Baldur’s Gate 3: Sorcerer Vs Wizard [Comparison Guide]

Sorcerer vs. Wizard is a question many of us have: which class has the upper hand in combat and which doesn’t, though these may seem similar because they are both magic users and have access to the same spells. But we are here to tell you that they are very different from one another and can change your entire gameplay depending on which one of them you choose.

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Key Takeaways

• Sorcerer and the Wizard are unique classes with characters, stats, and abilities.
• You can choose elf and half-elf because both are best suited for mage builds such as a Wizard and a Sorcerer.
• The Sorcerer and the Wizard are good in their Perspective Fields but differ in stats and abilities.

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Sorcerer Build

Sorcerers are innate spellcasters, drawing their magical powers from a natural gift or their bloodline.

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Race	Elf
Sub-Race	High-Elf
Background	Acolyte
Sub-Class	Wild Magic

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I would always recommend fighting from a reasonable distance because a Sorcerer’s main strength lies in his spell-casting to deal massive damage and is not good at absorbing damage. We would like you to consider the following stats when leveling up.

Stats	Goal
Strength	8
Dexterity	13
Consitution	15
Intelligence	19
Wisdom	10
Charisma	12

Feats 

You can select these at levels 4, 6, 8, and 12. You will only be granted four feat points, so use them wisely. These were the choices I made during my time with this class. 

• Ability Improvement: We used this to add two points to Charisma.
• Magic initiate Sorcerer: Allows the user to select Two Cantrips and One level 1 spell.
• Crossbow Expert (optional): Increases crossbow proficiency.
• Mage Slayer(optional): Enemies get a disadvantage on Concentration.
• War Caster(optional): Gives advantage on saving throws to maintain Concentration on spells.

Cantrips

These are spells with no level and don’t take up spell slots.

Cantrip Name	Cantrip Type	Cantrip Range	Cantrip Damage	Cantrip Description
Light	Evocation	No Range	Not an Attack Cantrip	Helps light up the area
Bone Chill	Necromancy	18m	3-24	Prevents target from healing
Acid Splash	Conjuration	18m	3-18	Hit target with a ball of acid
True Strike	Divination	18m	Not an Attack Cantrip	Provides advantage on attack roll
Balde Ward	Abjuration	No Range	Not an Attack Cantrip	Provides a shield against Melee attack for 2 turns
Poison Spray	Conjuration	3m	3-36	Hits target with poison gas
Fire Bolt - High Elf	Evocation	18m	3-30	Hits target with fire
Ray of Frost - Magic Initiate	Evocation	18m	3-24	Reduces target speed by 3m
Shocking Grasp -Magic initiate	Evocation	Melee	3-24	Stuns the target for 1 turn

Spells

Our focus primarily centered on attack spells for the Sorcerer. Due to the limited spell slots available, I would suggest picking a direction for your class. Therefore, it’s more effective to construct a build dedicated to a single role, be it support or attack.

Spell Name	Spell Level	Spell Type	Spell Range	Spell Damage	Spell Description
Chromatic Orb	1	Evocation	18m	3-24	Launches a sphere that deals Thunder dmg
Magic Missle	1	Evocation	18m	6-15	Fires 3 magic darts at target
Burning Hand	1	Evocation Spell	5m	3-18	Burns the target in close vecnity
Witch Bolt	1	Evocation Spell	18m	1-12	Links player to target with bolt of lightning for 10 turns
Thunderwave- Magic initiate	1	Evocation Spell	5m	2-16	Pushes enemies back
Scorching Ray	2	Evocation Spell	18m	6-36	Shoots 3 rays of Fire at Target
Fireball	3	Evocation Spelll	18m	8-48	Shoots a ball of fire at the target
Lightning Bolt	3	Evocation Spell	30m	8-48	Bolt of lightning that targets every enemy in a line
Ice Storm	4	Evocation Spell	18m	6-40	Launches ice spikes in 6m radius stayes for 2 turns
Blight	4	Necromancy Spell	9m	8-64	Only affective agents living targets
Insect Plague	5	Conjuration Spell	18m	4-40	Effects Terrain and stays for 10 turns
Cloudkill	5	Conjuration Spell	18m	5-40	Releases a cloud of poisen
Sunbeam	6	Evocation Spell	18m	6-48	Beam of light that targets enemies in a line
Disintegrate	6	Transmutation Spell	9m	50-100	Disintegrates the targeted enemy

Wizard Build

The Wizard Class has access to many spells, so we focused on attack and support spells.

