Yes, I have turned my Karlach into an alcoholic in Baldur's Gate 3. But that only made her stronger, so I am going to tell you exactly how I did it.
There is a reason why there are so many alcoholic beverages in BG3. With the right magic items, characters can gain buffs from being drunk and compensate for the Disadvantage on Dexterity and Charisma checks from the "Alcohol" debuff.
Drunken Warrior Build for Baldur's Gate 3
Up to Patch 3, there are only three magic items that we need for this build. Pair that with the right class (and the right amount of alcohol in blood), and you will have a fearsome drunk brawler.
Here is where to find these items:
Where to find Punch-Drunk Bastard in BG3
The first one is a +1 Enchanted Greatclub that deals an extra 1d4 Thunder damage in a 5ft blast radius with each attack. It also grants you the feature Tippler's Rage, which gives you Advantage in all Attack Rolls. The club can be found during Act 2 inside a chest in The Waning Moon Tavern (X:-260, Y:-84).
Where to find the Amulet of the Drunkard in BG 3
The second item we need is a necklace that heals 2d4 hit points per turn when the character is drunk. It also extends your "Alcohol" condition from 2 to 5 turns, making it easier to stay under the influence of alcohol during combat.
I purchased this item during Act 3 from Hoots Hooligan in Sharess' Caress (X:18, Y:83) after I said I wanted to try her Hoot's Hooch (I didn't actually have to drink it).
Where to find The Drunken Cloth in BG3
This 10 AC robe grants you Advantage in Constitution Saving Throws and gives you temporary hit points equal to your Constitution Modifier at the start of your turn. This item is sold in Act 3 by the tavernkeeper Severn inside The Guild (X:-28, Y:767).
Related: Tavern Brawler Monk BG3 build guide
Best class for a drunk build in BG3
Many classes can benefit from a drunken build, but the one that fits the most — thematically and mechanically — is a Barbarian with 4 levels of Fighter.
While a Drunk Monk or a Sharpshooter Ranger are also strong candidates for this build, none of those can use the three magic items and make use of the blast damage of the Punch-Drunk Bastard like the Barbarian can.
Drunk Build Level Progression in Baldur's Gate 3
This is what your Ability Scores should look like at Level 1:
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
| 17 | 14 | 16 | 8 | 10 | 8 |
Now, the level progression for this Barbarian (8) / Fighter (4) Multiclass:
| Character Level | Class Level | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Barbarian 1 | The Unarmoured Defence feature will allow you to use the Drunken Cloth without losing much AC. |
| Level 2 | Barbarian 2 | Danger Sense, Reckless Attack. |
| Level 3 | Barbarian 3 | Pick the subclass Path of The Berserk. This will grant you the feature Frenzied Rage, which allows you to make another attack as a bonus action. With each attack, you will trigger the blast damage from the Greatclub. |
| Level 4 | Barbarian 4 | Tavern Brawler feat and increase your Strength to 18. |
| Level 5 | Barbarian 5 | Extra Attack, Fast Movement |
| Level 6 | Fighter 1 | Fighting Style (Great Weapon Fighting), Second Wind. |
| Level 7 | Fighter 2 | Action Surge |
| Level 8 | Fighter 3 | Choose the Champion Subclass. The Improved Critical Hit has synergy with the Great Weapon Master feat, which gives you an Extra Attack as a Bonus Action each time you land a Critical Hit. |
| Level 9 | Fighter 4 | Choose the feat Great Weapon Master to get +10 damage at a cost of -5 to attack rolls. Since the Punch-Drunk Bastard Greatclub gives us Advantage on all attacks, that should compensate for the penalty. |
| Level 10 | Barbarian 6 | Mindless Rage: While Frenzied you can't be Charmed or Frightened, and your Rage doesn't end with Calm Emotions. |
| Level 11 | Barbarian 7 | Feral Instinct: You gain a +3 bonus to Initiative and can't be Surprised. |
| Level 12 | Barbarian 8 | Feat: Ability Score improvement to increase your Strength to 20. |
For more on Baldur's Gate 3, check out How to choose the right Deity for your offerings in Baldur’s Gate 3 or Draconic Sorcerer Build Guide for BG3 here on Pro Game Guides
Published: Nov 14, 2023 07:58 pm