Patch 8 for Baldur's Gate 3: 12 New Subclasses Released

Larian Studios has officially confirmed that the highly anticipated Patch 8 update for Baldur’s Gate 3 is set to launch on Tuesday, April 15.

While Patch 8 has been available in a stress test format for some time, Larian has now announced it's fully ready and will be rolling out to all players next week.

This massive update brings a wealth of new content to the record-breaking Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, including 12 brand-new subclasses, along with features like photo mode, cross-play support, and Xbox Series S split-screen functionality. For more details, you can check out the full Baldur's Gate 3 Patch 8 patch notes.

Bard - College of Glamour

As a member of the College of Glamour, you wield the power to both heal allies and manipulate enemies. Cast Mantle of Inspiration to grant your allies 5 temporary hit points. If an enemy attacks while this effect is active, they become Charmed. Use Mantle of Majesty strategically—targeting Charmed foes allows you to command them to flee, move closer, freeze in place, drop to the ground, or even discard their weapon.

Barbarian - Path of Giants

Choose the Path of Giants and channel raw, towering strength. Your Giant’s Rage grants not only increased size and might but also boosts damage on thrown attacks. You’ll also enjoy enhanced carry capacity, making you a powerhouse on the battlefield—no potions required.

Cleric - Death Domain

Embrace the dark arts as a Cleric of the Death Domain. This subclass introduces necrotic-focused spells and three new necromancy cantrips, including Toll The Dead, which scales damage based on prior injuries to your target. Additionally, you gain the ability to explode nearby corpses, dealing area damage to enemies.

Druid - Circle of Stars

Look to the heavens for guidance with the Circle of Stars. Instead of traditional Wild Shapes, you may assume one of three Starry Forms: the Archer (radiant damage), the Chalice (healing), and the Dragon (bonus Constitution rolls). Each form supports a different playstyle—be it offense, healing, or strategy—while offering a celestial aesthetic.

Paladin - Oath of the Crown

Sworn to uphold law and order, Paladins who follow the Oath of the Crown gain abilities that bolster allies and disrupt foes. Use Righteous Clarity to guide your party, Divine Allegiance to absorb damage and restore health, and taunt enemies with strategic interrupts.

Fighter - Arcane Archer

Merge magic and marksmanship with the Arcane Archer subclass. Enhance your arrows with magical effects—banish enemies to the Feywild for a turn or unleash Psychic damage that blinds foes unless they pass a Wisdom save. Enjoy fresh shooting animations and powerful tactical options.

Monk - Drunken Master

The Drunken Master leans into quirky mechanics involving alcohol. Drink from bottles found across the Sword Coast to restore Ki. With Intoxicating Strike, you can share drunkenness with enemies, increasing your Armor Class and accuracy against drunk targets. Abilities like Sobering Realisation allow you to deal physical and Psychic damage when sobering up opponents.

Ranger - Swarmkeeper

Harness the power of swarms with the Swarmkeeper subclass. Choose between Cloud of Jellyfish (lightning damage), Flurry of Moths (Psychic damage and blindness), or Legion of Bees (piercing damage and knockback). Each swarm also unlocks teleportation capabilities, adding versatility to your Ranger’s combat style.

Rogue - Swashbuckler

Live the life of a daring pirate with the Swashbuckler Rogue. Blind enemies by tossing sand, disarm foes with a flick of your blade, or use Fancy Footwork to avoid opportunity attacks during melee engagements.

Sorcerer - Shadow Magic

Master darkness with the Shadow Magic Sorcerer. Gain Superior Darkvision, the ability to Shadow Walk between dimly lit areas, summon a Hound of Ill Omen, and use Strength of the Grave to prevent being knocked unconscious—perfect for Honour Mode runs.

Warlock - Hexblade

Forge a pact with the Shadowfell as a Hexblade Warlock. Curse enemies and raise spirits from slain foes to serve you for ten turns. These summoned spirits deal necrotic damage and provide healing by siphoning your enemy’s soul.

Wizard - Bladesinging

Combine swordplay with spellcasting through the Bladesinging subclass. Benefit from new spellcasting animations, a supernatural speed boost via Bladesong, and added bonuses to Constitution saving throws.

Every IGN 10 of 2023

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According to Larian, Patch 8 marks the final major update for Baldur’s Gate 3, concluding a remarkable chapter for the studio. Since its launch in 2023, the game has enjoyed widespread critical praise and commercial success, continuing strong through 2024 and into 2025.

In a surprising move, Larian has confirmed plans to step away from Baldur’s Gate and Dungeons & Dragons to begin work on a completely new project, following a media blackout period.

However, Hasbro, the current owner of D&D, has hinted at future plans for the franchise. At last month’s Game Developers Conference, Dan Ayoub, SVP of digital games at Hasbro, revealed that interest in Baldur’s Gate remains high, especially now that Larian is moving forward with its own ventures.

“We're kind of working out our plans for the future and what we're going to be doing with that,” Ayoub said. “And actually, in pretty short order, we're going to have some stuff to talk about around that.”

Although no official confirmation was given regarding a direct sequel or crossover, Ayoub expressed a desire to eventually create Baldur’s Gate 4, though he acknowledged that such a project would take considerable time.

“It's somewhat of an unenviable position,” he admitted. “We’re not in a hurry… We've got a lot of plans, a lot of different ways to go about it. And I think, in really short order, again, not to over-tease that point, we're going to have some other things to talk about around that.”

Meanwhile, Larian will commemorate the release of Patch 8 with a live Twitch stream featuring senior systems designer Ross Stephens, who will walk viewers through the full list of changes and additions.