The Ultimate Baldur's Gate 3 Strategy Guide

10 things veterans wish they knew on run one

1. Action economy beats everything. Every turn you get an Action, a Bonus Action, Movement and a Reaction. Jump, Shove (bonus action), drinking potions and throwing items are all cheap — a character who uses all of them doubles their output.
2. Height and darkness are free accuracy. Attacking from high ground gives +2 to hit; attacking from stealth or into an obscured target gives Advantage. Position before you fire.
3. Long rest more than you think. Camp supplies are plentiful. Most companion scenes, romances and quest updates only fire during long rests — resting rarely costs you anything outside of a few timed quests.
4. Save often, in multiple slots. The game is huge and reactive. Quicksave before every dialogue that matters, every trap, and every fight. (Honour Mode excepted — see that page.)
5. Talk to everything — including the dead and animals. Speak with Animals and Speak with Dead unlock whole quest branches, secrets and loot. Grab Speak with Animals early (Astarion's or a scroll / Potion of Animal Speaking).
6. Hit 16+ in your main stat, then plan for 20. Point-buy to 16/17 in your key ability, use Ability Score Improvement feats at 4 and 8, and remember several items and elixirs set or raise stats.
7. Respec is cheap. Withers (in camp from Act 1) lets you rebuild any companion for 100 gold. Experiment freely — nothing about a build is permanent.
8. Send your loot to camp. Right-click → Send to Camp keeps you under the weight limit. Sell junk (gold-coloured "valuable" items) in bulk with the trader's "Sell Wares" button.
9. Prepare buffs before the fight starts. Mage Armour, Longstrider, Aid, Death Ward and other long-duration buffs last until long rest. Cast them out of combat so they don't cost turns.
10. Pick your fights. Most encounters can be avoided, talked down, ambushed from stealth or split up. A Charisma-based talker with good Persuasion is one of the most powerful party members you can have.

Explore the guide

Your first hour: a quick-start plan

Choosing a difficulty