Daria "Foxdari" Sedelnikova If you’ve spent over 500 hours playing Baldur’s Gate 3, it’s time to challenge yourself by completing the game solo on Tactician difficulty. How can you achieve this? By using the Blaster Warlock — a powerful build that dominates elite and story bosses while maximizing the game’s mechanics.
Why Choose a Warlock?
- High Efficiency: This build eliminates most enemies in just two attacks.
- Visually Impressive: Strikes deliver multiple critical hits, making combat exciting.
- Consistent Progression: The build remains strong throughout the game, unlike others that peak at level 12.
- Easy to Equip: The required gear is straightforward to obtain. The core of the build involves multiclassing Warlock with Fighter and Sorcerer.
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Key Features
- Focus on critical hits (critical range: 15-20 on a d20).
- Attacks with advantage.
- Frequent use of Fear effects.
Early-Level Character Development
- Starting Class: Warlock (The Great Old One)
- Cantrips: Eldritch Blast, Mage Hand.
- Spells: Armor of Agathys.
Attributes:
- Strength: 8
- Dexterity: 16
- Constitution: 14
- Intelligence: 8
- Wisdom: 12
- Charisma: 16
At level 2, take a multiclass in Fighter, which allows you to equip any armor and weapons. For the fighting style, choose Two-Weapon Fighting. Another advantage of this early multiclass is the additional HP, which is very helpful at the start.
At level 3, return to Warlock and select these invocations: Agonizing Blast and Repelling Blast. For spells, choose Hellish Rebuke.
At level 4, multiclass into Sorcerer.
- Cantrips: Minor Illusion, Fire Bolt, Shocking Grasp, Light, or Friends.
At level 5, the build begins to gain momentum. Choose the spells Shield and Enhance Leap to improve survivability. In the Sorcerer subclass, take Draconic Bloodline (Blue Dragon) to enhance lightning-based attacks. At this level, Metamagic should include Distant Spell and Twinned Spell. If you’re playing solo, take the spell Disguise Self to avoid relying on the DLC helmet. For group play, opt for Feather Fall instead.
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Level 5 is a key milestone for solo runs on Tactician difficulty. After reaching this point, you can confidently tackle most of Act 1, excluding particularly tough opponents like spiders, Auntie Ethel, and the githyanki. It’s better to deal with them diplomatically to gain experience for leveling up.
Early-Level Combat Tactics
Until Metamagic spell slots increase, use a one-handed crossbow to effectively utilize bonus actions and maintain damage output in battles. It’s important to purchase a green crossbow +1 from the trader Dammon in the Druid Grove as early as possible.
A typical turn looks like this: cast Eldritch Blast at the target, then use a bonus action to shoot with the crossbow. Don’t forget to apply Hex (Strength) in the first turn—this increases the damage of each Eldritch Blast beam and crossbow attack. Keep your distance to avoid taking melee damage.
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Equipment
- The Spellsparkler — reward for saving Florrick in Waukeen's Rest.
- Boots of Stormy Clamor — purchase from Omeluum in the Ebonlake Grotto.
- For solo playthroughs: adamantine medium armor and shield from the forge, gloves from the first goblin, Amulet of Guidance, Ring of Protection (Mol’s quest), and Ring of Blessing (from Volo).
Further Progression
After clearing Act 1 and freeing the grove, head to the Mountain Pass to the githyanki. For solo Tactician runs, buy Dexterity Gloves from the githyanki trader. Then redistribute your attributes with the Withered: lower Dexterity to 8 and raise Wisdom to 16. This enhances your resistance to control effects.
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At level 6, continue leveling Sorcerer. Take Quickened Spell in Metamagic, and for spells, choose Misty Step or Knock (especially useful for solo runs in the Temple of Shar). At level 7, add the Light cantrip, which will be useful in Act 2.
For the solo feat, choose Alert. If playing in a group, pick Spell Sniper to increase critical hit chances. At level 8, take Counterspell.
Key Equipment for Act 2
- Potent Robe (from Alfira, reward for saving the tieflings) — enhances cantrips and grants temporary HP.
- Coldbrim Hat from Balthazar’s chamber.
- Spineshudder Amulet in the Moonrise Towers — boosts reverberation effects.
- Rings: Risky Ring, Burnished Ring, Callous Glow Ring (from the chamber near Balthazar).
- Ne'er Misser Crossbow and Halberd of Vigilance from the halfling trader. Regularly buy Potion of Angelic Reprieve from the trader in the Moonrise Towers.
High-Level Progression
At level 9, return to Fighter to gain Action Surge.
At level 10, choose the Champion Fighter subclass to increase critical hit chances. This is especially important as you gain a third Eldritch Blast charge.
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Continue leveling Fighter and pick a feat. If you previously took Alert, now take Spell Sniper. For group players who already have Spell Sniper, increase Charisma by 2 or take Dual Wielder if planning to use two staves.
At level 12, complete the build with another level in Sorcerer. Choose the Daylight spell. In Act 3, gather key items:
- Hat +2 to Charisma (Tower of the Magi).
- Cloak of Displacement (from the dwarf in Revington).
- Precision Bow (trader in the Lower City’s central square).
- Gortash’s Boots (steal them after the coronation; use for fights with Orin and Ansur).
- Special gloves (from the Ballista Traders after completing their quest).
To obtain the gloves, complete the investigation quest: collect the victim list near Laskey Shar’s, talk to the inspector on the second floor of the Elfsong Tavern, visit the wine festival, and the Many-Faced boutique.
Tactics and Strategy
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The result is a solid build that leverages all the advantages of your diverse arsenal—spells and abilities. Remember that Otherworldly Discharge is your primary spell and the main source of damage. Assess the situation and adjust your artifacts to counter your enemies, but the Risky Ring should almost always remain equipped on your character.
Main image: Artstation.com, Sarah Menager
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