Summary
Baldur’s Gate 3is built on theDungeons & Dragons Fifth Editionsystem, adapted from tabletop to CRPG by Larian Studios. With almost a decade of races, classes, features, and spells to draw from, it was inevitable that some elements ofFifth Editionwouldn’t make the cut forBaldur’s Gate 3.
Among the most notable absentees are some of thebest spells inDungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition, which didn’t make it into Larian’s CRPG for a variety of reasons. Most of the spells inBaldur’s Gate 3are drawn from the original 5E source books, meaning that more recent spells are rare, and even some of the original spells would have proved too difficult to adapt to a video game.
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The Best Low-Level Spells
Cantrips
These three Cantrips from the Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide enable Sorcerer, Warlock, andWizard charactersto use their magic in melee, and are the core of many “gish” or spell-sword builds on the tabletop.
Level 1 Spells
These excellent 5E spells are either too recent, in the case of Silvery Barbs, or too hard to incorporate into a CRPG, like Detect Magic and Silent Image. Although Absorb Elements stillmade it intoBaldur’s Gate 3through the Cloak of Elemental Absorption magic item, it’s not available as a spell.
Level 2 Spells
Baldur’s Gate 3sticking to theoriginal Player’s Handbookfor its spell lists means it misses out on some excellent choices that were added in later source books, like Earthen Grasp, Vortex Warp, and Summon Beast. Other great spells, like Suggestion, are from the Player’s Handbook but offer too much freedom to suit a CRPG.
The Best Mid-Level Spells
Level 3 Spells
Leomund’s Tiny Hut has protected the sleep of many a D&D party, but is unfortunately made irrelevant byBaldur’s Gate 3’s resting mechanics. However, it’s less clear why the endlessly useful Dispel Magic, the iconic Conjure Animals, and the powerful Thunder Step failed to make the cut.
Level 4 Spells
Xanathar’s Guide to Everything introduced many great spells toFifth Edition, but unfortunately two of its best, Shadow of Moil and Sickening Radiance, failed to make the cut forBaldur’s Gate 3. Additionally, while players can smash, shove, andthrow items all day long inBaldur’s Gate 3, the freeform control that Stone Shape allows would never have worked in the game, and neither would the DM-guided responses of Divination.
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The Best High-Level Spells
Level 5 Spells
Arcane spellcasters inBaldur’s Gate 3have missed out on some truly iconic spells with the absence of Animate Objects, Creation, and Wall of Force. While the Cleric’s lack of Commune means they can no longer simply ask their god for solutions to their problems. Finally, the Summon Draconic Spirit spell may be a great choice for Dragon Sorcerers, but was most likely too recent to make the cut.
Level 6 Spells
Level 6 is the highest spell level that players can reach inBaldur’s Gate 3, and it’s also where spells start to appear inFifth Editionthat are simply too expansive and powerful in their effects to work in a CRPG. Forbiddance, Contingency, and True Seeing are all examples that a little too open to work inBaldur’s Gate 3. Meanwhile, the Mental Prison and the Investiture spells could certainly work in a video game but are both fromXanathar’s Guide to Everything.
Baldur’s Gate 3is available now on macOS and PC, and it’s coming to PS5 on September 6.
