This guide focuses on the essential aspects of a Bladesinging Wizard build in Baldur’s Gate 3 (BG3) and how to use those powers to your advantage.
In Baldur’s Gate 3, creating a build can be a complex task. With things like ability score, level progression, companions, weapons, armor, and consumables, there are many variables for players to choose from. In this guide, we provide a step-by-step suggestion for the Wizard and, specifically, the subclass Bladesinging, released in Patch 8.
This build page has been updated for thePatch 8 versionof Baldur’s Gate 3.
Wizard Class Guide in BG3
The Wizard class is an intelligence-based class focused on ranged spell casting. The strength of the Wizard is the ability to learn spells from scrolls, and you can adjust your spellbook without respecing or a long rest. This gives the Wizard a wide range of spells and playstyles to choose from. While the Wizard is a typical range spellcaster, with the Bladesinging subclass, you can play a melee powerhouse and even gain the extra attack feature!
Patch 8 Changes to Wizard Build for BG3
Patch 8 of Baldur’s Gate 3 brings major changes to the Wizard class with the introduction of the Bladesinging subclass and the Booming Blade cantrip, offering a fresh, melee-oriented playstyle. Bladesingers gain enhanced mobility, increased AC, and the ability to weave spells and swordplay together seamlessly. Booming Blade complements this by delivering reliable, scaling melee damage, encouraging a hit-and-move combat approach. This reimagines the Wizard as a swift frontline skirmisher, though it comes with a trade-off of reduced focus on high-level spellcasting and utility compared to more traditional builds.
To further enhance this agile combat style, a one-level dip into Hexblade Warlock adds even more value. This multiclass grants proficiencies in medium armor, shields, and martial weapons, significantly boosting early-game survivability. It also unlocks Eldritch Blast, giving you a powerful ranged option to complement your melee capabilities. While you do forgo an additional feat at Level 12 due to multiclassing, the early power spike, improved defenses, and overall versatility make this hybrid build both effective and rewarding throughout the game. Whether you’re charging into combat or casting from range, this setup gives your Wizard a dynamic and engaging edge.
Why you should choose the Bladesinging Subclass for Wizard Class in BG3?
You should pick the Bladesinging subclass for the Wizard if you want to play a melee spellcaster with Extra Attack. At level 6, the Wizard will attack twice with one action, similar to the Fighter, Ranger, Paladin, and Barbarian. Moreover, this subclass can use a spell, Shadow Blade, and stack strength as their ability score. The spell scales in effectiveness off of strength, thus giving you all the wide variety in spells from the Wizard, but with the burst in melee.
Everything About the Bladesinging Wizard in Baldur’s Gate 3
What makes the Bladesinging Wizard unique is its Extra Attack feature at level 6. Moreover, the Bladesinging Wizard gains light armour and additional weapon proficiencies, making it an actual melee subclass. With high damage, versatility in combat, and a variety of spells, the Bladesinging Wizard is one of the best in BG3.
However, the subclass can start off slow because you need to multiclass to gain extra armor proficiencies. Moreover, you gain an extra attack at level 6, not level 5 like other classes. Therefore, it will take a bit longer to see your raw power spike, but hang in there; it’s worth it!
Features and Mechanics of Bladesinging Wizard
The following list presents all the essential Bladesinging Wizard build Mechanics and Features in Baldur’s Gate 3:
Character Creation
Race Choice for Bladesinging Wizard
High Half-Elf is the best race choice for a Bladesinging Wizard build because you gain shield proficiency, darkvision, and a free cantrip. Booming Blade is a helpful cantrip alongside Firebolt, giving you a one-two punch for melee or ranged damage at level one. You really need a race with Shield so consider that for optimal survival. The second choice is Human because of shield proficiencies and extra carry capacity. Lastly, we recommend Githyanki because of its mobility skills, such as Misty Step and Githyanki Psionics.
Here is the best race choice for a Bladesinging Wizard build in Baldur’s Gate 3:
Wizard Subclass – Bladesinging
The Bladesinging Wizard is unlocked at level 2. Once unlocked, the Wizard immediately gains light armor proficiency and additional weapons like a Longsword and Shortswords. By level two, the Wizard can equip a Longsword and Shield and play in Lightarmourwith high dexterity. At level 6 is where your power spikes due to gaining extra attack feature, attacking twice with one action.
