Baldur’s Gate 3 showcases many races the player can pick from to play. Some of these races are more popular than others, with one of the most popular ones in BG3 being the Half-Elf race.
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The Half-Elf gets the best of both worlds from their elf and human or Drow parents.
Getting the best of both worlds from their Elf parent and their Drow or Human parent makes them a versatile race worth giving a try.
Features And Traits Of The Half-Elf Race
The game describes the Half-Elf race as:
“Curious, ambitious, and versatile, half-elves are welcome everywhere, but struggle without a community to call their own.”
Like all races in Baldur’s Gate 3, they come with a distinctive combination of traits and features that make them stand out from the rest. The Half-Elf race in Baldur’s Gate 3 has the following:
- Base Racial Speed, granting them 9 meter of movement per turn.
- Civil Militia, inherited from their human parents, this grants them proficiency with Spears, Pikes, Halberds, and Glaives. In addition, also Armor and Shields.
- Fey Ancestry, inherited from their Elf parents, gives them an advantage against being charmed and makes it impossible to be put to sleep by magic.
- Darkvision, Half-Elves can see up to 12 meters in the dark.
Subraces Of The Elf Race
The Half-Race possesses 3 subraces, each with its own perks.
The High Half-Elf
“A touch of the Feywild remains in half-elves with this bloodline, and even those untrained in magic possess a hint of wild power.”
Making use of their intelligence as the modifier, the High Half-Elf gets to pick one cantrip from the Wizard spell list, just like their High Elf parent. They can pick one of these:
CANTRIP | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
Acid Splash | Conjuration cantrip. Throw a bubble of acid that damages each creature it hits. 1d6 acid damage. |
Blade Ward | Abjuration cantrip. Take only half the damage from bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing attacks. |
Bone Chill | Necromancy cantrip. Prevent the target from healing until your next turn. An undead target receives Disadvantage on attack rolls. 1d8 Necrotic damage. |
Dancing Lights | Evocation Cantrip. Illuminate a 9m radius. |
Fire Bolt | Evocation Cantrip. Hurl a mote of fire. 1d10 fire damage. |
Friends | Enchantment Cantrip. Gain advantage on charisma checks against a non-hostile creature. This spell can be cast while you are silenced. |
Light | Evocation Cantrip. Infuse an object with an aura of light. |
Mirror Illusion | Illusion Cantrip. Create an illusion that compels nearby creatures to investigate. You can remain hidden while casting this spell. |
Shocking Grasp | Evocation Cantrip. The target cannot use reactions. This spell has advantage on creatures with metal armor. 1d8 Lightning damage. |
True Strike | Divination Cantrip. Gain advantage on your next attack roll. |
The Wood Half-Elf
“Like their wood elf parent, these half-elves have a quickened stride and eye for stealth. Yet many break away from isolation in Faerun's forests to explore the rest of the Realms.”
The Wood Half-Elf gets access to abilities possessed by their Wood Elf parent, notably:
- Fleet Of Foot, this increases their movement from 9 meters to 10.5 meters per turn.
- Mask Of The Wild: This adds an additional stealth proficiency to the Wood Half-Elf.
The Drow Half-Elf
“Most half-drow result from liaisons between Seldarine drow and surfacers. While half-drow inherit a few magical gifts, they aren't usually raised in the Underdark.”
Unlike the previous two subraces, the Drow Half-Elf is not the result of an Elf and a human having a child, but that of a human and a Drow. This will allow the Drow Half-Elf to get Drow Magic.
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Drow Magic will allow them to unlock these spells:
- At level 1, Dancing Lights, this spell lets them illuminate an area of 9 meter.
- At level 3, Faerie Fire, attack rolls gain an advantage against enemies affected by the spell. Once per long rest.
- At level 5, Darkness, enemies inside the cloud cannot perform ranged attacks and are blinded. One use per long rest.
Recommended Classes
Recommended Classes For the High Half-Elf:
CLASS | DESCRIPTION | PRIMARY | SPELLCASTING |
|---|---|---|---|
Wizard | Wizards master the arcane by specializing in individual schools of magic, combining ancient spells with modern research. | Intelligence | Intelligence |
Warlock | Bound by a pact to an all-powerful patron, warlocks trade their loyalty for supernatural abilities and unique magic. | Charisma | Charisma |
Monk | Channel your cosmic enlightenment by deftly dodging and efficiently disassembling your foes through stunning strikes and a whirlwind of martial art attacks. | Dexterity | Wisdom |
Recommended Classes For The Wood Half-Elf:
CLASS | DESCRIPTION | PRIMARY | SPELLCASTING |
|---|---|---|---|
Rogue | With stealth, skill and uncanny reflexes, a rogue's versatility lets them get the upper hand in almost any situation. | Dexterity | Intelligence |
Ranger | Rangers are unrivaled scouts and trackers, honing a deep connection with nature in order to hunt their favored prey. | Dexterity | Wisdom |
Druid | Druids channel the elemental forces of nature and share a deep kinship with animals. Mastery of Wild Shape allows them to transform into beasts from all over the Realms. | Wisdom | Wisdom |
Recommended Classes For The Drow Half-Elf:
CLASS | DESCRIPTION | PRIMARY | SPELLCASTING |
|---|---|---|---|
Wizard | Wizards master the arcane by specializing in individual schools of magic, combining ancient spells with modern research. | Intelligence | Intelligence |
Paladin | Fuelled by the Oaths you swore to uphold justice and righteousness, you are a beacon of hope in dark times. | Strength | Charisma |
Bard | You know music is more than a fancy - it is power. Through study and adventure, you have mastered song, speech, and the magic within. | Charisma | Charisma |
Best Builds For Half-Elf
There are many build options for the Half-Elf race, however, here is a good option for players who don’t want to think too much about building their Half-Elf character.
For the High Half-Elf and the Drow Half-Elf, the best build would be:
- Class: Wizard.
- Sub Class: Enchantment School.
- Most Important Abilities: Intelligence.
- Background: Sage.
- Extra Proficiency Skills: Perception.
For the Wood Half-Elf:
- Class: Rogue.
- Sub Class: Thief.
- Most Important Abilities: Dexterity.
- Background: Charlatan, Criminal, or Urchin.
- Extra Proficiency Skills: Perception.
Notable Half-Elves in Baldur’s Gate 3
There are quite a few notable members of the Half-Elf race in Baldur’s Gate 3, two of them being possible characters to recruit and have as companions.
The most popular one is, of course, Shadowheart, a High Half-Elf who the player will have the ability to save very early on in the game, in the Nautiloid Ship. The player can also play as her if chosen as the origin character. As a Cleric, she will be very useful in the early game as the player will not have many alternatives when it comes to healing, especially during battles.
The other possible companion Half-Elf is harder to get, and the player will have to wait for Act 2 to even meet her. Another High Half-Elf, Jaheira can be found at the Last Light Inn, where the player can try to protect her and avoid losing her, leading to the possibility of adding her to their companion. As a Druid, she will surely be useful going forward in the game.
Baldur’s Gate 3 is now available to play on PC and PlayStation 5.
MORE: Baldur’s Gate 3: Human Race Guide
