BG3: Ultimate Guide On The BEST Skills [Top 15]
With several playthroughs under my belt, these are my top picks for the best skills in BG3.
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Skills in Baldur’s Gate 3 provide players with the means to engage effectively with the world, enabling them to achieve a variety of tasks. These abilities empower players to influence the viewpoints and stances of non-player characters (NPCs), unveil concealed spots, and determine the outcome of choices they make. Read on to find out about the best BG3 Skills that you could make your character proficient in for maximum efficiency.
- The best BG3 skills empower players to engage with the environment, influence NPCs, uncover secrets, and shape outcomes.
- BG3 has a total of 18 skills placed into six categories called “Abilities.”
- Select skills strategically; not all are equally useful, and covering a range of scenarios is wise.
- Persuasion, Deception, and Perception are crucial skills, aiding in social interactions and uncovering secrets.
- Survival aids wilderness navigation, revealing valuable resources and tracks.
- Acrobatics‘ Dexterity focus aids balance, which is valuable for exploration and combat.
- Author’s Note: After going through Baldur’s Gate 3 for more than 80 hours on Steam, I feel confident going into the topic with thorough experience.
Following is a summary of the Best Skills in Baldur’s Gate 3:
| Skill | Key Aspects And Benefits | Importance | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Persuasion | Charisma-based; crucial for avoiding danger, resolving conflicts, and influencing NPCs through convincing dialogues. | Social, Negotiation, Conflict Resolution | The Best Dialogue Skill |
| Deception | Manipulate situations by creating illusions or sowing doubt; useful for bypassing obstacles and swaying others in your favor. | Subterfuge, Obstacle Bypass, Strategic Manipulation | The Most Guilty Skill |
| Perception | Wisdom-based; constant awareness of surroundings, uncover hidden details, detect deceptive conversations, and identify threats. | Environmental Awareness, Detection, Threat Identification | The Best Exploration Skill |
| Survival | Simplifies wilderness navigation; assesses surroundings for resources and tracks, aiding in gathering valuable items and clues. | Resource Gathering, Tracking, Wilderness Adaptation | The Best Foraging Skill |
| Acrobatics | Dexterity-focused; crucial for balance, agility challenges, and combat situations, offering an edge in exploration and battles. | Agility, Maneuverability, Combat Advantage | The Best Mobility Skill |
| Athletics | Strength-based; essential for physical challenges, combat maneuvers, pushing adversaries, and creating tactical advantages. | Physical Prowess, Combat Maneuvers, Obstacle Overcoming | The Best Strength Skill |
| Nature | Intelligence-based; provides knowledge of local plants and creatures, aiding in survival, maneuvering, and informed decisions. | Environmental Knowledge, Creature Understanding, Survival | The Best Explorer Skill |
| Insight | Wisdom-based; uncovers hidden motives in dialogues, enhances interactions by revealing emotions, and predicts potential traps. | Empathy, Emotional Perception, Trap Detection | The Best Wisdom Skill |
| History | Intelligence-based; offers contextual insights and past event recall, enriching understanding of the world and aiding exploration. | Lore, Contextual Understanding, Exploration Enhancement | The Intelligence Skill |
| Arcana | Intelligence-based; essential for understanding magic mechanics, deactivating magical traps, and harnessing arcane knowledge. | Magic Analysis, Enchantment Mastery, Mystical Insights | The Best Magic Skill |
| Investigation | Intelligence-based; aids in uncovering crucial clues, deducing solutions, and providing contextual depth to enigmatic scenarios. | Analytical Thinking, Clue Detection, Problem Solving | The Best Analysis Skill |
| Stealth | Dexterity-focused; concealing actions extend beyond criminal intent, offering advantages in ambushes, tactics, and evading threats. | Concealment, Ambush Preparation, Evasion Strategies | The Best Sneak Skill |
| Intimidation | Strategic use of fear to gain information or manipulate NPCs; be cautious of lasting consequences on future interactions. | Coercion, Information Extraction, NPC Influence | The Most Menacing Skill |
| Sleight Of Hand | Dexterity-based; finesse in manipulation; used for delicate actions like picking pockets, planting objects, and executing tactics. | Precise Manipulation, Object Concealment, Tactical Use | The Best Stealing Skill |
| Animal Handling | Establish bonds with animals, align intentions; useful for situations akin to Persuasion, Deception, and Intimidation. | Animal Communication, Mutual Understanding, Bond Formation | The Best Familiar Skill |
1. Animal Handling
Should you find yourself struggling with a Nature check to identify the local wildlife, you can compensate by employing your Animal Handling skill. This particular skill enables you to relate to creatures in a manner akin to how Persuasion, Intimidation, and Deception function when dealing with human subjects. In a sense, it’s akin to “conversing without words.”
This interaction assists in establishing a bond with an animal, aligning your understanding and intentions. This rapport ensures mutual understanding between you and the creature, facilitating a harmonious connection.
- Enhances the roleplay experience in BG3.
- It pairs well with other skills like Persuasion and Intimidation.
- It is occasionally useful, but not always.