Below are the Bladesinging Wizard subclass features that become available while leveling up in Baldur’s Gate 3:
Recommended Background for Bladesinging Wizard
Sageis the bestbackgroundfor the Bladesinging Wizard Build because you gain two intelligence-based skills. Below are the recommended backgrounds for the Bladesinging Wizard build:
Ability Score
The Best Ability Score for Bladesinging Wizard Build is 17 Intelligence, 16 Dexterity, and 14 Constitution.Intelligence influences your spellcasting success, while Dexterity determines yourcombatorder and AC. Constitution is useful for higher health.
While the strength recommendation is low, we highly recommend using Elixir of Hill Giant Strength (Cloud Giant inAct 3). This gives you 21 strength until a long rest and drastically boosts the damage with Shadow Blade. Moreover, if you can’t craft these consistently, you can use theClub of Hill Giant Strengthin your main hand, found inAct 1. Lastly, look to gain Auntie Ethel’s hair permanent bonus to increase your Intelligence to 18 (an even number).
Below is the best ability score for a Bladesinging Wizard in Baldur’s Gate 3:
You can increase your ability score via a quest in Act 1,Act 2, and Act 3. ensure to check out ourPermanent bonus guideon how you can boost your ability score through quests.
Recommended Skills for Bladesinging Wizard
InvestigationandReligionare the best skills for our Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Bladesinging Wizard Build Guide because they complement your class abilities and enhance your effectiveness in various situations. Depending on your background selection, you may select different choices. However, focus on intelligence based choices and have companions with other skills to compliment your party loadout.
Here are the bestskillsfor Bladesinging in Baldur’s Gate 3:
Illithid Powers For Bladesinging Wizard
The best Illithid Powers for a Bladesinging build are Luck of the Farm Realms, Black Hole, and Cull of the Weak. Luck of the Farm helps with critical hits and burst damage and, combined with Cull of the Weak, can trigger AOE damage passively. Black Hole requires you to take the Astral Tadpole in Act 2, but it sucks in 5 enemies, slows them, and can be recast for free. This is helpful in certain large-scale boss fights with many enemies. Below are the best Illithid Tadpole Powers for the Bladesinging build in Baldur’s Gate 3:
Best Companions for Bladesinging Wizard
Shadowheart,Lae’zel, andAstarionmake the bestcompanionsfor the Bladesinging Wizard build because you gain healing, range damage, and lockpicking. Make sure to have one support, one ranged damage, and one utility companion. Below are our recommendations:
Best Bladesinging Wizard Build – Level Progression in Baldur’s Gate 3
Alternative Bladesinging Wizard Build
For our alternative Wizard build, start at Level 1 by taking a level in Hexblade Warlock. This gives you early access to Eldritch Blast and Booming Blade—two highly impactful cantrips—as well as proficiencies in medium armor, shields, and martial weapons. These additions significantly improve your early-game durability and make frontline combat far more manageable. If you’d rather wear traditional robes, be sure to grab Mage Armour at Wizard Level 3 for a reliable defensive boost.
Although Bladesinging is the intended core of this guide, we recommend considering Evocation here instead for its strong synergy with offensive cantrips and area-of-effect spells. Evocation allows you to maximize damage while minimizing friendly fire, making it an excellent fit for a more aggressive playstyle. While you’ll lose a feat at Level 12 due tomulticlassing, the early combat strength, enhanced survivability, and long-term value of your cantrips make the trade-off well worth it. This hybrid build blends versatility and firepower, offering a fun and effective way to approach combat from both the front line and a distance.
At level one, the Wizard makes many selections, and below is our recommendations:
Cantrip Selection
Spell Selection
Arcane Recovery: you’re able to recover two spell slots. The number allows you to either restore two level 1 spells or one level 2 spell. It’s a simple mechanic that you can use to prevent endless Resting in between fights. Expect a lot of rest at lower levels where your spell slots are limited.
Bladesinging Wizard Level 1 Prepared Spells: Longstrider, Shield, Thunderwave, Magic Missile.
Gameplay Priorities at Level 1
At level 1, your main goal is to equip a one-handed weapon and shield. Use Firebolt and Magic Missile as your damage spells. If playing in range, you can attack with Booming Blade, but it won’t be effective until you have high strength with Hill Giant Strength.
At level 2, you gain access to light armour and more utility, so save spell slots and use cantrips if possible. Depending on your race, you may or may not be able to use a shield.
Level two Wizard picks their subclass (obviously, we will be choosing Bladesinging School here), gets two spells, and has 5 prepared spells.
Bladesinging Wizard Level 2 Prepared Spells: Longstrider, Shield, Thunderwave, Magic Missile, Chromatic Orb.
At this level, your gameplay revolves around traditional Wizard ranged damage with a mix of melee using Booming Blade cantrip. Longstrider pre-buff for extra movement, save a spell slot for shield, and knock enemies back with Thunderwave. Use Magic Missile or Chromatic Orb for ranged damage you can now attack with the Bladesong power giving you extra force damage.
