BG3: Best Wizard Build [Spells, Cantrips, Equipment & Playstyle]

Wizards are perhaps one of the more interesting classes in Baldur’s Gate 3. They have unique capabilities and access to abilities such as cantrips that help them stand out from other classes. But, if you want to maximize the use of a Wizard, you need to consider the best build for Wizard in BG3, which means using the best spells, races, subclasses, and much more.

Best Wizard Build In BG3 

Here’s my overview of all the aspects and details for the best Wizard build in BG3:

Wizard Build Character Creation

When creating the best build for the Wizard in BG3, you need to ensure you’re choosing the right options during the Character Creation part of the build. That includes picking the right subclass, race, and background.

Subclass

If you’re looking to maximize damage potential as a Wizard in Baldur’s Gate 3, the Evocation subclass stands out. Its specialty lies in delivering unrivaled area-based damage, ideal for those who revel in the thrill of casting devastating spells upon foes.

Backgrounds

Your Wizard’s background not only shapes their past but also carves out unique roleplaying opportunities in BG3. In my experience, these three backgrounds synchronize seamlessly with the Intelligence stat for an Evocation Wizard:

• Sage: Delve into the mysteries of the world, with your insatiable curiosity guiding you to uncover hidden lore and use your vast knowledge for a purpose beyond mere understanding.
• Acolyte: Experience the spiritual world through dedicated service in temples, discovering divine secrets, and ascending to greatness through devotion.
• Noble: Navigate the world of power and privilege, striving for recognition, loyalty, and influence, hailing from an elite lineage.

Each background enhances dialogue options and offers a distinctive narrative flavor to your Wizard’s adventure.

Race

Race is pivotal in shaping your Wizard’s innate abilities and traits. For an Evocation Wizard, the High Elf emerges as the top pick. 

• Their racial traits encompass an extra Cantrip, Fey Ancestry, and the invaluable Darkvision, equipping you for diverse challenges.
• However, Mephistopheles Tiefling offers a compelling alternative. 
• Apart from the unique fire resistance trait, they grant access to specific spells like Burning Hands and Flame Blade as you progress.

Skills And Ability Points

After going through the initial character creation and picking the Evocation subclass for the Wizard, you need to consider the Skills and the ideal distribution of your ability points.

Best Skills

Skills in Baldur’s Gate 3 serve as the backbone of your character’s proficiencies and capabilities, allowing you to interact more effectively within BG3’s vast universe. 

For a Wizard, especially of the Evocation subclass, two skills stand out: Investigation and Religion. 

• Investigation allows you to uncover hidden truths, decipher the environment, and spot the unseen. 
• It’s the embodiment of a keen mind, seeking out what lies beneath the surface.
• Religion, on the other hand, grants insights into the pantheon of deities, rituals, and the arcane lore that threads through the universe of Baldur’s Gate 3. 

Ability Scores

Ability scores serve as the pillars of your Wizard’s innate strengths and weaknesses, shaping the character’s competencies in various spheres of gameplay. 

• For a Wizard, Intelligence sits at the pinnacle, amplifying the efficacy of your spells and increasing the likelihood of landing them successfully. 
• However, other abilities play a crucial role too.
• Dexterity is paramount, given that your primary attire would be clothing rather than armor. 
• A heightened Dexterity ensures a better Armor Class, enhancing your defensive capabilities. 
• Constitution becomes significant, too, as a bolstered constitution aids in enhancing health points, providing a better chance at survival in the heat of battle.

Here’s a consolidated table to optimize the ability scores for an Evocation Wizard in Baldur’s Gate 3:

After defining your Wizard’s class, subclass, race, and background in BG3, the character creation tab will present an automatic distribution of abilities. However, for a superior Wizard build, it’s recommended to manually adjust these stats, ensuring alignment with the table provided.

Wizard Build Best Equipment

When stepping into the sprawling world of Baldur’s Gate 3, gearing up properly can mean the difference between success and defeat, especially for a specialized build like the best Evocation Wizard in BG3. By the end of BG3’s first act, you should aim to have a set of beginner gear, progressing to a meta setup by Act 3. Here’s a guide to ensure your Wizard is well-equipped for the challenges that lie ahead.

Gear Recommendations

As you dive deeper into the world of Baldur’s Gate 3, you’ll naturally uncover treasures, including useful items, armor, weapons, and potions. Exploration and progression are woven into BG3’s fabric. Remember, while the world is vast and there are numerous gear options, it’s essential to continually optimize your build by frequently testing and updating your gear. 

Consumables And Potions

Apart from gear, I recommend keeping an assortment of consumables and potions at your disposal to tackle different situations in order to create the best BG3 wizard build:

• Potion of Speed: An invaluable consumable, it grants an extra action, elevates Armour Class by +2, offers an advantage on Dexterity Saving Throws, and doubles your movement speed.
• Smokepowder Bomb: With a throw range of 18m and a 4m radius, it deals impressive 3d4+9 Force damage, making it essential for inflicting area damage.
• Greater Healing Potion: During tough battles, use this potion as a bonus action to restore 4D4+ 4 HP.
• Feather Fall Scroll: Protects against falling damage, a must-have when planning to explore the Underdark.
• Alchemist Fire: Targets a single enemy, inflicting 1d4 Fire damage per turn.

