One of D&D’s most popular classes is being ignored by Baldur’s Gate 3 players

The statistics for Baldur’s Gate 3’s first year anniversary have been released, revealing that players are favoring one of the less popular spellcaster classes over one of D&D’s most beloved ones.

The Wizard and Sorcerer are consistently ranked as the most popular classes in D&D due to their ability to perform impressive spells such as Fireball, Lightning Bolt, Teleport, Fly, Haste, and Polymorph. These arcane spellcasters have always been known for their ability to do all of the cool stuff.

In a game such as Baldur’s Gate 3, where the majority of players enjoy it as a solo experience, it would be logical for the arcane classes to be highly sought after. This is unlike in D&D, where having a diverse group of character types among multiple players is encouraged.

Interestingly, one particular class seems to be overlooked by players. According to a discussion on the Baldur’s Gate 3 subreddit, Larian’s first-year anniversary statistics show that the Wizard is not one of the top three choices for most races and ranks at #8 out of #12 in terms of popularity.

Nobody plays wizard lol byu/Reasonable_Quit_9432 inBaldursGate3

According to D&D Beyond’s 2023 statistics, the Wizard was ranked as the fourth most popular class, making it the top choice for spellcasters in the game. However, players of Baldur’s Gate 3 do not seem as drawn to this class.

In addition, the Sorcerer class experiences a complete turnaround. According to the Baldur’s Gate 3 stats, it is a highly sought-after choice for multiple races, ranking as the second most popular class in the game (following the Paladin). However, D&D Beyond ranks it as the eleventh out of thirteen classes.

One potential explanation for this discrepancy is that in Baldur’s Gate 3, a Wizard is available for players to use early on, as Gale joins the party within the first few hours of the game. Gale is a well-developed character with his own sidequest that spans the entire storyline, making him a viable option for those wanting to play as a Wizard.

The abundance of magical scrolls in Baldur’s Gate 3 also reduces the necessity for a Wizard. In Dungeons & Dragons, Wizards are highly valued for their capability to acquire and master every spell in the game. However, with the option of receiving unlimited uses of these spells through magic items, is it still necessary to have a Wizard in the group?