"Dead is the strongest crowd control condition you can apply." EXACTLY!! =D

Ah the good old fashioned red mage mantra: 'The best removal is player removal'

Just beat honor mode with this party, and had a blast! Thank you my dude, you are awesome.

Thank you so much for your guides. I love to listen to them. You do a really good job!

You’re build videos and ranking videos have really helped me with honor mode, thanks

I’ve been doing all four of your “shadow” builds and I’m having so much fun. I’ve got a shadow monk, a gloom stalker ranger, Shadowheart as a rogue/cleric, and a warlock/rogue as my Tav. I adore sneaking and murdering from the shadows!

Youre single handedly making my time playing baldurs gate 3 more enjoyable and fun!! but not only mine, because i sometimes take a look at the comments of your videos and see that other people would definitely agree with my statement that your guides are amazing!! very informative and easy to digest despite them being 30-40 minutes long, they don't feel like a drag or that they contain unnecessary information, i'm very lucky to have found your channel when i was looking for a build for Shadowheart a few days ago!!!

Cephalo, I can’t finish a playthrough and it’s your fault! every time you drop a new build, I get excited and wanna respec it into my party, and then I inevitably respec everyone else so it fits cohesively. fr though thanks for the content

I just wanted to say that thx to you and your well explained guide I finally beat honor mode ! This build was perfect for someone like me that overthink too much until i missplay a lot. And that was really nice and smooth. Actually this party made the run really smoothly. (sry for any english mistakes)

Yess bro u think about everything… even the sweats… u knew we needed this ❤

Well as someone who keeps TPKing in Honor mode I am going to give this party a try. Will let you know how it goes. Thanks for taking the time to do these vidoes.

True Strike build when?

Tip if you are using disguise self on your party face, the vendor attitude discount will be linked to whatever disguise you are wearing.

I love this kind of content, but I do wonder if you'd have time to do more niche build guides that include specific multiclassing/team compositions/itemization. As someone who's game knowledge has continued to expand the longer the game has been out, I'm more curious as to more strange ideas. I've been theory crafting characters revolving around empowering salami damage, builds revolving around psychic damage/shadow blade, and team compositions with divination wizard, light cleric, and lore bard using the Lucky feat and Illithid Powers to fully weaponize reactions. I'd love a mix of educational content to genuinely help with making honour mode smooth and content that revolves around optimizing role play builds. I love that you've continued to cover this game at all as we enter the post-honeymoon phase of the game's life. You are much appreciated.

Going to try this out on my first honour mode run.

Dead is the best crowd control Spok:"Pure logic"

Don't forget that Karlach gets additional damage die from soul coins only if she is Raging or at low hp, so if you want to use that mechanic consider Barb 3/Monk 6/Rogue 3. (Not sure if it's worth Alert and Monk 9 tho)

Aye omg my phone accidentally clicked this video and I've never been happier about that happening 😂😂❤ thanks for the great videos

For the TB monk start with 17 wisdom use the hag hair and use 2nd feat on wisdom. If you use mirror of loss too you can reach 22 wisdom for +6 to dmg from manifestations and another +6 from uninhibited kushigo. Also if you use vest of soul rejuvenation the item itself gives +2 ac, your dex gives +3 and your wis gives +6. 21 ac without even adding ring/cloak of protection and bracers of defence and warding bond/shield of faith from clerics

I'm not sure if you mentioned it, but a pretty good weapon for the lockadin is unseen menace. The invisibility on it giving permanent advantage with little to no drawback, plus the increased crit chance means with that item you're sitting around a 19% chance to crit and we all know how much paladin loves to crit. I admit I was playing this in the background so I may have missed it if it was mentioned, but I wanted to bring it up because you can get that weapon relatively early. Plus since it's a pike it has extra reach, which is always a nice addition, and piercing damage (relevant if you make certain story choices in act 3). It may not be best in slot but I really like it for its consistency throughout the game.

for the sorcerer the reverse rain cloak gives permanent wetness

This is how I play. Love it.

