With so many potions, elixirs, magic items, and multiclass combinations, there's no shortage of character builds in Baldur's Gate 3. A critical hit build capitalizes on the already increased damage of crits to demolish enemies in just a few hits.
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PostsWhile there are a few classes which work particularly well for a critical hit build, you'll be primarily reliant on specific items to reduce the number you need to roll a crit. These items come into the game late, so it takes a while for this build to become the best it can be. It's well worth the wait, though, with the amount of damage you'll be dealing out by the end.
Recommended Race And Starting Class For A Critical Hit Build
Half-Orc have a number of useful features which make them an excellent race for this build, listed below. However, any race will work just fine.
Darkvision
See in the dark up to 12m
Relentless Endurance
When you reach 0 hit points, regain 1 hit point instead of becoming downed
Savage Attacks
When you land a critical hit with a melee weapon, deal an extra die of damage
For your starting class, select paladin. This will not only get you started on your class you'll have the most levels in, but will grant useful weapon and armor proficiencies and ability scores right out of the gate.
How To Level A Critical Hit Build
This critical hit build will rely on a specific combination of many classes to gain as many attacks as possible per turn, alongside a few handy features to make crits more likely.
Player Level
Class Levels
Notable Features Unlocked
Notes
1
Paladin 1
Subclass: Oath of Vengeance
Select your paladin subclass. Your subclass will have a major impact on roleplay and story choices, so choose carefully. However, we recommend the Oath of Vengeance subclass, especially since it offers Hold Person at level five, which gives automatic critical hits against affected enemies.
2
Paladin 1 / Warlock 1
Subclass: Great Old One
Mortal Reminder
Eldritch Blast
Select the Great Old One warlock subclass. You get the passive Mortal Reminder, which means that when you land a critical hit, that creature and nearby creatures will need to roll a saving throw or become Frightened.
You'll also get Eldritch Blast, which is an excellent source of ranged damage. It also scales based on player level, not warlock level, so it has great utility throughout the build, not just in early levels.
3
Paladin 2 / Warlock 1
Fighting Style
Divine Smite
Level 1 Spells
For your Fighting Style, select Defense. This build recommends dual-wielding, so the other options won't mesh with your endgame weapons.
Divine Smite is one of your greatest assets. You can expend a spell slot to deal +2d8 radiant damage, or +3d8 to fiends and undead at the cost of a level one spell slot. You can also configure this to appear as a reaction to a critical hit, adding this damage to any successful crit.
Top recommended level one spell: Bless
4
Paladin 3 / Warlock 1
Vow of Enmity
Advantage on attack rolls against the selected enemy.
5
Paladin 4 / Warlock 1
Feat
Take Savage Attacker. This causes melee weapon damage dice to be rolled twice, and takes the highest result. This gives you a higher chance of rolling crits.
6
Paladin 5 / Warlock 1
Extra Attack
Level 2 Spells
An extra attack is an extra chance to roll a critical hit, and more damage no matter what.
Hold Person and Misty Step are now always available for you. Despite requiring concentration, Magic Weapon is our top pick because of it's +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls.
7
Paladin 5 / Warlock 1 / Rogue 1
Sneak Attacks
Next, you're going to start taking levels in rogue. This will give you the ability to make sneak attacks, but keep in mind you can only do this with finesse weapons.
8
Paladin 5 / Warlock 1 / Rogue 2
Cunning Actions
Bonus actions to dash and disengage greatly increase mobility in battle. Hiding gives you Advantage, which both allows you to make sneak attacks, and increases your chance of rolling a crit.
9
Paladin 5 / Warlock 1 / Rogue 3
Subclass: Thief
Select the Thief subclass. An extra bonus action means an extra off-hand attack each turn, meaning you can make up to four attacks per turn.
10
Paladin 5 / Warlock 1 / Rogue 3 / Fighter 1
Fighting Style
Your final class will be fighter. Select Two-Weapon Fighting for your fighting style, since you're dual-wielding, and this increases off-hand damage.
11
Paladin 5 / Warlock 1 / Rogue 3 / Fighter 2
Action Surge
Action Surge is another way to grant yourself extra attacks, once per short rest. The more attack rolls you make, the more chances to roll a crit. If you use Action Surge, your turn could have four main hand attacks and two off-hand attacks.
12
Paladin 5 / Warlock 1 / Rogue 3 / Fighter 3
Subclass: Champion
Finally, to round out the build, take the Champion subclass. Alongside the endgame gear you'll be collecting, this reduces the number you need to roll a critical hit by one.
Because this build only gets one feat, you may want to utilize the hag hair and Mirror of Loss to boost your ability scores.
