Games such as Baldur's Gate 3, and by extension Dungeons & Dragons 5e, pay huge attention to party composition due to their nature as RPGs. In turn, the wrong party lineup can easily ruin a player's day if they mess with the wrong enemy. Thankfully, class roles circumvent this caveat by assigning certain responsibilities to certain characters. However, it's the Tank that has the biggest responsibility of all: prevent everyone from dying.
Unlike the damage-heavy DPS and the support Healer, the Tank directs the flow of battle by being aggressive or defensive. In turn, it's their "call" that usually determines whether the party outlasts their opponents. For players of BG3 and D&D 5e, this sounds like a huge responsibility. However, thanks to the game's character progression system, players can create the best BG3 Tanks for their playthrough with a few considerations:
Updated on August 17, 2023, by Rhenn Taguiam: The launch of Baldur’s Gate 3 greets players with the full might of the Mindflayer invasion, with Faerun’s only chance of surviving taking the form of the player’s ragtag team of adventurers. Players used to their RPGs know that the D&D-inspired game requires the tank to be the central damage-sponging unit of the group, but how else should these juggernauts function across the growing horrors that await them throughout the experience? Fans who want their tanks to secure the role as the vanguard should consider other mid-game and late-game strategies to ensure everyone’s survival, such as selecting a Barbarian for more offensive tanking, choosing a Fighter for combat versatility, and opting for a Paladin for extra healing capabilities.
14 Secure Hit Points For Attrition
A Tank's worst fear lies in fighting a war of attrition. In these situations, Tanks need to ensure they can still soak damage and fight the remnants of enemy forces. In this regard, Tanks should find ways to secure high Hit Points.
For instance, it's never a bad idea to invest in Constitution. After all, a high-enough Constitution Score can give Tanks a much higher HP the more they level up. Moreover, certain Hit Die of certain Classes guarantees higher HP. These include the d10 Hit Die of the Fighter, Paladin, or Ranger. Likewise, it helps to consider a Barbarian with their d12 Hit Die.
Interestingly, Temporary HP can increase a Tank's survivability. Warlocks can cast Armor of Agathys (Abjuration) to give their Tanks a boost of 5 Temp HP. Likewise, Wizards can cast False Life (Necromancy) for the same effect.
13 Dabble Into AC Carefully
Most D&D setups know that Tanks need the highest AC as they need to soak in the most damage. Ideally, Tanks should wear Heavy Armor like Splint (AC 17) or Plate (AC 18) as soon as possible, as they offer the highest ACs in terms of base armor. Likewise, equipping a Shield adds a +2 AC boost, potentially upping a Tank to AC 20 early on.
Moreover, useful Spells such as Mage Armor (Abjuration) can give +3 AC while Shield of Faith (Abjuration) can give +2 AC. Not to mention, enhanced armor and shields can increase a Tank's AC that almost makes them "unhittable."
However, players need to pay attention when enemies continuously fail to hit the Tank. Sometimes, enemies who know facing the Tank is futile will likely head straight to the Tank's allies, which can spell trouble in the long haul.
12 Take Note Of Saving Throws
Unfortunately for Tanks, AC won't be enough to counter powerful attacks such as Spells. In turn, Tanks need to secure Proficiencies in terms of Dexterity Saving Throws to avoid attacks physically and Wisdom Saving Throws to avoid mind attacks. Likewise, Constitution Saving Throws against debilitating conditions can ensure Tanks remain in tip-top shape in battle.
Thankfully, support units can grant Tanks with handy defensive buffs. For instance, Abjuration Spells like Blade Ward and Resistance can boost Saving Throws against certain attacks. Meanwhile, Evocation Spells like Guiding Bolt and Faerie Fire also grant advantage to attacks against their targets.
11 Defensive Soaking Need Shields
Defensive Tanks need to prioritize One-Handed (1H) Weapons and Shields for maximum defense. This setup capitalizes on the +2 AC boost of Shields which, alongside Mage Armor and Shield of Faith, should allow Tanks to deflect damage from groups of mobs.
Likewise, Tanks can rely on the handy Battleaxe (1d8 Slashing), Longsword (1d8 Slashing), Morningstar (1d8 Piercing), Rapier (1d8 Piercing), Warpick (1d8 Piercing), and Warhammer (1d8 Bludgeoning) as weapons.
This build works well with the Defensive Duelist Feat, which lets Tanks use their Reaction to temporarily increase their AC during an attack.
10 Aggressive Tanking Needs Damage
Unlike the DPS character who aims to deal devastating damage, the Aggressive Tank just needs high-enough damage to reduce the threat level of enemies. This works best against bosses.
In turn, Tanks can rely on Two-Handed (2H) Weapons for better damage. These include the Greatsword (2d6 Slashing), Maul (2d6 Bludgeoning), Halberd (1d10 Slashing), the Battleaxe (1d10), and the Warhammer (1d10 Bludgeoning).
This build works great with the Great Weapon Master Feat. When wielding a 2H-Weapon, scoring a kill or a crit with this Feat lets the Tank use their Bonus Action to make another attack. Moreover, players have the option of taking a -5 Penalty on Attack Rolls to get a +10 Damage Increase, something that can be extremely lethal to most enemies.
9 Mobility Guarantees Protection
Remember, Tanks become useless if they can't rush to protect their other party members against fast enemies. In turn, Tanks need to ensure they have the mobility to navigate the battlefield as they see fit.