I tried this but used tempest cleric/storm sorcerer instead of fire sorc (for role play purposes), worked great!

Is there a reason for going lockadin over 10/2 smite swords bard? You can get counterspell and conjure elemental with magical secrets (although not Hummer of Hagar) plus all the utility of bard. I guess the floor of eldrich blast with warlock is also super nice, and SSB is a bit more gear dependent to really get to the next level. This is a great list, I’ve played these builds over multiple play throughs, just not in the same party.

For the monk 16 dexterity is sufficient, you should be putting 17 points into wisdom for elixir builds and rounding it off with jaheiras necklace or Ethel’s hair. This will boost damage and armour class- initiative is high enough if you pick the alert feat

You mentioned that this party was good for low long rests, I've been meaning to comment, and I'm lazy so here is something I dreamed up a few months ago: my band, “No Sleep Till (Appropriate Location)!” Int: Dice Lord: 6 levels in Div Wizard, at least 5 levels Lore Bard for Cutting Words and inspiration back on SR, get racial lucky and feat to really drive home Lord of the Dice. Wis: Druids get their shape charges back on SR. Since we’re clever we combine Spores with Monk to..., no, Moon Druid lvl 10, Bard 2. Char: Too many different great ways to build here, Warlocks get their slots back on SR, Paladins get back their channel oath, and you already need 2 levels in Bard to exist. If want “I can do this all day” you want 6 Swords Bard, 1 Pali (for oath), and 5 Warlock (and that is what you want). Str/Dex? Tavern Brawler = Str: Even the wiki section on SR misses that Fighters get their 2nd wind back on SR and action surge is worth a dip already. We’re going TB so we have to have some Monk. And at least 2 levels of Bard. They’ve obviously been drinking. So Drunken Master? Drunk anyway. 3 Eldritch Knight for bind weapon, 3 Monk, 6 Bard. What will they do? Start a fight by throwing a shoe, maybe their weapon if we’re lucky? Jolt awake and slash the two closest targets? Hit some rando so hard they miss their next turn? No one knows. Maybe they’ll try to seduce the lamp.

As far as the tavern brawler monk goes, I'd add one level barbarian instead of the 9th monk level. That way, you can use a shield and if have the amulett that increases your con to 23, a very high AC. Also if you put that amulett on your monk, you don't have to put attribute points into con either.

Thanks for the reference to Arsonist's Oil, easy to forget these things exist. In fact, here's an idea for another tier list: consumables! Throwables! Oils, elixirs, potions, and bombs, oh my!

technically a thrower build (zerkerthief, later fighter) makes better use of tavern brawler, especially with returning pike, dwarfen throw hammer, and the spear from the zircus in act3, your range is higher, amazing splash damage, strong build diversity, heal and status applications with throwing all kinds of things. If you do the githyanki creche check, you can bonus action black hole into AoE- spear combo to clear an unlimited amount of enemies fast and easy, without even having to reach them, in my honor run, I had both. They didnt conflict for giant strength pots because my monk could just mainhand the club of giant strength whenever pots were rare

Loving the full-party builds as they are, but I was really curious if you’d given any thought to doing full-party builds with more of a silly, gimmicky lens in mind? I like the approach of a team with a broader strategic goal in mind, but I was curious if you’d given thought to something like a “purely martial” team or a “super-wizard with 3 bodyguards” kinda thing. Just curious! Love your work as is, and appreciate the hard work that goes into it all!

1:13:24 Birthright absolutely stacks with the charisma from the Mirror, my Warlock has 24 charisma and can probably have 26 if I had gotten Athel's hair + the +1 from the mirror by passing the religion check. The extra stats from mirror and Athel are uncapped. Unless there is a special rule from Honor mode; if this is the case please mention it. Nice video otherwise.

My personal flavor for archery goodness is bard 6 rogue 3 and ranger 3 because Bard song of rest is really nice with Monk and Warlock. I dont think its as powerful, but i find it feels more accurate for Astarion as he does try to get arcane trickster. Swords bard instead makes it feel right at home even if he misses out on some heavy armors.