This race and class combination will already increase the number of critical hits you'll make and the damage they'll deal. To truly make the most of this build, though, you'll need a carefully curated set of gear from your helmet to your boots.
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PostsBest Equipment For A Critical Hit Build
Most of the equipment you'll want for this build appears in Act Three, though some of it is available as early as Act One. Any armor slots not mentioned below are open to be filled with any equipment you like.
Armor Name
Armor Type
How To Obtain
Features
Dark Justiciar Helmet
Medium armor helmet
Act 2
Gauntlet of Shar
Magical Durability: +1 bonus to saving throws against spells
Covert Critical: While obscured (either lightly or heavily) the number you need to roll a critical hit is reduced by 1
+1 to constitution saving throws
Sarevok's Horned Helmet
Medium armor helmet
Act 3
Loot from Sarevok
Deathbringer's Sight: You gain Darkvision, and the number you need to roll a critical hit is reduced by 1
Dauntless: You can't be Frightened, or afflicted with other emotion-altering conditions
+1 to constitution saving throws
Shade-Slayer Cloak
Cloak
Act 3
Guild Hall
Stealthy Critical: While hiding, the number you need to roll a critical hit is reduced by 1
Killer's Sweetheart
Ring
Act 2
Gauntlet of Shar
Executioner: Once per long rest, when you kill a creature, you can decide to make your next attack roll a critical hit.
Surgeon's Subjugation Amulet
Amulet
Act 2
House of Healing
Paralysing Critical: Once per long rest, when scoring a critical hit on a humanoid, you can use a reaction to paralyze a target for 2 turns
You should wear the Dark Justiciar Helmet only until you can replace it with Sarevok's Horned Helmet, since the Dark Justiciar Helmet only reduces your critical hit roll while obscured.
While two-handed weapons are an option for a melee crit build, go with dual-wielding. This allows you to have two weapons which decrease your critical hit roll. It also allows you to make sneak attacks, since your weapons will be finesse.
Weapon Name
Weapon Type
How To Obtain
Features
Knife of the Undermountain King
Shortsword
(One-handed)
Act 1
Creche Y'llek
Organ Rearranger: The number you need to roll a critical hit is reduced by 1. When you roll 2 damage or less, reroll the dice and take the highest result
Shadow Blade: You have Advantage on attack rolls against lightly or heavily obscured targets when using this blade
Bloodthirst
Dagger
(One-handed)
Act 3
Temple of Bhaal
+1 AC
Improved Critical: The number you need to roll a critical hit is reduced by 1
Main hand only: Creatures hit with this weapon receive vulnerability to piercing damage
Off-hand only: When a creature misses you with a melee attack, you can retaliate and gain True Strike
Gain the True Strike cantrip
The Dead Shot
Longbow
Act 3
Sold by Fytz the Firecracker
Improved Critical: The number you need to roll a critical hit is reduced by 1
Keen Attack: The wielder doubles their proficiency bonus when rolling for ranged attacks with this weapon, unless they have disadvantage
How To Play A Critical Hit Build
While this build is relatively straightforward once it's been completed, there are a few things you can do to make sure you're landing the most critical hits you can.
Early Game
Since this build doesn't become truly viable until Act Three, it's important to have a plan for the first two acts of the game. Luckily, most of your levels early on will be in paladin. Paladins are a very powerful class, and Divine Smite is particularly strong in Act Two.
Your single level in warlock will also pull a surprising amount of weight, since Eldritch Blast scales on player level, instead of warlock level. At player levels five and ten, you earn an additional beam.
Another option for this build, instead of creating it as you go, is to respec once you reach Act Three, courtesy of Withers.
There's also a number of consumables that can help you out, early on and later in the game:
Elixir of Viciousness
Reduces the number you need to roll a critical hit. Lasts until a long rest.
Elixir of Bloodlust
Once per turn when you kill an enemy, gain 5 temporary hit points and an additional action. Lasts until a long rest.
Potion of Speed
Gain the effects of Haste for 3 turns, which grants you, among other things, and additional action.
Late Game
By the time you've gathered all of your gear and maxed your level, the range you need to roll a critical hit will be 14-20 without an Elixir of Viciousness, and 13-20 if you've consumed one.
With this significantly reduced number to roll a crit, alongside your abilities which cause attack rolls to be re-rolled, you have a very significant chance of making critical hits.
Anything you can do to get Advantage on attack rolls will boost your crit chance as well, alongside opening up a possibility for sneak attacks, which further increases damage.
You'll also end up with one warlock spell slot, four level one spell slots, two level two spell slots, and one channel divinity charge. This is plenty of spell slots you'll be able to expend on divine smite and other spells.
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