Baldur's Gate 3 Patch 8 Adds 12 New Subclasses

Larian Studios has officially announced that the eagerly awaited Patch 8 for Baldur’s Gate 3 will launch on Tuesday, April 15.

While the stress test version of Patch 8 has been available for a while, Larian has confirmed it is now fully prepared for a full release to all players next week.

This major update brings a wealth of fresh content to the award-winning Dungeons & Dragons RPG, including 12 new subclasses. Other highlights include a photo mode, cross-play support, and split-screen functionality for Xbox Series S. For a complete breakdown, refer to the Baldur's Gate 3 Patch 8 notes.

New Subclasses in Baldur’s Gate 3 Patch 8:

Bard - College of Glamour
Bards of the College of Glamour wield the power to inspire allies and charm adversaries. Casting Mantle of Inspiration grants nearby allies 5 temporary hit points and causes attackers to become Charmed. Skillful use of this enchantment unlocks Mantle of Majesty, enabling you to command charmed foes to flee, approach, fall prone, drop their weapon, or remain still.

Barbarian - Path of Giants

Choosing the Path of Giants imbues you with immense strength, letting you hurl enemies and allies with ease. This barbarian path provides the Giant’s Rage passive, boosting strength and size for extra Throw attack damage. You also gain a higher carrying capacity, so inventory management becomes less of a burden.

Cleric - Death Domain

As a cleric devoted to death, you gain access to sinister new abilities centered on necrotic damage, along with three necromancy cantrips. Toll The Dead inflicts 1~8 damage by ringing a spectral bell—more if the target is already injured. Additionally, a custom ability lets you detonate nearby corpses to harm enemies.

Druid - Circle of Stars

These druids draw power from the stars, offering alternatives to traditional wildshapes. By adopting one of three Starry Forms—Archer, Chalice, or Dragon—you tailor your role to combat. The Archer fires radiant astral arrows, the Chalice restores hit points to you and nearby allies, and the Dragon enhances damage and grants a bonus to Constitution saving throws. Starry Forms combine celestial visuals with potent tactical advantages for any party role.

Paladin - Oath of the Crown

Sworn to uphold law and order, staying true to your oath empowers you to support allies and hinder enemies. Use Righteous Clarity to guide companions, taunt foes with strategic interrupts, and protect your party with Divine Allegiance, absorbing damage while restoring their health.

Fighter - Arcane Archer

Combining archery with arcane arts, the Arcane Archer subclass features unique abilities and new firing animations. Banish enemies to the Feywild for a turn, or unleash psychic damage that may blind foes unless they succeed on a Wisdom saving throw.

Monk - Drunken Master

Embrace improvised combat as the Drunken Master: consume alcohol from your inventory or found throughout the Sword Coast to regain Ki. Intoxicating Strike lets you share drinks with enemies, raising your Armor Class and improving your accuracy against inebriated targets. These drunken foes become vulnerable to abilities like Sobering Realisation, which sober them up while dealing physical and psychic damage.

Ranger - Swarmkeeper

The Swarmkeeper subclass equips rangers with one of three lethal swarms. The Cloud of Jellyfish deals bonus lightning damage and can shock enemies. The Flurry of Moths inflicts psychic damage and may cause blindness, while the Legion of Bees deals piercing damage and forces a Strength save to avoid being pushed back 15 feet. Each swarm also grants limited teleportation.

Rogue - Swashbuckler

This rogue archetype introduces piratical combat actions. Blind enemies by throwing sand, disarm them with a flick of your weapon, or use Fancy Footwork during melee to avoid opportunity attacks for the rest of your turn.

Sorcerer - Shadow Magic

Shadow Magic sorcerers thrive in darkness, gaining Superior Darkvision and the power to Shadow Walk between dim or dark areas. Summon the Hound of Ill Omen to harass enemies, and use Strength of the Grave to avoid being downed—perfect for Honour Mode challenges.

Warlock - Hexblade

Hexblade Warlocks form pacts with Shadowfell entities manifesting as magical weapons. Curse your enemies and command their souls. Slay non-natural, non-construct, or living targets to raise their spirit for ten turns. This summon deals necrotic damage and siphons enemy souls to heal your warlock.

Wizard - Bladesinging

Bladesinging unites swordplay and spellcasting, complete with new casting animations while armed. Activate Bladesong for enhanced speed, agility, and focus, plus a bonus to Constitution saving throws.

Every IGN 10 of 2023

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As Larian has indicated, Patch 8 is the final major update, concluding a landmark period for the studio. Baldur’s Gate 3 debuted in 2023 to rave reviews and massive sales, maintaining strong momentum throughout 2024 and into 2025.

The gaming community was surprised when Larian confirmed it would move on from Baldur’s Gate 3 and Dungeons & Dragons to develop a new title, which it hinted at before entering a media blackout to focus on the project.

However, D&D owner Hasbro has hinted at continuing the series. In a recent interview at the Game Developers Conference, Dan Ayoub, SVP of Digital Games at Hasbro, noted that with Larian stepping away, the company has "many parties interested in Baldur's Gate."

"We're finalizing our plans for the future of the franchise. We expect to share some news relatively soon."

Ayoub didn't specify if this meant a brand-new Baldur's Gate game or a crossover similar to past collaborations with Magic: The Gathering. Still, he expressed his personal hope for a Baldur's Gate 4, while acknowledging development would take time.

"It's a challenging position, but we're not rushing," he said. "We're taking a careful approach... We have multiple strategies and are beginning to explore how to proceed. Very soon, we'll have more to share on that front."

To mark the release of Patch 8, Larian will host a Twitch livestream featuring senior systems designer Ross Stephens, who will detail the new features and adjustments.