1. Tavern Brawler Monk (S-Tier)
The highest single-target melee damage in the game. By combining the Open Hand Monk with the Thief Rogue's extra bonus action, you can punch enemies up to 6 times per turn.
Class Progression (Level 12)
- Levels 1-6: Way of the Open Hand Monk.
- Levels 7-9: Rogue (Thief Subclass for extra Bonus Action).
- Levels 10-12: Monk (Up to Level 8 or 9).
The Secret Mechanic
Keep your Strength at exactly 8. Drink an Elixir of Hill Giant Strength every single day to artificially boost it to 21. Use the Tavern Brawler feat at Level 4, which doubles your Strength modifier for unarmed attacks!
2. Smite Swords Bard (S-Tier)
The ultimate "face" of the party. You have god-like dialogue skills, unmatched crowd control (Command/Hold Person), and devastating burst damage thanks to Paladin Smites.
Class Progression (Level 12)
- Levels 1-2: Paladin (Defense Fighting Style, Divine Smite).
- Levels 3-12: College of Swords Bard.
Key Equipment
Equip the Helmet of Arcane Acuity and the Band of the Mystic Scoundrel. Hitting enemies with weapons increases your spell save DC, making your crowd-control spells completely irresistible (even to bosses).
3. Eldritch Machine-Gun Sorlock (A-Tier)
A magical sniper build that relies on casting Eldritch Blast up to 9 times in a single turn using Metamagic Quickened Spell.
Class Progression (Level 12)
- Levels 1-2: Warlock (Agonizing Blast & Repelling Blast).
- Levels 3-12: Draconic Bloodline Sorcerer (For Metamagic).
Key Stats
Max out Charisma (20). Use the Potent Robe (Act 2) to add your Charisma modifier to your cantrip damage TWICE. You will routinely deal 100+ damage per turn using zero spell slots.
4. Gloomstalker Assassin (S-Tier)
The ultimate stealth archer. You can wipe out half of an enemy encounter before the battle even officially starts by utilizing guaranteed critical hits on surprised targets.
Class Progression (Level 12)
- Levels 1-5: Ranger (Gloomstalker Subclass for Dread Ambusher).
- Levels 6-8: Rogue (Assassin Subclass for Assassinate).
- Levels 9-12: Fighter (Battle Master for Action Surge).
Key Strategy
Always initiate combat from stealth (Crouch). The Assassin subclass ensures any attack against a surprised enemy is an automatic Critical Hit. Combine this with the Sharpshooter feat for absurd damage.
5. Radiance Life Cleric (A-Tier)
The unkillable support. This build turns Shadowheart (or any Cleric) into a healing powerhouse that also buffs the entire party with damage resistances and attack bonuses every time she heals.
Class Progression (Level 12)
- Levels 1-12: Pure Cleric (Life Domain).
- Optional: 1 level dip in Wizard to learn utility spells from scrolls.
The Healing Synergy
Equip the Hellrider's Pride gloves (Act 1) and The Whispering Promise ring. Whenever you heal someone, they gain physical damage resistance (Blade Ward) and a +1d4 to attack rolls (Bless) for free!
The twelve Patch 8 subclasses
Patch 8 (15 April 2025, Larian's final major update) gave every class one more subclass. The five builds above were written before it and still work; these are the new options, one per class, with what each is for.
- Barbarian — Path of Giants: grow, and throw enemies and allies.
- Bard — College of Glamour: charm and command.
- Cleric — Death Domain: necrotic damage and reaping.
- Druid — Circle of Stars: starry forms instead of Wild Shape.
- Fighter — Arcane Archer: magic arrows with riders.
- Monk — Way of the Drunken Master: mobility and redirection.
- Paladin — Oath of the Crown: the party's anchor.
- Ranger — Swarmkeeper: a swarm that hits, moves and shields.
- Rogue — Swashbuckler: duelist tricks, no ally needed for Sneak Attack.
- Sorcerer — Shadow Magic: darkness and a hound.
- Warlock — Hexblade: Charisma weapons, the Smite Bard's rival.
- Wizard — Bladesinging: the caster who fights in melee.
The list comes from Larian's Patch 8 notes; the one-line roles are the community consensus a year on, not from our own runs. Hexblade and Bladesinging are the two most often recommended for newcomers.
6. Interactive Build Planner
Map out your base stats to see your estimated Hit Points, Armor Class, and Spell Save DC.
Character Stats
Sources
Checked against RPG Site's report of Larian's Patch 8 notes and PC Gamer's Patch 8 builds.