So, you've checked out Baldur's Gate 3's Honor Mode, and even in the face of a continuous, single save file that forces you to actually deal with your actions, abysmal dice rolls, party permadeath, and reworked boss fights with legendary actions, you still want to give it a try.
While your ambition and courage are admirable, don't expect a quick or easy journey, but rather a thorough test of all your knowledge of the game. For most players, taking advantage of as many in-game mechanics as possible and methodical strategy will be the best strategy for getting those swanky golden dice.
Updated by Lucas Olah on January 16, 2026: Between all the updates and new builds created by the fanbase, there's always another way you can go through this game. Even Honor mode isn't hard enough for a single method to work, so here, you'll see several ways to beat this game on its hardest difficulty.
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Lightweight Domain Clerk
If you want a reliable healer with a big AoE spell, Light Domain Cleric is a great choice for Honor Mode. As a more attack-focused cleric, you can do real damage on the battlefield while filling the support role.
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Spells like Fireball, Flame Strike, and Radiance of the Dawn will deal significant area damage, while Mass Healing Word, Bless, and Guidance support and heal your party. If you have Light Cleric Drow, you gain a bonus to Perception checks and Superior Darkvision, making you less likely to be surprised by enemies.
It is worth noting that almost every priest is a good choice for honor mode runs. Life Clerics are definitive healers, and Tempest Clerics are also devastating in dealing damage.
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draconic sorcerer
If you're someone who, at times, likes to watch the world burn, it's time to try a fire-flinging magician. Sure, you'll have to rely on tank party members to protect you from lethal damage, but as long as you're protected in the backline, you'll deal incredible burst damage.
Pump practically all your levels into wizard, a wizard or two to learn spells via scrolls, or especially warlock for extra spell slots and eldritch blast. Use the draconic bloodline subclass, and take advantage of your high charisma, quick and twined spells like metamagic, illithid powers (if you want), and blast enemies with powerful burst spells. Just make sure you have other elements, if the enemy is immune or fire resistant. Also keep in mind that spells like Scorching Ray will deal a guaranteed critical on creatures trapped by the hold person/monster, as long as you're close enough.
Although you can use multiple builds here, one for each character in the party, the game will be easier if your party leader has high charisma, so they can communicate easily and avoid fights altogether.
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Arcane Archer
Fighters, despite being commonly known as melee characters, have the strongest ranged subclasses in the game as arcane archers.
A Pure Arcane Archer is a solid choice for a ranged character in your party, with arrows capable of dealing high damage, condition and AoE damage. That said, if this character is the party leader, you can give yourself access to a relatively good Charisma and a level of evil expertise and do well in conversation without ruining your build.
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College of Swords bard
Bards can do much more than play battle music, romance bartenders, or buff your party members. By choosing the College of Swords subclass and using a bit of multiclass magic, you'll see just how overpowered bards can get.
While the bard class should gain the most levels, at least six, up to ten, good multiclass combinations include rogue, fighter, and ranger. A big reason for this is that bards can take advantage of different mechanics, like Slashing Flourish to attack multiple enemies in one turn, even if it's a ranged attack. Just be careful; Bards tend to be squishy.
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shadow monk
The Shadow Monk subclass is perfect for those of you looking to dish critical hits left and right, and has an incredible amount of mobility with the ability to gap-close high-threat enemies in a single turn across entire battlefields.
Similar to the Rogue's Assassin subclass, the race of your choice has the inherent weapon proficiencies you want to use, points allocated toward Dexterity, Intelligence, and Constitution, feats such as Ability Enhancement, Wild Attacker, or Alert, the proper gear, and close proximity to the steed to get close to the shadows. the time
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Circle of the Moon Druids
Subclassing as a Druid in Circle of the Moon is a great way to turn your party member into an incredibly tanky, versatile asset, thanks to several Wild Shape charges that let you shapeshift into fearsome, high-health creatures like bears or wolfbears.
Speaking of Owlbears, it's no surprise that this ferocious shape is still very reliable, even in honor mode, as you can do anything from bouncing around in massive damage groups to absorbing multiple hits and knocking enemies out to make yourself the equivalent of an intercontinental ballistic missile.
Works when Tavern Brawler transforms into an animal.
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Life Domain Clerk
We said that most clerics work here, didn't we? Since save-scamming is no longer an option, you need a party member with high Intelligence who can give you the best odds of succeeding Intelligence-related checks, but more importantly, you need someone who can keep your party alive.
Go ahead and honor Shadowheart into a Life Domain Cleric (or anything that isn't a Trickery Domain Cleric, really), prioritizing Intelligence, Constitution, and Dexterity for more initiative. Also, the higher your AC, the better, and Life Clerics can use heavy armor. In terms of spells, you should at least hold:
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A healing word
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A prayer for healing
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The term group therapy
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Whatever damage-dealing or status-affecting spell best complements your party.
At Moonrise Towers, there is a Warden, who has a Spellcrux Amulet, capable of regaining any level spell slot once per long rest. Give that to your life priest, so they can cast Feast of Aid and Heroes after you take your long rest at 6th level. This will significantly increase the health bar of the entire party.
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Storm Sorcerer and Tempest Cleric
If you like the idea of a party member who can sweet talk NPCs with their high charisma stat to increase your chances of passing approval checks and getting good deals with merchants, but is also able to deal high lightning damage (gasp, Myrkul), it's time to familiarize yourself with the Storm Sorcery and Tempest subclasses.
For maximum damage, you can't go wrong with Blue Dragonborn for Lightning Breath, even if you don't use it very often. With that said, choose the race you want, and dump stat points mainly into Charisma, Constitution and Dexterity are also useful.
Ultimately, you're shooting for at least level nine in Storm Sorcery, added DPS through the Cleric class' Channel Divinity function in Tempest Domain Cleric, and whatever you want for level 12.
Don't forget to create and destroy water in your arsenal, as it makes enemies vulnerable to lightning damage.
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Dwarven Barbarian
While you don't need to, picking a Duergar Dwarf is a great choice for a barbarian-fighter who wants to bulk himself up and throw things for maximum damage. With this build, Strength is your best friend, closely followed by Constitution, and ideally as the last position to focus on Dexterity.
Tying this build together is the Enraged Throw from the Barbarian's Berserker subclass for more throws on your turn, the Tavern Brawler feat to add your Strength modifier rolls twice and the Fighter for the Champion subclass's improved critical hit passive. Otherwise, go for power-enhancing gear, and the legendary trident Nyrulna as your main, throwing weapon.
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The path of the open-handed monk
Monks subclasses in Way of the Open Hand are versatile, highly mobile fighters capable of dishing out tons of single-target damage, deflecting arrows, and threatening enemies with your bonus actions.
Strength, dexterity and intelligence are the main attributes you want to prioritize. Monks can take some time (and some gear) to become a powerhouse, but once you get there, this character can be one of the most devastating characters in the party.
