You can change your class at any point in the game using the character sheet

Yes, you can change your class in Baldur's Gate 3. Open your character sheet during gameplay, navigate to the class section, and select a new class from the menu. The game applies the change when ready—you keep your current level and experience, but your abilities, spells, and skill proficiencies shift to match the new class. There is no cost, no quest requirement, and no level restriction.

This system exists because Baldur's Gate 3 lets you experiment without permanent consequences. You can test a Rogue build mid-campaign, decide it does not suit your playstyle, and switch back to Wizard without losing progress. The only thing that changes is what your character can do in combat and dialogue.

Key Takeaways

  • Open your character sheet in the inventory menu, find the class panel, and click the class name to see all available options.
  • Changing class resets your ability scores to the new class defaults, so a Barbarian's high Strength becomes a Wizard's standard distribution.
  • You lose spells and abilities tied to your old class and gain the new class's spells and abilities at your current level.
  • Multiclassing—combining two classes on the same character—happens at level-up, not through the class change menu.
  • You can change class as many times as you want, including mid-combat if you are not in active turn order.

Where to find the class change option

The class change menu lives in your character sheet. Press I to open your inventory, then click the character portrait or the sheet icon. Look for a panel labeled "Class" or showing your current class name. Click on it, and a dropdown list appears with every class in the game: Barbarian, Bard, Cleric, Druid, Fighter, Monk, Paladin, Ranger, Rogue, Sorcerer, Warlock, and Wizard.

This menu is available anywhere outside of active combat. You can change class in camp, in a town, in a dungeon, or standing in front of an enemy—as long as it is not your turn in combat. If you are in the middle of a fight and want to switch, wait until combat ends, then make the change.

What happens to your stats and abilities when you switch

When you change class, your ability scores reset to the new class's standard distribution. If you were a Barbarian with 18 Strength and 10 Intelligence, switching to Wizard resets you to Wizard defaults: 8 Strength and 16 Intelligence (or whatever the base values are). Any points you invested in the old class are gone. This is why changing class mid-campaign can feel like a step backward if you have already leveled up and customized your character.

Your spells and class-specific abilities vanish and are replaced by the new class's options. A Cleric's healing spells disappear when you become a Rogue; a Rogue's Sneak Attack disappears when you become a Cleric. Your hit points recalculate based on the new class's hit die. Proficiencies in weapons and armor also shift—a Wizard loses heavy armor proficiency, a Fighter loses spell casting.

Skills you learned from your old class stay with you. If you trained in Stealth as a Rogue, you keep that proficiency even after switching to Paladin. The character sheet shows which skills came from your class and which came from your background or race, so you can see what sticks around.

The difference between changing class and multiclassing

Changing class and multiclassing are two separate systems. Changing class replaces your current class entirely—you become a different class at the same level. Multiclassing means you add a second class on top of your first, splitting your level progression between them.

Multiclassing happens at level-up. When you gain a level, the game asks whether you want to level up your current class or switch to a new class for that level. If you choose a new class, you gain one level in that class while keeping all your levels in the old class. A character with 5 Rogue levels and 3 Wizard levels is level 8 overall but splits their abilities between both classes.

Use class change when you want to completely restart your character's abilities. Use multiclassing when you want to blend two classes together. Multiclassing is permanent—you cannot undo it—but changing class is reversible at any time.

Common reasons to change class mid-game

Players change class for different reasons. Some realize their chosen class does not match their playstyle—a player who picked Barbarian expecting to charge into combat might find the lack of ranged options frustrating and switch to Ranger. Others want to test a build before committing to multiclassing. A few change class to match a companion's needs: if your party lacks healing, switching one character to Cleric can solve the problem without restarting.

The game also lets you change class to match a character's story arc. If your character starts as a Cleric devoted to a god but later renounces that faith, switching to a secular class like Rogue or Fighter can reflect that narrative shift. Baldur's Gate 3 does not lock you into your opening choice, so you have freedom to evolve your character as the story unfolds.

What you should know before changing class

Changing class resets your ability scores, which can make your character weaker temporarily. A level 8 character with 18 Strength as a Barbarian becomes a level 8 Wizard with 8 Strength. You will feel the difference in combat until you find gear that boosts your new primary stat or level up further. Plan your change for a moment when you are not about to face a difficult fight.

You lose all class-specific equipment bonuses. Some items grant bonuses to Barbarian Rage or Rogue Sneak Attack—those bonuses vanish when you switch classes. Check your inventory before changing and unequip anything that relies on your old class's abilities.

Changing class does not reset your level or experience. You stay at the same level, so you cannot use class change to "redo" your early levels. If you want to completely restart your character's progression, you need to create a new character or load an earlier save.

How to plan a class change without losing progress

If you are thinking about changing class, save your game first. Make the change, play for a few minutes, and see how it feels. If you hate it, load the save and try a different class. This is the safest way to experiment without committing.

Before you change, write down your current ability scores and any spells or abilities you rely on. This helps you remember what you had and makes it easier to decide whether the new class is worth the trade-off. Some players keep a second save file with their original class so they can compare playstyles side by side.

If you are changing class because you want a specific ability or spell, check whether multiclassing would work instead. Multiclassing lets you keep your old class's powers while adding new ones, though it slows your progression in both classes. For example, a Rogue who wants healing spells could multiclass into Cleric instead of fully switching, keeping Sneak Attack while gaining healing magic.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change class in the middle of a fight?

Not during your turn or an enemy's turn. You can change class before combat starts or after combat ends. If you are standing near enemies but combat has not begun, you can still open your character sheet and switch classes. Once initiative rolls, the menu locks until the fight is over.

Do I lose my equipment when I change class?

No, your inventory stays the same. However, some items have class-specific bonuses that stop working. A Barbarian's Rage-boosting ring will not help a Wizard. You can still equip and use the item, but you lose the special bonus tied to your old class.

Can I change back to my original class after switching?

Yes. Class change is fully reversible. You can switch from Fighter to Wizard and back to Fighter as many times as you want. Each time you switch, your ability scores reset to that class's defaults, so switching back does not restore your old customizations.

What happens to my spells if I change from a spellcasting class to a non-spellcasting class?

Your spells disappear from your character sheet and you cannot cast them. If you switch back to a spellcasting class later, you regain spells appropriate to your new level in that class, but you do not recover the exact spells you had before. You get the class's standard spell list for your level.

Is multiclassing better than changing class?

It depends on your goal. Multiclassing lets you combine two classes and keep abilities from both, but it slows your progression in each class. Changing class gives you the full power of one class at your level. If you want a hybrid character, multiclass. If you want to completely restart your abilities, change class.