- Alternatives exist with spells and potions.
2. Survival
Navigating the untamed wilderness can prove challenging and demanding. Fortunately, the Survival skill exists to simplify matters significantly. This skill operates in the background, for the most part, actively assessing the surroundings. This provides you insights into valuable resources that could be in close proximity.
You might stumble upon tracks on the ground or come across edible fruits available for gathering, among other possibilities. Should you encounter an unsuccessful Survival roll and you have a recent save, it’s advisable to reload and make another attempt. This strategy is likely to yield favorable outcomes and is usually worth your time.
- It works passively when exploring.
- Better chance to find treasure or rare loot.
- Synergizes well with Nature and Perception checks.
- Limited combat impact.
- May not always be necessary; when resources are plentiful.
3. Acrobatics
In the world of Baldur’s Gate 3, maintaining balance is crucial, often requiring characters to roll skill checks to stay on their feet. While this skill might seem less critical given Baldur’s Gate 3’s diverse problem-solving approaches, its value remains.
Dexterity is key, especially for classes like Rangers engaged in ranged combat. Proficiency in Acrobatics within the Dexterity category proves strategic. Skillful characters gracefully navigate agility challenges, not only in exploration but also in combat. Battles introduce shoving, a threat to recklessness. Those skilled in Acrobatics stand firm, avoiding deadly falls and gaining the upper hand against jostling foes.
- Improved Mobility which boosts exploration and combat.
- It pairs well with dexterity builds.
- Increased roleplay opportunities with Hero Actions.
- Only useful when navigation is difficult.
- better equipment can mimic its results.
4. Athletics
Athletics, rooted in your Strength Ability Score, holds the key to success in various challenges. Throughout Baldur’s Gate 3, it’s a skill that proves indispensable, ensuring triumph in physically demanding situations. Whether surmounting high ledges or persevering against opposing forces obstructing your path, Athletics plays a pivotal role. I mainly use it to shove away foes in melee range so Shadowheart can land some of her spells with more ease.
- Enables climbing, jumping, swimming, and overcoming challenging terrain obstacles.
- Helps you stay standing firm against enemy shoves, preventing you from being knocked prone.
- Requires investment in the Strength stat for maximum effectiveness.
- Doesn’t inflict damage itself, relying on other party members to capitalize.
5. Nature
Nature, positioned as an Intelligence-based skill, unveils essential knowledge about particular plants indigenous to specific locales, unraveling insights into their characteristics and potential applications. Equally vital is the skill’s ability to illuminate the presence of formidable and potentially hazardous creatures dwelling in the vicinity.
- Allows you to identify and collect useful plants, providing valuable crafting materials.
- Helps you recognize local creatures, and understand their behaviors and potential threats.
- Grants insights into weather patterns, terrain hazards, and natural landmarks.
- It is less than useful in combat.
- Information gathering happens passively, only through exploration.
6. Insight
Insight, guided by the Wisdom Ability, exemplifies the wider scope of proficiencies outside combat. In dialogues, its significance shines through as a robust Insight score unveils the motives concealed beneath NPCs’ words. This proficiency adds depth to conversations by unearthing hidden emotions and pre-empting potential traps that might lie ahead.
- Allows you to see through lies and identify deception in dialogue effectively.
- Complements classes like Clerics and Druids who often rely on Wisdom.
- It is not that useful in combat.
- It is a passive skill so it needs active situations to be triggered automatically.
7. History
In Baldur’s Gate 3, the History skill takes on a crucial role, offering a gateway to contextual insights and understanding the game’s world. Proficiency in History, tied to the Intelligence Ability, empowers characters to recall past events, enriching their grasp of the present.
This skill proves particularly valuable when deciphering unfamiliar scenarios, like recognizing the significance of a dilapidated temple as a former shrine to a forgotten deity within Act One. For me, it was a good experience during Act 3 in the temple of a certain god consumed by bloodlust.
- Increases the roleplay experience in BG3.
- It may allow you to decipher puzzles and unlock the secrets behind some places.
- It is a passive skill so you need to explore to trigger it actively.
- Not every situation calls for a History check, making it rarely ever useful.
8. Arcana
The Arcana skill draws upon your Intelligence Ability Score to determine success rates. It finds application in tasks demanding an insight into the mechanics of magic. This proficiency proves invaluable when dealing with magical traps or barriers, enabling their deactivation with informed precision.
Moreover, Arcana extends its utility to uncovering the essence of enigmatic artifacts and addressing inquiries concerning their magical attributes. This skill becomes a potent asset, arming you with the requisite knowledge to wield or nullify magical elements effectively. In a world brimming with mystical wonders, the mastery of Arcana stands as a pivotal key to unraveling and harnessing its arcane intricacies.
- Enables you to disable magical traps and barriers.
- Increases the Roleplay experience from a magical point of view.
- Not every situation involves magic, making its usefulness situational.
- You may have to reload lot if you fail Aracan checks.
