The sequel to Baldur's Gate 3 will inevitably play into whatever the D&D zeitgeist is when it releases. Given how the future of the TTRPG is looking, subclasses will likely be the best way for such a sequel to stand out from Baldur's Gate 3.

There are many subclasses available in Baldur's Gate 3, yet it contains only a small sample of those found in D&D 5e. Out of the 117 subclasses found throughout the 10-year lifespan of the fifth edition, 46 made their way into Larian's hit game. Many of these 46 subclasses are taken from the 2014 Player's Handbook, with only a handful of options taking material from later books. Examples of the latter case include the Storm Sorcery, College of Swords, and Circle of Spores subclasses.

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The Next Baldur's Gate Needs To Focus On Different Subclasses

When it comes to Baldur's Gate 4, it's likely that the game will follow in Larian's footsteps. Even though the studio itself won't be returning to the game, the incredible success of Baldur's Gate 3 has made many fans certain that Wizards of the Coast won't abide much deviation. However, it's likely that the next game will still shift to reflect the current state of D&D; if the 2024 rules update is still the current thing by then, terminology and character creation will almost certainly see changes.

Should this be the case, it's very likely that the status quo won't have changed much in that time. WOTC's design team may have updated D&D 5e with 2024's rule changes, but it's no new edition—meaning that Baldur's Gate 4 will have little room to innovate. When it comes to standing out and creating a fresh gameplay loop, new subclasses should be the go-to. Not only is this an area where there are many more options to explore, but it's an area the D&D books are more likely to explore further.

Baldur's Gate 4 Will Probably Be Stuck With The Same 12 Classes

The 12 base classes of D&D 5e have stood the test of time, but many fans want to explore different fantasies. Officially, the TTRPG only supports one other class, the artificer—a class that hasn't made it into D&D 2024. When asked about this omission in a GamesRadar interview, lead designer Chris Perkins stated how 'we could actually do with fewer classes in the core game'. Though fans love new classes, with many playing homebrew or third-party classes, WOTC has all but confirmed that official support for them is unlikely.

What makes these attitudes even more steadfast is how beloved D&D 5e truly is. Wizards of the Coast considers its core attributes good enough to be a permanent vehicle for D&D, with the playtest material for the 2024 rules update (One D&D) demonstrating this confidence. That faith is not misplaced, as the edition has stood head-and-shoulders above its predecessors in success. Moreover, D&D 5e has become a medium; games like Tales of the Valiant, A5e, and Shadowdark use the edition for their bones. This isn't a new concept, with rival TTRPG Pathfinder growing out of D&D 3.5e, but past examples don't hold a candle to the diversity of creations based on D&D 5e.

D&D 5e Has More Than Enough Subclasses For A Fresh Baldur's Gate

D&D 5e has an exorbitant number of subclasses—primed for a Baldur's Gate 3 sequel. Furthermore, the number of subclasses unused in Baldur's Gate 3 includes some of the most beloved among fifth-edition players. Hexblade warlock, Rune Knight fighter, Bladesinger wizard, and more are among the great subclasses that fans have already modded into Larian's game, and official support for them in a sequel would be warmly received.