I'm starting my first honor mode run with this party

what about 1 level cleric dip for the halfling sorcerer for heavy armor, shield, guidance, sanctuary/healing word and bless? also wouldnt the new "annihilate bosses" build fit better into this party?

Taking Ranger Knight option for heavy armour prof is good. I put the Gryms helmet on my GloomStalker in my Balanced mode run. I'm pretty sure it doesn't have disadvantage on stealth. And it prevents crits.

Magic Missile is amazing at breaking enemy concentration. I always try to have at least a scroll of Magic Missile in someone's inventory at all times.

nice guide.

I used similiar party for my honor mode. Lae'zel monk, gale fire sorc, astarion gloomstalker assassin, tav bard 10/1/1. Never have problem with my run. Just use astarion to start the fight and gale for the last battle 😬

Obviously blade warlock is ideal for a paladin multiclass, but I’ve found that on other runs chain warlock (or anyone who can use invisible summons, so technically also a lvl 1 wizard with shovel) has insane synergy with an assassin rogue. Surprise the enemy with the invisible summon, guaranteed crit hit sneak attack from the assassin.

When you talk about "X is good and wins certain encounters all by itself" can you please give an example or two of those encounters? Thank you.

Not sure if I can get behind a party that doesn’t get the enemy wet first. It’s just so satisfying for both parties.

For the sorcerer, would it make sense to sacrifice the last ASI for dual wielding? You lose one on your spell attack and save dc on the front end, but if you have 2 staves that give spell attack and save dc bonuses, that's negated, and you get a+1 AC

A suggestion on monk, take 17 wisdom and 16 dex and the rest con. With khalids gift that will give you one wisdom and you’ll be able to have 20 wisdom and 18 dex endgame if you want.

Any advice for equipment throughout the acts?

I basically did this build with my friend, never saw it anywhere just happened to come about when I was looking at my equipment, only thing is my main class was rogue and fighter not ranger and I swapped the main hand and offhand weapons because I didn’t have that armor that applies vulnerability, I wish I thought of getting advantage with that ring I would have crit every auto

