Great Weapon Fighting | Baldurs Gate 3 Wiki

Turns out this fighting style is way better in bg3 than in 5e, especially for paladins.
In 5e, the ruling is that ONLY damage from the weapon itself could get rerolls.
In bg3 however, it rerolls weapon dice, but ALSO dice from effects like enlarge, ever-burning blade, poison, and most of all: SMITES!!

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I rolled a 3 on damage with a great sword for total damage roll. Which should be a minimum of 6 with this perk, I think the multiple dice rolls aren’t being calculated properly at the moment.

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1d6 = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}
E(x) = (1+2+3+4+5+6) / 6 = 3.5

1. Before taking GWF
Greatsword 2d6 = 2 × E(x) = 7

2. After taking GWF
{1,2} → GWF applied → reroll and MUST use the NEW ROLL → {1,2,3,4,5,6}
{3,4,5,6} → GWF not applied

E(x) = 1/3 × {(1+2+3+4+5+6)/6} + 2/3 × {(3+4+5+6)/4} = 1.166 + 3 = 4.166

Greatsword 2d6 = 2 × E(x) = 8.332

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For anyone wanting some math for this perk here it is.


2d6 = 2(3.5) = 7 avg dmg a greatsword
.667(4.5)+.333(3.5) = 4.16 two thirds of the time the perk doesn't proc, which gives avg dmg of 4.5 (3+4+5+6 / 4) and one third of the time the perk procs and we reroll
so it does normal dmg. This mean 1d6 average with this perk is 4.16
2*4.16 = 8.3 2d6 average is 8.3, over a point higher than without this perk


1d12 = 6.5 Greathammers and Greataxes uses 1d12
.8333(7.5)+.1667(6.5) = 7.333 Using similar math to above, the average with this perk is 7.333, which is less than one point


So as the math shows, this perk does more if you are using a greatsword. and either way the damage increase is relatively minor. It's probably the best lvl 2 pickup if you're playing a fighter with a great weapon, but it's not bad to take the extra armor feat instead.

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Anyone else pick this up and have it not working at all?

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Does it work on longsowrd two handed?

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