Baldur's Gate 3 spells with hidden applications

Baldur's Gate 3 offers players tremendous freedom in approaching problems, whether in combat or otherwise. One of the main tools at their disposal is spells, but with over 600 spells in the game, it's easy to overlook some of the more inventive ways to utilize these arcane - or divine - abilities.

When used with some planning, even simple spells can have a tremendous impact on your gameplay and unlock social and tactical options that you might not have otherwise considered. Creativity in the application of your spells is almost always rewarded, although not necessarily in the way you expect. Here are some creative uses for spells that are not included or made obvious in their game description.

10 Polymorph

The combat in Baldur's Gate 3 is both tactical and challenging, with a variety of dangerous monsters ready to overwhelm your party of adventurers. The spell Polymorph allows you to transform even the most dangerous enemies into a harmless, fluffy sheep.

This can be used to buy you time to deal with other threats, but it also means that you can easily pick up this sheep and throw it over the edge of a cliff. The massive fall damage will be transferred to the actual hit points of the monster, and now your party can enjoy a peaceful, extended rest while counting polymorphed sheep.

9 Enlarge/Reduce

Enlarge/Reduce is a rare two-in-one spell that allows you to either increase or decrease the size of a creature. In combat, this has clear applications: Tiny enemies or huge allies make fights easier in their respective ways.

However, a practical, albeit not obvious, use of the spell is to shrink your own characters. This allows them to squeeze through small openings that would normally be too small for them, granting access to areas in the game that you might otherwise never be able to reach.

8 Disguise Self

The ability to change your appearance has all sorts of uses in both Dungeons & Dragons and games like Baldur's Gate 3. However, one of the more imaginative ways to use it hides behind another spell. Speak with Dead allows your character to communicate with the deceased and often obtain information that would otherwise be missed. The catch is that enemies you were involved in killing aren't exactly thrilled to chat with you, even through the power of magic.

However, if you use Disguise beforehand to change your appearance, the deceased won't recognize you as the person responsible for their untimely death and will be more than happy to divulge their secrets. It may not be honest, but it is definitely effective.

7 Create or Destroy Water

Veterans of other games by Larian Studios, such as Divinity: Original Sin 2, will be familiar with the elemental effects that have also been incorporated into Baldur's Gate 3. You can use the spells Create or Destroy Water to make it rain on enemies and cause the "Wet" condition. Then, you can follow up with a cold or lightning spell to double the damage. However, that's not the only unexpected way you can utilize this spell.

If you happen to fall in love with the internet's new favorite demoness, Karlach, you face the obstacle that she generates so much heat from her inner infernal engine that it means you'll need to immediately call a cleric for healing if you touch her. However, before you find a permanent solution to this problem, you can use the spell Create or Destroy Water in your camp to cool her down just enough to steal a quick and fiery kiss. Other spells like Ray of Frost have the same effect, but creating rain is more peaceful and possibly even romantic.

6 Grease

Grease is a 1st-level spell that never loses its value throughout the game. It creates a slippery, flammable surface that can be ignited, turning otherwise safe areas into deadly fields for your group of adventurers – and that's not even the best part. Grease is an underrated method to reduce enemy spellcasters to nothing more than a nuisance.

Creatures in the affected area must make a Dexterity saving throw or they fall prone. While prone, creatures can't do much until they spend half their movement speed to stand up. However, most importantly, being knocked prone causes spellcasters to automatically lose concentration on their spells. There's no need to inflict damage and hope they fail their concentration check – just cast Grease and watch them slip up on their conjurations.

5 Daylight

Daylight is an intriguing spell, not only because of its applications in Baldur's Gate 3, but also because of the differences compared to the same spell in Dungeons & Dragons. In both games, the spell illuminates an area and dispels darkness, even magical darkness. However, the difference lies in the type of light generated. In the tabletop game, Daylight produces bright light, but in Baldur's Gate 3, it specifically creates sunlight.

Sunlight is especially useful in a specific situation: combat against vampires. Vampires or vampire spawn each suffer 20 radiant damage per round they spend in sunlight. This makes the spell a great way to exert control over the battlefield while simultaneously reducing their hit points.

4 Selûne's Dream

This spell can only be cast by using the Amulet of the Chosen of Selûne, which can be found in the infamous goblin camp in Act One. It provides 1-8 hit points of healing, which becomes less impressive as levels increase, and can put the target to sleep. This makes it a risky way to heal your group during combat and impractical outside of combat. However, there is a way to enjoy the benefits without the drawbacks.

Elves are immune to effects that would magically put them to sleep, which means you can cast the spell Selune's Dream on someone like Shadowheart without fearing that they will fall asleep. The healing may not be much, but without the drawback, it's free hit points, which is never a bad thing.

3 Entangle

A classic of druidic magic, Entangle, causes vines to sprout from the ground, slowing down enemies and potentially even binding them with the Restrained condition. While restrained, their movement is reduced to zero, preventing them from moving across the battlefield. Additionally, it grants advantage on attack rolls against them and imposes disadvantage on their attack rolls and Dexterity saving throws.

If you manage to knock an enemy prone and impose the "Prone" condition on them, they can't do anything on their turn until they spend half their movement speed to stand up. However, if you entangle them, they have no movement options left, effectively rendering them completely incapacitated. The spell Hold Person is an easier way to achieve this with individual targets, but against a group, the combination of Entangle and Grease works just as well.

2 Goodberry

The humble spell Goodberry creates four magical berries in your inventory, each of which provides 1-4 hit points when consumed. This is a good way to replenish your group's health between battles without using a short rest. Unfortunately, they only last until your next long rest, so you can't save them for a rainy day.

One thing the game doesn't tell you, however, is that each Goodberry counts as a camp provision. It's unlikely that you're just a few points away from the 40 camp provisions required for a long rest and relying on your conjured berries. Nevertheless, it's a decent way to make use of them since they disappear after a long rest anyway.

1 Feign Death

Feign Death puts individuals into a protective coma-like state, causing them to fall into a deep sleep and granting them resistance against almost any type of damage in the game. However, there is a limitation: the spell can only be cast on creatures that the game has designated as your allies.

You could use that to make it harder to kill an NPC that you have to protect - that would be an honest use for such a spell. Alternatively, you could trade with a merchant and give them gold until their attitude towards you improves so much that the game recognizes them as your ally. Then you could use Feign Death to incapacitate them and steal from them by taking back your gold and robbing them. The choice is yours.