Astarion, Shadowheart, Gale, and other familiar characters from Baldur’s Gate 3 are suddenly getting new abilities. Even though Larian Studios wrapped up major content updates for its acclaimed RPG long ago, fresh content is now rolling out again for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Exactly 14 new community mods have been approved for consoles. Among them are a comprehensive companion overhaul, a brand-new character class, an additional Warlock subclass, and unusual options for the Dark Urge. Most notably: some of these changes can significantly alter the combat system.
Baldur’s Gate 3 Gets 14 New Mods for PS5 and Xbox
Larian Studios has approved a new selection of community modifications for the console version of Baldur’s Gate 3.
In total, the latest release includes 14 additional mods that expand the RPG with new features, abilities, and gameplay options.
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Since the introduction of the official mod manager, console players can also install select enhancements originally created by the community.
However, there is an important difference compared to the PC version.
While PC players enjoy significantly more freedom, mods for PlayStation and Xbox must first undergo an additional review process.
Only then can they be downloaded via the built-in mod manager.
The newly approved content ranges from minor quality-of-life improvements to changes that affect the behavior of major characters.
One expansion in particular is likely to interest longtime fans.
Unnerfed Origins Makes Astarion and Shadowheart Stronger
Perhaps the most exciting new addition is called Unnerfed Origins.
The mod grants well-known origin characters and several companions additional passive abilities.
These are based on their personal backgrounds and are intended to restore traits that the characters should naturally possess given their pasts.
Among other things, this changes how Astarion, Shadowheart, Gale, and Karlach behave in specific combat situations.
For example, Astarion gains advantages on saving throws against undead abilities and spells.
This fits his history as a vampire spawn.
Shadowheart, on the other hand, receives an improvement to her mental resilience with “Resilient Soul”.
Her saving throws against certain mental influences will henceforth benefit from an extra bonus that scales with character progression.
Gale is also buffed.
Thanks to “Archmage of Waterdeep,” the wizard gains more flexibility when using illusion and enchantment spells.
Under certain conditions, this allows these spells to be cast as an action or bonus action.
Particularly for players who have already beaten Baldur’s Gate 3 multiple times, such changes could enable entirely new strategies.
Karlach, Lae’zel, and Wyll Also Receive Buffs
The new mod isn’t limited to the three most prominent companions.
Other characters receive individual traits as well.
Karlach, for instance, benefits from her time in the Blood War and gains advantages against fiends, meaning devilish or demonic enemies.
Lae’zel receives advantages against aberrations with “Interplanar Slayer”.
Wyll is buffed in combat against monstrous creatures under the name “Monster Hunter”.
Minsc is also particularly interesting.
His new berserker ability allows him to ignore certain physical damage resistances of enemies.
Jaheira benefits from additional weapon proficiencies and an armor bonus as long as she is concentrating on a spell.
Minthara, conversely, gets an ability that lets her slow down enemies after successfully defending against an effect.
Halsin also receives an additional bonus to his physical attacks.
This changes the gameplay for ten familiar characters at once.
However, players should keep in mind that these are entirely optional modifications.
The original abilities remain unchanged if the mod is not installed.
New Fiend Hunter Class Brings Three Subclasses
Alongside the reworked companions, there is another major addition.
The Fiend Hunter Class mod introduces a completely new playable class.
As the name suggests, it specializes in combat against devilish and demonic foes.
To this end, it comes with its own unique attacks, abilities, weapons, and armor.
In addition, three subclasses are available.
Particularly interesting are the two new resources: “Hatred” and “Discipline”.
Hatred is used for especially powerful attacks.
Discipline, on the other hand, is geared toward tactical actions and special abilities.
This is intended to make the Fiend Hunter feel distinct from existing character classes.
For anyone wanting to start a fresh playthrough of Baldur’s Gate 3, this provides yet another way to fundamentally alter their playstyle.
Soul Reaper Turns You Into a Servant of Death
Warlocks also get new options.
With Soul Reaper, an additional Warlock subclass enters the game.
Here, death itself serves as the focal supernatural power.
Players gain abilities centered around shadows, souls, and the transition between life and death.
The subclass thus expands the Warlock’s previous repertoire.
