Baldur’s Gate 3 Abilities, Ability Checks, Ability Score Guide

Abilities in Baldur’s Gate 3 work slightly differently than other games. In BG3, attributes or stats are referred to as abilities – skills belong to an entirely different category. There are a total of 6 abilities in the game i.e. strength, dexterity, constitution, intelligence, wisdom, and charisma. Each ability in Baldur’s Gate 3 covers a wide range of aspects that can add a lot to the game’s build diversity. In this guide, we’ve given a brief overview of all the abilities in BG3 and the factors that these abilities govern.

Updated on August 2, 2023: Our Baldur’s Gate 3 abilities guide is now updated with the latest information about abilities, ability score, ability checks, and feats. The guide will help you make informed decisions and enhance your gameplay experience.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Abilities

With the sole exception of constitution, each ability is also associated with different skills in the game. For example, acrobatics is a dexterity skill. In the section below, we’ve provided an overview of all the abilities in Baldur’s Gate 3, their associated skills, and the races that begin the game with additional points in certain abilities:

Strength

Strength is a vital attribute for characters that rely on brute force. It influences your ability to land powerful blows, carry heavy equipment, and perform feats of physical prowess. A high strength score is essential for classes like Fighters and Barbarians, who are often at the forefront of battle.

Related skills – Athletics

Dexterity

Dexterity governs agility, reflexes, and balance. It’s crucial for characters who rely on speed and precision rather than raw power. It affects your ability to hit targets with ranged weapons, dodge incoming attacks, and perform tasks requiring finesse. Rogues and Rangers, for instance, benefit greatly from a high Dexterity score.

Related skills – Acrobatics, Sleight of Hand, Stealth

Intelligence

Intelligence is the measure of your character’s mental acuity. It affects the ability to learn and reason, making it crucial for spellcasters like Wizards who use arcane magic. A high Intelligence score can also benefit in solving puzzles and understanding complex situations.

Related skills – Arcana, History, Nature, Investigation, Religion

Wisdom

Wisdom reflects how attuned your character is to the world around them. It influences perception, intuition, and insight, making it important for classes like Clerics and Druids who channel divine magic. A high Wisdom score can also help in understanding people and predicting outcomes.

Related skills – Animal Handling, Insight, Medicine, Perception, Survival

Charisma

Charisma is the measure of your character’s personality and force of will. It affects your ability to influence others and is crucial for classes like Bards and Sorcerers, who use their personal magnetism to cast spells. A high Charisma score can sway conversations and negotiations in your favor.

Related skills – Deception, Intimidation, Performance, Persuasion

Constitution

Constitution represents your character’s health and resilience. It determines your hit points, influences your ability to withstand harsh conditions, and aids in recovery. Regardless of your class, a good Constitution score is beneficial as it directly impacts your survivability.

How Ability Points Work In Baldur’s Gate 3

Ability points are the currency you use to enhance your character’s abilities. You receive these points as you level up, allowing you to improve your abilities and shape your character’s growth. Allocating these points wisely is crucial as they can significantly impact your character’s capabilities and the way you navigate the world of Baldur’s Gate 3.

Ability Score Increases

Baldur’s Gate 3 offers a unique approach to character development through Ability Score Increases (ASIs). ASIs are pivotal moments in a character’s progression, allowing players to enhance their character’s core abilities. They occur at specific levels, depending on the character’s class.

For instance, a Fighter gets an ASI at levels 4, 6, 8, 12, 14, 16, and 19, while a Wizard only gets them at levels 4, 8, 12, 16, and 19. Players can choose to either increase one ability score by two points, two ability scores by one point each, or select a Feat (a special skill that provides various benefits). This system provides a high degree of flexibility, enabling players to tailor their characters to their preferred playstyle. It’s a crucial aspect of Baldur’s Gate 3, adding depth and complexity to character development.

Ability Checks

Ability checks are a fundamental part of Baldur’s Gate 3 gameplay. They are used to determine the success or failure of actions and decisions that aren’t automatically successful. This could include anything from attempting to climb a steep cliff, to trying to deceive a guard, or understanding a piece of ancient text.

When you make an ability check, you roll a 20-sided die (or D20) and add any relevant modifiers based on your character’s abilities. For example, if you’re making a Strength check and your character is particularly strong, you might add a modifier to the roll. The goal is to meet or exceed a certain number, known as the Difficulty Class (DC), which is set by the Dungeon Master (DM). The higher the DC, the more difficult the task.

In Baldur’s Gate 3, these mechanics are translated into the video game format. When you attempt an action that requires an ability check, the game will automatically roll a D20 and add any relevant modifiers. The DC is set based on the difficulty of the task in the context of the game’s story and world.

Feats in Baldur’s Gate 3 are special abilities that provide a variety of benefits and options to characters. They offer a way for players to customize their characters beyond the class and race choices that define their basic abilities and skills.

Feats can enhance your character’s combat prowess, improve their ability to interact with the environment, or even grant them entirely new capabilities. They are typically chosen at certain levels in place of increasing an ability score, allowing players to tailor their characters to their preferred playstyle.

For example, some feats might increase your proficiency with certain types of weapons, allow you to perform special combat maneuvers, or boost your ability to use magic. Others might enhance your skills, such as by making you more persuasive in conversation or more adept at stealth.

Modifier Calculation

The modifier is derived from the Ability Score and is added to the D20 roll for the respective Ability. To find the modifier, subtract 10 from the Ability Score and then halve the outcome, rounding down.

These are all the Baldur’s Gate 3 abilities. To learn more about the game, you can check out our detailed Baldur’s Gate 3 wiki guides.