Duergar: The Unexpected Melee Powerhouse in Baldur's Gate 3
You're probably thinking: "Duergar? Seriously?" When it comes to melee combat in Baldur's Gate 3, the classic choices are humans and half-orcs. They're the go-to picks for a reason! Humans have that sweet, sweet versatility, and half-orcs have the whole "I'm gonna punch you and then punch you again" thing going on. But hold your horses, because there's a dark horse in the race, and their name is Duergar.
Why Duergar are So Awesome for Melee
Duergar might not be the obvious choice for a melee build, but trust me on this one. They have some secret weapons up their sleeves (or, rather, in their underdark tunnels):
- Enlarge: At level 3, duergar get to cast Enlarge on themselves once a day. This makes them bigger, stronger, and hits harder. In Baldur's Gate 3, you can rest pretty much whenever you want, so you can cast Enlarge over and over again. Imagine a tiny dwarf suddenly becoming a giant in combat, it's awesome!
- Invisibility: Duergar also get Invisibility as a cantrip at level 5. Normally, you'd only get to use this once a day, but in Baldur's Gate 3, it's always available when you're out of combat. Now, you can sneak around like a ghost, get the drop on your enemies, and then punch them in the face. Dwarves are stealthy? Who knew!
- Duergar Resilience: This feature gives duergar advantage on saving throws against being charmed or paralyzed and allows them to detect illusions. This makes them super resilient against mind control, which is super useful considering their mind flayer past.
- Stacking: And here's the real kicker: You can stack Enlarge with other effects like Bigby's Chew Toy or Elixir of the Colossus to become an absolute unit in combat. It's like having a super steroid that's just begging to be used.
Why No One is Playing Duergar
Duergar might be super strong, but they're definitely not as popular as other races. Maybe it's their dark backstory, maybe it's just that everyone is stuck on those classic choices, but it's a shame. They're honestly a really fun and powerful choice.
So, if you're looking for a melee build that will give you a significant edge in combat, consider the Duergar. They're a bit of an underdog, but trust me, they'll surprise you. Plus, you'll be part of a secret club of players who know that the best melee character in Baldur's Gate 3 is actually a tiny, grumpy dwarf who can turn into a giant.