At Level 3, our Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Bladesinging Wizard Build Guide unlocks two level 2 spells and gets to select two new spells with a total of 6 prepared spells.
Bladesinging Wizard Level 3 Prepared Spells: Drop Chromatic Orb and slot both Misty Step and Shadow Blade.
Now that you have gained Shadow Blade, you can attack effectively in melee range in addition to Bladesong. Shadow Blade will cost a bonus action and last until long rest and require concentration. Therefore, don’t take too many concentration spells as you won’t be able to use them.
At this point, you want to use an Elixir of Hill Giant Strength and attack with Shadow Blade for the most damage in melee. TheResonace Stone, found in Act 2, can double the damage of this weapon, giving you a powerful combo for most of the game. You can also “upcast” the Shadow Blade to get more damage with it as you gain higher-level spells.
At level 4, the Bladesinging Wizard unlocks 1 new cantrip, two spells, and your first feat. Below are our suggestions at level four:
Bladesinging Wizard Level 4 Prepared Spells: Longstrider, Shield, Thunderwave, Magic Missile, Chromatic Orb, Shadow Blade, Misty Step, Mirror Image
At this level, boost your intelligence and take two defensive spells Blur and Mirror Image. Blur won’t be that useful since you have concentration and may need to swap to another spell if you don’t use it. However, you can also have another party member cast it on you, in addition to casting mirror image on yourself (spell or scroll), for incredible survivability. If you struggle in melee range, pre-buff with these two spells and likely no enemy will hit you in Act 1.
At level 5, our Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Bladesinging Wizard Build Guide unlocks two level 3 spell slots and selects two spells with other prepared spells. Below are our suggestions at level five:
Bladesinging Wizard Level 5 Prepared Spells: Longstrider, Shield, Thunderwave, Magic Missile, Chromatic Orb, Shadow Blade, Misty Step, Mirror Image, Fireball, Counterspell
At this level, we gain level 3 spell slots, counterspell, and Fireball. you may now play in melee or at range and have effective damage. However, you need one more level to gain extra attack.
At level 6, the Bladesinging Wizard unlocks a subclass feature and selects two spells. Below are our suggestions at level six:
Darkness is helpful to blind all creatures in an area, and if you have the ringEversight, you can still see while in the darkness. Additionally, Enlarge is helpful if you’re not using Shadow Blade or have a companion cast it on you because it requires concentration.
Now, beyond level 6, you can stay within the Wizard class which will gain you higher spell slots and more spells. But, for the most raw melee power, and extra armour and weapon choices, we suggest multiclassing to the Paladin.
Bladesinging Wizard Level 6 Prepared Spells: Longstrider, Shield, Thunderwave, Magic Missile, Chromatic Orb, Shadow Blade, Misty Step, Mirror Image, Fireball, Counterspell, Darkness
At level 7 our Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Bladesinging Wizard Build we’re going to start multiclassing, starting with the Paladin class. The reason this is helpful is using the Divine Smite spells with your melee attacks to trigger extra damage. However, this will make the build more complex and require more long rest, but give you the most amount of burst possible.
Additionally, at this level you gain Martial Weapon proficiency. Therefore, you may use a Two-Handed weapon greatsword and a Strength build like other melee. However, we recommend sticking to one hand and shield Shadow Blade and Shield for a balance of offense and defense.
Here’s a breakdown of what you get as a level 1 Paladin:
At level 8, take another level into Paladin. At this point, you can wear light armour and any weapon you want because Bladesong requires Light. However, one hand and a shield are still the best for survivability. Moreover, yougain divine smite and make sure to turn it on in the reactions menu.below are our suggestions at level eight:
At this point, you get two smite spells. Wrathful is great with Resonance Stone a huge burst. Thunderous Smite should be used if you’re able to get invisibility via a spell or a scroll. Then, unload on a target to trigger a surprise status effect.
Also you canuse Booming Blade Cantrip as your attack WITH Shadow Blade, and trigger Divine Smite!
At Level 9 our Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Bladesinging Wizard Build we’re going to multiclass again, this time into the Fighter class. The reason for this is gaining Action Surge, a new sublcass, and a feat. With Action Surge, you can gain an additional action once in combat and its a huge boost to overall damage.
At level 9, the most important selection is your Fighting Style. If using two-handed, swap to Great Weapon Master selection otherwise Protection if using a shield.
Putting a second level of Fighter in on our Level 10 Bladesinging Wizard build gives you one new skill, Action Surge.
