Baldur's Gate 3 Combat Guide: Essential Tips & Tricks

From general tips to help you survive the perils of the Forgotten Realms to combat tactics that will ensure your party's success, this guide covers it all.

Baldur's Gate 3 Combat Guide: Essential Tips & Tricks
Larian Studios

Prepare to enter a world where every choice you make shapes your destiny and every step you take is fraught with danger and opportunity. Baldur's Gate III, the latest installment in the legendary franchise, beckons you to explore its vast, intricate universe, but navigating this epic journey can be a daunting task.

Fear not, for this is your portal to mastery. Whether you're a novice eager to embark on your first adventure or a seasoned traveler of the Sword Coast, this comprehensive guide is your trusted companion. It holds the key to unveiling the game's deepest secrets, mastering its complex systems, and emerging as a true hero in the face of countless challenges.

Combat Tips and Tricks

  • High Ground Advantage: Take advantage of high ground and positioning. Being above your enemies can make it easier to hit them, especially for ranged attacks.

  • Elemental Weapon Dipping: Use a bonus action to dip your weapon in nearby elements for extra damage. Common elements include fire, which can enhance your attacks.

  • Opportunity Attacks: Be cautious when moving near enemies during combat, as this can trigger opportunity attacks. You can use the Disengage bonus action to avoid these attacks.

Baldur's gate 3 disengage action
Larian Studios
  • Cantrips: Cantrip spells don't consume spell slots and can be used every turn. Hover over an ability to check its action type.

  • Healing with Food: Different types of food can restore your health. Some meats are particularly effective for healing.

  • Enemy Examination: Right-click on an enemy to examine them and learn about their resistances, current conditions, and more. Hover over conditions on your portrait to understand their effects.

  • Offhand Attacks: Offhand attacks count as bonus actions, making them ideal for characters like Rogues who dual wield weapons.

  • Turn-Based Mode Shortcut: Press the Spacebar to enter turn-based mode outside of combat for careful planning.

  • Environmental Interaction: Always look for opportunities in the environment. You may discover objects like stalactites or stockades that can be used to your advantage.

Environmental advantage in Baldur's Gate 3
Larian Studios
  • Elemental Combos: Take advantage of the environment by freezing blood, burning water to create steam, or electrifying water sources. These tactics work well with specific spells and potions.

  • Weapon Proficiency: Characters proficient in Simple Weapons and Martial Weapons can use various types of weapons. Simple Weapons require minimal skill, while Martial Weapons demand training.

  • Flaming Weapons: Carry a candle in your character's inventory. In combat, place the candle on the ground as a free action, light it, and then dip your weapon into the flame as a bonus action to deal additional fire damage.

  • Throwing Potions: You can throw potions at other characters to apply their effects. This is especially useful for healing multiple companions simultaneously.

Throwing potions in Baldur's gate 3
Larian Studios
  • Undoing "End Turn": If you accidentally end your turn, you can undo it by going to the Character Select menu and selecting the character whose turn you wish to restore. However, this won't work if an enemy has already acted.

  • Enemy Reactions: Each enemy has only one reaction, which they can use for actions like Opportunity Attacks, class-specific abilities, or spells. If you're not considered "Threatened" when near an enemy, it means they've already used their reaction and can't make another opportunity attack.

  • Dual Wielding: If a weapon is light, you can equip two of them to dual wield. This allows you to make an additional Bonus Action attack, though you can toggle this feature in your passives menu.

  • Weapon Swapping: Equip or swap weapons outside of combat to avoid spending an action during your turn.

  • Linked Inventories: Party member inventories are linked in real-time, even during combat. Press Tab to bring up inventories and transfer items between characters.

Character screen in Baldur's gate 3
Larian Studios
  • Shove and Environmental Hazards: During combat, use the shove action strategically to push enemies off ledges or into hazards like bottomless abysses. Be aware that loot will fall with the enemy.

These tips and tricks should provide you with a solid foundation to embark on your adventure in Baldur's Gate III. Explore, strategize, and enjoy your journey through this immersive and challenging world.