Highlights
- Baldur's Gate 3 offers players a wide range of character creation options, but the absence of the Hexblade Warlock subclass leaves some fans feeling like the class is incomplete.
- Hexblade Warlocks serve a Shadowfell entity, wielding mystical weapons and possessing versatile combat abilities that would have made battles easier and added an interesting layer to the gameplay.
- While players cannot create Hexblade Warlocks in Baldur's Gate 3, the Pact of the Blade subclass offers a similar experience, allowing Warlock players to focus on weapon proficiencies and create a unique pact weapon.
If there's one thing that fans of Baldur's Gate 3 can agree on, it's the fact that the game has a wealth of options when it comes to how to create and define their characters. Players can craft in-depth characters, complete Baldur's Gate 3 quests to level them quickly, and develop them in a number of different ways. The combinations of races, classes, subclasses, and additional choices are innumerable, but there is one subclass whose omission might disappoint fans of the Warlock class.
Warlocks are among the most interesting and multifaceted classes in Dungeons and Dragons, and by extension the Baldur's Gate franchise. Serving powerful and mysterious patrons, Warlocks give up a bit of their freedom in exchange for the ability to use powerful and strange magic. Choosing Warlock at the start of the game will grant players the option to use specific spells that classes like Sorcerer and Wizard are not privy to. Baldur's Gate 3 Warlocks have three subclasses as well, which will change the selection of spells they have at their disposal. However, there is a fourth Warlock subclass missing from the game, and its absence makes the class feel somewhat incomplete.
Hexblade Warlocks Should Have Been Added to Baldur's Gate 3
In Baldur's Gate 3, each Warlock subclass is defined by what patron the warlock has made its pact with. These patrons are unnamed, but their aims play a role in what spells and other special abilities their warlock will be able to use. For instance, Fiend Warlocks serve a shadowy entity that destroys and corrupts, which grants them abilities like "Dark One's Blessing" and "Burning Hands."
One missing Warlock subclass that would help Baldur's Gate 3 players dominate combat encounters is Hexblade. Hexblade Warlocks serve a Shadowfell entity rumored to be the Raven Queen. These Warlocks can leverage mystical, sentient magical weapons, like the Blackrazor sword, forged from otherworldly, ethereal materials. Hexblade Warlocks are not forced to use these armaments, however, and can choose to make use of other powerful abilities like the Hexblade's Curse and numerous Smite attacks.
Additionally, Hexblade Warlocks are skilled warriors, having proficiency with martial weapons, shields, and medium armor. This stands in contrast to the other Warlock subclasses, which only enjoy proficiency with light armor and can only effectively use a small selection of melee weapons. For players forgoing the many Baldur's Gate 3 origin characters at the start of the game, the Hexblade subclass provides a number of versatile and powerful combat options, which could make various scenarios considerably easier to handle. This, coupled with the rich lore of the subclass, would have made it a welcome addition.
The Hexblade subclass would also be a great choice for players looking for a dedicated battlemage build, as it offers a bevy of reliable magic and melee options. The magical sentient weapons that Hexblade warriors can wield would also add another interesting layer to the game's combat, as it stands out from other melee-focused classes, and they could even rival some of Baldur's Gate 3's best weapons.
While players can't currently create a Hexblade Warlock, it's clear that Larian took some inspiration from the Hexblade subclass when designing Pact of the Blade; Warlock players can make use of the Pact of the Blade subclass, which lets them place a heavier emphasis on weapon proficiencies and gives them the opportunity to create a unique pact weapon. For Baldur's Gate 3 players interested in the melee-focused options that the Hexblade subclass has to offer, Pact of the Blade comes pretty close.
Some Dungeons & Dragons fans might be disappointed by the fact that Hexblade is missing from the game, but there is still no shortage of options available when it comes to character creation. Baldur's Gate 3 has been critically acclaimed for several reasons, not the least of which being its commitment to player freedom and role-playing opportunities. With an array of impactful class-building tools, some Baldur's Gate 3 fans might not even notice that Hexblade is missing.
Baldur's Gate 3 is available now on PC, with a PS5 release on September 6 and an Xbox launch to follow.
