In Baldur’s Gate 3, character customization is one of the most engaging parts of the gameplay. Choosing a class and subclass shapes how your character fights, casts spells, and interacts with the world. But as your adventure unfolds, you might find that your original subclass choice no longer fits your playstyle or party needs. This leads to an important question: can you change your subclass in BG3? Fortunately, the answer is yes Baldur’s Gate 3 offers players a way to respec their characters, including the ability to pick a different subclass. The process is simple, but it does have a few important details to understand before you commit.
Understanding Subclasses in BG3
In Baldur’s Gate 3, subclasses are specialized paths that become available once your character reaches a certain level. Each class in the game has multiple subclasses that define unique abilities, spells, or combat styles. Subclasses usually become available at level 3 for most classes, though some offer them at level 1.
Examples of Subclasses
- Fighter: Battle Master, Eldritch Knight, Champion
- Wizard: School of Evocation, School of Necromancy, School of Abjuration
- Cleric: Life Domain, Light Domain, Trickery Domain
- Rogue: Thief, Arcane Trickster, Assassin
Each subclass provides unique traits that influence gameplay. Whether you’re aiming to cast massive area-of-effect spells or become a stealthy critical-hit machine, the subclass you choose can drastically alter your experience.
Can You Change Subclass in Baldur’s Gate 3?
Yes, you can change your subclass in Baldur’s Gate 3 by respeccing your character. This feature allows players to reset their level, class, and subclass choices, offering a clean slate to reconfigure their character build. It’s especially helpful if you want to test out new subclass mechanics or correct an early decision that doesn’t suit your team’s composition.
How to Respec in BG3
To change your subclass, follow these steps:
- Find and speak to Withers, an NPC found in the Dank Crypt in Act 1.
- Once Withers joins your camp, you can speak to him at any time to request a respec.
- Pay the respec fee (100 gold as of the current game version).
- You’ll be taken to a character creation screen where you can reselect your class and subclass.
Note that this process will reset your entire character level tree. That means if your character is level 6, you’ll start from level 1 and reassign all class levels as you see fit. You can even choose a different base class altogether, not just a different subclass within the same class.
Strategic Reasons to Change Subclass
Players often change subclasses in Baldur’s Gate 3 for a variety of reasons. It’s not just about correcting mistakes it’s also about optimizing your team’s synergy and adapting to the challenges of the campaign.
Common Motivations
- Improving party balance: Switching to a subclass with support or healing abilities if your group is damage-heavy.
- Trying new abilities: Exploring different mechanics like war magic, stealth, or summoning.
- Building around gear: If you find a powerful item tied to a specific playstyle, changing subclass can maximize its effectiveness.
- Adjusting to difficulty: Some subclasses perform better against tough enemies, especially on higher difficulties.
This flexibility lets players grow their characters in ways that feel natural and satisfying without being punished for experimentation.
Can Companions Change Subclass?
Yes, companions in Baldur’s Gate 3 can also be respecced, including their subclass choices. After recruiting them, speak to Withers at your camp and select the companion you wish to change. Just like your main character, their class and subclass can be entirely redefined.
This allows for advanced party customization. For example, if you prefer Shadowheart as a support spellcaster instead of a melee cleric, you can change her subclass to one that fits your preferred role. The same applies to characters like Gale, Astarion, or Lae’zel, opening up a wide range of strategies.
Custom Companions
Additionally, Withers allows you to recruit up to three fully custom hirelings. These characters can be built from scratch and respecced the same way as your main character or companions, making subclass variety even more accessible.
Limitations to Keep in Mind
While changing subclass is flexible, there are a few limitations and considerations to be aware of:
- Race and background remain unchangedduring a respec, so plan accordingly.
- Subclass-specific quests or dialoguemay become inconsistent if you change subclass mid-story.
- Some subclass features depend on alignment or deity, such as certain cleric domains or paladin oaths.
- Respeccing resets allprepared spellsand spellbook organization, requiring reconfiguration.
Despite these minor setbacks, the game handles respecs smoothly. You won’t lose any story progress, relationships, or quest objectives by changing class or subclass.
Best Times to Consider a Subclass Change
Knowing when to respec is just as important as knowing how. While you can technically respec at any time after unlocking Withers, some moments in the campaign are better suited for a reset than others.
Recommended Timing
- After reaching level 3 or 5: This is when subclasses are fully in play, and you’ll have a better idea of how your build performs.
- Before a major boss fight or dungeon: If you know a tough challenge is ahead, adjusting your subclass can make a huge difference.
- When adding a new party member: Balancing the roles of your companions is easier with subclass flexibility.
- After finding new gear: Powerful weapons or armor can make certain subclasses shine more than others.
Whenever you feel stuck, underpowered, or uninspired by your current setup, that’s usually a good signal that it’s time to explore a new subclass.
Subclass and Multiclass Synergy
Changing subclass becomes even more powerful when paired with multiclassing. BG3 allows players to split their levels across multiple classes, opening up endless build possibilities. You can start as a rogue and switch to wizard, or begin as a paladin and end up summoning undead as a necromancer.
Many advanced builds rely on strategic subclass choices to get the most from a multiclass setup. For example:
- Cleric (Life Domain) + Paladin: Supercharged healing and divine smite synergy.
- Warlock (Great Old One) + Sorcerer: Adds spell slots and benefits from Charisma scaling.
- Rogue (Thief) + Ranger: High mobility and bonus action versatility.
Respeccing allows you to explore these combinations without needing to start a new save file every time you want to try something new.
Yes, you can change your subclass in Baldur’s Gate 3, and it’s a powerful tool for shaping your adventure exactly how you want it. Whether you’re correcting an early decision, exploring new tactical options, or adjusting your team’s composition, the respec system makes experimentation easy and rewarding. Thanks to Withers, you’re never locked into a build that doesn’t suit your style. So go ahead test new paths, combine different powers, and create a character that truly reflects your evolving journey through Faerûn.