Best Baldur's Gate 3 Wizard build, from race to subclass & spells

Best Baldur's Gate 3 Wizard build, from race to subclass & spells
Images via Larian Studios

Written by 

Tarran Stockton

Last updated 

5th Apr 2024 11:41

Contents

If you want to be a master spellcaster, it's worth checking out how to create the best Wizard build in Baldur's Gate 3, including the race, skills, subclass, and background you should select during character creation.

Baldur's Gate 3 is all about player choice, and the Wizard is perhaps one of the best examples of this in the game, with its eight subclasses and the myriad of spells you can learn throughout the game. It can be a hard class to build due to all this choice, but it's a powerful class for helping your companions in combat.

So, take a look at our breakdown of the best Wizard build and learn how to master the arcane arts.

Best Baldur's Gate 3 Wizard build

Level 1

screenshot showing a wizard's ability points in baldur's gate 3
Click to enlarge

Option Selection
Race & Subrace Drow / Lolth-Sworn Drow
Cantrips Fire Bolt, Mage Hand, Bone Chill
Spells Mage Armour, Ice Knife, Charm Person, Thunderwave, Sleep, Magic Missile
Background Sage
Skill Proficiencies Insight & Investigation
Ability Points
  • Strength: 8
  • Dexterity: 13
  • Constitution: 15
  • Intelligence: 17
  • Wisdom: 10
  • Charisma: 12

Level 2

a level 2 Wizard in Baldur's Gate 3
Click to enlarge

Option Selection
Subclass Necromancy
Spells Ray of Sickness, False Life

Level 3

the best Baldur's Gate 3 Wizard build at level 3
Click to enlarge

Option Selection
Spells Hold Person, Scorching Ray

Level 4

A level 4 Wizard with the Feat selection window in Baldur's Gate 3
Click to enlarge

Option Selection
Cantrip Poison Spray
Spells Gust of Wind, Ray of Enfeeblement
Feat Ability Improvement, +2 Intelligence

Level 5

the best Baldur's Gate 3 Wizard build at level 5
Click to enlarge

Option Selection
Spells Animate Dead, Fireball

Level 6

a level 6 Wizard in Baldur's Gate 3
Click to enlarge

Option Selection
Spells Counterspell, Hypnotic Pattern

Level 7

the best Baldur's Gate 3 Wizard build at level 7
Click to enlarge

Option Selection
Spells Blight, Wall of Fire

Level 8

Screenshot showing the level 8 screen for a Wizard in Baldur's Gate 3
Click to enlarge

Option Selection
Spells Polymorph, Phantasmal Killer
Feat War Caster

Level 9

the best Baldur's Gate 3 Wizard build at level 9
Click to enlarge

Option Selection
Spells Cloudkill, Dominate Person

Level 10

an image of a level 10 Wizard in Baldur's Gate 3
Click to enlarge

Option Selection
Cantrip Ray of Frost
Spells Telekinesis, Bestow Curse

Level 11

Image of the Baldur's Gate 3 best Wizard build level 11 selection
Click to enlarge

Option Selection
Spells Circle of Death, Disintegrate

Level 12

Image of the Baldur's Gate 3 best Wizard build level 12 selection
Click to enlarge

Option Selection
Spells Chain Lightning, Create Undead
Feat Tough

That's all for our breakdown of the best Baldur's Gate 3 Wizard build, and now you know all the spells you should pick when levelling, along with how to create your character at the start of the game.

Baldur's Gate 3 Wizard explained

an image of the Wizard class in Baldur's Gate 3
Click to enlarge

The Wizard is an Intelligence-based spellcasting class who are masters of the arcane. Wizards learn magic from individual schools, combining ancient spells with modern research. 

A Wizard can serve multiple purposes, or you can key them in one aspect, all depending on the spells you select for them. They particularly excel at high area of effect damage, or party-wide support spells.

