5. Kensai / Thief
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxIwKxi5l78
This is a great combination for dealing massive amounts of physical damage, while also benefiting from Stealth and Backstab. Plus, you get access to all of the thieving skills, which means that you don’t need to recruit a Rogue into your party.
What a Kensai / Thief Excels In:
- Kai backstabs.
- Sustained tanking.
- Maximum weapon damage rolls.
- Trapper skills.
- Can cast spells from scrolls.
Build Details:
- Character must be Human.
- Character cannot be of Chaotic Good or Lawful Good alignment.
- You need a minimum of 15 Strength and 17 Dexterity.
- Dual class at Kensai level 13 for maximum benefits.
- For weapons, use Katanas or Quarterstaffs.
- Cast arcane spells from scrolls.
4. Berserker / Druid
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Z-8NAIHjFE
Thanks to Armor of Faith, Regeneration and Iron Skins, this is a strong tank who deals considerable physical damage and ultimately gets full access to Druid spells. This build is fun and easy to play.
What a Berserker / Druid Excels In:
- Can use the Enrage class ability, which grants a status close to invincibility.
- THAC0 +14 by level 13.
- Access to high-level Druid spells, including game-changers like Armor of Faith, Iron Skins, Regeneration, Insect Plague, Creeping Doom and Globe of Blades.
Build Details:
- Character must be Human.
- Character must be of True Neutral alignment.
- Must have at least 15 Strength, 17 Wisdom and 17 Charisma.
- Dual class at Berserker level 13 for maximum benefits.
- For weapons, use Clubs, Scimitars or Spears.
3. Kensai / Mage
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hrt8Gm4PHs
Although it takes a while for this build to pay off, it is totally worth it. This is a classic power gaming combination, with lots of melee damage, magic protection and Time Stop. The DPS of this build is practically unbeatable.
What a Kensai / Mage Excels In:
- Massive damage per second, especially with Improved Haste.
- Protective spells like Mirror Image and Stoneskin make the character nearly invincible.
- Dual-wielding katanas grants impressive speed. If one of them is Celestial Fury +3, then you have an on-hit stun as well.
Build Details:
- Character must be Human.
- You need a minimum of 17 Intelligence to dual class to Mage.
- Dual class at Kensai level 9 or 13 for maximum benefits.
- For weapons, use Katanas or Scimitars.
- Aside from your Mage Book, make sure that you use a lot of scrolls. Scroll casting is uninterruptible.
2. Gnome Fighter / Illusionist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBt60VK02nc
This is the best dual class build in Baldur’s Gate, period. This build benefits from the martial arts prowess of the Fighter, while at the same time being able to cast spells as a full-fledged Mage.
What a Gnome Fighter / Illusionist Excels In:
- Can fight melee AND cast spells at the same time.
- Can use some of the best weapons in the game, including the Flail of Ages, Celestial Fury, Belm and the Staff of the Magi.
- Bonus to saves vs. Wands and Spells (up to +5, at 18 Constitution).
- Awesome abilities, including Greater Whirlwind, Critical Strike, Hardiness and Smite.
Build Details:
- Race must be Gnome, for the bonuses in saves and the extra spell slot.
- Preferably 19 Intelligence.
- Key spells: Web, Mirror Image, Blindness, Melf's Minute Meteors, Stoneskin and Chromatic Orb
- For weapons, use Flails, Katanas, Scimitars or Staffs.
1. Sorcerer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=co8NtJBEgLg&list=PLx6m05sXB1WGEqJoM9koZeF2dKWa0mUKh
The Sorcerer is the best single class build and also the best build for a solo walkthrough. The main advantage of this class is that it gets spells automatically, with no need to scribe them, plus a Sorcerer can cast more spells per day than any other Wizard.
What a Sorcerer Excels In:
- The Sorcerer is a spell casting machine.
- Spell casting does not really depend on stats.
- If you pick the right spells at level up, the Sorcerer build makes for some of the easiest playthroughs.
Build Details:
- Can be Human or Elf.
- Recommended stats: 14 Strength, 18 Dexterity, 16 Constitution, 9 Intelligence, 18 Wisdom, 18 Charisma.
- Key spells: Blindness, Mirror Image, Web, Skull Trap, Melf's Minute Meteors, Stoneskin, Minor Sequencer, Animate Dead, Breach, Spell Immunity, Sunfire, True Sight, Protection from Magical Weapons, Project Image, Abi-Dalzim’s Horrid Wilting, Chain Contingency, Time Stop, Wish, Improved Alacrity and Summon Planetar.