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Race	Half-Elf
Sub-Race	High-Half-Elf
Background	Sage
Sub-Class	Abjuration

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Wizards Fight from a distance, which is why they don’t require much strength or constitution, and as a result, you would always keep my Wizard behind a tanky Barbarian. We suggest you consider the following stats when leveling up.

Stats	Goal
Strength	8
Dexterity	13
Consitution	15
Intelligence	12
Wisdom	10
Charisma	19

Feats

You can select these on Levels 4, 6, 8, and 12. You will only be granted 4 Feat points, so use them wisely. We chose the following.

• Ability Improvement: We used this to add two points to Intelligence.
• Magic initiate Wizard: Allows the user to select Two Cantrips and One level 1 spell.
• Crossbow Expert (optional): Increases crossbow proficiency.
• Mage Slayer(optional): Enemies get a disadvantage on Concentration.
• Lucky (optional): Grants 3 luck points that give you an advantage on attack rolls, saving throws, or Ability Checks.

Cantrips

These are spells with no level and don’t take up spell slots.

Cantrip Name	Cantrip Type	Cantrip Range	Cantrip Damage	Cantrip Description
Fire Bolt	Evocation Cantrip	18m	3-30	Hits target with fire
Poison Spray	Conjuration Cantrip	3m	3-36	Hits target with poison gas
Ray of Frost	Evocation Cantrip	18m	3-24	Reduces target speed by 3m
Shocking Grasp	Evocation Cantrip	Melee	3-24	Stuns the target for 1 turn
Minor Illusion	Illusion Cantrip	18m	Not an Attack Cantrip	creates an illusion
Blade Ward - High Half Elf	Abjuration Cantrip	No Range	Not an Attack Cantrip	Provides a Shield against Melee attacks for 2 turns
Acid Splash - Magic iinitiate Wizard	Conjuration Cantrip	18m	3-18	hit target with a ball of acid
Bone Chill - Magic initiate Wizard	Necromancy Cantrip	18m	3-24	Prevents target from healing

Spells

We created a versatile Build with combat and non-combat spells. Even with a vast roster of powerful magic, You are not invincible because you can only use 16 spells to think carefully and select spells according to the encounter.

