Mastering Baldur's Gate 3 Combat: Unleash Unbeatable Strategies for Every Encounter!

Highlights

Resting after encounters replenishes resources, allowing characters to unleash powerful attacks and reposition without worrying about their immediate resource count.

Inspecting enemies allows players to gather information about their stats and resistances, enabling them to strategize and select the most powerful skills and spells during combat. Efficiently utilizing actions, bonus actions, and reactions in each round of battle not only enhances a character's presence but also leads to more innovative and devastating attacks.

Content Fragment (Rewritten):

In Baldur's Gate 3, encounters occur when the exploration aspect of the game transitions into turn-based combat. These encounters, inspired by Dungeons & Dragons, present combat scenarios that resemble traditional turn-based RPGs. However, the unique action economy of D&D 5e provides players with numerous options for each character's turn.

To avoid feeling overwhelmed, players should remember that their characters possess various skills that can be utilized within the action economy. Understanding when to employ specific skills and spells can greatly influence the outcome of combat in Baldur's Gate 3. For newcomers, knowing how to take advantage of the game's combat system becomes crucial in securing a favorable position in any fight.

10 Fight Only When Fully Rested

After a battle in Baldur’s Gate 3, it is recommended for players to visit Camp to replenish their spent resources. By doing so, characters can enter combat fully prepared, allowing them to unleash powerful attacks or reposition themselves without concern for their immediate resource count.

Having a fully-rested party encourages players to be more inventive in their combat strategies. There is no longer a need to keep an injured party member nearby or waste valuable Spell Slots and Health Potions before engaging an enemy.

9 Inspect Thy Enemy

While players may initially engage in battles without prior knowledge, they have the ability to assess the basic statistics and Resistances of both enemies and surrounding objects in Baldur’s Gate 3. To do so, simply right-click on the desired interactive object and choose the "Inspect" option. A window will appear, displaying a 3D portrait similar to the character examination screen. Through this "Inspect" feature, players can determine the advantageous elements and attack types, as well as any disadvantages, when facing enemies or interacting with objects.

8 Consider The Action Economy

In Baldur's Gate 3, the combat system follows D&D's Action Economy, allowing characters to perform an Action, Bonus Action, and Reaction in a single round. To excel in battle, players should ensure that their characters have options available for each of these actions. For instance, players can enhance a Cleric like Shadowheart by utilizing powerful healing spells such as Healing Word and Cure Wounds. While Cure Wounds provides greater healing, it requires an Action to cast, whereas Healing Word only requires a Bonus Action. By using Healing Word as a Bonus Action, Shadowheart remains efficient in combat, retaining an Action for other maneuvers.

7 Establish Momentum With Actions

Baldur’s Gate 3 players can maximize damage against enemies by strategically using Spells and Features in the correct order. Take, for example, the Arcane Trickster Rogue who can utilize the True Strike (Divination Cantrip) spell to gain Advantage on their next Attack. This allows them to seamlessly incorporate a Sneak Attack in their following turn.

However, Rogues like Astarion can bypass the need to wait for the rest of the round to execute a Sneak Attack. Shadowheart, for instance, can cast Guiding Bolt (Level 1 Evocation), inflicting 4d6 Radiant Damage on an enemy while also granting Advantage for the next Attack Roll against them. This creates an effective setup for Astarion.

6 Recovery Is Always A Priority

Baldur's Gate 3 characters can access Spells and other skills that are typically not available to their build through Multiclassing, Magic Items, and specific Feats. Consequently, it is advisable for characters to possess some means of recovery during combat.

In addition to Health Potions, players should seek out Magic Items and Feats (such as Magic Initiate) that grant healing Spells like Healing Word and Cure Wounds. This enables all characters to survive combat without solely relying on the designated healer. Furthermore, it allows the healer to have more creative freedom in supporting the rest of the team, such as utilizing buffs or casting more offensive spells.

5 Take Advantage Of Initiative

When players catch an enemy off guard without their entire Baldur's Gate 3 party, they are technically acting outside of combat constraints. However, any attack that triggers the surprise round will still count as the player's turn, causing them to use up the resource (usually an Action) required for that strike. At first glance, this may seem disadvantageous for the character: not only do they have no choice but to end their turn, but they are also outnumbered. The question then arises, once they end their turn, can the enemies easily move in for the kill?

Not necessarily - in situations where only a few characters are engaged in the encounter, the other non-combatant Companions are still in exploration mode. This presents a significant advantage for players, as they can strategically position these free-moving Companions before joining the encounter with their surprise attacks, with minimal consequences.

4 Augment Attacks With Weapon Actions

Baldur's Gate 3 distinguishes itself from the acclaimed TTRPG by incorporating Weapon Actions, which add a significant amount of flexibility to characters, particularly those who focus on melee combat such as the Fighter class. Unlike spellcasters, these melee-oriented characters often lack utility options.

For example, players who are deliberating between using a Short/Longbow or a Hand Crossbow can consider the unique Weapon Actions associated with each. The Hand Crossbow possesses the Mobile Shot, which allows players to make a ranged attack even after performing a Dash or Disengage action. On the other hand, the Short/Longbow offers the Hamstring Shot, which has the potential to decrease an enemy's Movement Speed by half.

3 Bonus Actions Can Turn The Tide Of Battle

In Dungeons & Dragons gameplay, Bonus Actions refer to "light" maneuvers that do not require significant effort and do not consume a character's entire turn. In addition to specific Spells and Class Features like the Druid's Wild Shape, all characters in BG3 have access to a basic set of Bonus Action options. If players feel like their characters are unable to take effective actions during their turn, they should consider utilizing one of these Bonus Actions. Using them appropriately can contribute to better strategies and setups.

For example, Jumping and Dashing can assist characters in getting closer to or moving farther away from enemies, allowing for improved attack coverage. Similarly, briefly dipping a weapon into a nearby surface can result in extra damage when targeting an enemy's Weakness. Alternatively, Shoving a target can prompt them to move closer to another character, creating opportunities for more efficient strikes. Finally, Hiding can help players reposition without the risk of being attacked.

2 Abuse Environment Interactions

Apart from Extra Attack mechanics, Spells, Scrolls, and unique projectiles are the most effective methods of inflicting maximum damage in Baldur's Gate 3. However, their limited availability of Spell Slots makes them impractical for prolonged encounters. These limitations can pose challenges in many Baldur's Gate 3 encounters, but players can overcome them by utilizing the game's interactive environments.

By launching a flaming projectile (whether a Spell or another means) at an oil barrel, players can trigger an explosion that damages nearby enemies, all without breaking a sweat. Additionally, there are other clever interactions to consider, such as hurling heavy objects at enemies, employing electricity-based or ice-based attacks against foes on water surfaces, or striking menacing-looking plants that release deadly gases.

1 Make Other NPCs Do The Work

Players and their party in Baldur's Gate 3 can utilize the close proximity of town centers to their advantage when facing unexpectedly challenging opponents. By doing so, they may find unexpected allies in the form of warriors from the townsfolk who are eager to assist in combating any nearby troublemakers.

A notable example occurs during the encounter with Harpies in the Secluded Cove during Act 1. Although the Harpies initially focus their attention on captivating a young boy with their enchanting song, multiple Harpies will attempt to scale their way up to the Emerald Grove. Once the invaders reach a certain proximity, the Tieflings and Druids will put aside their differences and join forces to collectively face the Harpy threat. This collaboration provides players with a chance to regain their composure and strategize against their enemies.

Baldur’s Gate 3 is currently available for PC and is slated for a September 6, 2023 release on PlayStation 5.