On January 28, the closed stress test for Patch 8 of Baldur’s Gate 3 commenced across PC and consoles. This monumental update, set to be the final major patch for the game, introduces 12 new subclasses, cross-play functionality, and a sophisticated photo mode. Here’s how this update elevates one of the most acclaimed games of recent times.

Table of Contents

• 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 is enriched with a unique subclass, featuring new spells, dialogues, and visual effects that deepen the gameplay experience.

Sorcerer: Shadow Magic

This subclass embraces the darkness, allowing sorcerers to summon hellhounds to immobilize enemies and shroud themselves in a veil of darkness visible only to them. At level 11, they gain the ability to teleport through shadows, adding a strategic layer to their combat prowess.

Warlock: Pact Blade

Warlocks forging a pact with a Shadowfell entity can enchant weapons from level 1, enhancing them to magical status. By level 3, they can enchant another, and at level 5, they can strike thrice per turn, offering a potentially game-changing advantage.

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Cleric: Death Domain

Clerics in the Death Domain specialize in necrotic spells that bypass enemy resistances, enabling them to resurrect the dead or cause corpses to explode. This subclass is perfect for players who prefer a darker, more offensive approach to the religious role.

Wizard: Blade Song

Wizards activating Blade Song gain ten turns to accumulate special charges through attacks and spells, which they can then use to heal allies or inflict damage on enemies, making them versatile in melee combat.

Druid: Circle of Stars

Druids in the Circle of Stars can switch between constellations, gaining adaptive bonuses that enhance their versatility on the battlefield.

Barbarian: Path of the Giant

Barbarians on the Path of the Giant can enter a rage that increases their size and allows them to throw weapons with added fire or lightning effects. These weapons return to their hand, and they also benefit from improved throwing skills and higher carrying capacity.

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Fighter: Mystic Archer

Mystic Archers blend magic with archery, shooting enchanted arrows that can blind, deal psychic damage, or banish foes, embodying the elegance of elven combat.

Monk: Drunken Master

Drunken Masters harness alcohol-induced strength to deliver devastating physical blows. Their strikes make enemies more vulnerable to subsequent attacks, turning them into formidable fighters.

Rogue: Swashbuckler

Swashbucklers, the quintessential pirate archetype, excel in close combat with dirty tricks like blinding enemies with sand, disarming with quick thrusts, or demoralizing them with taunts, perfect for fans of Astarion.

Bard: College of Glamour

Bards from the College of Glamour are the rock stars of the Forgotten Realms, using their charisma to charm enemies into submission, making them flee, approach, freeze, fall, or drop their weapons.

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Ranger: Swarmkeeper

Swarmkeepers control swarms of tiny creatures that debuff enemies. The swarms come in three varieties: bee swarms that repel, honey swarms that stun with shock, and moth swarms that blind. Swarm types can only be changed upon leveling up.

Paladin: Oath of the Crown

Paladins of the Oath of the Crown are the epitome of lawfulness and righteousness. They gain abilities that boost allies, draw enemy attention, and absorb damage for teammates, focusing on team-based play and tank-like resilience.

Photo Mode

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The long-awaited photo mode in Baldur’s Gate 3 offers extensive camera settings and advanced post-processing effects, ensuring players can capture stunning screenshots of their adventures.

Cross-Play

Cross-platform multiplayer is now a reality across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Windows, and Mac. The closed stress test primarily focuses on fine-tuning this cross-play functionality to eliminate bugs and ensure seamless integration.

Gameplay, Combat, and Story Improvements

Patch 8 brings a host of enhancements to Baldur’s Gate 3:

• Items detected during Perception checks are now marked on the mini-map and logged in the battle journal.
• Ally abilities are correctly displayed after dialogue in the High Hall.
• Scrolls and potions in unlocked containers can be used during conversations.
• Neutral and friendly NPCs remain non-hostile when encountering combat-created surfaces.
• Characters no longer get stuck climbing stairs occupied by companions.
• Moving platforms in the Shan Trial location are fixed to prevent characters from falling to their deaths.
• Neutral NPCs no longer initiate combat without cause.
• Keris no longer engages in unnecessary fights with Mintara.
• Loading screen freeze at 0% when joining modded multiplayer sessions is resolved.
• Server performance in the Adamantine Forge is improved.
• Players can no longer tell Astarion about Gandrel’s search for him if Gandrel refused to reveal his target.
• Mintara no longer gets stuck while watching over Taniel in Act 2.
• The game no longer mistakenly believes Shadohurt is dead if she isn’t.
• Discovered merchants now appear on the world map regardless of distance.

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Patch 8 for Baldur’s Gate 3 is anticipated to launch in February or early March 2025. Following this update, Larian Studios will shift their focus to bug fixes, with no further major updates planned for the game.