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Sorcerers are one of the three classes inBaldur’s Gate 3that focus on arcane spellcasting. Like the other two arcane classes, the Wizard and Warlock, Sorcerers are capable of powerful combat spells as well as useful buffs and enchantments. If you want a large toolbox of magical options without having to do too much planning, the Sorcerer is the class for you.
Related:Baldur’s Gate 3: Complete Guide To Wizards
In this guide, we’ll go over the basics of playing a Sorcerer, as well as how they differ from similar classes. None of your main companions are Sorcerers, so if you want one in your party you’ll have to play one yourself!
Updated September 12th, 2023:To help you create the ultimate spellcaster build, we’ve updated this guide to include a video version that goes through all the important aspects of creating a sorcerer in Baldur’s Gate 3.
Why Should You Play A Sorcerer?
Sorcerers are natural spellcasters, drawing on inherent magic from a gift or bloodline.
Sorcerers can be seen as the middle ground between Warlocks and Wizards. They can learn more spells at a time than the Warlock, but not as many as the Wizard; however, a Sorcererdoesn’t need to prepare spells. Instead, a Sorcerer can cast any spell they know at any time, provided they have all the necessary actions and spell slots available to do so.
As they level up, Sorcerers gain access to a power calledMetamagic.Metamagic allows you tospend extra spell slots to enhance spellsin a variety of ways; see below for more details.
Like Warlocks, Sorcerers are aCharisma-based class.This means that they will also excel in social interactions even without the help of spells like Charm Person (though a little magical help never hurts!) As a tradeoff, they don’t scale as well with Intelligence or Wisdom as Wizards, Druids, or Clerics, so youmight miss the occasional Perception Check.
Lastly, Sorcerers have an innate power tosense magical energy.You may get unique dialogue options as a result, particularly when magical items or effects are at work.
Sorcerers, Warlocks, and Wizards fill a very similar role in the party; as a result, you may find thathaving Gale or Wyll on your teamis redundantif your main character is a Sorcerer.
Constitution and Charisma
Starting Equipment
Quarterstaff,Sorcerer Robe,Simple Boots
Sorcerers might be adept at wielding magical powers, but the same cannot be said for their martial capabilities.Sorcerers have few weapon proficiencies, no armor proficiencies,and gain minor HP increases with every level up—four plus your Constitution modifier. It’s important that you stick to the back of combat encounters to stay alive as a Sorcerer. Those planning to make a melee Sorcerer shouldconsider multiclassing.
But what Sorcerers lack in martial prowess, they make up for in charm.Sorcerers are Charisma-focused casters and can gain proficiency with most social skills, making this class perfect for social encounters. Any group that requires a spellcaster and a good talker can’t go wrong with a Sorcerer.
Sorcerers primarily use their magic in combat, but it’sworth having a decent dagger or quarterstaff(or another weapon you’re proficient with based on your species) in case you find yourself in a jam and out of spell slots, or stuck under the effects of Silence.
Related:Baldur’s Gate 3: Best Oath Of Vengeance Paladin Build
Metamagic Options
The natural skill of Sorcerers allows them to manipulate all magic they cast through the use ofMetamagic.Starting from level 2, Sorcerers can unlock Metamagic options that alter the behavior of certain spells. Metamagic options range from increasing your spell’s targeting range totwinning spells like Hasteonto another target. These effects are fueled bySorcery Points, earned with every Sorcerer level. Sorcery Points refresh after every Long Rest. Only one Metamagic option can affect any selected spell at a time.
Sorcerers can unlock a total offour Metamagic optionsthroughout their playthrough. Two Metamagic options unlock at level 2, a third one unlocks at level 3, and a final Metamagic option may be learned at level 10.Learned Metamagic cannot be changed without respeccing, so think carefully before selecting any. To use Metamagic in combat, toggle any learned Metamagic option on the right-most portion of your action bar to activate it. Compatible spells on your spell bar will start to glow.
Sorcery Points And Spell Slots
Outside of altering spells, Sorcery Points may be manipulated to replenish spell slots and vice versa.Starting at level 2, Sorcerers can use Sorcery Points to create Spell Slots as a bonus action.Doing so will cost slightly more Sorcery Points than the slot you’re replenishing. Level two slots cost three Sorcery Points, level three slots cost five Sorcery Points, etc. There’s no limit to how many times you can do this outside of your current Sorcery Points. It is possible to create a surplus of spell slots this way, so consider using this conversion method before a tough combat encounter.
The inverse is also possible.Spell slots may be sacrificed to create Sorcery Points.This also requires a bonus action to trigger in combat. The spell slot level sacrificed will give you an equal number of Sorcery Points. For example, sacrificing a level five spell slot would generate five Sorcery Points.There is no limit to how many Sorcery Points you’re able to hold from doing this; you can exceed your Sorcery Point cap by sacrificing spell slots. With that said, note that if your character has multiclassed as a Warlock, the game will consume your Sorcerer spell slotsbeforeyour Warlock slots.
Converting Warlock Spell Slots
If your character has multiclassed as a Warlock and attempts to create Sorcery Points, the game will consume your Sorcerer spell slotsbeforeyour Warlock slots.
