Baldur’s Gate 3 All Races and Subraces – How Many Are There?

Are you looking for all races and subraces in Baldur’s Gate 3? Here’s your one-stop source for everything you need to know.

Baldur’s Gate 3 has spent the last few years in early access leading up to its August 3, 2023 release. The game features a plethora of races and subraces, all of which have their own unique ability bonuses and racial features.

This provides an unprecedented level of customization during character creation. If you’re not familiar with Baldur’s Gate 3’s character creation and customization yet, keep reading for a breakdown of all the available races and subraces we know about so far – including their ability bonuses and racial features.

List of All Races Baldur’s Gate 3

Here is a list of all the races in Baldur’s Gate 3, along with their abilities:

Human

The most versatile race in the game, humans have no inherent abilities but can be proficient in any skill.

Elf

Elves are a graceful and agile race, with a bonus to Dexterity and the ability to see in the dark.

Half-Elf

Half-elves are a mix of humans and elves, with a bonus to both Charisma and Dexterity.

Dwarf

Dwarves are a hardy and strong race, with a bonus to Strength and Constitution.

Dragonborn

Dragonborn are tall and strongly built, often standing close to 6½ feet tall and weighing 300 pounds or more

Half-Orc

Half-Orc are a race with Relentless Endurance and Savage Attacks

Gnome

Gnomes are blessed with Darkvision and Gnome Cunning

Tiefling

Tieflings are a race of humans with infernal ancestry, with a bonus to Charisma and the ability to cast thaumaturgy.

Githyanki

Githyanki are a race of warriors from another plane, with a bonus to Strength and Intelligence.

Halfling

Halflings are a small and nimble race, with a bonus to Dexterity and the ability to hide in plain sight.

Drow

Drow are a race of elves from the Underdark, with a bonus to Dexterity and the ability to see in the dark.

List Of Race and Subraces in BG3

Race	Subraces
Dwarf	Gold Dwarf, Shield Dwarf, Duergar
Dragonborn	Black Dragonborn, Blue Dragonborn, Brass Dragonborn, Bronze Dragonborn, Copper Dragonborn, Gold Dragonborn, Green Dragonborn, Red Dragonborn, Silver Dragonborn, White Dragonborn
Drow	Lolth-Sworn Drow, Seldarine Drow
Elf	High Elf, Wood Elf
Half-Elf	Half Drow Elf, Half Wood Elf, Half High Elf
Half-Orc	N/A
Halfling	Lightfoot Halfling, Strongfoot Halfling
Human	N/A
Githyanki	N/A
Gnome	Deep Gnome, Forest Gnome, Rock Gnome
Tiefling	Asmodeus Tiefling, Mephistopheles Tiefling, Zariel Tiefling

Description of All the Baldur’s Gate 3 Races

Each Race and subrace comes with so many different attributes, we have broken all of these down below for you to read to help make an informed choice when you start this game.

Dwarf

Dwarves are a short, stocky race known for their resilience, strength, and love of crafting. They are typically proficient with axes, hammers, and other heavy weapons, and they have a natural resistance to poison. Dwarves also have darkvision, which allows them to see in the dark.

There are three main subraces of dwarves: gold dwarves, shield dwarves, and duergar. Gold dwarves are known for their wisdom and craftsmanship, while shield dwarves are known for their strength and resilience. Duergar are a more reclusive subrace of dwarves who live in the Underdark.

Ability bonus:

• +2 Constitution

Racial features:

• Dwarven Resilience: Advantage on saving throws against poison, and resistance against poison damage.
• Weapon Proficiencies: Battleaxe, handaxe, light hammer, and warhammer proficiency.
• Darkvision: Grants the ability to see in the dark out to a range of 12 meters.

Dwarf subraces:

• Gold Dwarf
  • +1 Wisdom
  • Dwarven Toughness: Hit Point maximum increases by one, and increases by one every new level.
• Shield Dwarf
  • +2 Strength
  • Armor Proficiencies: Light armor and medium armor proficiency.
• Duergar
  • Announced subrace with no confirmed features currently.

