Patch 8 for Baldur's Gate 3: Release Date Set with 12 New Subclasses

Larian Studios has officially announced that the much-anticipated Patch 8 for *Baldur's Gate 3* will launch on Tuesday, April 15. After being available in stress test form for some time, this final major update is now ready to be released to all players.

Patch 8 brings a substantial amount of new content to the critically acclaimed Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. Players can look forward to 12 new subclasses, a photo mode, cross-play functionality, and Xbox Series S split-screen support. For a detailed breakdown of the changes, 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 wield the power to heal allies and manipulate enemies. Use Mantle of Inspiration to grant your allies 5 temporary hit points, and charm enemies with Mantle of Majesty to command them to flee, move, freeze, drop to the ground, or relinquish their weapon.

Barbarian - Path of Giants
Choosing the Path of Giants grants your Barbarian increased strength and size through Giant’s Rage, enhancing your Throw attacks and boosting your carry capacity. No more worrying about heavy pockets!

Cleric - Death Domain
Death Domain Clerics gain access to new necromancy spells and cantrips, including Toll The Dead, which deals 1~8 necrotic damage, scaling up if the target is already wounded. Additionally, you can now explode nearby corpses to damage foes.

Druid - Circle of Stars
Circle of Stars Druids harness celestial powers beyond traditional wildshapes with three Starry Forms—Archer, Chalice, and Dragon. Each form caters to different strategies: the Archer deals radiant damage, the Chalice heals, and the Dragon boosts constitution rolls.

Paladin - Oath of the Crown
As a Paladin sworn to the Oath of the Crown, you can guide your allies with Righteous Clarity, taunt enemies, and protect your party with Divine Allegiance, absorbing damage while restoring health.

Fighter - Arcane Archer
Arcane Archers combine magic with marksmanship, featuring new shooting animations and abilities like banishing foes to the Feywild or causing Psychic damage that may blind enemies.

Monk - Drunken Master
Drunken Master Monks can recover Ki by drinking alcohol from their inventory or around the Sword Coast. Use Intoxicating Strike to buff your Armour Class and hit chance against drunk targets, and employ Sobering Realisation to deal physical and Psychic damage.

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

Rogue - Swashbuckler
Swashbuckler Rogues can blind enemies with sand, disarm them with a weapon flick, and use Fancy Footwork to avoid opportunity attacks after melee strikes.

Sorcerer - Shadow Magic
Shadow Magic Sorcerers thrive in darkness with Superior Darkvision and Shadow Walk, allowing movement between dim light or darkness. Summon the Hound of Ill Omen and use Strength of the Grave to stay in the fight, perfect for Honour Mode runs.

Warlock - Hexblade
Hexblade Warlocks form pacts with Shadowfell entities, gaining magical weapons. Curse enemies, raise their spirits as summons to deal necrotic damage, and heal yourself by stealing their souls.

Wizard - Bladesinging
Bladesinging Wizards merge swordplay with spellcasting, featuring new animations and the Bladesong ability, which enhances speed, agility, focus, and Constitution saving throws.

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Patch 8 marks the final major update for *Baldur's Gate 3*, concluding a remarkable chapter for Larian Studios. The game, which launched to critical acclaim and massive commercial success in 2023, has continued to perform strongly through 2024 and into 2025.

In a surprising move, Larian announced their departure from *Baldur's Gate 3* and the Dungeons & Dragons franchise to focus on a new, undisclosed project, entering a media blackout to concentrate on development. Meanwhile, Hasbro, the owner of D&D, has expressed interest in continuing the *Baldur's Gate* series. Speaking at the Game Developers Conference, Dan Ayoub, SVP of digital games at Hasbro, hinted at future plans for the series, though specifics remain under wraps. Ayoub expressed a desire for a *Baldur's Gate 4* but acknowledged that its development would take time, indicating a cautious and measured approach to the franchise's future.

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 new changes and additions.