Combat | Baldurs Gate 3 Wiki

Dungeons and Dragons

Baldur's Gate 3 is based on the 5th edition of Dungeons and Dragons. The 5th edition was implemented in 2014 and is the latest version of the pen & paper RPG.

20th Sided Die

Dungeons and Dragons uses a system that involves the rolling of a 20th sided die. This die is called the d20 to resolve encounters and scenarios on the game world. Dice rolls play an active part in whatever action you decide to do, may it be in combat or in dialogue. 

 

How Spells Influence Dice Rolls

In the current setup, dice rolls are displayed at the center of the screen when you’re talking to NPCs. You just hope for the best that you get a favorable roll. In the new PATCH #5, you’ll be able to influence its outcome. To increase the chances of NPCs agreeing with you, you can use your or your Companions’ Spells. But remember that you’ll make use of Spell Slots when you cast a Spell so choose wisely.

So, for example, you can opt to cast Enhance Ability first to account for the Advantage bonus you get in order to roll twice. This raises the chances of tipping the scale in your favor. Alternatively, Guidance is also a good Spell, which also increases your chances for success. 

 

Ability Score & Ability Modifier

It's the number that represents each ability stat of your character. On the other hand, ability modifier is the bonus or penalty you gain from your ability score of each ability. To determine an ability modifier, subtract 10 to the ability score, then divide the result by two rounded down. For example. if you have 21 Strength, your ability score is 21. and your ability modifier is +5 ((21-10)/2=5.5, rounded down to 5). If you have 6 Wisdom, then your ability Score is 6 and your ability modifier is -2. ((6-10) / 2 = -2)

Both ability scores and ability modifiers determines how successful your character is at various things throughout the game.

 

Attack Rolls

Attack rolls occur when a character is attacking another character. The attacking character rolls the d20 and if the roll is equal or higher than the target's Armor Class (AC), then that attack hits the target with the equipped weapon.

Melee weapons use the Strength ability modifier, while Ranged Weapons use the Dexterity ability modifier. There are some exceptions, such as melee weapons that have the finesse property. These melee weapons use Dexterity instead of Strength.

If you successfully connect the attack, your ability modifier is then added to your damage roll. Damage rolls are calculated by rolling the die or dice of the weapon used and then adding the ability modifier. (for example, a weapon deals 2d6 damgae, means you roll a 6-sided die twice. ) This means that you are not only more likely to hit with the weapon if you have high Strength or Dexterity, but you will do more damage if you do.

 

Saving Throws

Saving throws are used to calculate the defense of a character against many effects or Spells in the game. Each of these has its own DC, which the character must make a saving throw of the die against in order to protect themselves.

These Spells or effects will target one of the six Abilities of the player, and they will use that specific ability modifier when rolling. Just like ability checks and attack rolls, you must hit the target number or higher in order to succeed. 

If you are making a spellcasting character, like a Wizard or Sorcerer you want to have the highest DC you can on your Spells because this will make it harder for Enemies to successfully rolling a Saving Throw. 

Such as is the case with Weapons, each Spellcasting class uses a different Ability that is used to calculate the Spellcasting Ability modifier: 

• Clerics use Wisdom
• Wizards use Intelligence
• Sorcerers and Warlocks use Charisma

The DC to resist one of your spells is calculated is always 8 + Spellcasting Ability Modifier.

For example, if your Druid casts the spell Call Lightning around a bunch of Goblins. The Druid's Wisdom is 23, so he has a Spellcasting Ability Modifier of +6. This means the DC of this Spell is 14 (8+6). Any Goblin who doesn't roll at least draw 14, will take 3d10 damage (The sum of three rolls of a d10 die), and any who does, will take half that amount.

 

Advantage and disadvantage

Advantage and disadvantage are applied to the roll of the d20. Advantage means that you roll the d20 two times when making an Attack Roll, Ability Check or Saving Throw, and use the higher of the two values. On the other hand, disadvantage means that you roll the d20 two times but in this case, use the lower of the two values.

Disadvantage is one of the worst situations you can be on when rolling on D&D, and should be avoided at all costs. While advantage nearly doubles your chance of success and should be sought out. 

 

Proficiency

All characters in D&D 5th edition have what it's called a Proficiency Bonus. This is a positive modifier that increases as your character gains levels, and work somewhat similarly to ability modifiers because it is added to d20 rolls.

Each player character begins the game with a proficiency level of +2, increasing +1 every four levels to a maximum of +6. Proficiency bonus is the same for all characters at the same level, regardless of Class or Race.