Dragonborn

Dragonborn are a proud and powerful race, descended from dragons. They are typically strong and charismatic, and they make excellent warriors and adventurers.

One of the most distinctive features of dragonborn is their breath weapon. Each subrace of dragonborn has a different breath weapon, which deals a specific type of damage in a cone-shaped area. This breath weapon can be a powerful tool for crowd control, and it can make dragonborn a valuable asset in any party. Of all the Baldur’s Gate 3 races, Dragonborn have the most subraces.

Ability bonus:

• +1 Charisma
• +2 Strength

Racial features:

• Breath Weapon: Exhale destructive energy, with the damage type and area of effect determined by your Dragonborn subrace.
• Draconic Ancestry: Dragonborns are descended from dragons, and they inherit some of their draconic ancestors’ powers

.Dragonborn Subraces:

• Black Dragonborn: Your breath weapon deals acid damage in a 15-foot cone.
• Blue Dragonborn: Your breath weapon deals cold damage in a 15-foot cone.
• Brass Dragonborn: Your breath weapon deals fire damage in a 15-foot cone.
• Bronze Dragonborn: Your breath weapon deals lightning damage in a 15-foot cone.
• Copper Dragonborn: Your breath weapon deals poison damage in a 15-foot cone.
• Gold Dragonborn: Your breath weapon deals fire damage in a 15-foot cone.
• Green Dragonborn: Your breath weapon deals acid damage in a 15-foot cone.
• Red Dragonborn: Your breath weapon deals fire damage in a 15-foot cone.
• Silver Dragonborn: Your breath weapon deals cold damage in a 15-foot cone.
• White Dragonborn: Your breath weapon deals cold damage in a 15-foot cone.

Drow

Drow are a dark-skinned race of elves who live in the Underdark, an underground city. They are typically proficient with finesse weapons and hand crossbows, and they have a natural advantage against being charmed and put to sleep. Drow also have darkvision, which allows them to see in the dark.

There are two main subraces of drow: Lolth-sworn drow and Seldarine drow. Lolth-sworn drow are loyal to the spider queen Lolth, while Seldarine drow have broken away from her influence. Both subraces have the same racial features.

Ability bonus:

• +1 Charisma
• +2 Dexterity

Racial features:

• Fey Ancestry: Drow have advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can’t put them to sleep.
• Weapon Proficiencies: Drow are proficient with rapiers, shortswords, and hand crossbows.
• Superior Darkvision: Drow can see in the dark out to a range of 24 meters.
• Drow subraces:
  • Lolth-Sworn Drow: 
    • Lolth-sworn drow can cast the Darkness spell once per day.
  • Seldarine Drow: 
    • Seldarine drow can cast the Darkness spell once per day.

Elf

Elves are a graceful and elegant race, known for their beauty, their keen senses, and their magical abilities. They are typically proficient with ranged weapons and with the Perception skill, and they have a natural advantage against being charmed and put to sleep. Elves also have darkvision, which allows them to see in the dark.

There are two main subraces of elves: high elves and wood elves. High elves are the more refined and intelligent of the two subraces, while wood elves are the more agile and stealthy. Both subraces have the same racial features, but they have different bonuses to their ability scores.

Ability bonus:

• +2 Dexterity

Racial features:

• Keen Senses: Elves have proficiency in the Perception skill.
• Fey Ancestry: Elves have advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can’t put them to sleep.
• Weapon Proficiencies: Elves are proficient with longswords, shortswords, longbows, and shortbows.
• Darkvision: Elves can see in the dark out to a range of 12 meters.
• Elf subraces:
  • High Elf: High Elves have a +1 Intelligence bonus, and they can select one cantrip from a list of 13 cantrips.
  • Wood Elf: Wood Elves have a +1 Wisdom bonus, their base walking speed is 10.5 meters, and they are proficient in the Stealth skill.

Half-Elf

Half-elves are a versatile race, with a mix of human and elven ancestry. They are typically proficient with most weapons and armor, and they have a natural advantage against being charmed and put to sleep. Half-elves also have darkvision, which allows them to see in the dark.

