BG3 isn’t an incomplete game, but there are some popular spells from D&D5e that would be fun to use in-game. I’ll be looking at up to Level 6 spells since that’s what we’re working with in BG3. Here are my top 10 D&D spells we need in Baldur’s Gate 3.
D&D 5e Spells We Want in Baldur’s Gate 3
Catapult
What’s more fun than catapulting things around the battlefield? This aptly named spell does just that: propelling objects within the spell range up to 90 feet away. Those who are struck by the object take 3d8 damage if they fail a Dexterity saving throw and the object breaks. This is a fun utility spell to move explosive barrels or catapult Acid, Grease, and Alchemist Fire bottles around. Best of all, it’s just a Level 1 spell.
Dragon’s Breath
I’m not quite sure why such a simple spell like the Level 2 Dragon’s Breath wasn’t implemented. There are already burning hands and the Dragonborn breath to use for the animation. This is a really interesting and useful spell early game and one that you can cast on your familiar in Acts 2 and 3. Turn yourself, your allies, or your familiar into portable dragons by breathing fire, lightning, acid, frost, or poison. Fun for the whole party.
Suggestion
Suggestion magically influences a creature to perform a certain action that’s not directly harmful to them. Now, this spell would be incredibly useful in dialogue scenes, though it would take work to implement it in specific scenes. There are already dialogue-specific spells like Detect Thoughts so Suggestion would have a place as well. Baldur’s Gate 3 already prides itself on unique encounters that you can solve without combat through dialogue, so Suggestion simply expands the options.
Shadow Blade and Green Flame Blade/Booming Blade
I personally love gishes, that is, melee combatants who can cast spells like Eldritch Knights, Swords Bards, or Pact of the Blade Warlocks. Shadow Blade and GFB or BB are made for these playstyles, which provide additional magical effects on a weapon attack. What puzzles me is that Shadow Blade is already in the game through the Shadow Blade Ring, so why isn’t it a regular spell? GFB and BB would be incredibly easy to implement, with minor magical effects added to weapon attacks. All three of these spells would make gishes drastically more fun and a lot more viable.
Spider Climb
I want to climb walls. Is that so much to ask Larian? Something that Baldur’s Gate 3 does well is expand the combat grid in three dimensions using elevated surfaces. However, you can only reach predetermined vertical surfaces, and you cannot go up vertically in the air. It would be quite fun if they did it like Solasta, where you can scale walls and surfaces with spells like Spider Climb and gain aerial advantages on foes. The best part is that spider enemies can have this automatically, making those encounters even more dynamic.
Conjure Animals
Now, Larian has buffed summoning spells drastically allowing them to last until you go for a Long Rest and not require concentration. But a RAW Conjure Animals spell would be hilarious since no class-specific summoning spell currently conjures multiple creatures. You can control hordes of snakes or wolves and even summon fewer creatures that are more powerful. Conjure Animals is incredibly flexible, and since there is no DM to annoy with this spell, it works superbly in BG3.
Enemies Abound
We were all disappointed with Crown of Madness, but there is a better version of that spell in D&D5e that does exactly what we expected it to do. Enemies Abound essentially makes one of the enemies that fails a Wisdom saving throw to turn on their allies. This can be both an incredibly fun and chaotic spell in BG3 , where you cast it on an enemy brute and watch them charge your enemies. Sorcerers can even Twin Spell it for double the chaos and double the fun.
Bigby’s Hand
If you’ve seen Critical Role Season 1 streams or watched the Legend of Vox Machina animation you know what Scanlan gets up to with Bigby’s Hand. Essentially, this spell summons a massive spectral hand to aid you in combat. It can block attacks, smash foes, grapple and push enemies around. It doesn’t last as much as the other summoning spells but it can wreak greater havoc so it’s balanced.
Animate Objects
Animate Objects would require a bit of work to implement, but it would essentially turn the environment into your ally. This spell animates nearby objects to fight at your side, and BG3 is full of those. You can have a pet explosive barrel, animate an army of chairs to bash your enemies, or animate one larger statue for a powerful frontline tank. The spell is versatile, though it would require coding environmental objects. Still, just the idea that anything around you can become your ally is quite entertaining.                                Â
Tenser’s Transformation
The ultimate gish spell to turn your Wizard into Conan the Barbarian. Activating this Level 6 spell grants you 50 temporary HP, Advantage on all attacks, +2d12 bonus damage, proficiency with all armor, shields, and Strength/Constitution saving throws. Furthermore, you get an Extra Attack to attack twice. Perhaps even Sorcerer or Cleric subclasses can get access to this. It would certainly make Act 3 more chaotic as you switch your playstyle entirely.
Honorable Mentions
Here are a few more popular spells from the TTRPG that people have been wandering about:
- Absorb Elements: This is a great Level 1 spell that allows you to defend from elemental attacks as a Reaction. It’s already on the Cloak of the Weave, so why wouldn’t it be a base-class spell?
- Thunder Step: Similar to Absorb Elements and Shadow Blade, Thunder Step is already in the game with a fire version on Helldusk Boots. It should definitely be a base-class spell.
- Dispel Magic: Now, this is a community favorite, and while I love Dispel Magic in the TTRPG, it wouldn’t work in BG3 for one simple reason. The entire plot is that the Mind Flayer tadpoles in your head have been magically altered so as not to turn you into a Mind Flayer. Imagine a basic caster enemy casting Dispel Magic on your party, thus disabling the enchantment on the tadpoles and triggering Ceremorphosis on your entire party. That said, it would be a comedy gold cutscene.
That’s it on my article on the top 10 Dungeons & Dragons spells we need in Baldur’s Gate 3. For more BG3 articles check out popular subclasses from D&D5e we want in BG3 or the most interesting Speak With Dead interactions.