Proficiency bonus is only added to your d20 rolls of things that you have proficiency in. These are determined by your Race, Class, Background and Feats. This means that you will only get this roll at things your character is good at. For example:

• Attack rolls using Weapons you are proficient with.
• Ability checks using skills you are proficient with.
• Ability checks using tools you are proficient with.
• Saving throws you are proficient in
• Attack rolls with Spells you cast.
• Saving throws DCs for Spells you cast.

Proficiency bonus is not added to the damage roll.

Penalties

In 5th edition D&D players do not receive a penalty for attacking with Weapons they are not proficient with, but instead do not gain their proficiency bonus. And when using Armor or Shields they are not proficient with, they have disadvantage on any ability check, saving throw or attack roll that involves Strength or Dexterity and they cannot cast Spells. Using armors you are not proficient with should be avoided at all costs.

Feats

Feats in Baldur's Gate 3 work like talents or perks in other RPGs, giving the character a very specific bonus. Players don't gain Feats automatically. Players gain an Ability Score point every 4 levels (At level 4 - 8 - 12 -16 and finally 19) and can opt out of this ability score improvement to instead take a Feat. Humans and Fighters gain additional Feats.

Not all Feats can be used by everyone, the Heavily Armored Feat for example, requires to have Medium Armor Proficiency to be unlocked.

Weapon Proficiency & Damage Type

In Baldur's Gate 3 you can use  any weapon you wish on any character, but you will not gain your proficiency bonus when attacking if you aren't proficient with said weapon. You won't be penalized for using a weapon you are not proficient with, but the likelihood of hitting an enemy is reduced because you don't get the added benefit of proficiency.

Every characters Weapon proficiency is determined by their Race and Classes. For example, Elves gain proficiency with Longswords, Shortswords, shortbow and longbows. Wizards gain proficiency with Daggers, Darts, Slings, Quarterstaffs and Light Crossbows. This means that if you create an Elven Wizard, you'll have proficiency with all 9 of those weapon types. 

Each Weapon has a damage type a is either Bludgeoning, Piercing or Slashing. This is something to be aware of because some Enemies have damage reductions to certain types of damage.

Armor Class (AC)

Armor Class is what protects you from any attack that uses an attack roll, Spells included. The amount of protection you gain depends on how heavy the armor you are wearing. For example Padded Armor gives you 11 AC, which means an enemy must reach a total of 11 on the attack roll in order hit you.

When wearing lighter armor, players gain a benefit to their armor class from their Dexterity. When wearing Light Armor you gain the full value of your Dexterity modifier added to your Armor Class. When wearing Medium Armor, you gain up to +2 AC from your Dexterity modifier and when wearing Heavy Armor you gain no benefit from your Dexterity modifier at all.

Unlike Weapons, proficiency in an armor type is a must-have or you'll be facing some serious penalties. Characters who wear armor they aren't proficient in will have disadvantage on any Ability Check, Saving Throw or Attack Roll that involves Strength or Dexterity and they can't cast Spells.

The other two important things to pay attention when wearing armor, is whether or not they give you disadvantage on Stealth checks and when using Heavy Armor whether there is a Strength requirement or not.

Loaded Dice

This optional change will help smooth out the extremes of the bell curve. It retains the core elements of RNG, ensuring a player can no longer be unlucky or super lucky with several dice rolls in a row. The system also runs in two parts: dice rolls in dialogue are different to those in combat, and this change only impacts the d20, not damage rolls.

Non-Lethal Attacks

As of Patch#5 you can now perform nonlethal attacks. This allows you more flexibility during Quests, allowing you to knockout characters that you don't want to kill, leading to more diverse branching paths.

 

New Melee Combat Options (From Patch#7)

Thrown weapons

• You can now throw a new class of weapons from a distance. Thrown Weapons like Daggers, Javelins, Handaxes, and Spears do damage based on their Damage stats rather than their weight. Barbarians will begin the game with two Handaxes in addition to their primary Greataxe weapon.

Improvised weapons

• You can now attack by using furniture, instruments, animals, limbs, and NPCs as Improvised Melee Weapons.

Expanded throwing

• You can now throw objects or characters that weigh up to three times your Strength ability score.
• The range of the throw scales based on your Strength and the object’s weight. Rile enemies up by throwing a badger at them or yeet a goblin to test their aerodynamics.

 

Reactions (From Patch#9)

You can use counterspell during enemies' turn as a reaction. 

When your character has the opportunity to react, a popup box will appear, allowing you to chose what you want to do.

(Note, a counter spell requires spell slot.)

 

High Ground Rules

When you attack from above, you gain a +2 bonus to the Attack Roll. When you attack from below, you have a -2 penalty. The height difference between you and your target must be at least 2.5m.