Mastering the Art of Proficiency in Baldur's Gate 3

Baldur's Gate 3 is an adaptation of the Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition system by Larian Studios, designed for PC and PS5. While Baldur's Gate 3 makes some modifications to the tabletop system as a CRPG, one aspect that remains largely unchanged is proficiency.

Proficiency in Baldur's Gate 3 determines a character's level of skill or experience in a specific area such as a skill, weapon, armor, or saving throw. Having proficiency can provide a bonus or eliminate a penalty when utilizing these abilities. Throughout their adventure to level 12, players will acquire numerous proficiencies based on their race, class, subclass, and feat choices.

Weapon, Armor, and Shield Proficiency

Weapon Proficiency

Weapons in Baldur's Gate 3 are categorized as Simple or Martial. Proficiency in these weapon types is determined by the player's chosen class, with some classes granting proficiency in both categories. Additionally, it is also possible to acquire proficiency in a specific weapon through choices related to race, class, or subclass.

While characters have the option to wield weapons without the necessary expertise, they will not benefit from two significant advantages. Utilizing a weapon they are proficient in enables characters to augment their Attack Rolls with their Proficiency Bonus, which will scale from +2 to +4 as they progress in levels. Furthermore, possessing proficiency in a weapon grants access to its unique ability, known as the Weapon Action, exclusive to that specific weapon in Baldur's Gate 3.

Armor Proficiency

There are three types of Armor in Baldur's Gate 3, each with its own proficiency:

Light Armor: Low AC armor that allows players to add their full Dexterity modifier to AC

Medium Armor: This type of armor provides a moderate level of protection, allowing players to improve their Armor Class (AC) by a maximum of +2 by utilizing their Dexterity. However, it can occasionally impose a disadvantage on Stealth checks.

Heavy Armor: Intended for high defense, heavy armor offers substantial protection, disregarding the player's Dexterity modifier. It consistently imposes a disadvantage on Stealth checks.

Wearing armor that is unfamiliar to the character will result in Disadvantage for all Ability Checks, Saving Throws, and Attack Rolls, and will also hinder spellcasting. The character's level of proficiency in armor is primarily determined by their class, although players can acquire additional proficiencies through their subclass, race, or feats.

Shield Proficiency

Spellcasting, Saving Throw, and Skill Proficiency

Similar to Armor Proficiency, if a shield is used without Shield Proficiency, it will result in Disadvantage for all Ability Checks, Saving Throws, and Attack Rolls, in addition to the inability to cast spells. Shield Proficiency can be obtained by characters through their race, class, subclass, or by acquiring the Moderately Armored Feat.

Spellcasting Proficiency

In Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition, spellcasting proficiency seldom becomes relevant as all spellcasting classes automatically acquire it. This allows them to apply a bonus to their Spell Attack Rolls and Saving Throw DCs. Moreover, only spellcasters are capable of utilizing scrolls. However, in Baldur's Gate 3, non-spellcasters are also able to utilize scrolls for casting magic. Nonetheless, they will not benefit from their proficiency bonus when doing so.

Saving Throw Proficiency

Each class in Baldur's Gate 3 grants proficiency in two different Saving Throws, providing a bonus whenever the character makes that specific save. Multiclassing into another class does not result in additional Saving Throw Proficiencies. The Resilient Feat is the only alternative means of acquiring a new Saving Throw Proficiency.

Skill Proficiency

In Baldur's Gate 3, players can enhance their proficiency in various skills, granting them a bonus for all Ability Checks related to that skill. Each class allows players to choose between two and four Skill Proficiencies, while backgrounds provide an additional two. Certain races, feats, and subclasses also unlock extra Skill Proficiencies, allowing players to expand their character's skill-set as they progress.

Baldur's Gate 3 is currently in Early Access for PC and will officially launch on August 3rd, 2023. The PlayStation 5 version will be released on September 6th, 2023. An Xbox Series X/S version is currently being developed.