Baldur’s Gate 3: 10 Best Upgrades That Are Easy To Miss

Highlights

• In Baldur’s Gate 3, players can acquire powerful spells and gear as they progress through a three-act story, which can significantly enhance their gameplay experience.
• Players should not overlook the Ability Score Improvement feature, which allows them to permanently increase their Ability Scores and improve their in-game performance.
• By completing certain quests and encounters, players can unlock valuable items and abilities, such as the Everburn Blade and the Awakened status, which can provide significant advantages in combat.

Players trying to save Faerun in Baldur’s Gate 3 are in for a wild adventure as they have to traverse the Forgotten Realms to stop a Mind Flayer invasion and prevent an Illithid parasite from transforming them into these parasitic invaders. In this Dungeons and Dragons video game, players work their way from Levels 1 to 12 in a three-act story, acquiring powerful spells and gear as they come to the root of their present predicament.

While player characters at Level 12 are significantly powerful close to the game’s final act, They can fast-track their way into these improvements should they access certain upgrades ahead of time. Unfortunately for players, some of these upgrades are easy to miss due to their unimposing nature – but they can change a gamer’s playthrough of the D&D game when used correctly.

10 Ability Score Improvement (Feat)

Tap Into More Ability Modifiers For Better Rolls

Players who level up their characters throughout the course of their Baldur’s Gate 3 gameplay may eventually have to choose Feats for their builds. In D&D playthroughs, Feats are additional Features that provide special perks and buffs that improve a character’s flavor and performance in specific situations.

However, while Feats such as the Magic Adept and Tavern Brawler can add to a character’s flexibility, players should consider the impact of a Feat as mundane-looking as Ability Score Improvement to their overall builds. Thanks to ASIs, players can get +2 to a single Ability Score or +1 to two Ability Scores. When used properly, these bonuses can increase a Modifier to a much-needed +1, drastically improving a character’s in-game performance.

9 Everburn Blade (Act 1)

Access A Potent Fire Damage Sword Early In The Game

Before players end up in Faerun, the game’s prologue traps the Nautiloid ship in Avernus, the first of the Nine Hells. Prior to players escaping the ship, they have to fight Commander Zhalk, a winged 8th-Level Fiend who serves as their first boss. Thanks to the aid of a Mind Flayer, this boss fight won’t exhaust a low-level player’s Baldur’s Gate 3 combat resources. However, while players aren’t required to kill Zhalk, his reward may be worth his execution.

Should players succeed, Zhalk drops the Everburn Blade, an Uncommon Greatsword. It deals 2d6 Slashing + 1d4 Fire Damage, with the Ever-Burning property that ensures its flames cannot be doused by water. While practically the equivalent of a Fire Damage Greatsword, Everburn Blade makes for a decent early-game weapon upgrade for the party’s dedicated tank.

8 Auntie Ethel’s Hair (Act 1)

Access Better Modifiers With A Free Ability Upgrade

Originally introduced as the resident trader and physician in the Emerald Grove’s Hollow, players enjoying their Baldur’s Gate 3 gameplay may eventually encounter her near the Sunlit Wetlands south of the Blighted Village. Encountering her there will unlock the “Save Mayrina” quest, where players need to chase Auntie Ethel and eventually confront her about a girl named Mayrina.

If players take the deal to save Mayrina’s life, they get Auntie Ethel’s Hair. This item permanently gives players +1 to any Ability Score, with the option to raise them past 20. Despite its meager bonus, enhancing Ability Scores almost never happens in the game unless done through specific Feats (Ability Score Improvement) and temporarily through Magic Items. With the right boost, an Ability Score can boost its Modifier, improving a player’s rolls.

7 Awakened Status (Act 1)

Access Illithid Powers Via Bonus Actions For More Efficient Action Economy

Should players get Lae’zel to the Creche Y’llek in Act 1 of Baldur’s Gate 3 gameplay, they can improve their relationship further with the Gith warrior. However, while Lae’zel would likely volunteer to enter one of its devices, players should opt to partake in the process instead. Players should then cause the Zaith’isk to explode and survive all subsequent Saving Throws, which can be made easier if done from inside the device.

Succeeding the Saves will unlock the Awakened status, allowing players to use Illithid Powers they’ve unlocked as Bonus Actions. This can be a significant buff in the latter parts of the game, where players can use their parasite’s innate psionic abilities in combat. However, players need to be wary of failing any of the Saves, as they inflict permanent debuffs to Ability Scores.

