As you make progress through Baldur’s Gate 3, defeat enemies, complete quests and accomplish feats, you’ll earn experience. Gain enough experience and your experience level will increase, which you can use to level up a class you already possess or attain a level in a new class. Higher level characters are typically more capable both in and out of combat, gaining more attacks per round, access to more and higher level spells, possessing a higher Proficiency Bonus and possessing more Hit Points, to name a few statistical advantages. The fun can’t go on forever, however, and like most role-playing games, Baldur’s Gate 3 has a level cap. This page will discuss the level cap in Baldur’s Gate 3, including details about how the level cap affects various classes.

What is the Max Level in Baldur’s Gate 3?¶

The only constant in life is change, and the level cap in Baldur’s Gate 3 embodies that quip quite well, as it has changed a few times between iterations of the game… and that’s just leading up to launch! In the original early access version of the game, the level cap was four - enough to get your feet wet, but as far as Dungeons and Dragons goes, that not even advanced enough to really take the training wheels off (characters have wheels in this analogy - just go with it). This was later raised to level five, which, to be fair, gave some classes access to third-level spells, which is a historic power benchmark for many spellcasters. Originally the game was set to have a level cap of ten, but shortly before launch Larian Studios announced that the level cap was being increased to twelve.

While some gamers were hoping for a more heroic level cap, considering that the soft level cap in Dungeons and Dragons is level twenty, and player characters are generally challenging legendary creatures by the time their level hits the late teens, a level cap of twelve is a fine mid-low level adventure that will give players some build options and tactical depth without being overwhelming.

How Does the Level Cap in Baldur’s Gate 3 Affect Class Builds?¶

Dungeons and Dragons has always been a fairly unbalanced game, with 5th Edition arguably being less so than any other previous version. Spellcasters (especially Wizards) started out squishy and capable of performing relative parlor tricks whose damage output wasn’t even remotely close to what a Fighter could manage, but by the time they were approaching level twenty they were capable of bending reality to suit their whims, which the Fighter was… well, he had some more attacks. Point is, the level cap affects classes in Baldur’s Gate 3 in different ways, and we’ll discuss what gains and limitations each class will have by the time they hit level 12.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Max Level - Barbarian Strategies¶

The Barbarian might not get any fancy 6th-level spells or a third attack, but they do get Relentless Rage, which gives them the chance to make a Constitution Save to retain 1 HP when they’d normally be reduced to 0 while raging.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Max Level - Bard Strategies¶

Like many spellcasters, the Bard gains access to 6th-level spells when they hit level 11, making this new level cap a marked improvement. Little gains are made at level 12, however, nor do the Bard subclasses gain much from this level cap extension.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Max Level - Cleric Strategies¶

Like the Bard, Druid and Wizard, at level 11 the Cleric gains access to 6th-level spells, and very little else at level 12, making a one level multiclass dip somewhat interesting.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Max Level - Druid Strategies¶

Another spellcaster, another 6th-level spell slot unlocked at Druid level 11. The Druid gains little of interest at level 12.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Max Level - Fighter Strategies¶

One of the greatest boons the Fighter gets is Extra Attack, initially obtaining one such boon at 5th level and a second at 11th level. No other class gains as many attacks, with other martial classes like the Barbarian, Paladin and Ranger capping out with two attacks at 5th level. At the old level cap of 10, the Fighter would be missing out on their third attack, making them compare somewhat less favorably to the aforementioned martial classes. With the level cap of 12, however, they’ve got a clear advantage in melee combat… as long as you only consider normal attacks. The three Fighter subclasses gain relatively little from this change.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Max Level - Monk Strategies¶

The Monk is a bit odd in that the base Monk class gains nothing particularly noteworthy at level 11 or 12, but the Way of the Open Hand and Way of the Shadow subclasses both gain new subclass specific abilities at level 11. The Way of the Four Elements gains its third elemental discipline at level 11.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Max Level - Paladin Strategies¶

Theses very serious oathtaking warriors get… surprisingly little by adding two more levels to their cap. They gain exactly zero new spell slots at levels 11 and 12, but they do gain Improved Divine Smith at level 11, which boost their damage by 1d8 radiant damage. None of the Paladin subclasses gain much of note with the expanded level cap, either.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Max Level - Ranger Strategies¶

Like the Paladin, the Ranger enjoys no spell improvement at levels 11 or 12. Like the Monk, however, all the Ranger’s subclasses gain a new feature. The beast companions of Beast Masters get more attacks, Hunters can perform a Volley (ranged attack against all foes within 10’) or Whirlwind (melee attack against all foes within 5’), and the Gloom Stalker gets to reroll one missed attack roll per turn.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Max Level - Rogue Strategies¶

The only notable ability the Rogue gets with the expanded level cap is Reliable Talent, at level 11. If you roll 9 or lower while making an ability check that adds the Rogue’s Proficiency Bonus, that roll instead counts as a 10, instead. Basically, most ability (read: skill) checks now have a d20 range of 10-20, instead of 1-20. Aside from the Arcane Trickster gaining another known spell, the Rogue subclasses don’t really benefit much.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Max Level - Sorcerer Strategies¶

Another spellcaster, another spell level benchmark - like the other primary casters, the Sorcerer gains access to 6th-level spells at level 11, and little else at level 12. Alas, the Sorcerer subclasses gain little of note with the cap expansion.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Max Level - Warlock Strategies¶

Unlike other casters, the Warlock - ever the black sheep (and proud of it) - doesn’t gain access to a 6th-level spell slot. They do, however, gain access to a 6th invocation known at level 12. Their subclasses gain little of interest at levels 11 or 12.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Max Level - Wizard Strategies¶

Wizards gain a new spell level every odd level starting at 3rd level, meaning they’ll gain access to 6th-level spells when they get 11 levels as a Wizard. Even-levels can still see an increase in the number of existing spell slots per spell level a Wizard has access to… but level 12 is not one of those levels. In fact, the Wizard gains surprisingly little by advancing from level 11 to level 12, which means dipping into a second class for a level might not be a bad idea, especially if you want to extend what you’re proficient in and/or pad out your Hit Points a bit.