Baldur’s Gate 3 (BG3): Warlock Pacts ranked

In Baldur’s Gate 3, the charismatic Warlock gets to make a subclass choice right at the start. Then, at level three, the BG3 class becomes more specialized still when you select a boon pact.

Baldur’s Gate 3 – Best Warlock pacts, ranked

When you choose Warlock and make your subclass selection, you enjoy magical proficiencies few other classes possess. You can further enhance your strength in several interesting ways from there, depending on the pact boon you choose at level three. We’ve ranked the Warlock pact boons below from best to worst. Consider carefully what you want to accomplish with your Warlock, as well as the subclass you already chose.

Related: Best Warlock spells and cantrips in Baldur’s Gate 3 (BG3)

1. Pact of the Blade (Best)

The Pact of the Blade goes well with The Fiend subclass. That subclass is one of the easiest to use effectively while you learn the overall class, which makes the Pact of the Blade broadly useful.

The main advantage of Pact of the Blade is you bind a weapon to you and it becomes magical. With the Pact of the Blade, you gain access to an extra attack at level five which is the reason it’s the best pact boon. In general, extra attacks at the best things you can get in Baldur’s Gate 3.

2. Pact of the Tome (Good)

The Pact of the Tome goes well with The Archfey subclass. That’s a great subclass if you want to explore the more interesting sides of the Warlock, and the Pact of the Tome only makes it better.

By selecting the Pact of the Tome, you gain access to three useful spells. Guidance is one of the finest cantrips in the game and grants a bonus to ability checks that I find impossible to resist. Vicious Mockery makes an enemy’s next attack weaker. Finally, Thorn Whip deals piercing damage and pulls smaller enemies toward you which I love using to pull enemies off of ledges.

At level five, you get Animate Dead, Call Lightning, and Haste which can all be used once per long rest. These six spells are great to have in your back pocket which makes Pact of the Tome very useful.

3. Pact of the Chain (Okay)

The Pact of the Chain goes well with The Great Old One subclass. That’s probably the least useful of the subclasses, and the Pact of the Chain can’t quite make up for it despite offering some neat benefits.

When you choose the Pact of the Chain, you gain a familiar that does some of your dirty work for you. The familiar gains an additional attack at level five. Familiars are powerful in Baldur’s Gate 3; they serve as useful damage sponges and can be the difference between finishing off that last enemy or not. However, the two pact boons above are stronger overall.

We’ve ranked the pact boons above, but you can go for whatever pact boon you like and pair it with any subclass. The important thing is that your choices suit your style of play. Remember that you can come back from any error. And if you’ve changed your mind about how to build your character, check our guide on how to respec your characters with a little help from Withers.