The closed stress test for Patch 8 of Baldur’s Gate 3 kicked off on January 28, marking a significant milestone for one of the most acclaimed games in recent times. This final major patch promises to enhance the gaming experience with the addition of 12 new subclasses, cross-play functionality, and a much-anticipated photo mode. Let's delve into how these updates elevate the already rich world of Baldur's Gate 3.
Table of Content
- New Subclasses in Baldur’s Gate 3
- Photo Mode
- Cross-Play
- Gameplay, Combat, and Story Improvements
New Subclasses in Baldur’s Gate 3
Each of the twelve classes in Baldur’s Gate 3 will be enriched with a unique subclass, each bringing new spells, dialogues, and visual effects to the game.
Sorcerer: Shadow Magic
Embrace the shadows with the Sorcerer's Shadow Magic subclass. Capable of summoning a hellhound to immobilize foes, these sorcerers can also create a veil of darkness, granting them unique visibility. At level 11, they gain the ability to teleport between shadows, adding a strategic depth to their gameplay.
Warlock: Pact Blade
Warlocks who choose the Pact Blade subclass forge a pact with an entity from the Shadowfell. From the outset, they can enchant weapons to imbue them with magic. By level 3, they can enchant another, and by level 5, they can strike thrice per turn, a feature that might be seen as either a bug or an exceptionally powerful advantage!
Cleric: Death Domain
Clerics opting for the Death Domain specialize in necrotic spells that bypass enemy resistances. They can resurrect the dead or cause corpses to explode, making this an ideal choice for players who prefer a more aggressive approach to their religious characters.
Wizard: Blade Song
Wizards with the Blade Song subclass excel in melee combat. Activating Blade Song grants them ten turns to accumulate special charges through attacks and spells, which can then be used to either heal allies or deal damage to enemies.
Druid: Circle of Stars
Druids of the Circle of Stars can switch between constellations, adapting to various battlefield roles with unique bonuses that enhance their versatility and effectiveness.
Barbarian: Path of the Giant
Barbarians on the Path of the Giant enter a rage that not only increases their size but also allows them to throw weapons with added fire or lightning effects. These weapons return to their hands after being thrown, complemented by improved throwing skills and a higher carrying capacity.
Fighter: Mystic Archer
Mystic Archers blend magic and archery, firing enchanted arrows that can blind, inflict psychic damage, or banish enemies to another dimension. This subclass embodies the traditional elven combat techniques, adding a mystical flair to their attacks.
Monk: Drunken Master
Monks choosing the Drunken Master subclass harness alcohol-induced strength to deliver devastating physical blows. Enemies hit by them become more vulnerable to subsequent attacks, making these monks formidable in combat.
Rogue: Swashbuckler
The Swashbuckler subclass is a true pirate archetype, perfect for fans of Astarion. These rogues excel in close combat, employing dirty tricks like throwing sand to blind enemies, quick thrusts to disarm them, or taunts to demoralize opponents.
Bard: College of Glamour
Bards of the College of Glamour are the rock stars of the Forgotten Realms, using their charisma to charm enemies and support allies. They can enchant foes into various actions such as fleeing, approaching, freezing, falling down, or dropping their weapons.
Ranger: Swarmkeeper
Rangers as Swarmkeepers command hordes of tiny creatures, debuffing enemies in unique ways. With options like bee swarms to repel, honey swarms to stun, and moth swarms to blind, they can switch between types upon leveling up, offering tactical flexibility.
Paladin: Oath of the Crown
Paladins who take the Oath of the Crown are the epitome of lawfulness and righteousness. They gain abilities that not only boost their allies but also draw enemy attention and absorb damage, focusing on team-based play and making them tank-like in their role.
Photo Mode
The long-awaited photo mode comes with extensive camera settings and advanced post-processing effects, ensuring players can capture high-quality screenshots of their adventures in Baldur's Gate 3.
Cross-Play
Cross-platform multiplayer will now be available across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Windows, and Mac. The closed stress test for Patch 8 focused primarily on refining this cross-play functionality, aiming to eliminate bugs and ensure a seamless gaming experience across all platforms.
Gameplay, Combat, and Story Improvements
Patch 8 brings a host of improvements to gameplay, combat, and story elements:
- Items detected during Perception checks are now marked on the mini-map and logged in the battle journal.
- Fixed an issue where ally abilities weren’t properly displayed after dialogue in the High Hall.
- Scrolls and potions in unlocked containers can now be used during conversations.
- Neutral and friendly NPCs no longer become hostile when stepping on combat-created surfaces.
- Resolved a bug causing characters to get stuck climbing stairs occupied by companions.
- Fixed an issue with moving platforms in the Shan Trial location to prevent characters from falling to their deaths.
- Corrected a glitch where neutral NPCs would initiate combat without cause.
- Keris will stop engaging in unnecessary fights with Mintara.
- Resolved a loading screen freeze at 0% when joining modded multiplayer sessions.
- Improved server performance in the Adamantine Forge.
- Fixed an issue where you could tell Astarion that Gandrel was looking for him, even if Gandrel refused to reveal his target.
- Mintara no longer gets stuck while watching over Taniel in Act 2.
- Your character will no longer mistakenly believe Shadohurt is dead if she isn’t.
- Discovered merchants will now appear on the world map regardless of distance.
Patch 8 for Baldur’s Gate 3 is set to launch in February or early March 2025. Following this update, Larian Studios plans to shift focus to bug fixes, with no further major updates planned for the game.