I'm on the hunt for a difficulty alternative to honor mode. I think reloading and trying things differently is part of the fun of RPG games. The Mirror of Loss is pretty much useless without save scumming. But I'm kind of curb stomping tactician mode with my reasonably well optimized party. I even hold back on some of the more OP options like ranged Slashing Flourish, Arcane Acuity with Band of the Mystic Scoundrel, Radiating Orb, twinned Haste, Tavern Brawler with Fast Hands, etc. Maybe you could do an OP build hall of shame video, although these honor mode build guides are pretty much the same thing. Some suggestions would be: 1 Fighter/1 Wizard/10 Swords Bard. Use Gloves of Dexterity and Warped Headband of Intellect to overcome the MADness. Go 1 Fighter/11 Swords Bard or just 12 Swords Bard if you want to use the Helmet of Arcane Acuity, unless you want to sacrifice significant CON and WIS for INT. For feats the choices would be ASI, Alert and Resilient WIS. Pick two, probably ASI and Alert, and take your chances with WIS saves, which should still be OK with buffs like Hero's Feast, but that is late game. 8 Berserker/4 Thief with Tavern Brawler. My Minsc build. It's OP enough that I generally limit throwing to improvised weapons, but even that can be OP. For feats other than TB, choose two of ASI, Great Weapon Master, and Resilient WIS. You shouldn't need Alert, since you get Feral Instinct at level 7. 6 Vengeance Paladin/6 Fiend Warlock. Three attacks per round, Eldrich Blast, smites, Counterspell, Fireball. Ridiculous. My Minthara build. Possibly as OP as swords bard. Maybe other subclass combos are even more OP, but I like Vengeance and Fiend just because I like them. For feats, go with ASI and Alert. A better video idea would be good RP builds for companions and Tav. Some suggestions: Shadowheart: Tempest domain through act two, then respec to Light Domain. TBH, I just went Light domain all the way, because, let's face it, Trickery domain is a travesty in comparison. Feats are ASI, Resilience CON, and Alert. Jaheira: 1 Fighter/11Land Druid. I originally went with 5 Gloom Stalker/7 Nature cleric, but once I figured out how Belm worked, I thought an actual Fighter/Druid combo might be even better. With Belm, which is basically a free Two Weapon Fighting style, she can have two attacks most rounds and be an almost full strength Druid. If you are like me and don't care much for Wild Shapes, then Land Druid makes her almost a wizard, sort of like Light cleric. For Circle of Land spells, I went with Underdark/Arctic/Arctic/Arctic. This gives her Haste, Misty Step, and some good AOE damage and control spells with cold damage specialization, which can be doubled under the right circumstances. I think the one Figher level is totally worth it, even though it comes at the cost of a feat. You can choose a fighting style, either Archery or Defense, you get heavy armor and martial weapon proficiency, and STR + CON saving throws. Interestingly, since you have martial weapon proficiency, you can forgo Belm and go with Duelist's Prerogative instead. This has the same effect as Belm, but it's a better weapon. For feats, choose two of ASI, Alert and Resilient WIS. Karlach: How is Karlach a Barbarian? She's from Baldur's Gate (a city), she served in a Devil's army, and that is a highly structured environment. Most of the Barbarians would be on the other side of the Blood War. Didn't it used to be a D&D rule that Barbarians couldn't be Lawful? She talks like an army brat, not a Barbarian. Karlach is a Battlemaster Fighter. Just go with all 12 levels so you get all the feats. 12 levels of Battlemaster doesn't need any embellishment. You want ASI, Great Weapon Master, Alert, and Resilient WIS. Or go with two ASI if you feel lucky with WIS saves. Minsc: Minsc is your Berserker Barbarian. He even calls himself a Berserker. In BG2, he had an enrage special ability at a time when there wasn't a Barbarian class. Moreover, he isn't smart enough to be a spellcaster. Spellcasting for Minsc makes no sense. But wait, it gets better. Where do we find Minsc? Yep, that's right, as leader of a rival thieve's guild. Now we have lore justification for an 8 Berserker/4 Thief build. Wyll: Straight Warlock isn't optimal, but 2 Fiend Warlock/10 Draconic Sorcerer is tons of fun. Cast Twinned Haste and then just Eldrich Blast. Automatic win, unless your enemy is good at breaking concentration. In that case just quicken the usual damage spells. Great nuker build. For feats, go with ASI and Resilient WIS or CON, depending on which class you take at level 1. You will have to get the equivalent of Alert from items such as the Sentinel Shield. Gale: Just keep him an Evocation Wizard all the way. I think it is the most balanced class in the game. It's powerful without being ridiculous like a Swords Bard, Lockadin, or TB build. For feats go with ASI, Resilient CON, and Alert. Lae'zel: I think Eldrich Knight suits her. I went with all 12 levels for the feats, but you could be cute and give her one level of War Cleric. She was the one that got kidnapped. Imagine how angry she was when Tav Swords Bard freed her in the first round. Oh, and Gust of Wind was one of her spells. LOL. Feats are Alert, Tavern Brawler, Resilient WIS, and Greeat Weapon Master. Substitute ASI for Resilient WIS if you feel lucky with WIS saves. Astarion: Straight Rogue is nowhere land, so I went with the Reddit approved 5 Gloom Stalker/4 Thief/ 3 Eldrich Knight build. You get Extra Attack, Dread Ambusher and a variety of Roguish abilities from Gloom Stalker. For fighter levels, Battlemaster doesn't make much sense, but Eldrich Knight gives you the Shield spell and a couple of other 1st level Wizard spells of your choice along with Action Surge. It's just better than a pure Rogue Build by a country mile. Man, was this post really this long? I need to get out more and play less BG3...Nah, It's BG3 all the way for now.

Like a guild member in a different game once said: Damage is your sustain.

Iv been having issue in my current playthrough with my lockadin. I don’t have an option to smite using warlock spells slots in my reactions tab unless my paladin slots are depleted. In a previous playthrough I was able to set my smites to warlock spell slots even if my paladin slots were full.

