Larian Studios has officially announced that the eagerly awaited Patch 8 for Baldur's Gate 3 will be released on Tuesday, April 15. After being available in stress test form for a while, Patch 8 is now ready for all players to enjoy.
This major update brings a plethora of exciting new content to the acclaimed Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. Among the highlights are 12 new subclasses, each offering unique abilities and playstyles. Additionally, Patch 8 introduces a photo mode, cross-play functionality, and split-screen support for Xbox Series S. For a detailed list of all changes, you can check out the [Baldur's Gate 3 Patch 8 patch notes](link to patch notes).
Here's a quick overview of the new subclasses coming with Patch 8:
Bard - College of Glamour
As a member of the College of Glamour, Bards can heal allies and command enemies. With Mantle of Inspiration, you can grant 5 temporary hit points to allies, and if an enemy attacks while it's active, they become Charmed. Utilize Mantle of Majesty to command Charmed enemies to flee, move, freeze, drop to the ground, or drop their weapon.
Barbarian - Path of Giants
Choosing the Path of Giants allows Barbarians to harness giant strength, making it easier to throw both allies and enemies. The Giant’s Rage passive boosts strength and size, increasing damage from Throw attacks and carry capacity.
Cleric - Death Domain
Clerics of the Death Domain gain access to spells dealing necrotic damage and three new necromancy cantrips, including Toll The Dead, which causes 1~8 damage, scaling if the target is already injured. A new ability also lets you explode nearby corpses to damage enemies.
Druid - Circle of Stars
Druids of the Circle of Stars draw power from the stars through Starry Forms: the Archer, Chalice, and Dragon. Each form supports different playstyles, from dealing radiant damage to healing and enhancing constitution rolls.
Paladin - Oath of the Crown
Paladins sworn to the Oath of the Crown can guide their allies with Righteous Clarity, taunt enemies, and protect their party with Divine Allegiance, absorbing damage and restoring health.
Fighter - Arcane Archer
Arcane Archers blend magic and marksmanship, using abilities to banish foes to the Feywild or inflict Psychic damage that can blind enemies.
Monk - Drunken Master
Drunken Masters can consume alcohol to recover Ki, and use Intoxicating Strike to buff their Armour Class and hit chance against drunk targets. They can also sober up enemies with Sobering Realisation, dealing physical and Psychic damage.
Ranger - Swarmkeeper
Swarmkeeper Rangers can summon different swarms: Cloud of Jellyfish for lightning damage, Flurry of Moths for Psychic damage and potential blindness, and Legion of Bees for piercing damage and knockback. Each swarm also provides teleportation capabilities.
Rogue - Swashbuckler
Swashbuckler Rogues can blind enemies with sand, disarm them with a flick of their weapon, and use Fancy Footwork to avoid opportunity attacks after melee engagements.
Sorcerer - Shadow Magic
Shadow Magic Sorcerers thrive in darkness, gaining Superior Darkvision and the ability to Shadow Walk. They can summon a Hound of Ill Omen and use Strength of the Grave to avoid being downed, perfect for Honour Mode runs.
Warlock - Hexblade
Hexblade Warlocks form a pact with a Shadowfell entity, gaining magical weapons to curse enemies and raise spirits from slain foes. These spirits can deal necrotic damage and heal the Warlock.
Wizard - Bladesinging
Bladesinging Wizards merge swordplay and spellcasting, with new animations, a Bladesong ability for speed, agility, and focus, and a bonus to Constitution saving throws.
Patch 8 marks the final major update for Baldur's Gate 3, concluding an exceptional journey for Larian Studios. The game, which launched in 2023, has been met with critical acclaim and strong sales throughout 2024 and into 2025.
In a surprising move, Larian announced its departure from Baldur's Gate 3 and the Dungeons & Dragons universe to focus on a new, mysterious project. Meanwhile, Hasbro, the owner of D&D, is exploring future plans for the Baldur's Gate series. Speaking at the Game Developers Conference, Hasbro's SVP of digital games, Dan Ayoub, indicated that there is significant interest in the franchise and teased upcoming announcements.
To celebrate the release of Patch 8, Larian will host a Twitch livestream where senior systems designer Ross Stephens will discuss the new additions and changes.
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