One of the amazing things that makes the story-rich RPGBaldur’s Gate 3so replayable is how you’re able to shape your experience differently every time depending on how you approach it. The different decisions you make will lead you to one branch of multiple possibilities for how an interaction can end.
One thing that you may experience very differently every time is combat. While class, weapons, and armor can influence how you approach a battle, you should also take note of everything present on the battlefield. Knowing how to use your environment to your advantage can lead you to entertaining and creative victories.
1Utilize The Science Of Elemental Reactions
One creative way to approach combat is tocombine the elements of nature to create reactionsthat will deal enormous damage to enemies or even to groups of them. you may use lightning attacks on enemies in water and fire attacks on those standing on flammable surfaces.
Using elemental reactions is a great way to target multiple enemies at once.
Even if you’re not a spellcaster, you can still use everyday items to add an element to the battlefield. Jugs of water can be thrown on the ground to make surfaces wet. Candles can be thrown on greasy floors to set them ablaze.
2Use The Destruction Power Of Barrels
If you want to really blow your enemies away, you can set the stage up with barrels. Oftentimes, you’ll be able to move around an area before things erupt into battle in it. During that period, you can drop aSmokepowder Barrel, aFirewine Barrel, and the like, around enemies.
When you’re satisfied with the number of barrels laid out on the battlefield, you can begin the conversation that leads to the altercation. Then, a simple fire spell is all you need to really tear the place apart.
3Pit Enemies Against Each Other
An enemy of an enemy can be your friend in certain battles. A great way to save on your own resources, such as potions and spell slots, is to have your enemies finish each other off. Have an enemy chase you towards another enemy, then hide to let them scuffle with each other.
Battles where you can do this include the goblins and the spiders in the pit in the Shattered Sanctum and thegremishka and the kobolds in Rosymorn Monastery.
you may even push enemies off ledges to have them end up in another mob’s clutches. After the battle, it’s likely that the victor will be weakened enough for you to easily pick them off.
4Just Look Up
Sometimes, the answer can be found just by looking up. There may be certain things dangling from the ceiling that you’re able to shoot down to deal catastrophic damage to enemies. You may see things like heavy rocks hanging from ropes or dangling caustic bulbs that can be easily shot down with a bow.
Some things may even be used to cause elemental reactions. If you see candle-lit chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, throw alcohol or smoke powder on the ground. Then, shoot down the chandelier to ignite your trap.
5Play Around Chokepoints
Sometimes, you’ll find that a group of enemies has you cornered inside a room. This may seem like a perilous situation, but you’re able to actually use this setup to your advantage.
To further take advantage of choke points, hide behind walls so that ranged units cannot shoot you without entering the room.
You can use entrances as a choke point that will have enemies filing into the room one by one, making it simple for you to pick them off. You can even make it dangerous for them to come inside by placing grease by the entrance or even damaging spells likeCloud of Daggers.
6Take Advantage Of High Ground
If you see high ledges or beams in the ceilings, try to get on top of these. You can attack with advantage when using ranged attacks from a spot higher than your enemies. You can also use some high spots to hide from enemies lurking below, since they’re unlikely to look up.
By staying on high ground, you’ll also make it difficult for melee units to reach you, while ranged ones will be attacking with disadvantage. You can also make use of abilities that will allow you to deal damage when you jump and land on enemies.
7Throw Enemies Off The Edge
Some battles will take place near the edge of the chasm, and falling into it will lead to an instantaneous death. you’re able to take advantage of this by casting a spell likeThunderwaveto send them flying off the edge. You can also use items such as explosive arrows and grenades to blast them away.
You lose the loot of an enemy thrown into the chasm. Consider throwing them from a great height instead, to have access to their corpses afterwards.
If you’ve got the strength, you can even shove them or throw them into the chasm if they’re light enough to carry. That said, be careful because you can also be sent plummeting to your death when you stand so close to the edge.
8Harness The Darkness
There are certain spells that you can cast that will engulf the battlefield in a cloud of dark mist, blocking all vision into it or out of it. A good strategy is actually to cast it where you’re standing to hide from the enemy’s line of sight.
To use the darkness in your favor, you’re able to walk out of it to perform a ranged attack, then return to the darkness to hide. That way, ranged units will be unable to target you at all.
9Divide And Conquer
Sometimes, enemies may be standing in an area with multiple entrances and exits. In these instances, a great way to approach the battle is to pincer them from different ends. you may do this by ungrouping your party, then assigning them different positions to take.
To verify that the enemies don’t catch you executing your plan, make sure you’re sneaking when you’re getting to your position.
When you perform this strategy, it’s important that you ensure that different support units can still provide the needed buffs and heals to your main damage dealers.
