Baldur's Gate 3 Draconic Sorcerer Guide

This guide is based on Honor Mode but is also applicable to lower difficulties.

Build Concept

Due to the existence of water bottles and the "Create Water" spell in Baldur's Gate 3, applying the "Wet" condition to create water/lightning vulnerability is one of the easiest and most versatile methods of inflicting vulnerability. Even without "Create Water," you can dual-wield hand crossbows, drag a water bottle from your inventory, and shoot it with your off-hand crossbow to break it. Therefore, after the early game, this build's ranged weapons will be switched to dual hand crossbows, even without proficiency.

The Sorcerer subclass, Draconic Bloodline, at level 6, gains an elemental damage bonus to spells based on your Charisma modifier, corresponding to your draconic ancestry. This, combined with two items obtainable in the late first and second acts—the Necklace of Elemental Augmentation and the Potent Robe—allows the cantrip Ray of Frost to benefit from the Charisma modifier damage bonus three times. Therefore, maximizing the hit rate and damage of Ray of Frost is the core of this build.

Advantages

1. Charisma-based Character: As the main character, you can take proficiency in Persuasion and Insight for dialogue and trading.
2. Low Spell Slot/Sorcery Point Consumption: The main output comes from the Twinned Metamagic on a cantrip. Low-level spell slots are reserved for the Shield spell to boost AC, while high-level slots can be used for Counterspell or high-level AoE spells to compensate for crowd damage. Excess slots can be converted into Sorcery Points for Twinned Metamagic.
3. Inherent Mobility: At level 11, Draconic Sorcerers automatically gain Fly, providing excellent mobility (ideal for players who don't want to become a half-illithid).
4. Excellent Terrain Control: A high spell DC combined with blood or water surfaces to create ice can achieve excellent terrain control (even better with Reverberation/Encrsuted with Frost status effects).

Disadvantages

1. No Armor Proficiency: Only cloth armor is proficient. Even with full gear in the late game, the base AC is only 18, making +AC equipment and the Shield spell highly necessary.
2. Equipment Conflict: Due to the need for hit chance and additional damage, key equipment will conflict with popular builds like Eldritch Blast Warlocks, Archery Fighters, Great Weapon Masters, and hydro/electro builds. Equipment allocation needs careful consideration.
3. AOE Requirement: The highest damage output is focused on single or dual targets. Facing groups of enemies will require high-level AoE spells.
4. Friendly Fire: High DC ice surfaces will affect anyone who fails a Dexterity saving throw.

Leveling and Spell Selection

Character Creation Suggestions

1. Race: Prioritize Human/Half-Elf. The militia weapon training provides light armor/shield proficiency. The +2 AC from a shield helps survive the early game when casters are weaker.
2. Alternative Race: You can choose Drow for hand crossbow proficiency, which slightly increases the hit chance of your off-hand crossbow for finishing blows after applying the Wet condition (more economical than Quickened Spell Metamagic).
3. Draconic Ancestry: Silver Dragon provides the useful ritual spell Feather Fall, while White Dragon offers Armor of Agathys, which is not on the Sorcerer's spell list. It's recommended to start with Silver and switch to White at level 11 after learning Fly.

Initial Stats

• Attributes: 8 STR, 16 DEX, 14 CON, 8 INT, 12 WIS, 16 CHA.
• Proficiencies: Insight, Persuasion.
• Cantrips: Ray of Frost, Booming Blade, Minor Illusion, Friends.
• Spells: Shield + others as needed.

At level 2, choose Twinned and Distant Spell for Metamagic. At level 3, choose Quickened Spell. At level 3, you also get Shadow Blade and Cloud of Daggers to supplement your melee and AoE capabilities in the early game.

For your first feat at level 4, it is recommended to take Alert to ensure you go first in combat. At level 5, you get 3rd-level spells and a second damage die for your cantrips, allowing you to start the combo of shooting a water bottle with your off-hand crossbow to create the Wet condition, followed by Ray of Frost or Lightning Bolt.

Before level 5, it is recommended to use a finesse weapon in the main hand, a shield in the off-hand, and a light crossbow for ranged attacks. Find high ground, dip your weapon in fire, and rely on your 16 Dexterity for ranged attacks. After level 3, use Shadow Blade + Booming Blade for melee combat.

Mid-Game Stats

After obtaining the Gloves of Dexterity from the Githyanki Crèche, respec your stats as follows: 12 STR, 8 DEX, 16 CON, 8 INT, 14 WIS, 16 CHA. The gloves set your Dexterity to 18.

After getting the Shield of Devotion from Moonrise Towers, your initiative will be +7 (+3 from the shield, +4 from the gloves). You can temporarily change your level 4 feat to +2 Charisma.

