Baldur's Gate 3 has arrived, transforming the Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition system into a sprawling CRPG. Faithful to its tabletop inspiration, Baldur's Gate 3 allows players to craft characters ranging from greataxe-wielding human barbarians to gnomish fencing masters to cunning elven warlocks.
More than half the classes in Baldur's Gate 3 have access to some form of spellcasting, with the Bard, Cleric, Druid, Sorcerer, Warlock, and Wizard being particularly focused around magical prowess. Of course, even the most powerful archmage begins at level 1, and has to choose which spells they'll master as they take their first steps into the world of Faerun.
Best Level 1 Spells for Bards and Clerics
Bard
The Bard spell list in Baldur's Gate 3 combines healing, buffing, debuffing, and utility spells, for a well-rounded list that lacks significant damage options. Here are three of the Bard's best level 1 spells for most builds:
- Faerie Fire - Rolling with Advantage is a huge bonus in Baldur's Gate 3, and the wide AoE of Faerie Fire can ensure that the player's party gets Advantage on as many enemies as possible.
- Tasha's Hideous Laughter - One of the most powerful single-target debuffs at level 1, Tasha's Hideous Laughter can take an enemy out of the fight for up to 10 turns.
- Thunderwave - Larian Studios is a big fan of cliffs, pits, and endless drops, meaning that spells that can push enemies around like Thunderwave are particularly useful.
Cleric
The Cleric spell list combines buffing, healing, and damage. Unlike most classes in Baldur's Gate 3, Clerics always have access to their full spell list and can change which spells they have prepared at any time outside of combat. As Clerics can switch to utility spells whenever they like, here are three of the Cleric's best level 1 spells to have prepared for combat encounters:
- Bless - Adding +1d4 to every attack roll and saving throw made by any ally for the next ten rounds is a huge buff at level 1, and can easily turn a fight in the party's favor
- Healing Word - Although Cure Wounds will normally restore more HP overall, the strength of Healing Word is its range, allowing Clerics to save downed allies from across the battlefield
- Guiding Bolt - Not only does Guiding Bolt deal a significant amount of damage for a level 1 spell, it also sets the target up to receive even more damage by granting Advantage to the next attack roll made against it
Best Level 1 Spells for Druids and Sorcerers
Druid
The Druid spell list in Baldur's Gate 3 combines control, buffing, healing, and utility spells. Like the Cleric, the Druid can change which spells they have prepared from their full list at any time outside of combat. Because of this, here are three of the best Druid spells to have prepared for combat encounters:
- Entangle - The quintessential Druid crowd-control spell, Entangle can stop an entire group of enemies in their tracks, granting Advantage against them and imposing Disadvantage on all their attack rolls and Dexterity saving throws
- Ice Knife - Ice Knife is often labeled as a mediocre damage spell in Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition, however in Baldur's Gate 3 its added ability to create an ice surface greatly improves its effectiveness
- Fog Cloud - The sheer size of Fog Cloud's AoE may put off some players, fearing that it will be as much a hindrance to their own party as it is to the enemy. However, Fog Cloud can be excellent spell in a variety of situations, whether it's buying time to reposition and heal, sneaking past watchful guards, or forcing enemy archers off the high ground
Sorcerer
The Sorcerer spell list combines damage, utility, and a few crowd-control spells. Although their list is extensive, Sorcerers in Baldur's Gate 3 learn fewer spells in total than the other spellcasters. This means that picking well-rounded spells is a must, and here are three of the best:
- Chromatic Orb - The addition of surfaces in Baldur's Gate 3 gives Chromatic Orb an extra edge over its tabletop version, allowing players to create a surface of any element using what is already a solid damage spell.
- Magic Missile - One of the most famous Dungeons & Dragons spells, Magic Missile lives up to its name by being incredibly reliable, surprisingly versatile, and useful even at higher levels.
- Shield - Sorcerers typically have both low HP and low AC, leaving them vulnerable to physical attacks. Fortunately, the Shield spell can be cast as a Reaction to instantly boost the Sorcerer's AC by 5 for a round, potentially stopping multiple enemy attacks.
Best Level 1 Spells for Warlocks and Wizards
Warlock
The Warlock spell list has several unique choices, and contains a blend of debuffing, damage, and control. Warlocks in Baldur's Gate 3 get very few spell slots but regain them on a Short Rest, making their spell selection strategy a little different. Here are three great spells that no Warlock will regret taking:
- Armor of Agathys - Armor of Agathys may not seem like a great spell on paper, but its usefulness comes from its long duration and potential for up-casting. Because Armor of Agathys lasts until the next Long Rest and doesn't require Concentration, and Warlocks get their spell slots back on Short Rests, it can be a great spell to cast at the start of a day, or to use up an unused slot just before a Short Rest.
- Hellish Rebuke - The Warlock has one of the most damaging Cantrips in Baldur's Gate 3 with Eldritch Blast, which means they're not often lacking an effective Action on their turn. This increases the value of damage that occurs on an enemy's turn, like the fire damage of Hellish Rebuke, allowing the Warlock to get more done in each round.
- Hex - The quintessential Warlock spell, Hex is powerful, easy to cast, and only gets better as the Warlock acquires more uses of Eldritch Blast.
Wizard
The Wizard spell list is the most versatile in Baldur's Gate 3, containing almost every kind of spell imaginable. Compounding this versatility is the fact that Wizards can learn many spells and have the option to swap which ones they have prepared at any time out of combat. With that versatility in mind, here are three great choices that all Wizards should consider at level 1:
- Grease - Another Fifth Edition spell that has been enhanced by Baldur's Gate 3's surface mechanics, the Prone-inducing oil slick that is Grease can now be ignited to turn it into a roaring inferno.
- Mage Armor - Lacking any kind of Armor Proficiency, Wizards rely on spells like Mage Armor to give them even a passable AC. Mage Armor lasts until the next Long Rest and doesn't use Concentration, making it a great choice to always have active once 1st level spell slots become less valuable.
- Magic Missile - Just as it is for the Sorcerer, Magic Missile remains the Wizard's bread and butter damage spell at 1st level. With perfect accuracy and the ability to send each projectile at a different target, Magic Missile is always there when a Wizard needs it.
Baldur’s Gate 3 is available now for PC and is scheduled to release on September 6, 2023, for PS5.
