Baldur's Gate 3 best Sorcerer build
Channel your magical might with our Baldur's Gate 3 Sorcerer build guide
Searching for the best Baldur's Gate 3 Sorcerer build? If you want to be a mistress of magic, a matron of the mystical, or a master of the mythic, a Baldur's Gate 3 Sorcerer may be the right character class for you. In Baldur's Gate 3, Sorcerers can draw upon their mystical lineage to smite foes in a truly flexible manner, since they can cast spells without needing to prepare or study them in advance.
Whether you're using wild magic, channeling the might of a draconic ancestor, or tapping into the universe's chaos for elemental strength, a Sorcerer embodies pure power. If you're looking for the best Sorcerer build ideas in Baldur's Gate 3, here's everything you need to know, including the best races, subclasses, backgrounds, spells, Metamagic options, and progression ideas.
Note: Looking for lots more builds to choose from? Check out our dedicated list of the best builds in Baldur's Gate 3 for each class!
Baldur's Gate 3 Sorcerer build basics
Sorcerers leverage Charisma as their primary ability, since their powers come from their innate bloodlines or force of will. They gain Sorcery Points for each level past Level 1. You can convert these into spell slots, allowing a broad array of spells to prepare you for every combat scenario possible. As Sorcerers progress, they gain access to several Metamagic abilities, which you can toggle when casting spells to remix them, granting you even more combat variety.
Sorcerer weapon, armour, and class proficiencies:
- Sorcerer weapon proficiencies: Daggers, quarterstaffs, light crossbows
- Sorcerer armour proficiencies: None
- Sorcerer skill proficiencies (choose two): Arcana, Deception, Insight, Intimidation, Persuasion, Religion
- Sorcerer saving throws: Constitution, Charisma
Sorcerer subclass options
At Level 1, Sorcerers can choose from the following subclasses:
- Wild Magic: Harness the powers of an ancient source of chaos that is yearning to break free.
- Draconic Bloodline: Your body carries draconic magical energy from a powerful dragon ancestor.
- Storm Sorcery: Draw your power from the fury of storms and tempests.
Sorcerer Metamagic options
As they progress, Sorcerers have the option to choose from the following Metamagic options, which expand the possibilities of their spells:
- Careful Spell (Level 2 required): Allies automatically succeed in saving throws against spells that require them. Costs 1 Sorcery Point per spell.
- Distant Spell (Level 2 required): Increase the rage of spells by 50%, while melee spells get a range of 9m. Costs 1 Sorcery Point per spell.
- Extended Spell (Level 2 required): Double duration of conditions, summons, and surfaces caused by spells. Costs 1 Sorcery Point per spell.
- Twinned Spell (Level 2 required): Spells that target only one creature can now target an additional creature. Costs 1 Sorcery Point per spell slot, and cantrips also cost 1 Sorcery Point. If the spell does not produce a projectile, the targets must be near one another.
- Heightened Spell (Level 3 required): Targets of spells that require saving throws have disadvantage on their first saving throw. Costs 2 Sorcery Points per spell.
- Quickened Spell (Level 3 required): Spells that cost an action to cast cost only a bonus action instead. Costs 3 Sorcery Points per spell.
- Subtle Spell (Level 3 required): Cast spells while Silenced. Costs 1 Sorcery Point per Spell.
Best Sorcerer race, background, and skills
Your race, background, and skills can greatly enhance your Sorcerer character and offer them additional buffs and abilities to help guide them through their journey. These are our best picks for a solid Sorcerer build.
The best Sorcerer race is High Half Elf.
The High Half-Elf subrace gains an extra cantrip from the beginning of the game, which is a nice way to augment your Sorcerer's capabilities from the get-go. This is in addition to the Half-Elf benefits of Civil Militia, which grants added weapon proficiency for your character for spears, pikes, halberds, and glaives, as well as armour proficiency with light armour and shields. Furthermore, Fey Ancestry grants advantage on saving throws against being Charmed, and also keeps magic from putting you to sleep. Half-Elves also benefit from Darkvision, allowing them to see in dark and dim light.
The best Sorcerer background is Entertainer.
Entertainers gain proficiency conuses to Acrobatics and Performance rolls. Acrobatics is a Dexterity skill that helps your attempt to stay on your feet in a tricky situation, while Performance is a Charisma Skill that impacts your ability to delight audiences with music, dance, acting, and storytelling.
The best Sorcerer skill proficiencies are Arcana and Persuasion.
Arcana measures your ability to tap into knowledge about spells, magical items, and entities, while Persuasion impacts your ability to get what you want without resorting to threats of violence or intimidation.
Best Sorcerer subclass
The best Sorcerer subclass is the Draconic Bloodline. This gives an extra +1 to your max HP at every level and allows you to choose a Draconic Ancestry.
Each Draconic Ancestry option aligns with a color and an element. While your choice may vary based on your team composition, we suggest Red (Fire) as it grants the very powerful Burning Hands spell right away. At Level 6, your spells that cause fire damage will become more powerful, and you can also become resistant to fire damage. Fire damage is pretty common throughout Fareun, and it's also a handy go-to whenever you need to burn an enemy to bits.
Best Sorcerer spells and cantrips
Sorcerers begin the game with four cantrips and two Level 1 spell slots. Note that spell levels do not correspond with character levels, and generally, spell levels will increase every other character level.
Best Sorcerer cantrips
The best Sorcerer cantrips are:
Level 1 Cantrips: Blade Ward, Fire Bolt, Shocking Grasp, Poison Spray
Level 4 Cantrip: Mage Hand
Best Sorcerer spells
The best Sorcerer spells by spell level are:
Level 1: Burning Hands, Expeditious Retreat, Mage armour, Shield, Thunderwave, Magic Missle
Level 2: Scorching Ray, Hold Person
Level 3: Counterspell, Fireball, Lightning Bolt
Level 4: Wall of Fire, Ice Storm
Level 5: Cone of Cold, Hold Monster
Level 6: Chain Lightning
Best Sorcerer Metamagic options
Sorcerers gain Metamagic options as they progress, gaining two at Level 2, one at Level 3, and 1 at Level 10. The best Sorcerer Metamagic options are
Level 2: Twinned Spell, Distant Spell
Level 3: Heightened Spell
Level 10: Quickened Spell
Best Sorcerer feats
Sorcerer can choose feats at Levels 4, 8, and 12. The best Sorcerer feats are:
- Level 4: Spell Sniper
- Level 8: War Caster
- Level 12: Alert
Spell Sniper reduces the dice roll number need to earn a critical hit by 1, from 20 to 19. War Caster gives advantage on saving throws to hold Concentration, giving you a better chance to maintain Concentration when taking damage. Alert raises initiative rolls by 5, allowing you to secure a better placement in the game's combat order.
That's everything you need to know to pick a Sorcerer in Baldur's Gate 3. As you continue the game, you may also want to check out our guide to multiclassing, or, if you're just in it for the steamy scenes, you can also read up on how to romance in Baldur's Gate 3. If you're not happy with your Sorcerer build, you can also take a look at our Baldur's Gate 3 respec guide and respec your character following the suggestions on our best builds guide.
Disclosure: Former RPS deputy editor Adam Smith (RPS in peace) now works at Larian and is the lead writer for Baldur's Gate 3. Former contributor Emily Gera also works on it.