Larian Studios has officially announced that the much-anticipated Patch 8 for Baldur’s Gate 3 will be released on Tuesday, April 15. After being available in a stress test form for some time, this update is now set to roll out to all players, marking a significant milestone for the game.
Patch 8 brings a wealth of new content to the critically acclaimed Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. Players can look forward to the introduction of 12 new subclasses, enhancing the gameplay experience with diverse and exciting options. Other notable additions include a photo mode, cross-play functionality, and split-screen support for Xbox Series S. For a comprehensive list of changes, be sure to check out the Baldur's Gate 3 Patch 8 patch notes.
Baldur’s Gate 3 Patch 8 new subclasses: ---------------------------------------Bard - College of Glamour
As a member of the College of Glamour, Bards can harness the power to both heal allies and manipulate enemies. By casting Mantle of Inspiration, you grant your allies 5 temporary hit points, and any enemy attacking during this spell's duration will be Charmed. Utilize Mantle of Majesty to command these Charmed foes to flee, approach, freeze, drop to the ground, or relinquish their weapons.
Barbarian - Path of Giants
Choosing the Path of Giants allows Barbarians to channel their inner strength, making it easier to throw both allies and enemies. Thanks to the Giant’s Rage passive, you gain increased strength and size, boosting your damage with Throw attacks and your overall carrying capacity.
Cleric - Death Domain
Clerics of the Death Domain can master dark arts, specializing in necrotic damage and gaining three new necromancy cantrips. Toll The Dead causes 1~8 damage, scaling up if the target is already wounded. Additionally, you can now explode nearby corpses to damage enemies, adding a strategic element to your gameplay.
Druid - Circle of Stars
Druids in the Circle of Stars tap into celestial power through three Starry Forms: the Archer, Chalice, and Dragon. Each form offers unique benefits, from dealing radiant damage with astral arrows to restoring hit points and enhancing constitution rolls, providing versatile options for healers, fighters, and strategists alike.
Paladin - Oath of the Crown
Paladins sworn to the Oath of the Crown gain abilities to support their allies and hinder foes. Use Righteous Clarity to guide your companions, taunt enemies with strategic interrupts, and employ Divine Allegiance to absorb damage and heal your party.
Fighter - Arcane Archer
Arcane Archers blend magic with marksmanship, featuring new shooting animations and skills. You can banish foes to the Feywild for a turn or inflict Psychic damage that may blind enemies until their next turn.
Monk - Drunken Master
As a Drunken Master, Monks can consume alcohol from their inventory or around the Sword Coast to recover Ki. With Intoxicating Strike, you can share a drink with your enemies, boosting your Armour Class and hit chance against them. Drunk enemies are also vulnerable to Sobering Realisation, which sobers them up while dealing physical and Psychic damage.
Ranger - Swarmkeeper
Swarmkeeper Rangers can summon three types of deadly swarms: Cloud of Jellyfish for lightning damage, Flurry of Moths for Psychic damage and potential blinding, and Legion of Bees for piercing damage and knockback. Each swarm also offers teleportation capabilities.
Rogue - Swashbuckler
Swashbuckler Rogues embrace a piratical flair with new actions like tossing sand to Blind enemies, flicking weapons to Disarm foes, and using Fancy Footwork to prevent opportunity attacks after melee engagements.
Sorcerer - Shadow Magic
Shadow Magic Sorcerers thrive in darkness with Superior Darkvision and the ability to Shadow Walk between dim light or darkness. They can also summon the Hound of Ill Omen and use Strength of the Grave to avoid being downed, making them ideal for challenging Honour Mode runs.
Warlock - Hexblade
Hexblade Warlocks form pacts with Shadowfell entities, manifesting as magical weapons. Curse your enemies, raise spirits from slain foes to deal necrotic damage, and heal by stealing souls, all within ten turns.
Wizard - Bladesinging
Bladesinging Wizards blend swordplay with spellcasting, featuring new animations and the Bladesong ability for enhanced speed, agility, and focus. This subclass also offers a bonus to Constitution saving throws.
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Patch 8 signifies the final major update for Baldur’s Gate 3, closing a chapter on Larian's successful venture. The game launched to critical acclaim and substantial commercial success in 2023, continuing to perform well into 2024 and 2025.
Larian has surprised the gaming community by announcing its departure from Baldur’s Gate 3 and the Dungeons & Dragons franchise to focus on a new, undisclosed project. This shift comes after various teases and a subsequent media blackout to concentrate on their mystery game.
Meanwhile, Hasbro, the owner of D&D, has hinted at future plans for the Baldur’s Gate series. In a recent interview at the Game Developers Conference, Dan Ayoub, SVP of digital games at Hasbro, expressed interest from multiple parties in the franchise. He suggested that Hasbro is considering various strategies and teased that announcements about the series' future could be made soon. While not confirming a direct sequel, Ayoub expressed a desire for a Baldur’s Gate 4 but noted that such a development would take time.
"We're not in a hurry," Ayoub stated, emphasizing a measured approach to the franchise's future. He hinted at potential collaborations or crossovers, similar to past endeavors with Magic: The Gathering, but remained tight-lipped on specifics.
In celebration of Patch 8's release, Larian will host a Twitch livestream where senior systems designer Ross Stephens will detail the new changes and additions to the game.
