Best Hexblade Warlock Build in Baldur's Gate 3

One of the new classes added in Patch 8 of Baldur’s Gate 3 is the Hexblade, a fan‑favorite Warlock subclass that, until now, was only available through mods. Thanks to this update, players can finally access it in the official game and create characters with what is easily one of the most intriguing classes in Dungeons & Dragons.

On the Tabletop RPG, the Hexblade gives players more freedom in melee combat, blending spells with weapon strikes while using Charisma for attack and damage rolls. The subclass also gains abilities that restore HP whenever it fells an enemy, providing solid sustain, so for anyone who wants to play a Hexblade Warlock in Baldur’s Gate 3, this is one of the best builds available.

10 Best RPGs To Escape Reality, Ranked

Need a break from everyday life? These RPGs offer rich stories, emotional journeys, and the freedom to disappear for hours.

Posts 1

By Eduardo Ariedo

Overview Of The Hexblade Warlock In Baldur’s Gate 3

A Barbarian holding an axe while covered in blood in Baldur's Gate 3

For purist players who want to stick with the Hexblade subclass only, it works well on its own because it offers strong sustain and lets those who enjoy a hybrid playstyle jump into the fight while still casting the occasional spell. For maximum effect, however, you need the Pact of the Blade, since it grants the extra attacks that make the concept shine. So, These are the benefits a Hexblade Warlock gains at level 1 in Baldur's Gate 3:

Hex Warrior: Grants proficiency with Medium Armor, Shields, and Martial Weapons. Additionally, players gain Bind Hexed Weapon, which allows the use of Charisma instead of Strength or Dexterity for attack rolls with proficient weapons.
Bind Hexed Weapon: This feature allows players to make their weapon's damage magical and become proficient with it, enabling any weapon to be used effectively by a Hexblade Warlock.
Hexblade's Curse: Players can place a curse on an opponent, adding bonus damage equal to their proficiency modifier. It also increases critical hit range by one and restores hit points equal to the Warlock level plus Charisma modifier when the cursed target dies.

Baldur's Gate 3: 10 Companions With The Best Stories, Ranked

Discover which companions have the best narrative arcs in Baldur's Gate 3, based by depth, character growth, and impact on the RPG's story.

Posts

By Eduardo Ariedo

At the same time, the Hexblade in Baldur’s Gate 3 unlocks the widest multiclass potential in the entire game, making it a versatile choice that fits many builds players may try in normal difficulty or even Honor Mode. If you want to explore everything this Patch 8 subclass can do, consider the following top options:

Rogue (Swashbuckler): Deals steady damage, offers high mobility, and plays around the character’s Charisma.
Bard (College of Swords): Both classes rely on Charisma and give you many spells to use in combat.
Paladin (Oath of Vengeance): Six levels of Paladin and six of Hexblade form an excellent build for big Divine Smite bursts.

Any class that relies on Charisma works very well with the Hexblade Warlock in Baldur's Gate 3.

If you prefer to stay Hexblade Warlock and level straight through, the list below shows the best abilities and s pells to pick as you climb the twelve character levels in Baldur’s Gate 3. Following these recommendations keeps your damage high and your resources efficient without forcing you into complicated multiclass math during the entire campaign.

Best Ability Scores For A Hexblade In Baldur’s Gate 3

	STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
Base	8	15	14	8	12	14
Bonus		+1				+2

Level Progression For Hexblade Warlock

Level	Choices
1	Cantrips: Booming Blade, Eldritch Blast Spells: Wrathful Smite, Shield Race: Human
2	Spells: Hex, Armour of Agathys Invocations: Repelling Blast, Agonizing Blast
3	Pact: Pact of the Blade Spell: Branding Smite
4	Cantrip: True Strike Spell: Darkness Ability Score Increase: +2 Charisma
5	Spell: Counterspell Invocation: Devil's Sight
6	Spell: Misty Step
7	Spell: Phantasmal Killer Invocation: Book of Ancient Secrets
8	Spell: Greater Invisibility Ability Score Increase: +2 Charisma
9	Invocation: Minions of Chaos Spell: Staggering Smite
10	Cantrip: Blade Ward or Toll The Dead Spell: Banishing Smite
11	Mystic Arcanum (6th‑level): Create Undead Spell: Hold Monster
12	Invocation: Lifedrinker Spell: Blight Feat: Alert or +2 Dexterity

During the Patch 8 stress test, Hexblades used to gain an extra attack at fifth level, similar to other martial classes. A later hotfix removed that feature, so the Pact of the Blade shifted from a nice perk to an essential choice because it still grants an extra swing. Without it, your turn economy will be behind almost every frontline foe.

Skipping the Pact of the Blade robs the Hexblade Warlock of both damage and flexibility, because one attack per turn at higher levels is a big handicap against melee‑focused enemies. You can pick another pact if you like, but remember that the Patch 8 subclass will give up part of its edge in real combat scenarios.

