Customizing your character’s appearance in Baldur’s Gate 3 is one of the most fun yet challenging aspects of the game because there are so many options for you to choose from. This also means it can be overwhelming and you may not like your character’s appearance once you start playing.
But is there a way to change your character’s appearance in Baldur’s Gate 3?
How to customize your character in Baldur’s Gate 3
![Baldur's Gate 3 character creation screen](https://vip-develop.dotesports.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Baldurs-Gate-character-customization-2.png?w=640)
In Baldur’s Gate 3, the customization options are vast. When you start the game, you’ll be able to customize your character’s race, background, class, subclass, and more. But customizing your character’s appearance is arguably the most enjoyable way of putting your own stamp on them.
From your voice, hair, scars, and questionable body parts to your build, the options are endless when creating your character’s appearance. Make sure you are 100 percent happy with your character’s appearance before you begin the game, however.
Can you change your appearance in Baldur’s Gate 3?
After you’ve created your character at the beginning of Baldur’s Gate 3 and have started the game, you can’t change your character’s appearance.
So if you make a mistake or don’t like their appearance, tough luck because your character’s appearance is permanent, and you are stuck with how they look—unless you delete the character and start over again. I made a bit of a mistake with my character as I forgot to select her voice. It may not be the most soothing sound to the ears, but it’s also not the worst. So, I’m going to keep playing her.
![Woman in old fashioned clothes talking to a man in Baldur's Gate 3](https://vip-develop.dotesports.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/dot-esports-character-in-baldurs-gate-3.jpg)
Baldur’s Gate 3 Mask of the Shapeshifter: How to change your appearance temporarily
Although we can’t permanently change our character’s appearance, there is a way to temporarily change their appearance through the Legendary Illusion Spell, “Mask of the Shapeshifter.”
![A menu showing a stone mask with abilities in BG3](https://vip-develop.dotesports.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/mask-of-the-shapeshifter-in-baldurs-gate-3.jpg)
You obtain this item by purchasing the Deluxe Collector’s Edition of BG3, and you’ll find it in the storage chest at your Camp.
How to use the Mask of the Shapeshifter
To use the Mask of the Shapeshifter, a level-one Shapeshifting ability allowing you to transform into another race or gender, you need to follow these steps:
- Open your inventory and right-click on the Mask of the Shapeshifter.
- Select the “Equip” option.
- You’ll notice a glowing blue mask ability in your abilities tab at the bottom of the screen—this is your Shapeshifting illusion ability. Select it.
- Then choose from the list of illusion options.
![A tab featuring multiple icons of the races and genders in Baldur's Gate 3](https://vip-develop.dotesports.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/mask-of-the-shapeshifter-in-baldurs-gate-3-options.jpg)
- Click on your character to confirm your selection—this triggers a spell cast effect, and your appearance will change.
- If you’re not happy with the general look, you can choose another option
- When you are satisfied with your choice, unequip the mask, which can be done by returning to your inventory menu (the shortcut is “I” on the keyboard).
And that’s it. Unfortunately, this illusion is temporary and the spell can be broken. But on the bright side, you can re-equip the mask and go through the process to temporarily transform yourself again, or you can select the option to return to your original appearance.
Related: How to revive in Baldur’s Gate 3
While you can’t permanently change your appearance in BG3, if you have the Mask of the Shapeshifter, you can temporarily change it for a short while.
Will we be able to change our Baldur’s Gate 3 character’s appearance in the future?
Changing our character’s appearance would be an incredible feature to add to Baldur’s Gate 3 in future updates. But, at this time, developer Larian Studios hasn’t announced whether such a function or feature will be added to BG3. But many players likely hope it will.