10 Cold Facts You Should Know About Baldur’s Gate 3 Before Jumping In

Baldur’s Gate 3 is a masterpiece from Larian Studios and an isometric game. Many reviewers scored this game 10 out of 10, but most are experienced gamers. For newbies, the 75 to 100-hour campaign might be overwhelming. Especially if you haven’t played any Dungeons & Dragons titles before. 

Note that Baldur’s Gate 3 extends beyond the 100-hour mark for completionists. So, this article prepares players to confront the monsters and horrors in the game. Ready yourself with 10 core tips for conquering the Forgotten Realms and all its bizarre creatures, plot twists, and events. 

Also Related: Baldur’s Gate 3 Class: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Right Class

Top Three Reasons to Play Baldur’s Gate 3

Many gamers are new to isometric games, so Baldur’s Gate 3 may look intimidating at first. To break the ice, below are the top three reasons to pick up a copy of the game today:

• Stunning Visuals and Immersive Music: The visuals in Baldur’s Gate 3 are some of the best we’ve experienced in video games. From combat animations to simpler movements like strolling, the game impresses! As for the soundtrack, it makes a world of difference when it comes to immersing players in the game.
• Deep and Extensive Character Customisation: In this game, your avatar is truly yours! After all, console games are expensive nowadays. For one, Baldur’s Gate 3 costs £47 on Steam. Thankfully, the game allows you to pick your race, class, gear, hairstyle, and more. 
• Brutal and Tactical Combat: Baldur’s Gate 3 features turn-based combat, which means fights are similar to a game of chess. In simpler terms, you have to think ahead to stay ahead. So, being strategic with your moves is the key to winning fights. You must consider your opponent’s strengths and weaknesses at every possible turn.

10 Facts We Wish We Knew Before Playing Baldur’s Gate 3

Baldur’s Gate 3 is terrific and scary at the same time. Especially as there are Mind Flayers who look exactly like Cthulhu. However, how soon should you pick a fight with eldritch horrors like a Mind Flayer? The 10 facts below will clear the air. 

#1: Save the Game During Skill Checks

Skill Checks are in-game prompts that players can perform to check whether or not they’re proficient enough to beat a challenge. The weak point of Skill Checks is that their results are based more on luck than your character’s prowess. With that in mind, the only logical decision left is to save the game before or during these Skill Checks. This way, you can reload your last saved file if the results are negative. However, some other gamers might frown against this trick because it makes the game almost too easy. 

#2: Respec Your Avatar if Necessary

Character customisation is as complex as it is extensive in Baldur’s Gate 3. So, many players might invest points in attributes that they end up disliking later in the game. Thankfully, gamers can respec their avatars by employing Withers’ services. Withers is a character that players will meet early in the game. For 100 gold coins, you can respec your character however you wish. For a whopping 200 gold coins, Withers can even revive your dead companions. Luckily, Withers can be found in your camp after you rescue him from a sarcophagus in the Dank Crypt. 

#3: Use Environmental Effects to Your Advantage

Spells, weapons, and many other in-game elements can affect the environment in Baldur’s Gate 3. It’s similar to the environmental effects in Divinity: Original Sin 2. Wherein, the blood from your opponents can be electrified while fire arrows will burn the ground on impact. Funnily enough, the enemies in Baldur’s Gate 3 can also use these environmental effects to their advantage. If the ground is covered in flames and you are near the fire, they’ll throw in a combustible item to fan the flames in your direction.

#4: Classes’s Strengths and Weaknesses Are Now Overhauled 

Classes are now different in Baldur’s Gate 3 and sure, it’s in a good way. For one, a Ranger’s features, including Favoured Enemy and Natural Explorer, have been completely overhauled. Also, classes like Rogue are missing some features, so be sure to read each class’ features to stay ahead of the curve.

#5: Unique Skill Trees

Baldur’s Gate 3 allows players to merge different classes to create some of the most unique characters we’ve seen in video games. For example, you can merge the skills of a Sorcerer with those of a Warlock to boost your spellcasting stats. Other wonderful multi-class combinations are:

• Rogue and Ranger.
• Paladin and Cleric.
• Monk and Rogue.

#6: Companion Stats Matter a Lot

Baldur’s Gate 3 uses a turn-based combat system, so your companions’ stats matter in a fight. Picture a chain link; Individually, they’re weak, but together, they’re incredibly versatile. Each one of your companions is useful against different types of enemies. If one of your companions boasts high dexterity, then she’s better off as a supporting fighter rather than a frontline warrior.

However, if one of your companions boasts a high-damage attack, then they should fight on the frontlines. Ultimately, you need to micromanage each of your companions to get the best results on the battlefield. 

#7: Autosave Is Wishy-Washy 

The autosave feature in Baldur’s Gate 3 is still inconsistent so don’t rely on it too much. Sure, the game gets high marks for its great visuals and immersive sound. However, it doesn’t always save at the different checkpoints in the game. Instead, you should consider manually saving your title to avoid losing your progress. Hopefully, this issue will be fixed in future updates.

#8: Use Cantrips More

Cantrips are likely the best spells in Baldur’s Gate 3 and we hope that the developers won’t nerf it in future updates. They’re not the most powerful, but you can use them as many times as you want because they don’t require a spell slot. Luckily for players, many races in the game have access to more Cantrips than humans. The different types of Cantrips include Bone Chill, Fire Bolt, and Acid Splash. Using different Cantrips feels even better with one of the best controllers for Baldur’s Gate 3.

#9: Send Inventory Directly to Your Camp

30% of Baldur’s Gate 3 is inventory management, so one of the nifty tricks you can pull off is sending your loot directly to your camp. Instead of constantly managing your inventory, just send any loot you gain straight to your camp. In the game, players will be able to loot just about anything, including chests, dead NPCs, and defeated enemies. Another option is to keep your loot in your companion’s inventory. However, we recommend keeping only the most important items with them. Not the items that won’t be used in combat or missions.

#10: Use Potion’s Area of Effect to Your Advantage

Baldur’s Gate 3 is a tough game so you’ll be healing yourself during the early stages. Fortunately, you can heal yourself or a party member by using a potion or a healing spell. Healing spells cover different ranges, but they’re still good options. A better option is to heal using potions because one is enough for your entire party. However, don’t use the potion directly. Instead, you can throw it at the entire party to heal everyone. You only have to position your party in one spot for this trick to work.

Frequently Asked Questions 

What Is the Best Class in Baldur’s Gate?

The Paladin is the strongest class in Baldur’s Gate because of its healing powers. For one, gamers can buff up their entire team using Bless. Otherwise, invest in the Oath of the Ancients subclass to unlock the healing spell, Healing Radiance. Fortunately, Paladins are known for their flexibility in combat. 

Can You Become a Mind Flayer in Baldur’s Gate 3?

Yes, you can become a Mind Flayer in Baldur’s Gate 3. Just avoid killing the Mind Flayer tadpole in your brain, and you’ll turn into one in a few days. However, this decision may repel other characters because Mind Flayers are known to devour other beings. Mind Flayers are also called Illithids, and they’re psychic beings with an octopus head. These creatures can mind-control other beings, twist their perceptions, and even extract information from their minds.

What Is the Highest Damage Class in Baldur’s Gate 3? 

The Battle Master Fighter is the class that deals the most damage in Baldur’s Gate 3. It’s one of the most powerful classes in the game because of its survivability and ease of use. So, you can look forward to trying out different armors and weapons in combat.