The Battle Master subclass for the Fighter Class is the best build to get up close and personal with your enemies in Baldur’s Gate 3. The subclass is only available after you hit Level 3 in your Fighter Class.
This subclass of the Fighter class does not have many bells and whistles in terms of spells. However, the Battle Master class makes up for it by providing battle maneuvers. These are special attacks you can perform with your character to inflict massive DPS.
Starting abilities and skills for Battle Master Fighter Build in Baldur’s Gate 3
Before we get to the level progression, you must select the right choices in character creation. These will give you useful bonuses that will make your Battle Master Build in Baldur’s Gate 3 a force to be reckoned with.
| Class | Fighter | – |
| Sub-Class | Battle Master | – |
| Race | Half-Orc | The Half-Orc Race is the best option for you as it has its own proficiencies and skills. Darkvision allows you to see in the dark, while Relentless Endurance adds to your self-sustainability. You can tank damage easily and take a fatal attack head-on once per long rest. |
| Ability Points Distribution | STR 17, DEX 13, CON 16, INT 8, WIS 9, CHA 11 | Strength and Constitution are the main ability modifiers for the Fighter class. |
| Skills | Acrobatics, Perception, Survival, Athletics | Acrobatics will be crucial because we will get dangerously close to enemies as a melee build. Perception is a good choice as it can help you pass Perception checks, sense traps, etc. Survival can help you escape tricky situations by passing Survival Checks if all your party members fail. |
Best Background
Backgrounds can play a vital role in your character creation. Your character background will devise the course of your journey in the game. They can grant proficiency bonuses in the right places and give you a further boost.
Soldier: The Soldier background can be the best if you go for a tank build in Baldur’s Gate 3. Not only do they absorb a ton of damage, but also have proficiencies with various weapons in the game’s arsenal.
Outlander: This background is the best for the players who like to play on the backfoot during the game. The Outlander background focuses on the survivalist playstyle and has proficiencies with Survival and Animal Handling.
Best Feats for Battle Master Fighter Build in Baldur’s Gate 3
Feats are special passive and active skills obtained at levels 4, 8, and 12, respectively. These can grant you special bonuses and attacks depending on the situation.
| Level | Feat | Description |
| 4 | Great Weapons Master | This feat is an overpowered one, allowing you to have a bonus action if your attack lands a crit hit or a kill while also increasing the damage output. The only negative side is that you will receive a -5 penalty on your attack rolls. But if that attack lands, you can get a +10 bonus for the damage. |
| 6 | Savage Attacker | Savage attacker works like your Fighting Style, Great Weapon Fighting. It will allow you to roll your damage die twice every time you attack and use the higher result. This ensures that you always deal the highest amount of damage per strike. |
| 8 | Alert | This feat will make you resistant to Surprise and give a +5 bonus to your Initiative. |
| 12 | Ability Improvement | Invest both points in Strength ability. |
Best battle Maneuvers for Battle Master Fighter build
Unfortunately, the Half-Orc background and the Battle Master both do not have any attack spells given to them whatsoever. However, the Battle Master gets some special attack maneuvers that you can use.
Disarming Attack: You will cast a superior die to deal additional damage and force your target to drop their weapon.
Trip Attack: This attack deals an extra 1d8 damage and knocks your target prone.
Riposte: Whenever an enemy in your melee range misses an attack, you will spend the superiority die to make a reaction attack and deal 1d8 damage.
Best armor and weapons
Being the tip of the spear, you will need to rethink your choice of weapons and armor in this build. As the physical damage dealer and tank, you will need items that enhance your functionality. So, you need some survivability as well.
Helm: Grymskull Helm – You get resistance against fire damage, and enemies can no longer land critical attacks on you.
Chest: Adamantine Splint Armor – This very rare heavy armor has 18 AC. It reduces all incoming damage by 2. An enemy that uses a melee attack against you is sent back, reeling for the next three turns.
Gloves: Gloves of Dexterity – Increases your Dexterity to 18 and grants a +1 bonus to your attacks.
Boots: Boots of Speed – You get Click Heels class action that allows you to move twice as fast.
Necklace: Amulet of Elemental Torment – Allows you to pass the surface effects (like fire and cold) to enemies when you attack them.
Ring 1: Fetish of Callarduran Smoothhands – Allows you to use the Invisibility spell.
Ring 2: Burnished Ring – This very rare ring allows you to use the Paralyzing Ray spell, which paralyzes the enemy for the next 10 turns.
Weapon: Sussur Greatsword – Deals 3-13, slashing damage and silences the enemy on strike. They can no longer use spells against you.
Battle Master Fighter Build Level Progression in Baldur’s Gate 3
| Level | Unlocks | Description |
| 1 | Race, Background, and Ability Points Distribution. Second Wind class feature. Fighting style selection. | Second Wind allows you to heal yourself for 2-11HP. Choose Great Weapon fighting that allows you to re-roll your damage dice if you rolled a 1 or 2 previously. Must have a two-handed weapon equipped. |
| 2 | Action surge ability. | You can make an additional action per long rest. |
| 3 | Sub-Class selection. | Battle Master to get Disarming Attack, Trip Attack, and Riposte. |
| 4 | The first Feat unlocks. | Great Weapon Master to get bonus damage against your enemies. |
| 5 | Extra attack class feature. | You can now make an additional attack per turn. When combined with action surge, your total number of attacks per turn rises to 4. |
| 6 | The second Feat unlocks. | Savage attacker to roll your damage dice two times. You will deal the damage according to the highest number. |
| 7 | Additional battle Maneuvers unlock. | Choose Precision Attack and Pushing Attack. |
| 8 | The third Feat unlocks. | Alert to get a +5 Initiative bonus. |
| 9 | Indomitable class feature. | Allows you to re-roll if you fail the saving throw. |
| 10 | Additional Battle Maneuvers unlock. | Choose Sweeping attack and Goading attack for crowd control. |
| 11 | Improved Extra Attack class feature. | Allows you to perform three attacks in one turn. With action Surge, you can now hit an enemy 5 times per turn. |
| 12 | The final Feat unlocks. | Ability Improvement to increase your Strength ability. |
Is Battle Master Fighter any good in BG3?
Battle Master fighters are extremely aggressive and believe in dealing massive damage to their enemies. Their main strengths are crowd control and absorbing as much damage as possible. They have a lot of extra attacks, that amplifies the damage output many folds.
However, this sub-class lacks spell casting, unlike the Eldritch Knight, and is dependent on gear. You can multiclass your Battle Master Fighter build with Barbarian (4/8) to create a monster with an insatiable thirst for the enemy’s blood.
