Unleash Electrifying Power: The Ultimate Guide to the Top Lightning Spells in Baldur's Gate 3!

Magic plays a significant role in Baldur's Gate 3, contributing to both exploration and combat. Just like other fantasy games, the game incorporates a complex magic system based on Dungeons and Dragons. With a wide range of arcane schools and damage types to choose from, Baldur's Gate 3 offers an impressive array of lightning spells. Known for its visually stunning and impactful nature, lightning spells can leave enemies utterly destroyed and smoldering. These spells are primarily available to sorcerers and wizards, although other classes can access them if players have the necessary knowledge. Exceptions to this include the barbarian, monk, and paladin classes. While all lightning spells are enjoyable and effective to use, certain ones provide a greater advantage in combat.

7. Chromatic Orb

The Chromatic Orb spell provides players with a versatile range of damage types to choose from. This includes the option of dealing lightning damage, which can be advantageous when facing enemies with resistances. However, there are a few drawbacks to consider. Firstly, due to its low level, the damage output of Chromatic Orb may be limited. Additionally, this ranged attack spell only affects a small area around the targeted creature or object, electrocuting both enemies and allies within that area. It is important to note that Chromatic Orb can be utilized by sorcerers and wizards, as well as the eldritch knight fighter subclass, arcane trickster rogue subclass, or through the bard's magical secret feature.

6. Lightning Arrow

The Lightning Arrow spell is exclusive to rangers and enhances their ranged weapon attacks by infusing them with lightning damage. It also releases smaller bolts of lightning that can harm nearby creatures within a sizable area. While it is a valuable and distinctive spell, it can be challenging to utilize without inadvertently injuring allies engaged in combat.

As rangers primarily excel in ranged weaponry, they should not heavily rely on their spellcasting abilities. Although Lightning Arrow is a powerful level three spell, the highest level accessible to rangers, it delivers significant damage and should be employed whenever suitable opportunities present themselves. However, it is not necessarily the default choice for lightning-based spells. Rather, it offers rangers the chance to harness the formidable power of lightning.

5. Shocking Grasp

Shocking Grasp may seem like a simple cantrip, but its power should not be underestimated. While it may not deal as much damage as the popular Fire Bolt cantrip (1d8 compared to 1d10), it possesses a clever advantage. When successfully hitting a target with Shocking Grasp, it prevents them from reacting, allowing players to swiftly strike, inflict damage, and retreat without fear of an opportunity attack.

This spell requires a melee attack, making it more challenging to execute as it necessitates the caster to be in close proximity to their target. However, thanks to its advantage against opponents donning metal armor, Shocking Grasp often strikes with accuracy. Wizards, sorcerers, arcane trickster rogues, and eldritch knight fighters have access to this evocation cantrip.

4. Witch Bolt

The spell called Witch Bolt allows the caster to connect with their target using a lightning beam, which lasts for a maximum of ten turns. Once connected, the caster can continuously inflict damage each turn without using up a spell slot or requiring another attack roll.

Although it may seem like a waste of a spell slot if the attack misses or concentration is lost early on, Witch Bolt actually deals a considerable amount of damage even with its initial beam. What's even better is that it's only a level-one spell! This evocation spell is accessible to wizards, sorcerers, and warlocks, as well as eldritch knight fighters and arcane trickster rogues.

3. Call Lightning

Call Lightning is a conjuration spell of level three that shares similarities with Witch Bolt, but with the added advantage of being an area-of-effect spell that never misses its mark. When cast, it summons a lightning strike within a designated area, posing a potential threat to multiple enemies. Furthermore, maneuvering the spell around allies can often be more convenient since it targets a specific area rather than a single target.

All individuals caught within the spell's area must make a dexterity save, and even if successful, they still endure half of the damage. After the initial strike, casters have the ability to maintain concentration and summon the storm once again, allowing them to choose a different location without utilizing a spell slot. Call Lightning can be utilized by druids, sorcerers, tempest clerics, pact of the tome warlocks, and bards harnessing their magical secrets.

2. Lightning Bolt

Lightning Bolt, a simplistic but impressive lightning spell in Baldur's Gate 3, unleashes a powerful bolt of lightning in a thirty-meter line from the caster. Those caught in the beam must succeed in a dexterity save to mitigate the full impact, taking half damage if successful.

The beam's width allows for trapping multiple enemies, while still being narrow enough to maneuver between allies without difficulty. This potent evocation spell, available to sorcerers, wizards, and bards with magical secrets, packs a significant amount of damage and is a valuable asset to any spellcaster's arsenal.

1. Chain Lightning

It is not surprising that there is a significant disparity in power between the top lightning spell and the others. Chain Lightning, a level six evocation spell, is three levels higher than the previous strongest spell of its kind, and also the maximum level attainable for spellcasters. When casting this spell, the user launches a ranged attack at a target, who must then make a dexterity saving throw. If successful, they only take half of the damage inflicted.

The "chain" aspect of the spell allows for a maximum of three lightning bolts to leap from the initial target, potentially damaging up to three additional enemies within an eighteen-meter radius. It encompasses all the desired characteristics of an ideal lightning spell: high damage, extensive range, area of effect, reduced damage even on a successful saving throw, as well as visually striking effects. Available to both sorcerers and wizards, this spell is sure to leave their adversaries crackling and smoldering.

Baldur's Gate 3 is available for PC and will release for PlayStation 5 on September 6, 2023. A version for Xbox Series X/S is currently in development.