6 Brand Of The Absolute (Act 1)

Get Extra Dialogue Options With Branded Characters

One of the earliest encounters players will have with a relevant choice in their Baldur’s Gate 3 gameplay would be with Gut in the Goblin Camp. After all, the mark she will provide the player character with, the Mark of the Absolute, will be a permanent status, and being associated with the introduced villainous faction can leave a sour tongue for players who want a Good Playthrough.

However, acquiring the Mark of the Absolute can provide valuable benefits to players, particularly special dialogue options that can make it easier to deal with other followers of the Absolute.

Interestingly enough, the player character isn’t the only one who can receive the Mark of the Absolute. Controlling a Companion and speaking with Warlock Greez in the same location gives them the opportunity to be marked with the same Brand as well, providing the same benefits as the player character.

5 Volo’s Ersatz Eye (Act 1)

Trade Volo For Permanent See Invisibility

One of the key mysteries a player can encounter in their Baldur’s Gate 3 experience would be the removal of their mind parasite. Among those joining the Campsite, the popular explorer Volo would be one such person to offer experimenting on the players to try and remove it. In a game where death can be permanent, a player may be hesitant to put their life in the hands of a questionable figure like Volo. However, should they agree to the surgery, they get Volo’s Ersatz Eye.

Unlocking this item will cost players one of their eyes but get this as a replacement. This unique item grants players a permanent See Invisibility effect, allowing them to jump the gun on enemies who want to try using stealth against the party.

4 Potion Of Everlasting Vigour (Act 2)

Get A Permanent Strength Buff For Melee Characters

Among the player’s Companions in Baldur’s Gate 3, Astarion is likely one of the most unique due to his nature as a Vampire. It’s this other quality of the character that has made him rather popular with other NPCs in the game, such as Araj Oblodra in Moonrise Towers. Unlike other NPCs, Araj’s offerings go far beyond traditional items, especially when she can create unique potions with blood samples.

At some point, players are given the choice to convince Astarion to bite Araj Oblodra, which they should in order to acquire one of the most efficient upgrades in the game: Potion of Everlasting Vigour. When drunk, the receiving character gets a permanent +2 Strength, practically the equivalent of an Ability Score Increase (Feat), without having to level up. This boost also stays with the character even when respecing, making it valuable for melee fighters.

3 Danse Macabre (Act 3)

One of the most interesting areas players can explore in Baldur’s Gate 3 is Ramazith’s Tower, especially with how its mazes and main Vault can contain items that players don’t necessarily “need” but can provide massive boosts when acquired. Such an item would be the Tharchiate Codex, located at the end of the Tower’s Vault. Reading it alone wouldn’t change the players as much, but reading it after acquiring the Necromancy of Thay can make the player one step closer to becoming a full-fledged servant of undeath.

After reading the Codex, players will now be able to read the Necromancy of Thay’s last page. This is the hardest part of the Nercomancy of Thay’s challenges, as doing so requires players to succeed a DC 20 Wisdom Save. However, succeeding in this challenge unlocks Danse Macabre, a special Spell that inflicts a -5 Constitution Curse on players in exchange for summoning four ghouls that can fight alongside them, adding quite the advantage of numbers for players in tough situations.

2 Level 3 Shadow Spell Slot (Gale)

Secure More Level 3 Spells With Gale

Throughout Act Two of Baldur’s Gate 3 gameplay, players may come face to face with the Thorms and fight them to make progress with specific quests. Should a player take control of Gale as the main player character, they can unlock quite a useful upgrade upon absorbing the Shadow Weave from any of the Thorms upon defeat.

Doing so unlocks a special Level 3 Shadow Spell Slot for the character. This is a separate Level 3 Spell Slot that recharges after a Long Rest, allowing Gale to tap into more of his powerful Level 3 Spells to turn the tide of a disadvantageous battle. Cleansing the Shadow Weave grants Mystra’s Blessing until the Long Rest, which instead grants Immunity to Fire, Acid, Cold, Force, and Thunder Damage unless the damage Gale should receive exceeds 10.

1 Piercing Growl (The Dark Urge)

Access An Easy AOE For The Dark Urge

When players create a character based on the Dark Urge, not only do they get a much darker Baldur’s Gate 3 playthrough but also a protagonist with increasingly ominous abilities. Unfortunately, players of the Dark Urge may lose out on a nifty Action if they haven’t acquired Volo as an NPC in the Camp and make him stay until the final Act of the game.

In doing so, players can goad (or even Pickpocket) Volo into giving a special book in his inventory to players. This gives the Dark Urge access to an ability called the Piercing Growl, which deals 3d8 + 4 Piercing Damage (or half on a CON Save) to foes on top of instilling Bleeding and Fear. This AOE, with a couple of status conditions, can easily debilitate enemies on the field.