"Baldur's Gate 3 Patch 8 Release Date Revealed with 12 New Subclasses"

Larian Studios has officially announced that the much-anticipated Patch 8 for Baldur’s Gate 3 will be released on Tuesday, April 15. After being available in stress test form for a while, the update is now ready for all players to enjoy next week.

Patch 8 brings a plethora of exciting new content to the critically acclaimed Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. Players can look forward to 12 new subclasses, a photo mode, cross-play functionality, and split-screen support for Xbox Series S. For a detailed breakdown, be sure to check out the Baldur's Gate 3 Patch 8 patch notes.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Patch 8 New Subclasses:

Bard - College of Glamour
As a College of Glamour Bard, you wield the power to both heal allies and command foes. With Mantle of Inspiration, you can grant your allies 5 temporary hit points, and any enemy that attacks while this is active will be Charmed. Leverage Mantle of Majesty to manipulate Charmed enemies, compelling them to flee, approach, freeze, drop to the ground, or relinquish their weapons.

Barbarian - Path of Giants
Choosing the Path of Giants enhances your strength, allowing you to throw both friends and foes effortlessly. Thanks to the Giant’s Rage passive, you gain both size and strength, increasing your damage with Throw attacks and boosting your carry capacity, making those heavy pockets a thing of the past.

Cleric - Death Domain
Embrace the dark arts as a Death Domain Cleric, mastering spells focused on necrotic damage and three new necromancy cantrips. Toll The Dead rings the bell of doom, dealing 1-8 damage that scales with pre-existing damage to the target. Additionally, you can now explode nearby corpses to damage enemies, adding a new layer of strategy to your gameplay.

Druid - Circle of Stars
Circle of Stars Druids harness the power of the cosmos, accessing Starry Forms of the Archer, Chalice, and Dragon. Each form caters to a different play style: the Archer unleashes radiant damage with astral arrows, the Chalice restores hit points, and the Dragon bolsters constitution rolls while dealing damage, offering versatile celestial strategies for healing, combat, and tactics.

Paladin - Oath of the Crown
Dedicated to the principles of law, Oath of the Crown Paladins are empowered to support allies and hinder enemies. Use Righteous Clarity to guide your companions in battle, taunt foes with strategic interruptions, and protect your party with Divine Allegiance, absorbing damage and restoring health.

Fighter - Arcane Archer
The Arcane Archer blends magic with archery, offering unique abilities alongside new shooting animations. Banish foes to the Feywild, temporarily removing them from combat, or inflict Psychic damage that can blind enemies until their next turn.

Monk - Drunken Master
As the Drunken Master, consume alcohol from your inventory or around the Sword Coast to recover Ki. Employ Intoxicating Strike to share the bottle with enemies, boosting your Armour Class and hit chance against Drunk targets. Drunken foes are also vulnerable to Sobering Realisation, which sobers them up while dealing physical and Psychic damage.

Ranger - Swarmkeeper
Swarmkeeper Rangers command three deadly swarms: Cloud of Jellyfish for extra lightning damage, Flurry of Moths for Psychic damage and potential blindness, and Legion of Bees for piercing damage and knockback. Each swarm also grants teleportation abilities, enhancing your combat versatility.

Rogue - Swashbuckler
Swashbuckler Rogues thrive in the piratical life, using actions like tossing sand to Blind enemies, flicking weapons to Disarm them, and leveraging Fancy Footwork to avoid opportunity attacks after melee engagements.

Sorcerer - Shadow Magic
Shadow Magic Sorcerers excel in darkness, benefiting from Superior Darkvision and the ability to Shadow Walk between dim light or darkness. Summon the Hound of Ill Omen to harass enemies, and use Strength of the Grave to stay standing in tough situations, perfect for Honour Mode runs.

Warlock - Hexblade
Hexblade Warlocks forge a pact with Shadowfell entities, wielding magical weapons to curse foes and command their souls. Raise spirits from slain enemies to fight for you for ten turns, dealing necrotic damage and healing you by siphoning enemy souls.

Wizard - Bladesinging
Bladesinging Wizards blend swordplay with spellcasting, featuring new animations and the Bladesong ability for enhanced speed, agility, and focus. This subclass also offers a bonus to Constitution saving throws, making you a formidable combatant.

Every IGN 10 of 2023

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Patch 8 marks the final major update for Baldur’s Gate 3, signaling the end of a remarkable journey for Larian Studios. The game, which launched to critical acclaim and significant commercial success in 2023, has continued to sell well into 2024 and 2025.

In a surprising move, Larian announced plans to move on from Baldur’s Gate 3 and Dungeons & Dragons to focus on a new, undisclosed project, prompting a media blackout to concentrate on this mysterious endeavor.

Meanwhile, Hasbro, the owner of D&D, has hinted at continuing the Baldur's Gate series. Speaking to IGN at the Game Developers Conference, Dan Ayoub, SVP of digital games at Hasbro, expressed interest in the franchise and mentioned upcoming plans. While specifics remain under wraps, Ayoub hinted at potential developments in the near future, suggesting a measured approach to possibly creating a Baldur's Gate 4.

To celebrate the release of Patch 8, Larian will host a Twitch livestream where senior systems designer Ross Stephens will detail the updates and new additions, offering fans a deeper look into the patch's impact on the game.