Spell Names	Spell Level	Spell Type	Spell Range	Spell Damage	Spell Description
Witch Bolt	1	Evocation Spell	18m	1-12	Links player to target with bolt of lightning for 10 turns
Magic Missle	1	Evocation Spell	18m	6-15	Fires 3 magic darts at target
Grease	1	Conjuration Spell	4m	Status effect spell	Hinder ennmy movment and make them fall
Chromatic Orb	1	Evocation Spell	18m	3-24	Launches a sphere that deals Thunder Damage
Thunderwave	1	Evocation Spell	5m	2-16	Pushes enemies back
Mage Armor	1	Abjuration Spell	Melee	Not an Attack Spell	A protection spell that wroks only when the target isn't wearing armor
Tasha's Hideous Laughter	1	Enchantment Spell	18m	Status effect spell	Makes target prone with laughter damaging the enemy can cancl the effects
Fog Cloud	1	Conjuration Spell	5m	Status effect spell	Blinds targets with a thick cloud
Burning Hand - Magic initiate Wizard	1	Evocation Spell	No Range	3-18	Burns the target
Detect Thoughts	2	Divination Spell	No Range	Not an Attack Spell	Alows player to read targets thoughts when taking to them
Arcane lock	2	Abjuration Spell	No Range	Not an Attack Spell	Alows user to lock doors and contaners
Cloud of Daggers	2	Conjuration Spell	18m	4-16	Conjurs a cloud of daggers that attack anyone inside it
Crown of Madness	2	Enchantment Spell	18m	Not an Attack Spell	Makes ememy go mad with fear and attack anyone close by
Scorching Ray	2	Evocation Spell	18m	6-36	Shoots 3 rays of Fire at Target
Fireball	3	Evocation Spelll	18m	8-48	Shoots a ball of fire at the target
Slow	3	Transmutation spell	18m	Status effect spell	Slow down time
Stinking Cloud	3	Conjuration Spell	18m	Status effect spell	Prevents targets form taking action in a 6m radius
Lightning Bolt	3	Evocation Spell	No Range	8-48	Bolt of lightning that targets every enemy in a line in a 30m radius
Fear	3	Illusion Spell	No Range	Status effect spell	Causes Fear in enemies
Banishment	4	Abjuration Spell	18m	Not an Attack Spell	Sends the target to another dimenction for a short time
Confusion	4	Enchantment Spell	18m	Status effect spell	Effects the mind of an enemy and make them do random things
Ice Storm	4	Evocation Spell	18m	6-40	Launches ice spikes in 6m radius stayes for 2 turns
Fire Shield	4	Evocation Spell	No Range	4-32	Creats a shield on the target that damages anyone in melee attack range
Stone Skin	4	Abjuration Spell	No Range	Not an Attack Spell	Creats a shield on the user that reduces the damge taken by 50%
Cloudkill	5	Conjuration Spell	18m	5-40	Releases a cloud of poisen
Sunbeam	6	Evocation Spell	18m	6-48	Beam of light that targets enemies in a line
Chain Lightning	6	Evocation Spell	18m	10-80	Hits the target and three more enemies with lightning with in 18m
Globe of invulnerablity	6	Abjuration Spell	3m	Not an Attack Spell	Make a barrier that negates all damage
Flesh of Stone	6	Transmutation spell	18m	Status effect spell	Turns target to stone

Comparison

Observing the builds above, it’s evident that the Wizard stands out as the superior class, boasting 16 readily available spells and the potential to switch between 29 spells when fully developed.

This extensive selection provides the Wizard with a highly versatile arsenal. See the table below for a Comparison of character, abilities, and stats. We highlighted the main differences in both the Sorcerer and the Wizard.

Sorcerer		Wizard
Character
Race	Elf	Race	Half-Elf
Sub-Race	High-Elf	Sub-Race	High-Half-Elf
Background	Acolyte	Background	Sage
Sub-Class	Wild Magic	Sub-Class	Abjuration
Abilities
Prime Ability	Charisma	Prime Ability	Intelligence
Number of Cantrips	9	Number of Cantrips	8
Active Spells Slots	13	Active Spells Slots	16
Total Number of Spells	13	Total Number of Spells	29
Feats	4	Feats	4
Stats
Strength	8	Strength	8
Dexterity	13	Dexterity	13
Constitution	15	Constitution	15
Intelligence	12	Intelligence	19
Wisdom	10	Wisdom	10
Charisma	19	Charisma	12

From the table above, we can see that the Wizard has more abilities than the Sorcerer; hence, the clear winner of the outcome is the Wizard. However, I suggest that new players start with the Sorcerer class. Its limited spell options make it easier to grasp the fundamentals of how a magic user class functions.

My Thoughts

Spellcasters are one of my favorite classes to play in any game. Even though one spellcaster is enough, during my 20-plus hours with the game, I discovered that having two different types of Spellcasters was also a solid move. This meant that while one of the classes depended on its Intelligence for casting magic, the other depended on Charisma.

However, if you want to limit your party to one spellcaster, I recommend picking the Wizard. This class might not be the best at taking damage, but this class shouldn’t be your line of defense. 

• Baldur’s Gate 3 Best Armor.
• Baldurs Gate 3 Best Greatswords.
• Baldur’s Gate 3 Great Weapon Master.
• Baldur’s Gate 3 Best Sorcerer Build.