Unleashing the Ultimate Power: Mastering Mage Hand in Baldur's Gate 3

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Scout Ahead Through Small Spaces

Distract Enemies From Targeting Party Members

Mage Hand Can Activate & Disarm Traps "Safely"

Activating Unreachable Levers & Environmental Objects

The Mage Hand ability in Baldur's Gate 3 allows players to summon a spectral hand to carry out their commands. While Mage Hand is not as versatile in BG3 as it is in tabletop Dungeons and Dragons, it remains an invaluable skill for several reasons in the game.

Pick Up, Throw, & Shove Enemies

One of the most advantageous applications of Mage Hand in Baldur's Gate 3 is its capacity to forcefully push and lift adversaries. In BG3, Mage Hand proves to be exceptionally valuable during combat encounters due to this ability. Summon Mage Hand alongside an enemy near a precipice (or close to a surface with elemental properties) and utilize the Shove action on them. Make sure to position the Mage Hand precisely and look for the presence of a blue line, indicating the distance and direction in which the enemy will be propelled upon a successful Shove. Simply aim for a chasm or the base of a significant drop.

Mage Hand has the ability to pick up and hurl certain enemies, although there are limitations on which ones it can handle. Larger foes may be too hefty to lift unless enhanced by spells such as Enlarge. Nevertheless, it is remarkable how many targets can be subjected to being tossed through Mage Hand, particularly those of medium size. By utilizing this capability akin to the Shove action, adversaries can be efficiently removed from combat by being hurled off cliffs or simply repositioned to thwart Opportunity Attacks and similar threats. Redirecting the target towards another enemy could also potentially cause both foes to be knocked prone.

Scout Ahead Through Small Spaces

An alternative and highly practical application of Mage Hand outside of battles involves scouting. This is especially valuable when navigating tight spaces that would typically be inaccessible for regular-sized characters. Rather than transforming into a Tiny creature using Wild Shape, it is more advantageous to rely on the dexterity of a Mage Hand to explore hidden tunnels, crevices, or other minuscule pathways.

Distract Enemies From Targeting Party Members

The exclusive ability of the Githyanki, known as the Invisible Mage Hand, proves to be the optimal choice for conducting ahead reconnaissance due to its inherent ability to evade detection by foes (unless they possess See Invisibility-type effects). While using Mage Hand for scouting purposes, it is advisable to actively search for adversaries, potential traps, buttons, levers, and other interactive objects – in addition to identifying a more spacious entrance that allows the entire party to enter as well.

Mage Hand, despite its limited functionality - restricted to Shove, Fly, and Throw actions - can significantly contribute to the team during combat by serving as a distraction. Despite its low HP and AC, enemies often target the Mage Hand instead of party members, thus effectively wasting their turn, even if the Mage Hand gets destroyed in the process.

When combat begins, summon Mage Hand in close proximity to enemies, increasing the likelihood of drawing their attacks towards it rather than the party members. With some luck, the Mage Hand may remain intact and can subsequently be employed to Shove and Throw enemies according to your preferences.

Exercise caution while maneuvering the Mage Hand amidst enemies, as it can still provoke Opportunity Attacks and is vulnerable to concentration-based Area of Effect spells such as Cloud of Daggers.

Mage Hand Can Activate & Disarm Traps "Safely"

Despite having fewer abilities compared to the tabletop Dungeons and Dragons version, the Baldur's Gate 3 version of Mage Hand still maintains its usefulness to stealthy builds. Among its capabilities is the ability to Disarm Traps. Although Mage Hand cannot detect traps on its own, it can still make an attempt to disarm them once discovered. It is advisable to separate the Mage Hand from the party and move it away from the trap. In the event that the Mage Hand fails in its attempt to disarm the trap, it may be destroyed, but at least the party will remain unharmed. Furthermore, some traps do not reset, making the sacrifice worthwhile.

Activate Out-Of-Reach Levers & Environmental Objects

Mage Hand's usefulness extends to manipulating and interacting with certain objects in the environment. Although it cannot steal items, it can activate buttons and levers, as well as move objects on the ground. For instance, it can relocate Explosive Barrels from the corner to the center of a room or adjust the placement of Potions for optimal splash effects. However, it cannot retrieve items from the inventory; only another individual can place them down.

Buttons and Levers often conceal hidden doorways to new areas, shortcuts between previously discovered locations, or trigger events in the outside world. Similar to any other companion, Mage Hand can manipulate these switches and buttons. While exploring narrow passages and crevices with your Mage Hand, pay close attention to these devices. Often, they reveal entrances for the rest of the party, yet sometimes they initiate traps that weaken or eliminate enemies before they can draw their swords.

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