On January 28, the closed stress test for Patch 8 of Baldur's Gate 3 commenced, marking a significant milestone for both PC and console players. This final major update is set to elevate the game to new heights, introducing 12 exciting new subclasses, seamless cross-play across platforms, and a detailed photo mode. Let's delve into how this monumental update redefines the experience of one of the most acclaimed 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 will receive a unique subclass, enriched with new spells, dialogues, and visual effects, enhancing the depth and variety of gameplay.

Sorcerer: Shadow Magic

This subclass delves into the darker aspects of magic, enabling sorcerers to summon a hellhound to immobilize foes and shroud themselves in a veil of darkness, visible only to themselves. At level 11, they can teleport between shadows, adding a strategic edge to their gameplay.

Warlock: Pact Blade

Warlocks of the Pact Blade subclass form a pact with entities from the Shadowfell, enchanting their weapons to become magical from level 1. By level 3, they can enchant another weapon, and by level 5, they can strike three times per turn, a feature that raises questions about balance and power.

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Cleric: Death Domain

Clerics in the Death Domain specialize in necrotic spells that ignore enemy resistances, offering unique abilities like resurrecting the dead or causing corpses to explode. This subclass appeals to players interested in a more combat-focused religious role.

Wizard: Blade Song

Wizards can now engage in melee combat more effectively with the Blade Song subclass, accumulating special charges over ten turns that can be used to heal allies or deal damage to enemies.

Druid: Circle of Stars

Druids of the Circle of Stars can switch between constellations, each offering different bonuses, thereby increasing their adaptability and versatility on the battlefield.

Barbarian: Path of the Giant

Barbarians on the Path of the Giant can enter a rage that increases their size and throwing capabilities, dealing additional fire or lightning damage. Their weapons return to their hand after being thrown, complemented by enhanced 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 enemies, embracing traditional elven combat techniques.

Monk: Drunken Master

Monks in the Drunken Master subclass harness alcohol-induced strength to deliver powerful physical blows, making enemies more susceptible to subsequent attacks.

Rogue: Swashbuckler

Perfect for fans of Astarion, the Swashbuckler subclass embodies the pirate archetype, excelling in close combat with tactics like blinding enemies with sand, disarming them with quick thrusts, or demoralizing them with taunts.

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, making them flee, approach, freeze, fall down, or drop their weapons.

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Ranger: Swarmkeeper

Rangers in the Swarmkeeper subclass command swarms of tiny creatures that debuff enemies. The swarms come in three types: bees that repel, honey that stuns with shock, and moths that blind. Switching swarm types is only possible upon leveling up.

Paladin: Oath of the Crown

Paladins who adhere to the Oath of the Crown are the epitome of lawfulness and righteousness, gaining abilities to boost allies, draw enemy attention, and absorb damage for their team, making them ideal for a tank-like role.

Photo Mode

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The much-anticipated photo mode arrives with Patch 8, offering extensive camera settings and advanced post-processing effects for capturing high-quality in-game screenshots.

Cross-Play

Cross-platform multiplayer is finally here, allowing seamless play across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Windows, and Mac. The closed stress test focuses on refining this feature, ensuring a smooth integration and eliminating any bugs.

Gameplay, Combat, and Story Improvements

Patch 8 brings several enhancements to the game:

• Items detected during Perception checks are now marked on the mini-map and logged 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 slated for release in February or early March 2025. Following this update, Larian Studios will shift focus to bug fixes, with no further major updates planned.