's Gate 3 Bard build
- Best Baldur's Gate 3 Druid build
- Best Baldur's Gate 3 Monk build
- Best Baldur's Gate 3 Rogue build
- Best Baldur's Gate 3 Sorcerer build
- Best Baldur's Gate 3 Warlock build
Baldur's Gate 3 Wizard explained
Click to enlargeThe Baldur's Gate 3 Wizard is an Intelligence-based spellcasting class who are masters of the arcane. Wizards learn magic from individual schools, combining ancient spells with modern research.
A Wizard can serve multiple purposes, or you can key them in one aspect, all depending on the spells you select for them. They particularly excel at high area of effect damage, or party-wide support spells.
- Make sure you know how to get Lump's War Horn in Baldur's Gate 3 for an Intelligence increase
All Wizard subclasses in Baldur's Gate 3
Click to enlargeThere are a total of eight Wizard subclasses in Baldur's Gate 3: Abjuration, Evocation, Necromancy, Conjuration, Enchantment, Divination, Illusion, and Transmutation. We'll cover each one below in more detail.
Before getting into each subclass, it's worth noting that Wizards can learn spells from their selected subclass (school of magic) at a cheaper price than spells not belonging to their school.
Abjuration
Abjuration spells summon wards, banish enemies, and nullify magic, suitable for those who wish to defend themselves and others.
| Subclass Feature | Description |
| Spells | Choose two spells |
| Arcane Ward | The magic of your spells forms a ward that protects you from harm |
Evocation
Evocation spells focus elemental energy into powerful attacks and enchantments. Those who specialise in this school are known as evokers.
| Subclass Feature | Description |
| Spells | Choose two spells |
| Sculpt Spells | Create pockets of safety within your Evocation spells. Allies automatically succeed saving throws against these spells and take no damage |
Necromancy
You walk through the valley of the shadow of death, and make lots of friends there.
| Subclass Feature | Description |
| Spells | Choose two spells |
| Grim Harvest | Once per turn, if you kill a creature with a spell, you regain hit points equal to twice the spell slot level used - thrice if it's a Necromancy spell |
Conjuration
Compelled by shape and motion, your favoured arcane style involves summoning creatures and objects, as well as displacing them in space.
| Subclass Feature | Description |
| Spells | Choose two spells |
| Minor Conjuration: Create Water | Call forth rain in a 4m radius |
- Need some extra help in the party? Check out how to use Hirelings in Baldur's Gate 3
Enchantment
Your magic influences, beguiles, and bends the will and conviction of those around you.
| Subclass Feature | Description |
| Spells | Choose two spells |
| Hypnotic Gaze | Charm and Incapacitate a creature for two turns |
Divination
You peer through time and can sculpt the future, like temporal clay, into a more favourable form.
| Subclass Feature | Description |
| Spells | Choose two spells |
| Portent | After each Long Rest, you gain two random Portent Dice that can be used as a reaction to change die of an Attack Roll or Saving Throw |
Illusion
You specialise in unravelling and restitching the fabric of reality to fool the unwary, the gullible, and the monstrous.
| Subclass Feature | Description |
| Spells | Choose two spells |
| Improved Minor Illusion | You can cast Minor Illusion as a bonus action |
Transmutation
Your innate fascination with the structure of things has granted you an incredible power over crude matter and its manipulation.
| Subclass Feature | Description |
| Spells | Choose two spells |
| Experimental Alchemy | You can brew two alchemical solutions instead of one when combining extracts if you succeed a DC 15 Medicine check |
- Here is our explanation of Karmic Dice in Baldur's Gate 3
What is the best Wizard subclass?
Click to enlargeOur pick for the best Wizard subclass in Baldur's Gate 3 is the Necromancy subclass, as it offers an incredibly powerful passive that augments some of the highest damage spells in the game, allowing you to heal and sustain yourself in the fight for longer.
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Best Baldur's Gate 3 Wizard build
Level 1
Click to enlarge| Option | Selection |
| Race & Subrace | Drow / Lolth-Sworn Drow |
| Cantrips | Fire Bolt, Mage Hand, Bone Chill |
| Spells | Mage Armour, Ice Knife, Charm Person, Thunderwave, Sleep, Magic Missile |
| Background | Sage |
| Skill Proficiencies | Insight & Investigation |
| Ability Points |
|
Level 2
Click to enlarge| Option | Selection |
| Subclass | Necromancy |
| Spells | Ray of Sickness, False Life |
Level 3
Click to enlarge| Option | Selection |
| Spells | Hold Person, Scorching Ray |
Level 4
Click to enlarge| Option | Selection |
| Cantrip | Poison Spray |
| Spells | Gust of Wind, Ray of Enfeeblement |
| Feat | Ability Improvement, +2 Intelligence |
Level 5
Click to enlarge| Option | Selection |
| Spells | Animate Dead, Fireball |
Level 6
Click to enlarge| Option | Selection |
| Spells | Counterspell, Hypnotic Pattern |
Level 7
Click to enlarge| Option | Selection |
| Spells | Blight, Wall of Fire |
Level 8
Click to enlarge| Option | Selection |
| Spells | Polymorph, Phantasmal Killer |
| Feat | War Caster |
Level 9
Click to enlarge| Option | Selection |
| Spells | Cloudkill, Dominate Person |
Level 10
Click to enlarge| Option | Selection |
| Cantrip | Ray of Frost |
| Spells | Telekinesis, Bestow Curse |
That's all for our breakdown of the best Baldur's Gate 3 Wizard build, and now you know all the spells you should pick when levelling, along with how to create your character at the start of the game.
For more Baldur's Gate 3 guides, stick with GGRecon. Alternatively, make sure you check out how to get to the Underdark in Baldur's Gate 3, and how to find the Adamantine Forge in Baldur's Gate 3, to help kit out your party with new gear.