Baldur’s Gate 3 patch 9 is now live, introducing the Paladin class alongside a new reactions system, increased level cap, and more to the RPG’s early access version.
BG3’s Paladin class is described as “a hybrid between cleric and fighter,” capable of both dishing out damage and supporting party members with actions like their classic heal, Lay on Hands.
Baldur's Gate 3 Patch 9
Although Paladins progress at a slower pace through their spell slots, they compensate through the Divine Smite feature, which imbues weapons with holy radiance, allowing the class to deal large amounts of damage.
The class channels its powers through the Oath they choose during character creation or forsake afterwards, granting access to three subclasses.
Characters who pick Oath of the Ancients strive to “preserve the sanctity of life and the beauty of nature,” having access to the Healing Radiance action which heals nearby allies.
The Oath of Devotion subclass lets you embody a classic Paladin, who’s all about fighting for the greater good while strictly following a code of honour and virtue. Holy Rebuke, the subclass’ signature feature, grants allies an aura that deals damage to assailants.
Lastly, the Oathbreaker is a hidden Paladin subclass in Baldur’s Gate 3 that becomes available once you stray away from your moral code, tapping into how you roleplay your character.
Once you step on this path you lose your previous Oath-inspired actions, but gain darker powers like Control Undead, which lets you get an undead buddy to fight alongside you.
Patch 9 also raises the level cap to 5, giving characters access to powerful spells like Fireball for mages or Spirit Guardian for clerics. It also unlocks the Fly spell, making characters who pick it considerably more mobile.
A revamped reactions system is also part of the rather lengthy list of changes that Baldur Gate 3’s early access version has seen and which you can check out in the full patch notes over on Steam.
Publisher and developer Larian Games has also confirmed that Baldur Gate 3’s patch 9 is the final planned major content update before the title fully launches next year.
If you plan on jumping into the game’s early access version, it might be a good idea to refresh your memory on all the playable races.
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