We put a third level in to Fighter for Level 11 of our Bladesinging Wizard Build, and for the subclass we want to select Champion.
Champion Subclass Unlocked: ImprovedCritical HitThe number you need to roll a Critical Hit while attacking is reduced by 1 and this effect can stack. The Champion subclass remains the simplest and easiest to understand. You can further reduce the critical hit dice roll, which by default is 20, even further with a item sets. Stacking means you can add more and more ways to reduce the number viafeatand gear.
Keep it simple and go with Champion to make criticals easier.
At Level 12 the Bladesinging Wizard can choose a final feat with a final level into Fighter. The best overall feat is Alert. If using Shadow Blade, Great Weapon Master and Savage Attacker will not work. If you’re using a Two-Handed weapon, then take Savage Attacker or Great Weapon Master. Stick to Alert and use Hill Giant Elixir for max strength.
How to Play the Bladesinging Wizard
The best way to play the Bladesinging Wizard is to use a high strength build with Shadow Blade and multiclass into Paladin for Divine Smite. Drink an Elixir of Cloud Giant Strength to boost your overall strength to 27. Then, use a bonus action to summon Shadow Blade, which deals psychic damage and scales off of strength. Make sure to obtain the Resonance stone in Act 2, which doubles psychic damage, including Shadow Blade. With your action, attack in melee range and trigger Divine Smites with Shadow Blade.
Below are some general tips on how to play the best Bladesinging Wizard build in BG3:
Read More-Baldur’s Gate 3: Top 10 Builds for Patch 8
Best Gear for Bladesinging Wizard Build
Here’s the best beginner gear, items, and equipment for a Bladesinging Wizard Build in Baldur’s Gate 3:
The following table presents the best gear, items, and equipment for the Bladesinging Wizard Build in Baldur’s Gate 3:
List of best Bladesinging Wizard Build Baldur’s Gate 3 Equipment in the end-game:
Best Tips and Tricks for Bladesinging Wizard Build
The best tip when playing the Bladesinging Wizard build is to pre-buff with spells like Mirror Image, Shadow Blade, and Elixir of Hill Giant Strength. Next, crouch to enter stealth and start combat with Thunderous Smite to trigger a surprise status effect. From this point, use your actions for melee attacks and trigger divine smite to trigger extra damage. Use your bonus action for misty step and potions or consumables.
Best Consumables, Potions, Ammunition, and Items
The following list is the bestconsumableitems that will aid in our Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Bladesinging Wizard Build Guide:
Permanent Bonuses
Throughout Baldur’s Gate 3, you will have the ability to gain permanent bonuses to your character. These can grant additional spells, ability scores, and other bonuses. Permanent Bonuses are not displayed throughout the campaign but are vital to increase overall combat performance. We have all permanent bonuses here in a guide, but the most important ones for you to collect are listed below.
Bladesinging Wizard Changes in Patch 8 for BG3
Baldur’s Gate 3 Patch 8 brings 12 new subclasses including the Bladesinging Wizard. This subclass is focused on melee damage, and also introduces new spell Shadow Blade, and Cantrip Booming Blade. This update single-handedly gives the Wizard a viable melee burst damage that can rival Barbarian’s Paladin’s and Fighter’s.
Build Summary – Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Wizard Bladesinging
FAQs about the Bladesinging Wizard build in Baldur’s Gate 3
What abilities should the Bladesinging Wizard prioritize for my class?
The most important ability scores are Intelligence and Dexterity for the Bladesinging Wizard. If playing in melee range with Shadow Blade, use strength via the Elixir of Hill Giant Strength to increase overall damage.
What are the best feats for Bladesinging Wizard builds?
Savage Attackers, Alert, and Ability Improvement are the best feats for the Bladesinging Wizard. Savage Attacker works with the Shadow Blade spell and dramatically increase your melee damage.
What are the best multiclass combos?
The best multiclass combos for the Bladesinging Wizard are with a Paladin and Fighter. The Paladin gives the Wizard Divine Smites, triggering extra damage on melee hits. While the Fighter grants the Wizard Action Surge, giving ane extra action once per combat.
Are there “must-have” items for Bladesinging Wizard builds?
Hellriders Longbow, Resonance Stone, and Craterflesh Gloves are must-have items for the Bladesinging Wizard build. The Hellriders Longbow gives +3 initiative, ensuring your Wizard goes first or second in combat order. The Resonance Stone doubles psychic damage, making your Shadow Blade spell twice as effective. Lastly, the Craterflesh Gloves doubles critical damage and is helpful when using the Champion subclass reducing critical rolls.
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