The actual best damage party is: two Swords Bard archers, one "Twin support"/Tempest Sorcerer, and one Monk. LEVEL 4 PARTY Halfling Sage Tav: War Cleric 1 then Swords Bard 3. Str 8 Dex 16 Con 14 Int 12 Wis 12 Cha 14. Persuasion, Religion, Deception. Broodmother's Revenge, heavy crossbow. Focus on spells with save DCs, plus Guidance, Resistance, Thaumaturgy, Speak with Animals, Detect Thoughts. Astarian: Bard with Hand Crossbows until you get Titanstring Longbow, then 1 level of War Cleric. Str 8 Dex 16 Con 14 Int 12 Wis 16 Cha 8. Athletics, Investigation, Stealth, Perception x2 Sleight of Hand x2. Focus on spells without DCs, except Command. Make sure to get Enhance Ability. Karlach: Rogue 1 then Monk 1 then Thief Rogue 3. Str 8 Dex 16 Con 15 Int 8 Wis 17 Cha 8. Perception x2, Stealth x2, Performance, Sleight of Hand. Bow of Awareness, Corellon's Grace, Silver Pendant. Carries scrolls to cast with high Wisdom. Tavern Brawler next level. Shart: Storm Sorc 1 then Tempest Cleric 1 then Sorc 2 then Wizard 1. Str 8 Dex 16 Con 14 Int 16 Wis 12 Cha 8. Skills don't matter. Twinned Magic Weapon on both archers. Focus on Sorcerer spells/cantrips without Attack rolls or DCs, and without requiring concentration. Important gear: Wapira's Crown, Safeguard Shield and Whispering Promise, all on Shadowheart. Healing Word twinned = bonus action Bless on three party members, and Broodmother's Revenge trigger. Also Amulet of Restoration. LEVEL 7 PARTY Tav: War Cleric 1, Swords Bard 6. Gloves of Dexterity, so respec to Str 10, Dex 8, Con 14, Int 14, Wis 12, Cha 17. +1 Cha hair. Diadem of Arcane Synergy + Giantbreaker. Yuan-Ti Scale Mail, Knife of Undermountain King and Sentinel Shield. Sharpshooter. Astarian: War Cleric 1, Swords Bard 6. Titanstring Longbow + strength elixir. Graceful Cloth and Soulbreaker Greatsword. Sharpshooter. Karlach: Respec to Thief Rogue 3, Open Hand Monk 4. Tavern Brawler, +1 Con. Strength elixir. Fistbreaker Helm. Shart: Sorcerer 5, Cleric 1, Wizard 1. Alert. Magic Weapon now upcast Twinned, along with Drakethroat Glaive, on archer weapons. ACT 3 PARTY Tav: gets Illithid Expertise, respecs into non-Cha skills. Fighter 2 then Bard 8, Archery and +2 Cha. Gets permanent Bless from statue, Rhapsody, Flame Enameled Armour and Gontr Mael. Astarian: gets Ring of Regeneration, Mask of Soul Perception, Legacy of the Masters, and Ambusher. Gets Knife, Revenge and Promise from other party members. Fighter 2 then Bard 8, Archery and +2 Dex. Karlach: Monk to Monk 6, then Fighter 2, then Rogue 4. Defense style, +2 Wis. Gets Boots of Kushigo, Khalid's Gift, Gauntlets of Soul Catching, Hellrider Longbow, Bhaalist Armour, Helmet of Grit and Callous Glow Ring. Shart: Gets Markoheshkir just as Archers get their own Bless, along with Amulet of the Devout and misc caster gear. Gets Bow of Awareness from Karlach. Cleric to 2 and Sorcerer to 8 (+2 Int). Magic Weapon upcast with level 6 slot, Twinned, Freecast.

I love the damage output of this party because I’ve been wanting to do party like this, but I also really wanna do swords bard with band of the mystic scoundrel. Do you think replacing the rogue/assassin with a swords bard will still fit comfortably in this party?