9. Investigation
When navigating through BG3, players inevitably confront enigmatic situations that demand exploration. Proficiency in Investigation serves as a vital tool in such scenarios, aiding the search for crucial clues. While success might still be attainable without this Intelligence-based skill, proficiency significantly heightens the likelihood of uncovering solutions.
Investigation, akin to History, introduces contextual depth to certain scenarios. Unveiling clues before imminent threats arise fosters a sense of readiness for forthcoming challenges. Although seemingly less prevalent than combat skills, Investigation remains indispensable.
- Grants access to hidden details during dialogues and exploration.
- Synergizes very well with intelligence builds.
- Requires active exploration as it is a passive skill.
- May have to reload saves a couple of times if you fail rolls.
10. Stealth
Stealth, linked to the Dexterity attribute, transcends mere attempts at concealment, offering proficient individuals the ability to vanish in plain view. While often associated with covert activities, Stealth proves an essential skill extending beyond criminal intent, making it one of the most advantageous proficiencies for players.
- Increases the element of surprise in combat.
- Allows you to navigate dangerous areas freely,
- Not all encounters benefit from stealth.
- It is dependent on equipment for optimal use.
11. Intimidation
In the intricate fabric of Baldur’s Gate 3, moments often arise where you stand before an NPC whose decisions hold the power to mold subsequent events. These interpersonal encounters wield a profound influence over the unfolding narrative, casting ripples that stretch not only to the next scene but potentially throughout future chapters.
- Can avoid combat in tense situations without bloodshed.
- Can coerce NPCs into revealing information or completing tasks against their will.
- Poorly Intimidated NPCs may turn hostile or avoid giving you crucial information.
- Most intimidation rolls are extremely difficult to beat.
12. Sleight Of Hand
Sleight of Hand, hinged on your Dexterity Ability Score, encapsulates the art of deft manipulation. It’s about finesse in actions like twirling a coin between your fingers or making an object appear to vanish from your hand.
This skill’s proficiency comes to the fore when delicate actions are required, like picking pockets or discreetly concealing items during NPC searches. Moreover, it plays a pivotal role in more strategic maneuvers, such as planting an object on a target and subsequently alerting the guards about it.
- Allows you to acquire items through pickpocketing without conflict.
- Enhances the roleplay experience in BG3.
- It can only be used on occasion, it’s not always needed.
- Getting caught can result in negative consequences.
13. Deception
Deception stands as another important social skill in your toolkit. When confronted by an obstructing guard, this skill empowers you to create the illusion of imminent turmoil that demands immediate attention, even if no real disturbance exists.
I named it the most guilty skill because most of the deception dialogue in BG3 is extremely twisted, making you extremely guilty for any unfortunate outcomes.
- Help you avoid combat but lying your way through interactions.
- It pairs well with Charisma traits.
- It can sometimes have very negative outcomes.
- Not the best for keeping a good relationship with most companions.
14. Perception
In the expansive realm of Baldur’s Gate 3, the skill of Perception shines as a vital cornerstone, transcending class boundaries. Regardless of your chosen path, proficiency in this Wisdom-based skill is a non-negotiable asset. Its significance lies in fostering constant awareness of your surroundings, granting the ability to unravel environmental secrets and pierce through deceptive conversations.
- Allows you to uncover hidden entrances, buttons, or levers.
- One of the most versatile skill with dialogue and exploration utility.
- Extremely dependent on Wisdom stats.
- Does not directly impact any combat situation.
15. Persuasion
In the world of Baldur’s Gate 3, being charismatic is akin to wielding a powerful weapon. Your words possess the ability to steer you away from danger and unpleasant encounters, making Persuasion a paramount skill intrinsically tied to the Charisma attribute. This skill resonates as the pinnacle of social interaction, adeptly navigating scenarios where lying or threats might sow seeds of future conflict.
It is my personal favorite skill because of how much utility it has out of combat and how often it comes in handy when I need to get my Tav out of trouble.
- It is useful in most dialogue options.
- It can help avoid very difficult boss fights,
- Can replace other dialogue checks with Charisma stats.
- Extremely dependant on Charisma stats.
- Not that useful in combat.
My Thoughts
I am a fan of casters so my bias lies towards Perception and Persuasion. However, regardless of what build you opt for, you should always select a few skills that complement your combat and some that complement your roleplay dialogue. Namely, have at least one person in your party who is good with persuasion if you want to avoid some troublesome fights.
Each skill is a tool that empowers you to interact with the world in distinct ways, from mastering the art of animal communication with Animal Handling to navigating the intricacies of magic with Arcana. You can check the BG3 review by Huzaifa to see how to synergize them into your builds effectively.
As you explore the vast world of Baldur’s Gate 3, your proficiency in these skills will determine your success in battles, negotiations, and uncovering hidden gems. So, choose wisely, hone your abilities, and embark on an unforgettable adventure where your skills become the key to unlocking the full potential of your character.
Next Up:
- Baldur’s Gate 3: All Romance Options
- Baldur’s Gate 3: BEST Magic Items
- Baldur’s Gate 3: BEST Builds
- Baldur’s Gate 3: Best Classes Tier List
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