However, the mod description notes that Soul Reaper may not be compatible with other Warlock modifications.
Anyone who already has multiple expansions installed for the same class should therefore watch out for potential conflicts before activating it.
The Dark Urge Can Now Even Eat Hearts
Some of the remaining mods are significantly more macabre.
Several expansions focus on the Dark Urge, one of the most unusual ways to experience Baldur’s Gate 3.
With “Eat Your Heart Out,” the Dark Urge gains the ability to consume human or humanoid hearts.
The “Bloody Inheritance” mod goes in a different direction.
Here, the Dark Urge can heal themselves under certain conditions while standing in blood.
Another expansion called “Second Chance” adds a new reward from Withers for players who resist their character’s dark impulses.
Additionally, a weapon pack brings new Dark Urge-style swords and shields.
As a result, a significant portion of the current mod selection is aimed at players looking to make their next run intentionally darker or more unusual.
Even Gortash Suddenly Becomes a Halfling
Not every expansion takes itself so seriously.
With “Shortash,” players can replace Gortash with a much smaller halfling version.
While this doesn’t rewrite the entire story, it’s bound to produce some unusual visuals, especially during certain cutscenes.
Other mods handle smaller gameplay improvements.
For instance, “Mass Rez Scroll” lets you revive multiple fallen characters using a modified resurrection mechanic.
“Big Grease,” on the other hand, expands the familiar grease spell to cover a larger area.
If you’re looking for an extra challenge, “Remove Ritual Casting” lets you remove the ability to cast certain spells as rituals without expending a regular spell slot.
Isobel also gets a boost to her survivability.
And if you want to recruit Minsc as early as possible in your party, you can use “Early Minsc” to recruit him as early as Act 1.
The expansion is designed to preserve his later storyline involving “The High Harper” quest.
All 14 New Baldur’s Gate 3 Mods at a Glance
The current console lineup includes the following expansions:
- Mass Rez Scroll – Revive multiple targets
- Remove Ritual Casting – Removes ritual casting for spells
- Shortash – Turns Gortash into a halfling
- Big Grease – Larger grease spell
- Soul Reaper – New Warlock subclass
- Fiend Hunter Class – New class with three subclasses
- Shadowheart’s Elfsong Stool – Reworked stool for Shadowheart
- Eat Your Heart Out – Dark Urge can consume hearts
- Isobel Survivability Overhaul – Improves Isobel’s survival chances
- Second Chance – New reward for the Dark Urge
- Bloody Inheritance – Healing through blood for the Dark Urge
- Unnerfed Origins – New passive companion abilities
- Dark Urge Sword & Shield Pack – Additional weapons and shields
- Early Minsc – Recruit Minsc in Act 1
All content comes from the community and does not consist of official new story expansions from Larian.
Mods Have a Catch on the PlayStation 5
These additional features can significantly change the gameplay experience.
However, trophy hunters in particular should exercise caution.
Larian Studios points out that enabling mods disables the unlocking of new trophies and achievements.
Anyone still aiming for the Platinum trophy should therefore stick to an unmodified save file.
Furthermore, certain modifications can impact existing save games.
Especially when dealing with major changes to classes, abilities, or characters, it’s wise to read the respective descriptions carefully.
In multiplayer sessions, all participants must also have compatible mod versions installed.
Despite these limitations, the new selection highlights just how extensively Baldur’s Gate 3 is being expanded by its community.
Baldur’s Gate 3 Continues to Receive New Possibilities
With Patch 8, Larian Studios released the final major official content update in April 2025.
Since then, the development team has shifted its focus to new projects.
Even so, Baldur’s Gate 3 is far from finished.
The community continues to develop additional classes, abilities, items, and unusual gameplay mechanics.
Thanks to the official mod manager, owners of a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X|S can now benefit from these as well.
The current lineup is a great example of this.
Unnerfed Origins, in particular, could make a fresh playthrough interesting by equipping familiar characters with extra traits.
At the same time, the Fiend Hunter and Soul Reaper provide fresh possibilities for entirely different character concepts.
And anyone who has always wanted to see a much smaller Gortash deliver his grand speeches now finally has the opportunity to do so.
Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