With Patch 8, Larian also added new smite‑style spells that spike your damage when a weapon hit lands and stack extra conditions on the target. Ideally, you should grab each of them as soon as they appear, but you can swap in other options if your party composition makes a different choice more useful.

Combining Darkness with Devil’s Sight lets you lock down groups and approach safely for melee hits. Beyond that, look for spells that add protection and sustain, because a Hexblade left exposed in the middle of a fight can be punished fast. Defensive spells such as Armor of Agathys or Blur keep the Hexblade alive.

10 Best Licensed Games Based on Tabletop RPGs, Ranked

These are the best RPGs inspired by iconic tabletop systems, offering immersive combat and storytelling for players.

Posts

By Eduardo Ariedo

Best Companions For Hexblade Warlocks In Baldur’s Gate 3

Because you can respec every companion, any ally can travel with a Hexblade Warlock in Baldur’s Gate 3. If you want to stay close to their default concepts, though, Gale, Astarion, and Shadowheart are the stand‑out picks and fill the following roles: This trio balances healing, area control, and single‑target burst, covering the party’s major tactical needs.

Shadowheart: Switch her to Life Domain for stronger healing and buffs, giving the group steady sustain.
Gale: While the Hexblade excels at single‑target melee, Gale brings wide‑area spells and can shut down enemy casters.
Astarion: Like the Warlock, he deals heavy damage to one foe and moves freely; replace him with Karlach or Lae’Zel if you prefer a tank.

Best Gear For A Hexblade Build In Baldur’s Gate 3

Throughout the adventure you will find dozens of items across all three acts, and some early pieces stay useful even in the late game. The selections below rank as the best options you can grab while exploring the map for Hexblade Warlock:

Early‑Mid Game Gear

Part	Item	Effect
Main Hand	Phalar Aluve	Buffs allies' attacks with Sing.
Off‑Hand	Shield of Devotion	+2 AC and can cast Shield of Faith
Head	Haste Helm	+3 Movement Speed at the start of combat; helps with positioning.
Cloak	Cloak of Cunning Brume	When the character disengages, the cloak creates a foogy cloud that lingers for one turn.
Chest	Adamantine Scale Mail	Nullifies critical hits and reduces damage by 1.
Gloves	Gloves of the Growling Underdog	Advantage on melee attacks when outnumbered.
Boots	Disintegrating Night Walkers	Grants Misty Step; immune to Entangled and Difficult Terrain.
Necklace	Broodmother's Revenge	Adds poison damage when healed.
Ring 1	Strange Conduit Ring	+1d4 Psychic damage while concentrating on a spell.
Ring 2	Caustic Band	Adds poison damage to melee and spell attacks.

In the early game, prioritize gear that boosts movement and raises your chance to hit. The items listed for Acts 1 and 2 are ideal for a Hexblade Warlock, yet you always have wiggle room, so, if a equipment feels better for the next fight, swap it in without hesitation. Keeping your loadout flexible prevents painful bottlenecks in some fights.

Baldur's Gate 3: 10 Hardest Fights In The Game, Ranked

These battles in Baldur's Gate 3 prove that the toughest encounters in the game aren't always boss fights.

Posts 15

By Eduardo Ariedo

Endgame Gear

Part	Item	Effect
Main Hand	Phalar Aluve	Buffs allies' attacks with Shriek.
Off‑Hand	Viconia's Walking Fortress	+3 Armor Class and excellent defensive shield.
Head	Birthright	+2 to Charisma.
Cloak	Cloak of Protection	+1 to Armor Class and +1 to Saving Throws.
Chest	Armour of Agility	+2 to Saving Throws and full Dexterity modifier added to AC.
Gloves	Legacy of the Masters	+2 to Attack Rolls and Damage Rolls.
Boots	Helldusk Boots	Ignores Difficult Terrain; grants Hellcrawler bonus action.
Necklace	Amulet of Greater Health	Sets Constitution to 23.
Ring 1	Ring of Protection	+1 to Armor Class and Saving Throws.
Ring 2	Crusher's Ring	+3 m to Movement Speed.

These are the best items in Baldur’s Gate 3 to round out a Hexblade Warlock build in Patch 8, offering synergistic bonuses that smooth every combat encounter. Also remember to keep the Resonance Stone on your Warlock, as it further complements the build. Together, the set lets you strike first, hit hard, and stay standing until the last foe falls.

Rating block community and brand ratings Image

Display card tags widget

RPG

Display card system widget

Systems

Display card community and brand rating widget Display card open critics widget

OpenCritic Reviews: Top Critic Avg: 96 /100 Critics Rec: 97%

Display card main info widget

Released: August 3, 2023
ESRB: M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence
Developer(s): Larian Studios
Publisher(s): Larian Studios
Engine: Divinity 4.0
Multiplayer: Online Co-Op, Local Co-Op
Cross-Platform Play: Full cross-platform play.