Best Fighting Styles in Baldur’s Gate 3, ranked

Whether you’re a Fighter, Ranger, College of Swords Bard, or Paladin, you have the chance to learn a Fighting Style. Hopefully, this ranked Baldur’s Gate 3 list will help you figure out the best Fighting Styles to choose from.

Each Fighting Style has its own unique abilities that can help buff you during combat. Depending on what type of fighter you are, you may prefer one over the other. These are just my recommendations!

Baldur’s Gate 3: Best Fighting Styles, ranked

6. Dueling

The Dueling Fighting Style will allow you to deal an additional two damage if you’re wielding a melee weapon in one hand that’s not Two-Handed or Versatile, with no weapon in your other hand.

In the grand scheme of things, two damage is practically nothing. Sure, during Act 1, it can help a little. But after that, I find that damage to be too little to be a worthwhile pick.

5. Defense

With the Defense Fighting Style, you’ll gain a +1 bonus to your Armor Class while wearing Armor. Just like the last pick, I don’t think a +1 bonus is enough to mean anything.

If you’re only wearing Light Armor, this can benefit you a little. Although, compared to the other Fighting Styles on this list, Defense just isn’t good enough.

Related: Best Illithid Powers in Baldur’s Gate 3, ranked

4. Two-Weapon Fighting

The Two-Weapon Fighting Style allows you to add your Ability Score modifier to the damage of your offhand attack. This is the damage you deal with the weapon in your second hand.

I could see this being beneficial if your character often wields two weapons at a time. But since your modifier is typically only around one to three, it doesn’t really add too much damage.

3. Protection

If your character wields a Shield, you’ll probably want to choose the Protection Fighting Style. While wielding a Shield, your enemies have Disadvantage if they attack an ally within 1.5m of you.

Being able to impose Disadvantage is great, as it can turn the tide of an enemy’s attack fast. The only downside is the fact that your character must be close enough to your ally and enemy, so it’s pretty situational.

2. Archery

I highly recommend choosing the Archery Fighting Style if you have a Ranger character who relies on ranged weapon attacks. With this, you’ll get a +2 bonus to attack rolls using ranged weapons.

Gaining a +2 bonus doesn’t sound like much, but it can actually give you a much higher chance of hitting your target. This is especially true if you’re hitting targets with a high AC and you need that small boost.

1. Great Weapon Fighting

Two-Handed weapons can be quite lethal in the hands of a skilled Fighter or Paladin, which makes the Great Weapon Fighting Style very useful. Whenever you roll a one or two on a damage dice for an attack with a Two-Handed weapon, you can reroll it once.

Although you must take the reroll if it’s still a one or two, being able to increase your chances of rolling higher damage is vital during high-stakes combat. I had my Lae’zel take this Fighting Style, and I never regretted it.

With that ranked list out of the way, you should take a look at the best Legendary weapons ranked in Baldur’s Gate 3.