In terms of basic movement, Tanks can rely on Jumping and Dashing to navigate the game's horizontal and vertical spaces - perfect for dungeons with artifacts. However, players should consider whether they should forego a potential Bonus Action (for Jumping) or Attack Action (for Dash) in order to have extra movement.
Likewise, the Oath of Vengeance Paladin's Misty Step (Conjuration) can help them get to necessary vantage points as soon as possible thanks to its handy teleport mechanic.
8 Positioning Secures Battlefield Control
Despite the stereotypes that Tanks are "just meat shields," a lot of thought comes into maximizing a Tank's defensive capabilities. Essentially, a Tank should position themselves in such a way that they essentially control the battlefield. Interestingly, Tanks can "dictate" the flow of combat in little but impactful ways.
For starters, Tanks should secure themselves as the enemy's best threat on the battlefield. They can do this by having players position Tanks closer to enemies and out in the open, while their allies hide behind cover or remain far away. That way, enemies get more motivated to attack the Tank, while the player can ensure the other party members pull off their best attacks.
7 Consider Distance From The Tank, Allies, Enemies
Aside from positioning, Tanks also need to remain mindful of the distance they establish between their enemies and their allies. After all, Tanks might want to meet the enemy headfirst. However, they also need to provide a defensive buffer for their allies. Ideally, Tanks should keep their targets in melee range. However, they should remain within the long-range distance of their allies. This Goldilocks Zone can serve as the perfect basis for a Tank's range of protection.
Using this range, the versatile Ranger and the powerful Wizard can dish out attacks to aid the Tank. Likewise, Clerics can easily land healing Spells without the risk of going too deep into the battlezone. However, this same distance also gives the Tank enough room to Disengage and rush to an ally's aid if enemies try to attack them. Likewise, the same distance gives allies a buffer to reposition themselves should they need to retreat.
6 Proactive Support Counts
However, just because Tanks need to be on the front lines doesn't mean they no longer need any in-combat support. Ideally, Clerics and other support units should take note of potential healing Spells they can offer the Tank while they duke it out with primary threats in combat.
For instance, Cure Wounds (Evocation), Healing Word (Evocation), Aid (Abjuration), and Prayer of Healing (Evocation) can become lifesavers when the Tank gets overwhelmed in combat. Moreover, enemy debuffs with Enchantments such as Sleep, Tasha's Hideous Laughter, Blindness, and Hold Person can distract enemies long enough for Tanks to give a fierce rebuttal.
5 Attack The Biggest Threats First
Being the Baldur’s Gate 3 character capable of tanking the most damage in a fight, tanks are heavily encouraged to take out the biggest threats on the battlefield as soon as possible. Chances are high that tanks not only possess the highest AC in the group (and are therefore hard to hit), but they also have the most opportunities to defeat boss-level opponents much faster than their allies.
Keeping themselves as close as possible to the biggest threat ensures they don’t target allies more frequently. Not only that but even if the boss tries to reposition, the tank will be right there to deal an Opportunity Attack with an armament like a Versatile Weapon to discourage them from moving beyond the tank’s reach.
4 Pesky Mobs Go First
On the off-chance that a boss character is much further from the tanks than players desire, they can still enjoy their Baldur’s Gate 3 gameplay by getting rid of nearby mobs first. While attacking spellcasters and archers among the enemies can be difficult due to distance, tanks who are able to dish out punishment to melee attackers who try to ambush the team can whittle just enough health that the rest of the party can finish them off.
An attack or two against the closest mobs should shave off enough damage that the rest of the party can handle them while the tank Jumps closer to the bigger boss. This should also create just enough distance that the tank is between two sets of mobs (a major mob and the boss), giving them room to alternate their attacks.
3 Select Barbarian For The Rage
When securing the group’s protection at the vanguard in the gameplay of Baldur’s Gate 3, the Barbarian makes for a decent Class that helps players avoid the stresses of defense through sheer offense. Courtesy of their Rage and aggression-leaning abilities, Barbarians prefer ending fights as quickly as they begin.
This offensive Class is the ideal tank for players who want to tear down enemy forces before threatening the rest of the party. Among the Companions in Baldur’s Gate 3, Karlach makes the best Barbarian, particularly the Berserker, as her Frenzy adds more combat options.
2 Choose Fighter For Martial Flexibility
Tanks aren’t just in a team to soak damage, they dictate the pace of combat as a Baldur’s Gate 3 character. With this playstyle in mind, the Fighter and their vast array of combat options can help them adjust to situations quickly, boasting flexibility that allows them to reposition close to allies should they need assistance or prioritize target elimination.
Players who prefer this gameplay method may want to choose a Battle Master Fighter for Maneuvers that offer attacks and actions with special effects. Alternatively, the Eldritch Knight gives a Fighter like Lae’zel much-needed casting versatility.
1 Go Paladin For Extra Heals
The best tanks in an RPG like Baldur’s Gate 3 don’t just soak damage for allies, they ensure their survival. This goal makes the Paladin quite the ideal tanking Class, especially since their abilities make for easier transitions between defending the party, striking opponents, or healing allies.
Players who don’t want to risk the Emerald Grove to obtain the Paladin Minthara could still transform one of their other Companions into the Class - a move that could prove helpful, especially since a Paladin is essentially a more combative Cleric with less of the confusing utility. The Paladin and their capability to transition between straightforward heals and powerful smites can make them highly potent defenders and menacing foes to fight.
Baldur's Gate 3 is available now on PC and is set to release for PlayStation 5 on September 6, 2023.