Surprising Underdark race praised as Baldur’s Gate 3’s best melee pick

The best choice for a melee class in Baldur’s Gate 3 is often considered to be one of the least popular races, but those who are daring enough to play it may find success.

Despite Baldur’s Gate 3 being a game with intense combat, one might assume that fans would prioritize power gaming and creating the strongest character builds. However, this is not the case as many players tend to choose conventionally attractive races with weaker abilities (such as humans) over more powerful but visually unconventional options like the Githyanki.

According to the player choice stats revealed by Larian Studios, the dwarf was one of the least selected races in Baldur’s Gate 3. Only the Gnome, Halfling, and Githyanki were chosen less frequently. This could possibly be attributed to the Hill Dwarf and Shield Dwarf’s practical yet unremarkable static abilities.

Despite being overlooked by many, there is one particular subrace of Dwarves that is gaining recognition as the top choice for a melee class in the game. According to users on the Baldur’s Gate 3 Reddit, the Duergar race’s spell abilities make it an ideal option for a warrior.

A party of four Baldur's Gate 3 characters running in the Underdark — Larian Studios

The Duergar usually reside in the isolated Underdark region

The original poster pointed out that increasing one’s size at level 3, without the need for concentration, is beneficial for any melee class as it provides a significant boost in damage and can be stacked with colossus elixirs. Additionally, at level 5, they gain the ability to become invisible, which is even more advantageous than the overhyped savage attacks that half orcs receive. This allows for strategic positioning in any battle, which is incredibly beneficial.

One person agreed by stating that a Duergar OH Monk is capable of soloing Honour mode, making it one of the most overpowered combinations of race and class in the game. They also mentioned the devastating abilities of the Open Hand subclass for the Monk, which can easily defeat enemies with rapid and powerful attacks.

In addition to their impressive strength, they offer an additional advantage for roleplayers. As one user pointed out, the Githyanki, drow, and duergar have the third highest amount of distinct dialogue compared to other races. This shows that someone has carefully curated the most unique content for every race, subrace, and class.

The Duergar are often overshadowed by other Underdark races, as fans tend to favor the beautiful and malevolent Drow, popularized by the Drizzt Do’Urden novels. Additionally, the Deep Gnomes’ magical resistance has been deemed overpowered, particularly within the rules of D&D.