19 January 2026

This is Your Sign to Start a New Baldur’s Gate 3 Character in 2026

By newsgame

I’ve committed to at least a yearly playthrough of Baldur’s Gate 3. When I first finished the game at about 90-ish hours, I immediately knew that its replay potential was endless. With questlines unfinished and areas unexplored, Baldur’s Gate 3 beckoned me back. I’ve played the game to completion 3 times now. I also have a handful of playthroughs I’ve abandoned. But my cardinal sin since committing to replays is the fact that the only games I’ve brought to completion have been the ones with the same exact Tav. I know, I know.

Playing with the same Tav every game may seem counterintuitive to replays. After all, wouldn’t I want to explore other avenues? I have, in a sense. That Tav has made different decisions every time and prioritized other routes. And where that Tav has kept me ignorant in the over 350-ish hours I’ve spent with her (I’ve played for a total of 460+), hours of Let’s Play videos and spoilers have helped me out. Don’t blame my Tav—I’m simply a creature of habit. Familiarity makes me feel warm and fuzzy and safe.

However, 2026 feels different. Not in the stereotypical “I’m going to do Pilates” type of way, but in a “I’m going to go outside of my comfort zone” sense. I’m going to take that gut feeling as a sign to finally move on and make a new Tav. Here are my reasons why you should start a new Baldur’s Gate 3 character in 2026. Because if they can get a person like me to say goodbye to traditional gameplay patterns, they will certainly help you, too.

After 392 Hours in Baldur’s Gate 3, I Still Regret Recruiting This Party Member

While I initially liked this character and their story, I ultimately regretted adding them to my party in Baldur’s Gate 3, and here’s why.

Patch 8 Made Baldur’s Gate 3 Feel Complete

April 2025 marked a new chapter for Larian Studios’ magnum opus. Baldur’s Gate 3’s Patch 8 was released as the game’s final big update. With the new Patch came quality-of-life improvements that took the 2023 Game of the Year to new, smoother heights, including sought-after features like cross-play and Photo Mode. Most notably, however, it also came with a whole bunch of resources for people like you and me to make a new Tav and Durge to venture forth with.

New Subclasses Added in Patch 8 Breathe New Life into Combat

If you’ve ever felt constricted by Baldur’s Gate 3’s classes and subclasses, Patch 8 will swoop in to save the day. Patch 8 added 12 new subclasses, one for each class. With this addition comes entirely new ways to embody D&D 5e chaos in style. Whether it be for combat efficiency or narrative purposes, these new subclasses are too good to pass up. Here are some of my standout subclasses you should keep an eye on:

Bladesinger Wizard: If you’ve ever played a defenseless Wizard, you know how hard it is when they’re forced into melee. Well, it’s time to put the staff down and pick up a real sword. The Bladesinger subclass grants Wizards combat flexibility by having them hone weapons in the same way they’d hone magic.
Circle of Stars Druid: At its worst, this subclass is pretty to look at with its immaculate aesthetics. At its best, this subclass excels for those who want to embrace a cosmic connection rather than an animalistic approach.
Way of the Drunken Master Monk: The Way of the Drunken Master Monk finally makes alcohol a relevant consumable in BG3. This subclass can remove the negative effects of drunkenness, give you a performance proficiency, and even help you negate Disadvantage with Ki points at higher levels. It’s not the easiest subclass, but it’s certainly the funniest.

Baldur’s Gate 3’s Mod Scene is in Its Golden Age

Just because Patch 8 was the end of a chapter for Baldur’s Gate doesn’t mean that it was the end of the road for fans. On the contrary, the Baldur’s Gate 3 fandom is alive and well. This means that its mod scene is thriving. Console players get to try out a plethora of mods thanks to the in-game mod manager added in BG3 Patch 7. Meanwhile, PC players are spoiled for options as their craziest modding dreams can become a reality.

Cosmetic Mods: From hairstyles to new races, cosmetic mods can help your new Tav or Durge be entirely unique to your game. Create a hunk who commits to serial romancing. Create an absolutely cursed creature that’s a little hard to look at. Truly, it’s up to you.
Ultimate Cut Content Restoration mod: Baldur’s Gate 3 has tons of content that did not make the final cut. However, the Ultimate Cut Content Restoration mod brings them to the light. This mod brings back over 90 items, including clothes, armor, and weapons for your character and companions. This mod also brings back cut consumables, abilities, and feats.

BG3 Best Subclass Bard Rogue Illusion Wizard

One Baldur’s Gate 3 Subclass is Best Off as a Different Class Entirely

One Baldur’s Gate 3 subclass struggles to stand out, with another class doing its job even better, making a switch the smarter choice for players.

Your New Baldur’s Gate 3 Character May Not Even Be a Tav or Durge

Baldur’s Gate 3’s characters shine. Their writing is tight, solid, and every companion’s dilemmas are compelling enough to make them the stars of their own show. Therefore, your “new character” might actually be an old friend.

Playing as an origin character in Baldur’s Gate 3 is an absolute boon. You’ll get access to new dialogue options, new cutscenes, and a special introspection that would have been otherwise inaccessible. There’s also no way to go wrong here: play as your least favorite campmate to get them to talk less, or play as your old camp flame to see them kiss someone else. It’s literally fanfiction, but in motion.

The Best BG3 Tav or Durge Is the One You Haven’t Played Yet

This is more of a note to self. But genuinely, if there is a Tav or Durge you haven’t played as, then you’re likely missing out on something. Every character you create in Baldur’s Gate 3 should approach the world in their own unique ways: their biases, their experiences, and their character morality alignments should influence how you interact with the vast world Larian presented to players. And before simply hitting “randomize” in the character creator, there can be method to your madness:

Try a non-optimal character. So what if your Bard has low Charisma? As long as you’re not trying your hand at BG3‘s Honour Mode, it’ll likely be fine.
Think of a backstory. I think we’ve all tried to wing a Baldur’s Gate 3 build, and that’s fine for the most part. But the reason why I remain “stuck” to my tired Tav is that I approached her creation D&D-style. I wrote out her backstory. I knew what made her tick. I knew her fears, her impulses, and her dreams. Playing with a backstory before loading up the character creator will make your Tav or Durge feel intentional rather than just a vessel.
Consider your companions. Your companions will take up some of your hours in Baldur’s Gate 3, so keeping them at the very forefront of your mind isn’t a bad idea. If you know you’re not recruiting Minthara this playthrough, make a Paladin. If you want an enemies-to-lovers romance, try creating a goody-two-shoes for Astarion to inherently gag at. Balancing your companions is an excellent way to get the most out of their stories.

Baldur’s Gate 3 brings joy to builds that exist for narrative reasons, not spreadsheets. And the character you create can only enhance that experience if you think about them with intention. So, go ahead. 2026 is the year of new characters in Baldur’s Gate 3 for you and me, and Faerun’s our oyster.