In terms of melee combat, Karlach or Lae'zel?

[Soap MacTavish]

I play as a sorcerer, and Astarion and Shadowheart are in my party. I want to choose one of them for melee combat, but I’m not sure which one is better. Personally, I like Karlach more, but Lae’zel seems more connected to the story, especially because of her race. Can you help me decide? Also, what’s your party like, and which one did you prefer?

[アンジェル]

Originally posted by Souraprau:

In terms of melee combat, Karlach or Lae'zel?
I play as a sorcerer, and Astarion and Shadowheart are in my party. I want to choose one of them for melee combat, but I’m not sure which one is better. Personally, I like Karlach more, but Lae’zel seems more connected to the story, especially because of her race. Can you help me decide? Also, what’s your party like, and which one did you prefer?

Both are good choices. Karlach is often stronger, depending on how you make her build. Lazael is easier to use due to her race where she can benefit from strong armour she can loot from fellow Githyanki.

For your party both is fine. Beginners I recommend Lazael while Karlach is sure more fun to have in the party with her lively remarks.

[Thomas D.]

For me its definetly Laezel! As you said she is more connected to the story. Plus there is some good Githyanki exclusive Gear, especially if you get the Silversword at Act 1 (you have to use a trick).

If its about the classes: you can respec! I made Laezel a Paladin + Pact Blade Warlock.

Also I dont like Karlach that much because of the stupid stuff she is saying...

[Kernest]

It comes down to how you build them.

A Wildheart Wolf Barbarian (Karlach) can give every other melee fighter Advantage, which is huge, while also tanking plenty of hits. To the extent that there is need for tanking in BG3, at least.

A Battlemaster Lae'Zel can try to disarm, trip, push or attempt other shenanigans with the most dangerous enemies. And she's not bad at tanking hits either.

[God Queen 158]

Lae'zel. Fighter Battlemaster is far more versatile than any of the Barbarian subclasses.

[jonnin]

barbarian is better early game, if you pick frenzy. The barbarian can have 2 attacks with a 2h weapon at level 3, and 3 attacks at level 5. The fighter is only getting its second attack at 5th level, ignoring the once per rest reset button. The barbarian frenzy also works for throwing an extra shot (same as 2h attacks, 3 shots at level 5).

Late game the fighter is far superior to a barbarian: the barbarian gets almost zero useful things after level 5, while the fighter gets fighting styles, extra feats, an option to go heavy armor / low dex, and more which the barbarian cannot keep up with and which matter more after the start of act 2.

Also karlach's story is depressing, while lazel's can be encouraging. K's story is so bad I won't take her OR wyll anymore.

[Bloodartist]

As much I love Karlachs character, the reality is that Lae'zel is simply better in combat on average (Assuming Karlach stays full barbarian), and also gets some very specific gear for her. Minthara is also very nice..

[Raz]

Tiger Rage Barbarian can break multiple targets without the need to burn a resource like Battle master for it to achieve the same. Sure, Battlemasters Sweep Maneuver deals more damage since it gets a Superiority die added to it, but again, that's a limited resource to burn. Eating Short Rests like a Warlock if trying to pull the same with a Fighter that a Barbarian can do.

https://youtu.be/WMA1TUAhhAA?si=IxTrKcU2VoFJ-RZt

[dancing.in.the.web]

In terms of melee dmg in late game
Astarion (thief4\night stalker8, DW, crit with Bhaal armour, accended) > Lae`zel (battlemaster 12 2H silver sword) > Minthara (Pal) > Karlach (Barb).
And Karlach Barb is stronger to build throwing build (so not melee).
So Asti is best in melee but only in very late game when you get all the needed items. Until that he is more effective as shooter.

[Thomas D.]

Only if you dont know how to build a Paladin...

[Lightseeker]

karlach as open hand monk is extremely OP

[soniceris]

At lower levels I like barbarian better so I mostly ran with Karlach and only pulled Lae in for stuff specific to her story. At top levels my fighter Lae'zel is beastlyyyy

[IdealPoint]

I almost always go with Lae'zel. She does a little less overall damage than a barbarian until level 11, but she can wear heavy armor which is actually extremely good in this game. Her ability to mess with bosses is also much better with her battle maneuvers. And she gets an extra feat, which means she can take something like sentry or mageslayer without feeling like I am missing out.

If I were going to build a dedicated throwing character I would use Karlach.