Best Karlach build in Baldur’s Gate 3

Sure, Lae’zel is a powerful fighter, but Karlach can dominate most fights even on her own. I’ll outline the best Karlach build in Baldur’s Gate 3.

If you’re about to dive into a tough boss battle, you must bring Karlach. But there are three unique Barbarian subclasses to choose from, and there’s always multiclassing. Here’s the best Karlach build in Baldur’s Gate 3.

Baldur’s Gate 3 (BG3): Best Barbarian/Fighter multiclass Karlach build

Honestly, I think the Berserker Barbarian is great on its own. But the best Karlach build is another step up if you multiclass her as a Berserker Barbarian and Battle Master Fighter. Both classes rely on Strength and they both have unique abilities that make Karlach stronger and more versatile. Here’s how you can craft the best Karlach multiclass build in Baldur’s Gate 3.

Best Karlach Ability Scores in BG3

Since Karlach’s classes both require high Strength, prioritize that Ability when respeccing her Ability Scores. After Strength comes Constitution, since you want her to be as tanky as possible. Dexterity is pretty important, too, since this helps raise her AC. You can ignore Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma since this Karlach build is focused on dealing and taking high damage.

Best Karlach Berserker Barbarian/Battle Master Fighter multiclass leveling guide in BG3

The best melee Karlach build in Baldur’s Gate 3 requires you to put eight levels into Barbarian and four levels into Fighter. Making a tanky melee character works best with Karlach’s aesthetic and play style. Here’s the best leveling guide for Karlach in BG3:

• Level 1: Barbarian 1
  • Unarmored Defense: Add CON modifier to AC when not wearing armor.
  • Rage: Gain resistance to Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing damage, and advantage on Strength checks and saving throws. Also, gain bonus damage to attacks.
• Level 2: Barbarian 2
  • Danger Sense: Gain an advantage on Dexterity saving throws against traps, spells, and surfaces.
  • Reckless Attack: Until your next turn, you gain an advantage on attack rolls, but enemies also have an advantage against you.
• Level 3: Barbarian 3
  • Pick Berserker subclass
    • Frenzy: Rage turns into a frenzy, and you gain Frenzied Strike and Enraged Throw.
    • Frenzied Strike: Make a melee weapon attack.
    • Enraged Throw: Pick up a nearby item and throw it to deal Bludgeoning damage and knock target prone.
• Level 4: Barbarian 4
  • Feat: Ability Score Improvement
    • Increase Strength score by +2
• Level 5: Barbarian 4, Fighter 1
  • Pick a Fighting Style: Great Weapon Fighting
    • When you roll a one or two on a damage die with a two-handed weapon, die is rerolled once.
  • Second Wind: Heal yourself for 1d10 + Fighter level HP
• Level 6: Barbarian 5, Fighter 1
  • Extra Attack: Make an additional free attack after making a weapon or unarmed attack.
  • Fast Movement: Movement speed increases by 3m while not wearing Heavy Armor.
• Level 7: Barbarian 5, Fighter 2
  • Action Surge: Gain an extra Action to use during your turn.
• Level 8: Barbarian 5, Fighter 3
  • Pick Battle Master subclass
    • Superiority Dice: Four
    • Choose three Maneuvers:
      • Disarming Attack: Attack that deals damage and possibly forces target to drop weapons.
      • Goading Attack: Deal an additional 1d8 damage and attempt to goad target into attacking you.
      • Riposte: When a hostile creature misses an attack on you, expend a superiority die to strike back with 1d8 damage.
• Level 9: Barbarian 5, Fighter 4
  • Feat: Savage Attacker
    • When making a melee weapon attack, roll your damage die twice and use the highest result.
• Level 10: Barbarian 6, Fighter 4
  • Additional Rage Charge
  • Mindless Rage: While Frenzied, you cannot be Charmed, Frightened, and Calm Emotions won’t end your rage.
• Level 11: Barbarian 7, Fighter 4
  • Feral Instinct: Gain a +3 to Initiative and cannot be surprised.
• Level 12: Barbarian 8, Fighter 4
  • Feat: Tough
    • Hit point maximum increased by two for every level gained.

Best playstyle for the Barbarian/Fighter multiclass Karlach build in BG3

With this build, Karlach can still have three feats, amazing combat maneuvers, and plenty of attacks to hit during one turn. The Savage Attacker feat is amazing for dealing the most damage, and Tough helps Karlach stay alive on the battlefield.

At level five Barbarian, you get Extra Attack and at level two Fighter, you get Action Surge. This allows you to deal three melee hits in one turn, and Savage Attacker makes those hits deal more damage. At level three Fighter, the build gets more exciting and versatile with the Superiority Dice and Maneuvers. Instead of Karlach being a big punching monster, she’s a big punching monster that has tricks up her sleeve.

Since she’ll be targeted most, I want Karlach healthy, but also a brutal attacker. When choosing Combat Maneuvers, you can go for any of them. I just chose those three, which I highly recommend you try out.

Make sure to always keep her rage up, and expend the Superiority Die or Frenzied Strikes on the toughest enemies. It’s also important to use Goading Attack to get the enemies’ eyes on her instead of her more squishy companions.

Who is Karlach in BG3?

Karlach is one of my favorite companions in Baldur’s Gate 3. You have a chance to recruit Karlach in Act 1. She gives you a choice to help her defeat the corrupt paladins that are hunting her or stay out of her way. You want to join Karlach, not only because she’s an incredibly powerful companion that has an interesting backstory and an engine for a heart, but also because her romance is one of the best.

Karlach works best with a two-handed weapon, so I gave her the Great Weapon Fighting Style. Just make sure to keep Karlach unarmored, since she can only rage without armor. Luckily, you can find clothes through Baldur’s Gate 3 with amazing abilities for Karlach to compensate for low AC. Make sure you find and use the best weapons for Karlach throughout BG3.