Wizard Build Level Progression

Wizard Build Playstyle

Stepping into the shoes of an Evocation Wizard is no small feat, but with the right tactics and understanding of your strengths, you can unleash tremendous power on your foes. Below are a few of my tips on how to use Wizard class effectively:

Preparations 

After each long rest, remember to cast Mage Armour. 

• It’s a lifeline, enhancing your survival.
• Once cast, replenish your spell slots through a quick spell recharge. 
• The Potion of Speed is a powerful consumable. 
• As a Wizard, this potion essentially doubles your combat prowess for a few rounds. 
• Given it’s a bonus action to consume, you can kick off a battle with a significant advantage.

Engage Smartly

Wizards are potent when it comes to area damage. 

• Focus on techniques that strike multiple foes, be it directly or using the environment. 
• An example is pairing a fire spell with Grease to blanket an area in flames.
• Thunderwave is your best friend when faced with aggressive melee opponents like Fighters and Rangers. 
• Using it not only damages but also creates vital space.
• If you need to create even more distance, Misty Step can be your escape route.

Your position on the battlefield is crucial. 

• Consistently evaluate potential threats from melee or ranged foes. 
• If the risk seems high, consider moving further away or even employing the Hide action to diminish incoming damage.
• At the start of a confrontation, unleash your most powerful spells to eliminate threats quickly. 
• However, always keep a high-level spell slot in reserve for critical situations. 
• Misty Step is often a wise choice for this reserve, offering a tactical retreat.

Environment And Control

Wizards excel when they utilize their surroundings. 

• For instance, water can be a conduit for electric spells, amplifying the damage dealt.
• Crowd control is another forte of the Wizard class. 
• Prioritize incapacitating key targets using spells like Sleep or Hold Person. 
• By controlling the battlefield, you mitigate potential damage to you and your party composition.

Other Tips And Tricks

Despite their strength, Wizards can quickly deplete their spell slots. 

• It’s wise to rest often to ensure you’re always combat-ready. 
• A brief rest can mean the difference between triumph and disaster.
• Bonus actions might not seem immediately impactful for a Wizard, but they can be game-changers. 
• Whether it’s consuming a healing potion or activating the Potion of Speed, make sure you’re making the most of every turn.

Wizard Overview In Baldur’s Gate 3

Wizards in Baldur’s Gate 3 are the embodiment of spellcasting mastery and unparalleled adaptability. Renowned for their immense spell list, they provide players with a plethora of choices, allowing them to respond aptly to a myriad of situations.

Strengths

• Spell Selection: With access to BG3’s most extensive spell list, the Wizard offers unmatched adaptability in combat.
• Area Damage: Specializing in spells that cover broad areas, they can inflict significant damage to multiple foes simultaneously.
• Crowd Control: Wizards possess the tools to manipulate and control enemy movements and actions.  

Weaknesses

• Low Durability: Their strength does not lie in taking hits. Wizards are fragile and are best positioned away from direct combat.
• Complexity: With a vast array of spells and mechanics, they demand a keen understanding to be utilized to their full potential.
• Metamagic Limitations: Unlike some other spellcasting classes, Wizards do not have access to Metamagic, a feature that can modify or enhance spell effects.

Core Mechanics

• Key Ability: Intelligence plays a pivotal role, influencing the potency and success of a Wizard’s spells.
• Weaponry Skills: Wizards are proficient with Quarterstaves and Light Crossbows.
• Defensive Wear: Their armor expertise is limited to Cloth Armor.
• Arcane Recovery: A unique feature, it allows Wizards to restore some of their used spell slots once per day when out of combat.
• Spell Acquisition: One of the defining traits of Wizards is their ability to learn new spells by reading scrolls, given they have the necessary gold.

Cantrips

These are foundational spells that Wizards can cast indefinitely. They do not consume spell slots and, in most scenarios, prove more effective than standard weapon attacks. I recommend having a selection of Cantrips ready for diverse situations.

Prepared Spells And Slots

Unlike cantrips, prepared spells consume spell slots, a limited resource during engagements.

• Replenishing these slots demands a long rest at camp, involving food and resources.
• It’s paramount to refill your spell arsenal before any significant battle.
• The spells you have prepared can be altered post-combat, so adjusting them based on anticipated challenges is wise.
• As you progress in levels, additional spell slots unlock.
• For instance, at level one, you receive two level 1 spell slots, and by level five, you unlock level three spells.

Concentration In Spellcasting

Certain spells in Baldur’s Gate 3 need concentration to keep their magic effect ongoing.

• Maintaining multiple concentration spells simultaneously isn’t feasible.
• Not only can enemies interrupt your focus, but casting another concentration spell also breaks the current one.
• Therefore, it’s essential to strike a balance in the number of such spells you prepare.

With that, you know all about my best Wizard build BG3. There are a lot of options and things to consider while creating the ideal build. But let this serve as a general outline of something powerful. You can adjust things accordingly to fit your playstyle!

In the meantime, check out the best companions in BG3 that you can recruit to make a diverse team. For other Feat considerations to center your build around, here’s a guide on the best Tavern Brawler build. And traverse other intriguing in-game locations by learning about the Underdark region.

Next:

• Baldur’s Gate 3: Nightsong
• Baldur’s Gate 3: How To Romance Karlach
• BG3: Efrin