Will Baldur‘s Gate 3 Have the Artificer Class?

Hi friend! As a fellow gaming enthusiast, I know you‘re curious whether Baldur‘s Gate 3 will eventually contain the artificer, one of the most unique new classes added in Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition. I‘ve dug deep into this topic and have all the juicy details for you here in this comprehensive guide. Get ready for some fun speculation as we analyze when this mechanically-minded class might make its debut!

A Quick Intro to Baldur‘s Gate 3

In case you‘ve been living under a rock, Baldur‘s Gate 3 is the insanely anticipated sequel to the classic 1990s computer RPGs. Developed by Larian Studios, the same folks behind the Divinity: Original Sin games, BG3 went into early access in October 2020. It uses the same 5th edition D&D ruleset as tabletop, translating tons of spells, classes, races, and abilities into gorgeous 3D life.

Even in early access, the immersive writing, tactical combat, and rich worldbuilding have sucked me right in. Well, almost…I do really miss my favorite class, the artificer! But let‘s start from the top and establish what‘s currently available before we dive into wild speculation about this mechanical mastermind.

Classes You Can Play Right Now

Baldur‘s Gate 3 launched early access with five of the twelve core 5E classes:

• Cleric – The devout healer/fighter hybrid
• Fighter – Sword ‘n board tanks and archers
• Ranger – Deadly archers with animal companions
• Rogue – Sneaky stabby specialists
• Warlock – Eldritch blast specialists with weird patrons
• Wizard – Versatile magic users with massive spellbooks

Then in December 2020, Patch 4 added the Paladin class. This holy warrior can smite enemies and heal allies, bringing the total to 6 classes.

Larian has confirmed all 12 Player‘s Handbook classes will come eventually, so we‘re still missing these big six:

• Artificer
• Bard
• Monk
• Sorcerer
• Barbarian
• Druid

So when will our gadget-loving, potion-brewing artificer pals join the fray? Let‘s break it down next.

What Exactly Is An Artificer?

Unless you‘ve played the latest edition, you may not be familiar with this truly unique new class. Artificers were introduced in 2019‘s Eberron: Rising from the Last War sourcebook. They are master inventors and enchanters who imbue everyday objects with magical infusions. Their spells focus heavily on utility, buffs, and summoning constructs like turrets to fight on their behalf.

Here are some of the artificer‘s signature flavorful abilities:

• Arcane Turret – Summons a magical turret that blasts enemies
• Alchemist‘s Supplies – Craft healing and support potions to revitalize allies
• Mechanical Servant – Animates a mech suit of armor to fight alongside you
• Infuse Items – Upgrades gear like weapons, armor, and tools with magical enhancements

The three artificer subclasses are:

• Alchemist – Focuses on crafting elixirs, explosives, and remedies
• Armorer – Wears a specialized powered suit of armor with built-in gadgets
• Artillerist – Specializes in damaging spells and Eldritch Cannons

In combat, they rely on tools, gadgets, and temporary magic items rather than brute force. They bring a thoughtful supportive playstyle that provides control, boosts, and assistance through smart preparation. Now doesn‘t that sound like a perfect addition to the world of Baldur‘s Gate?

Why Artificers Aren‘t Here Yet

Larian has said they intend to eventually include all PHB classes, but more complex and exotic ones like artificer, monk, and bard are coming later in development rather than at early access launch. As a brand new 5E class with intricate mechanics, translating the artificer faithfully requires more effort compared to say, a fighter or cleric.

The magic-meets-tech style of artificers also requires some creative interpretation to fit within Baldur‘s Gate‘s traditional medieval fantasy setting. We‘ll likely see their abilities visually reimagined to match the lore. For example, instead of piloting straight-up mech suits, Larian‘s concept art could show artificers in enchanted steam-powered armor. Their turrets may visually appear magical rather than mechanical.

Creative liberties like those could allow artificers to blend seamlessly into the world while keeping their playstyle intact. And since their signature abilities are so different from existing classes, adding artificers later on provides exciting new mechanics to look forward to rather than blowing that wad early in access.

When Will Artificers Arrive? Community Theories!

The BG3 subreddit and forums are overflowing with speculation about when artificers could arrive. Some are optimistic of their inclusion in the next major content patch. Others guess it may be awhile yet since there‘s still so much story and content unfinished in early access.

Many point to datamined game files referencing unreleased class abilities as clues. For example, references to "gadgets" and "turrets" in the code surely relate to the Artillerist subclass. Fans also highlighted Paladin as coming shortly before the impressive Patch 4 release, so perhaps artificer will headline its own future big update too.

In a February 2021 Reddit AMA, design producer David Walgrave responded to a question about classes saying:

"We want the full class roster, so if it‘s not there now, it‘s coming."

This gives the community hope that their wishes are being heard! Larian seems committed to bringing the full 5E experience to life in Baldur‘s Gate 3 eventually.

Now, let‘s get into the good stuff: when WILL this highly-demanded class finally make its debut? Based on early access development so far, here are my predictions:

Earliest: March-May 2022

• This would allow 3-5 more months of early access development before full release anticipated in August/September 2022.

• Fits with ~6 month gaps between previous big content patches.

Most Likely: June-August 2022

• Gives players a couple months to enjoy artificer in early access.

• Lets Larian focus on polishing existing content first.

• Builds hype closer to full release in fall 2022.

Latest Reasonable Date: September 2022

• Still technically in "early access" though close to full release.

• Risks not leaving enough time for players to test artificer thoroughly.

So based on progress so far, I‘d bank on us realistically seeing artificers sometime between early summer and September 2022. Of course nothing is certain, but that seems like a reasonable time frame based on past updates.

I‘d love to hear other theories from the community though! Given how wildly innovative artificers are compared to core 5E classes, they deserve plenty of testing before the full launch. What do you think – when are we finally be able to craft and tinker to our heart‘s content in Baldur‘s Gate 3?

What‘s Next for BG3 Classes and Races?

Looking beyond the artificer, Larian still has lots of work ahead to bring all PHB classes to the game. Sorcerers, monks, bards and barbarians seem likely to come sooner rather than later, as they are well-defined 5E classes. More exotic additions like dragonborn aren‘t confirmed but are supported in datamines.

The modding community may step in before official additions too. The Expanded Customization mod by Creed already widens options for hair, skin and body types. Similar mods enabling playable unannounced races or classes could arrive for the impatient among us.

But I have faith that Larian will deliver the goods in due time. They clearly have a passion for executing 5th edition D&D with polish and care. Even though we have to wait a bit longer for artificers, they‘re building an incredible world that will feel enriched whenever the class is ready to ship.

The Bottom Line

Given how highly complex the artificer‘s infusions, gadgets and turrets are compared to vanilla 5E classes, Larian likely needs more development time to adapt them faithfully. But based on their steady content updates throughout early access, it‘s reasonable to expect artificers within the next 3-6 months.

As one of the most creative new additions in Fifth Edition Dungeons & Dragons, artificer will be right at home bringing thoughtful tactical support options to Baldur‘s Gate 3. I can‘t wait to finally experience this unique class within the richly simulated world Larian has built. Whenever artificers ultimately arrive, no doubt they will feel intricately crafted and well worth the wait!

Let me know what you think down below! What are your best guesses for when artificers will join the fray? Are there any other classes or races you‘re impatiently waiting on? I love geeking out about all things Baldur‘s Gate, so hit me up with your thoughts and theories! See you in the Forgotten Realms.