There are three main subraces of half-elves: high half-elves, wood half-elves, and drow half-elves. High half-elves are the most common subrace, and they are typically the most intelligent and charismatic. Wood half-elves are the most agile and stealthy, while drow half-elves are the most mysterious and powerful.

Ability bonus:

• +2 Charisma
• +2 extra Ability points to spend

Racial features:

• Fey Ancestry: Half-elves have advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can’t put them to sleep.
• Darkvision: Half-elves can see in the dark out to a range of 12 meters.
• Half-Elf subraces:
  • High Half-Elf: High half-elves can select one cantrip from a list of 13 cantrips.
  • Wood Half-Elf: Wood half-elves have a base walking speed of 10.5 meters, and they are proficient in the Stealth skill.
  • Drow Half-Elf: Drow half-elves can cast the Dancing Lights spell once per day

Half-Orc

Half-orcs are a strong and hardy race, with a mix of human and orc ancestry. They are typically proficient with most weapons and armor, and they have a natural ability to intimidate others. Half-orcs also have darkvision, which allows them to see in the dark.

The racial features of half-orcs make them well-suited for combat. Relentless Endurance allows them to survive even the most devastating blows, while Menacing gives them an edge in battle. Savage Attacks can turn a critical hit into a devastating blow, and darkvision allows them to fight effectively in even the darkest of places.

Ability bonus:

• +1 Constitution
• +2 Strength

Racial features:

• Relentless Endurance: When reduced to 0 hit points but not killed outright, you can drop to 1 hit point instead.
• Menacing: You are proficient in the Intimidation skill.
• Savage Attacks: When you score a critical hit with a melee weapon, roll one of the weapon’s damage dice one additional time and add the extra damage.
• Darkvision: You can see in the dark out to a range of 12 meters.

Halfling

Halflings are a small and nimble race, known for their luck and their cheerful disposition. They are typically proficient with small weapons and with the Stealth skill, and they have a natural ability to reroll 1s on attack rolls, ability checks, and saving throws. Halflings also have a subrace called Lightfoot halflings, who are more agile and stealthy, and a subrace called Strongheart halflings, who are more hardy and resistant to poison.

If you are looking for a race that is lucky, nimble, and stealthy, then halfling is a great choice.

Ability bonus:

• +2 Dexterity

Racial features:

• Lucky: When you roll a 1 for an attack roll, ability check, or saving throw, you can reroll the die. You must use the new roll.
• Halfling subraces:
  • Lightfoot Halfling: Lightfoot halflings have a +1 Charisma bonus, and they are proficient in the Stealth skill.
  • Strongheart Halfling: Strongheart halflings have a +1 Constitution bonus, and they have advantage on saving throws against poison and resistance against poison damage.

Human

Humans are the most common race in Faerûn, and they are known for their versatility and adaptability. They are typically proficient with all weapons and armor, and they have a natural ability to learn new skills and adapt to new situations. Humans also have a racial feature called Fate’s Favored, which gives them a slight edge in luck.

If you are looking for a race that is versatile, adaptable, and lucky, then human is a great choice.

Here are some additional details about humans in Baldur’s Gate 3:

• They have no subraces.
• They can choose any background.
• They can choose any class.
• They have a +1 bonus to all six ability scores.

Ability bonus:

• +1 Strength
• +1 Dexterity
• +1 Constitution
• +1 Intelligence
• +1 Wisdom
• +1 Charisma

Racial features:

• Variety: Humans are the most versatile race in Faerûn, and they can excel in any field.
• Adaptability: Humans learn quickly and easily, and they are able to adapt to new situations.
• Fate’s Favored: Humans are often favored by fate, and they tend to have good luck.

Gnome

Gnomes are a small and intelligent race, known for their ingenuity, their creativity, and their love of tinkering. They are typically proficient with tinker’s tools and with the Perception skill, and they have a natural ability to see in the dark. Gnomes also have a subrace called Deep gnomes, who are more hardy and resistant to poison, a subrace called Forest gnomes, who are more agile and stealthy, and a subrace called Rock gnomes, who are more skilled in engineering and crafting.

