Baldur's Gate 3 Patch 8: 12 New Subclasses Release Date Revealed

Larian Studios has officially announced the much-anticipated Patch 8 update for *Baldur’s Gate 3*, set to launch on Tuesday, April 15. This update, which has been in stress test form for some time, is now ready for all players to experience next week.

Patch 8 brings a wealth of new content to the critically acclaimed Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. Among the highlights are 12 new subclasses, each adding depth and variety to the game's already rich character customization options. In addition to these subclasses, players can look forward to a new photo mode, cross-play functionality, and split-screen support for Xbox Series S. For a comprehensive look at what's new, be sure to check out the Baldur's Gate 3 Patch 8 patch notes.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Patch 8 New Subclasses:

Bard - College of Glamour
As a College of Glamour Bard, you’ll harness the power to heal allies and command foes. With Mantle of Inspiration, you can grant your allies 5 temporary hit points, and if an enemy attacks while this is active, they'll be Charmed. Utilize Mantle of Majesty to manipulate these Charmed enemies, making them flee, move closer, freeze, drop to the ground, or relinquish their weapon.

Barbarian - Path of Giants
Choose the Path of Giants, and your Barbarian will gain immense strength, enabling you to throw both friends and foes with ease. The Giant’s Rage passive not only boosts your strength and size but also enhances your Throw attacks' damage. Plus, enjoy an increased carry capacity, making those heavy pockets a thing of the past.

Cleric - Death Domain
As a Death Domain Cleric, delve into darker powers with spells focused on necrotic damage and three new necromancy cantrips. Toll The Dead delivers 1~8 damage, scaling with the target's prior damage. Additionally, you can now explode nearby corpses, dealing damage to enemies.

Druid - Circle of Stars
Circle of Stars Druids draw power from the cosmos, adopting one of three Starry Forms: the Archer, Chalice, and Dragon. Each form caters to a different strategy—dealing radiant damage, restoring hit points, or enhancing constitution rolls, respectively, adding both aesthetic flair and strategic depth.

Paladin - Oath of the Crown
Sworn to uphold the law, the Oath of the Crown Paladin gains abilities to support allies and disrupt foes. Use Righteous Clarity to guide companions in battle, taunt enemies, and employ Divine Allegiance to absorb damage and heal your party.

Fighter - Arcane Archer
The Arcane Archer combines magic with marksmanship, offering unique skills and new shooting animations. You can banish foes to the Feywild or unleash Psychic damage, potentially blinding them.

Monk - Drunken Master
As a Drunken Master, you can consume alcohol from your inventory or around the Sword Coast to recover Ki. Use Intoxicating Strike to share the bottle with enemies, boosting your Armour Class and hit chance against drunk targets. Drunk foes are also vulnerable to Sobering Realisation, dealing both physical and Psychic damage.

Ranger - Swarmkeeper
Swarmkeeper Rangers command three types of swarms: Cloud of Jellyfish for lightning damage, Flurry of Moths for Psychic damage and potential blindness, and Legion of Bees for piercing damage and knockback. Each swarm also offers teleportation capabilities.

Rogue - Swashbuckler
Embrace the Swashbuckler lifestyle with actions like tossing sand to Blind enemies, disarming them with a flick of your weapon, and using Fancy Footwork to avoid opportunity attacks during melee.

Sorcerer - Shadow Magic
Shadow Magic Sorcerers thrive in darkness, gaining Superior Darkvision and the ability to Shadow Walk. Summon the Hound of Ill Omen to harass foes and use Strength of the Grave to stay upright, perfect for Honour Mode runs.

Warlock - Hexblade
Hexblade Warlocks forge pacts with Shadowfell entities, manifesting magical weapons. Curse enemies and raise their spirits as summons that deal necrotic damage and heal you by ripping away their souls.

Wizard - Bladesinging
Bladesinging Wizards blend swordplay and spellcasting, featuring new spellcasting animations and the Bladesong ability for enhanced speed, agility, and focus, plus a boost to Constitution saving throws.

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Patch 8 marks the final major update for *Baldur’s Gate 3*, concluding a successful run for Larian Studios. The game, which launched to critical acclaim and commercial success in 2023, has continued to perform well into 2025. Surprisingly, Larian has announced its departure from the *Baldur’s Gate* series and Dungeons & Dragons to focus on a new, mysterious project, leaving fans curious about what's next.

Meanwhile, D&D owner Hasbro has hinted at future plans for the series. Speaking to IGN at the Game Developers Conference, SVP of digital games at Hasbro, Dan Ayoub, expressed interest in continuing the *Baldur's Gate* franchise. While no specific details were provided, Ayoub teased upcoming announcements and expressed a long-term goal of developing a *Baldur's Gate 4*, though he emphasized a measured approach to future development.

To celebrate the release of Patch 8, Larian will host a Twitch livestream featuring senior systems designer, Ross Stephens, who will guide viewers through the update's new features and changes.