Summary
BothD&D 5eandBaldur’s Gate 3allow their players to access a variety of damage types, ranging from mundane to extraplanar. However,Baldur’s Gate 3introduces new magic items and mechanics that really let elemental attacks shine.
The same damage types existin bothD&D 5eandBaldur’s Gate 3. Mundane attacks deal ‘Physical’ damage inBaldur’s Gate 3, but it breaks down to the same bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing seen inD&D 5e. Both have the catch-all arcane damage type of force, psionic-styled psychic damage, ghostly necrotic damage, and holy radiant damage. The other damage types—acid, cold, fire, lightning, poison, and thunder—fall under the elemental banner.
Baldur’s Gate 3 Makes Elemental Damage A Special Thing
Despite being pitched on equal footing, damage types are not at all created equal. This mostly comes down to what resistances and immunities monsters have, as well as what source options are available. This makes the damage type of a spell or ability, which in mainlineD&Ddoesn’t alter the mechanics of an attack, matter a great deal when it comes to optimization. Luckily for fans of elemental blaster-casting,Baldur’s Gate 3offers many items, as well as some new behavioral mechanics, that make underserved elemental damage types really shine.
D&D 5e Leaves Some Elemental Damage Types In The Dust
The problem with elemental damage types inD&Dis twofold. Firstly, some damage types simplydon’t have enough spells inD&D 5e. Poison, often considered the laughingstock of damage types, has a couple nonmagical sources, but little support from spellcasting. Acid is also severely underserved, and not helped by many of its spells dealing damage in d4 units. On the other hand, most spell levels have a smorgasbord of options for pyromaniacs, to a greater extent than any other damage type. This creates an obvious issue: those who want to spec into elements that aren’t fire or cold have little choice.
Monster variety may be an even bigger problem thanD&D’s elemental spell options. Constructs, elementals, fiends, and undead are pretty united in their poison immunity, and that’s without getting into monsters with poisonous bites that have similar resistance. Fire also takes a big hit here, with swathes of monsters resisting it or being entirely immune, though at least in this case some monsters are vulnerable to it. Elemental damage takes a big overall hit thanks to these factors, boosting damage types like force and radiant (which are very scarcely resisted) into the stratosphere.
Baldur’s Gate 3 Makes Different Damage Types Behave Differently
One way in which Larian rectifies this problem is giving damage typesdifferent properties inBaldur’s Gate 3. Lightning can electrocute water, acidic spells leave behind pools of residue, fire can burn terrain, and more. These are things that creative spell use could pull off inD&D, butBaldur’s Gate 3brings the hard mechanics that this idea needs. Furthermore, players can further expand their elemental damage by dipping weapons into elemental sources. This further expands the use of poison damage, in addition to the poisonous miasma its sources can leave behind.
New Magic Items For More Elemental Damage
Baldur’s Gate 3is generous with magic items, and this is a huge boon for those trying to spec into a certain elemental damage type. There are swathes of items that boost elemental damage broadly, as well as many that add additional damage of a particular element. What’s more interesting are the items that reduce the resistances of enemies, such as Arsonist’s Oil and the Poisoner’s Ring. Both of these items can make foes vulnerable to their respective damage types (except in cases of immunity). On the subject of boosting poison, items like the Derivation Cloak and Poisoner’s Gloves buff poison damage in other ways, encouraging the use of it.
Baldur’s Gate 3
WHERE TO PLAY
Abducted, infected, lost. You are turning into a monster, but as the corruption inside you grows, so does your power. Forge a tale of fellowship and betrayal, sacrifice and survival, and the lure of absolute power. Caught in a conflict between devils, deities, and sinister otherworldly forces, you and your party will determine the fate of the Forgotten Realms.THE ULTIMATE D&D EXPERIENCEChoose from a wide selection of D&D races and classes, or play as an origin character with a hand-crafted background. Adventure, loot, battle, and romance as you journey through the Forgotten Realms and beyond. Play alone or as a party of up to four in multiplayer – and select your companions carefully.A CINEMATIC STORYTELLING EPICForged with the new Divinity 4.0 engine, Baldur’s Gate 3 gives you unprecedented freedom to explore, experiment, and interact with a world that reacts to your choices. A grand, cinematic narrative brings you closer to your characters than ever before, as you venture through our biggest world yet. Romance, deceive, aid, obstruct, and grow alongside your friends thanks to Larian’s next-generation RPG engine.