If you are looking for a race that is intelligent, creative, and tinker-minded, then gnome is a great choice.

Ability bonus:

• +2 Intelligence

Racial features:

• Gnome Cunning: Gnomes have advantage on Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma saving throws.
• Gnome subraces:
  • Deep Gnome: Deep gnomes have a +1 Dexterity bonus, superior darkvision, and stone camouflage.
  • Forest Gnome: Forest gnomes have a +1 Dexterity bonus, darkvision, and speak with animals.
  • Rock Gnome: Rock gnomes have a +1 Constitution bonus, darkvision, and artificer’s lore.

Githyanki

Githyanki are a race of warriors from the Astral Plane, known for their psionic abilities and their mastery of the blade. They are typically proficient with all weapons and armor, and they have a natural ability to use psionic powers. Githyanki also have a subrace called Githzerai, who are more focused on psionic abilities and less on martial prowess.

If you are looking for a race that is strong, intelligent, and psionic, then gith is a great choice.

Ability bonus:

• +1 Intelligence
• +2 Strength

Racial features:

• Weapon Proficiencies: Shortsword, longsword, and greatsword proficiency.
• Armor Proficiencies: Light armor and medium armor proficiency.
• Skill Proficiencies: Choice of a skill proficiency.
• Githyanki Psionics:
  • Mage Hand: Create an invisible spectral hand that can manipulate and interact with objects.
  • At level 3: Unlock Jump, which allows you to jump in a long arc.
  • At level 5: Unlock Misty Step, which allows you to teleport to an unoccupied space you can see.

Tiefling

Tieflings are a race of humans who have been touched by fiendish blood. They are typically strong and charismatic, and they have a natural ability to see in the dark.

If you are looking for a race that is strong, charismatic, and has a touch of the dark side of all the Baldur’s Gate 3 races, then tiefling is a great choice.

Ability bonus:

• Subrace dependent

Racial features:

• Hellish Resistance: Resistance to fire damage.
• Darkvision: Grants the ability to see in the dark out to a range of 12 meters.
• Tiefling subraces:
  • Asmodeus Tiefling:
    • +1 Intelligence
    • +2 Charisma
    • Thaumaturgy: Manifest a sign of supernatural power that grants you an advantage on Intimidation and Performance checks.
    • Hellish Rebuke: The next time you take damage, you use your reaction to surround your attacker in hellish flames that deal 2d10 fire damage.
    • Darkness: Create a cloud of magical darkness that heavily obscures and blinds creatures within.
  • Mephistopheles Tiefling:
    • +1 Intelligence
    • +2 Charisma
    • Mage Hand: Create an invisible spectral hand that can manipulate and interact with objects.
    • Burning Hands: Shoot fire from your outstretched fingers and ignite anything flammable.
    • Cania: Flame Blade: Conjure a flaming scimitar in your hand that deals 3d6 fire damage, and sheds bright light in a 3-meter radius and dim light in a 6-meter radius.
  • Zariel Tiefling:
    • +1 Strength
    • +2 Charisma
    • Thaumaturgy: Manifest a sign of supernatural power that grants you an advantage on Intimidation and Performance checks.
    • Searing Smite: Your weapon flares with heat and deals an extra 1d6 fire damage and marks the target with Searing Smite, causing them to take 1d6 fire damage every turn.
    • Legacy of Avernus: Branding Smite: Your weapon gleams with astral radiance, causing targets hit to be marked with light that prevents them from turning invisible.

How Many Races and Subraces Are There In BG3?

In Baldur’s Gate 3, players can choose from 11 different races with 27 subraces, each with their own unique abilities and features. From the resilient and strong dwarves to the cunning and charismatic drow, there is a race for every playstyle. Whether you prefer to craft weapons and armor or cast spells and manipulate the battlefield, there is a race that will suit your needs. With so all the Baldur’s Gate 3 races to choose from, players can create a character that is truly their own.

If you enjoy playing Baldur’s Gate 3 then you should check out some of our other articles such as our How to Sneak Attack, How to Get To Baldur’s Gate, How to Beat Aunt Ethel and How to Remove Parasite.