All Metamagic Options
There areseven Metamagic optionsin Baldur’s Gate 3, most of which become available as early as level 2. Up to four options may be selected, and only one Metamagic can affect a spell at any moment. Exact Metamagic effects and Sorcery Point costs may be found in the table below:
Distant Spell
Level 2
Increase the range of spells by 50%. Melee spells get a range of 9m.
Extended Spell
Double the duration of conditions, summons, and surfaces caused by spells.
Heightened Spell
Level 3
Targets of spells that require saving throws have Disadvantage on their first saving throw.
Twinned Spell
Spells that only target 1 creature can target an additional creature. For spells that don’t shoot a projectile, the targets need to be close enough together.
Costs 1 Sorcery Point per spell slot level used. Cantrips also cost 1 Sorcery Point.
Related:Baldur’s Gate 3: Complete Guide To Paladins
Subclass: Draconic Bloodline
This Sorcerer had a dragon for an ancestor, and as a result inherited a fraction of the creature’s power. Unique dialogue options are available due to your bloodline, and you gain access to some great neutral-game benefits for your character.Draconic Sorcerer is best used for Sorcerers that want to increase their survivability, as most of this subclass' bonuses grant elemental resistances and bonuses to your AC.
Selecting this subclass will let you pick from one of ten ancestries.The ancestry you choose aligns your character to a particular element and unlocks a new spell.For example, picking a lightning ancestry will cause the Elemental Affinity: Resistance feature to grant lightning resistance. This cannot be changed without respeccing, so pick your ancestry carefully.
1
Draconic Resilience
While you aren’t wearing armor, your AC is 13 + your Dexterity modifier.
6
Elemental Affinity: Damage
When you cast a spell that deals damage of the type associated with your draconic ancestry, you add your Charisma modifier to the damage.
Elemental Affinity: Resistance
When you cast a spell that deals damage of the type associated with your draconic ancestry, you can spend 1 Sorcery Point to gain resistance to that damage type.
11
Fly
Your character can now fly. Distance is limited to your character’s movement speed.
Subclass: Storm Sorcery
By tapping into the power of storms, a Storm Sorcerer can fly as a bonus action, unleash a wide range of lightning-themed spells, and turn themselves into a source of damage after casting a spell.Storm Sorcerers are ideal for DPS builds or players that want a larger spell roster.Storm Sorcery is the only subclass that gives you spells for free, most of which are quite powerful. The capstone feature for this subclass, Storm’s Fury, is fairly weak, so this subclass might not be the best choice for a dedicated Sorcerer build. Fortunately, that does make Storm Sorcery a great choice for multiclass builds.
Tempestuous Magic
After you cast any leveled spell, you may Fly as a bonus action until the end of your turn. Doing so does not provoke Opportunity Attacks.
Heart Of The Storm
When you cast a leveled spell that deals lightning or thunder damage, you cause a small, local storm. All enemies within 6m take lightning damage or thunder damage.
The damage inflicted is equal to your Sorcerer level divided by 2.
You are resistant to lightning and thunder damage.
Storm Spells
Call Lightning, Sleet Storm, Gust of Wind, Create Water, and Thunderwave are added to your list of known spells.
Storm’s Fury
When you are hit by a melee attack, you deal lightning damage equal to your Sorcerer levels to the attacker and potentially push them away.
Related:Baldur’s Gate 3: How To Multiclass
Subclass: Wild Magic
Wild Magic Sorcerers can barely control the magical forces coursing through their bodies. Whenever you cast a non-cantrip spell (that is, a spell of First Level or higher), there is a chance of the spell having anadditional, random effect.This can range from healing nearby creatures to setting everything around you on fire, plus dozens of other possibilities. Casting a spell is always a gamble as a Wild Magic Sorcerer, but when it pays off it pays off big.
The RNG nature of this class can be reduced through subclass features. Once per day, a Wild Magic Sorcerer can use theTides Of Chaosto reroll an Ability Check, Attack Roll, or Saving Throw. If you do so, your chances of causing an additional effect increases until you take a Long Rest or trigger your Wild Magic, whichever comes first.
Wild Magic
Casting a leveled spell has a small chance of triggering a random magical effect.
Tides Of Chaos
Activate to gain Advantage on your next attack roll, ability check, or saving throw. Increased chance of Wild Magic surge afterward.
Bend Luck
As a reaction, give a target a 1d4 bonus or penalty to attack rolls, saving throws, or ability checks. Costs 2 Sorcery Points.
Controlled Chaos
Foes may suffer a Wild Magic Surge while casting spells near your fluctuating magic.
Wild Magic Explained
Wild Magic seems to work similarly to D&D 5E.Every time your character casts a leveled spell, a d20 is rolled with no modifiers. If it rolls a 20, a Wild Surge occurs.This surge will trigger a random magical effect, pulled from a table of Wild Magic effects that is currently not viewable in-game.
You can increase the likelihood of a Wild Surge by using the Tides of Chaos feature.This will greatly increase the probability of a Wild Surge occurring on your next spell cast.
Wild Surges can trigger a wide range of magical effects, ranging from powerful boons to active detriments to your party. Some notable Wild Surge effects include:
Not all Wild Surge procs are beneficial, so it’s important to keep party members apart while a Wild Surge Sorcerer is in the party. Since this effect is completely random in its proc chance and effects, it’s highly recommended to avoid this subclass if you’re playing on Tactician difficulty.