Sign Up To Our Newsletter

Get exclusive news, content, and discounts sent directly to your inbox

You've joined our newsletter. Thank you!
Sorry, there has been an issue in subscribing to the newsletter.

Not a fan of the Wizard build? Check out our recommendations for other best builds in Baldur's Gate 3:

All Wizard subclasses in Baldur's Gate 3

an image of the Wizard subclasses in Baldur's Gate 3
Click to enlarge

There are a total of eight Wizard subclasses in Baldur's Gate 3: Abjuration, Evocation, Necromancy, Conjuration, Enchantment, Divination, Illusion, and Transmutation. We'll cover each one below in more detail.

Before getting into each subclass, it's worth noting that Wizards can learn spells from their selected subclass (school of magic) at a cheaper price than spells not belonging to their school.

Abjuration

Abjuration spells summon wards, banish enemies, and nullify magic, suitable for those who wish to defend themselves and others.

Subclass Feature Description
Spells Choose two spells
Arcane Ward The magic of your spells forms a ward that protects you from harm

Evocation

Evocation spells focus elemental energy into powerful attacks and enchantments. Those who specialise in this school are known as evokers.

Subclass Feature Description
Spells Choose two spells
Sculpt Spells Create pockets of safety within your Evocation spells. Allies automatically succeed saving throws against these spells and take no damage

Necromancy

You walk through the valley of the shadow of death, and make lots of friends there.

Subclass Feature Description
Spells Choose two spells
Grim Harvest Once per turn, if you kill a creature with a spell, you regain hit points equal to twice the spell slot level used - thrice if it's a Necromancy spell

Conjuration

Compelled by shape and motion, your favoured arcane style involves summoning creatures and objects, as well as displacing them in space.

Subclass Feature Description
Spells Choose two spells
Minor Conjuration: Create Water Call forth rain in a 4m radius

Enchantment

Your magic influences, beguiles, and bends the will and conviction of those around you.

Subclass Feature Description
Spells Choose two spells
Hypnotic Gaze Charm and Incapacitate a creature for two turns

Divination

You peer through time and can sculpt the future, like temporal clay, into a more favourable form.

Subclass Feature Description
Spells Choose two spells
Portent After each Long Rest, you gain two random Portent Dice that can be used as a reaction to change die of an Attack Roll or Saving Throw

Illusion

You specialise in unravelling and restitching the fabric of reality to fool the unwary, the gullible, and the monstrous.

Subclass Feature Description
Spells Choose two spells
Improved Minor Illusion You can cast Minor Illusion as a bonus action

Transmutation

Your innate fascination with the structure of things has granted you an incredible power over crude matter and its manipulation.

Subclass Feature Description
Spells Choose two spells
Experimental Alchemy You can brew two alchemical solutions instead of one when combining extracts if you succeed a DC 15 Medicine check

What is the best Wizard subclass?

an image of a Wizard using a Necromancy spell in Baldur's Gate 3
Click to enlarge

Our pick for the best Wizard subclass in Baldur's Gate 3 is the Necromancy subclass, as it offers an incredibly powerful passive that augments some of the highest damage spells in the game, allowing you to heal and sustain yourself in the fight for longer.

Check out our Baldur's Gate 3 homepage for more guides. Alternatively, check out how to get to the Underdark, how to find the Adamantine Forge, how to find Lump's War Horn, and how to get the Flower Key.

Tarran Stockton
About the author
Tarran Stockton
Tarran is a Senior Guides Writer at GGRecon. He previously wrote reviews for his college newspaper before studying Media and Communication at university. His favourite genres include role-playing games, strategy games, and boomer shooters - along with anything indie. You can also find him in the pit at local hardcore shows.
Trending
Best Baldur's Gate 3 Cleric build, from race to subclass & spells
Best Baldur's Gate 3 Bard build, from race to subclass & spells
Best Baldur's Gate 3 Barbarian build, from race to subclass
Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Warlock build, from race to spells & Pact
13 best games like Baldur's Gate 3 in 2024, from Divinity Original Sin to Diablo 4