At level 6, you gain the ice-based Charisma modifier to damage. At level 7, you get the 4th-level spell Ice Storm. At level 8, take the +2 Charisma feat. At level 9, get the 5th-level spell Cone of Cold. At level 10, your cantrips get a third damage die.

Final Stats

After using the Mirror of Loss in Act 3 and obtaining your final gear, respec your stats as follows: 8 STR, 16 DEX, 14 CON, 8 INT, 10 WIS, 17 CHA. Take the feats +2 Charisma, Birthright (+2 Charisma), and get +3 Charisma from the mirror.

At level 11, you get the 6th-level spell Chain Lightning and Fly. Change your first two feats back to Alert and +2 Charisma. At level 12, choose the Dual Wielder feat.

Your final spell selection will lean towards utility/control/AoE to fill any gaps.

Optional Spells

• 1st-level: Shield, Armor of Agathys, Magic Missile.
• 2nd-level: Misty Step, Hold Person, Enhance Ability.
• 3rd-level: Counterspell, Lightning Bolt, Haste.
• 4th-level: Ice Storm, Confusion.
• 5th-level: Cone of Cold, Hold Monster.
• 6th-level: Chain Lightning.

Act 1 - Equipment Selection

• Armor: Wear whatever non-armor you can find, but it is recommended to keep the Disintegrating Night Walkers (prevents slipping) on once you get them.
• Weapons: Finesse weapon / Mourning Frost / Spellsparkler + Shield. Use a light crossbow for ranged attacks before level 5, then switch to dual hand crossbows.
• Head: Helmet of Smiting (for movement distance), Circlet of Blasting (conditional +1 DC).
• Cloak: None of note.
• Chest: Robe of Summer (+ice resistance), Infernal Robe (+1 AC, +fire resistance), The Protecty Sparkswall (+1 DC, conditional +1 AC, +1 to saving throws).
• Gloves: Gloves of Missile Snaring (ranged damage reduction).
• Boots: Disintegrating Night Walkers (prevents slipping), Boots of Stormy Clamour (Reverberation).
• Amulet: Psychic Spark (Magic Missile +1 projectile), Amulet of Misty Step (mobility).
• Rings: Crusher's Ring (movement distance), Ring of Protection (+1 AC, +1 to saving throws).
• Melee: Mourning Frost (+1 ice damage, DC 12 Constitution save for Chilled), The Spellsparkler (+lightning damage, +1 to attack rolls), Shield of Devotion (+2 AC, +1 to saving throws), Absolute's Warboard (+2 AC, conditional +1 to saving throws, Heroism).
• Ranged: Light crossbow, Hand Crossbow +1 x2.

Act 2 - Githyanki Crèche

It's recommended to progress through the Githyanki Crèche first for two key items. In Act 2, it's advisable to rescue the prisoners in Moonrise Towers early for two important items as well.

• Head: Daredevil Gloves (ranged attack rolls +1), Coldbrim Hat (Encrusted with Frost).
• Cloak: Cloak of Protection (+1 AC, +1 to saving throws).
• Chest: Potent Robe (+1 AC, Charisma modifier to cantrip damage).
• Gloves: Gloves of Dexterity (attack rolls +1, Dexterity set to 18).
• Boots: No new additions.
• Amulet: Necklace of Elemental Augmentation (Charisma modifier to cantrip damage).
• Rings: Risky Ring (advantage on attack rolls), Snowburst Ring (creates ice surface), Callous Glow Ring (+radiant damage).
• Melee: Shield of the Undevout (initiative +3).
• Ranged: Ne'er-Misser, Hellfire Hand Crossbow.

Act 3 - Final Gear

You need to take the Dual Wielder feat at level 12 to dual-wield weapons.

• Head: Birthright (+2 Charisma).
• Cloak: Cloak of the Weave (+1 DC, +1 to spell attack rolls).
• Chest: Graduated in the previous act.
• Gloves: Gloves of Spellwrought (attack rolls -5, spell attack rolls +1d8).
• Boots: Helldusk Boots (upgraded version of Disintegrating Night Walkers).
• Amulet: Graduated in the previous act (if you missed it, there is another one in this act).
• Rings: Graduated in the previous act.
• Melee: Markoheshkir (Legendary Staff, +1 DC, +1 to spell attack rolls, +4 additional damage) + Rhapsody (+3 to attack rolls, +3 additional damage).
• Ranged: Graduated in the previous act.

Elixirs

• Elixir of Heroism (+ to attack rolls and saving throws).
• Elixir of Battlemage's Power (+ to attack rolls).
• Elixir of Bloodlust (gain an action on kill).