I see true strike, I drop a like.

Do you have any videos showing this party in action?

Would you say Throw Build Barbarian can be used in place of Monk Build? I personally prefer doing this, as it gives range to melee damage and Monk gear often synergizes with throw build

What is the pro and con to use an oathbreaker for the Lockadin build plz?

which party is easier to finish the game this one or the video posted on March 26th???

Im surprised that a swords bard build didn’t make this team

Song of Balduran, still a banger

“Enemies can’t do anything when they’re slain” They can say mean things to Tav when you cast speak to dead 😢

Damn. Another potion monk build ahhhh the potions cost so much money in honour mode.

Why is Rogue/Gloomstalker Stealth Archer preferred here over (the more widely used?) Swords Bard Turret with 2x hand crossbows? I feel like I'm not understanding the advantage of this archer build

Literally just decided to try honor mode and almost biffed it already on the nautaloid laezel died which turns out makes landing much easier cause she was just dead right there ready to be revived before I had to deal with the intellect devourers so they didn't last very long either hopefully I figure things out currently going for a 2/10 paladin/swords bard bc charisma but honestly would rather do a ranger of some kind Edit: ive started a playthrough using these builds im in the underdark had to make a pitstop at the creche bc i messed up picking the correct hag hair for karlach so i gave the now str hag hair to astarion and hes going with 16 str 16 con and 16 wis with the gloves of dex best i could think of to salvage my hm run

“Dead is the strongest crowd control you can apply” put kendrick lamar to shame

My latest run makes no sense and is a blast. Its an RP team. 2 rangers, 1 tanks with bear, 1 gloomstalker, land druid and tiger barb. Just downed ansur at lvl 11

Can the monk work as a party face or am I gonna struggle trying to use this party that way? I’m on my first play through so still learning everything

The hat does stack with the mirror. My bard has 24 charisma.

This murder hobo party doesn't do skill checks therefore doesn't need guidance. Joking! The archer could take 2 levels of spore druid for guidance and extra dmg

LETS GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

YES

Do some weird builds, e.g. all Bards! GOTTA ROCK ACROSS FAERUN!

I’m working on a grey dwarf thrower build so at end game he can use the trident and the dwarven thrower

"Still breathing, despite everything"

How do soul coins help if Karlach isn’t able to rage?

Noob question: how do people get all this gold to stock up on strength potions in Act 1?

🔥🔥🔥+🔥

Offense party build? Well, you gotta do defense party now!

Arcane acuity go above 10 stacks? In my game it only go up to 10.. I'm playing in honour mode

for the paladin, i prefer paladin 2lv. bard 10, or even 2lv paladin, 2lv figher and 8 lv bard

I love your videos, but talking about avoiding exploits in the introduction to immediately follow up with the tavern brawler should only be allowed on the 1st of April.

Also, for Karlah why not add a Barbarian level? Otherwise soul coins are almost useless

my hot take is that a build that relies ENTIRELY on wheteher or not you have an elixer to drink every day is not a good build

"... add True Strike to annoy people in the KZfaq comments." Gangsta 😎😂🤣

does dex contribute any damage to monk?

Desintegrate is good against what enemy? XD I finished my HM run yesterday and dont know about what character you are talking about :v

26:49 excuse me, *what*???

Healing? Who needs healing when they’re dead?

I thought this was pretty good until this idiot took TRUE STRIKE! WHY WOULD YOU TAKE THAT IM SOOO AAAAANGRYYYYYY!!1! 👹

I use Minthara instead of Will, Will's dialog options are just stupid (his 3 cents) in Goblin camp or moonrise tower , he almost aggro all the goblins or minions. He gets some uses in ACT 3 in saving his father. One point missing from the whole party is summons which can add damage (like skeletons) , scouting (invisible imp) , or just blindness (raven) - both v.good in dealing additional damage especially for weaker enemies in big fights

just use rangers only. will work fine. :|

the surprise mechanic in this game sucks baaaad. i barely managed to surprise half of my encounters with this run

1st

Why is your game so laggy and janky?