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What Is an Advantage in Baldur’s Gate 3 Combat System?

Hey gamers, are you ready to delve into the exciting world of Baldur’s Gate 3 combat? Well, today we’re going to take a closer look at one of the key mechanics in the game: advantage and disadvantage. Whether you’re a seasoned Dungeons and Dragons player or a newcomer to the franchise, understanding how advantage and disadvantage work in Baldur’s Gate 3 can make all the difference in your battles. So, grab your dice and let’s roll into this article to level up your combat skills!

Advantage and Disadvantage Explained

Are you tired of missing all your attacks and failing all your ability checks? Do you want to know how to gain an advantage in combat? Look no further, because we will explain how advantage and disadvantage work in Baldur’s Gate 3.

Advantage means that you roll the d20 two times and use the higher of the two values when making an Attack Roll, Ability Check or Saving Throw. On the other hand, disadvantage means that you roll the d20 two times but use the lower of the two values. Having advantage nearly doubles your chance of success, so it’s crucial to seek it out. On the other hand, disadvantage is one of the worst situations you can be in when rolling the d20, so it’s best to avoid it. In BG3, you can see whether you have advantage or disadvantage on your attack by the green up arrows or red down arrows next to the target’s name. Keep in mind that having multiple instances of advantage or disadvantage does not stack, and if you have both, they cancel each other out.

What Does an Advantage Do?

In Baldur’s Gate 3, having an Advantage can make all the difference in your chances of success. When you have Advantage on a check, you roll two d20 and keep the higher of the two results. This is particularly helpful in combat, as Attack Rolls against a blinded, paralyzed, petrified, prone, stunned, unconscious, or otherwise restrained enemy have an Advantage. Additionally, Attack Rolls made by hidden (successfully using the Sneak skill) or Invisible characters have an Advantage. Other situations where Advantage is applied include certain races having it on Saving Throws against specific effects, and Charm Person granting the caster Advantage on Ability Checks in dialogue made against the afflicted character.

What Does a Disadvantage Do?

In Baldur’s Gate 3, a Disadvantage on a check means that the character rolls two d20s and must take the lowest result. All the normal modifiers, such as Proficiency Bonus and Ability Scores, are still applied, but the higher d20 roll is disregarded. For example, if a character is blind, they suffer a Disadvantage on their Attack rolls. They’d roll two d20s and apply their Proficiency and Strength modifiers to both rolls, but the higher d20 roll is disregarded. The Disadvantage is also applied in situations like wearing armor you’re not proficient in, making Attack Rolls with ranged weapons when threatened by a melee combatant, and being exhausted. Attacks made against invisible characters and Attacks Rolls made by blind or prone characters also suffer Disadvantage.

The Sources of Advantage in Baldur’s Gate 3

To succeed in combat, it’s essential to get an Advantage on your attacks and avoid Disadvantage. When attacking a target, you’ll see a % to hit. Look at the bottom left-hand corner of the screen for a black box with more info. Green up arrows indicate advantage, while red down arrows indicate disadvantage. Here are some sources to get an advantage in Baldur’s Gate 3 combat:

  • Attacking an enemy who can’t see you (you’re hidden, or they are blind)
  • Attacking a prone enemy with a melee attack
  • Attacking an enemy affected by a status effect like “paralyzed” from the Hold Person spell (this also automatically crits if it hits)
  • Making a ranged attack on an enemy who you have the high ground on
  • Making a melee attack against an enemy’s back (backstab)

Remember that having five sources of advantage (or disadvantage) doesn’t mean rolling five times and picking the highest (or lowest) one. You still only roll two dice. And if you have both advantage and disadvantage on the same attack, they cancel out.

The Sources of Disadvantage in Baldur’s Gate 3

In Baldur’s Gate 3, getting an advantage on your attacks is crucial to success in combat, but getting a disadvantage can be a real setback. Here are some sources of disadvantage you should be aware of:

  • Making a ranged attack while an enemy is near you (called “Threatened” in BG3)
  • Attacking a prone enemy with a ranged attack
  • Attacking somebody affected by a spell like Blur
  • Attacking an enemy you can’t see (in a fog cloud, darkness, or you are blind)
  • Attacking an enemy beyond the normal range of your ranged weapons. For example, a shortbow can attack enemies within 320 feet. But anything beyond 80 feet will have disadvantage
  • Using a heavy weapon (greatsword, heavy crossbow, etc.) as a small race (halfling, gnome). Dwarves are NOT a small race.
  • Not D&D 5e official but in the game: Attacking an enemy in dim light.
  • One good way to get around this is to use a cantrip like dancing lights in the area around your target covered in darkness
  • Not D&D 5e official but in the game: Making a ranged attack on an enemy who is higher up than you.

Make sure you avoid these sources of disadvantage and seek out those sources of advantage to improve your chances of success in Baldur’s Gate 3 combat.

How Does Combat Work in Baldur’s Gate 3?

In Baldur’s Gate 3, combat is the system that governs battles between characters and enemies. It includes mechanics such as hitting and missing, turning undead, special ways to attack and defend, poison, and more.

The combat rules are based on the use of dice rolls, which simulate the probability of success or failure for each action performed.

Damage is what happens to a character when an opponent attacks them successfully, and can also occur as a result of poison, fire, acid, and other elemental damage types. Melee combat occurs when characters battle each other hand-to-hand, while missile combat happens when weapons are shot, thrown, hurled, or otherwise propelled. Saving throws measure a character’s resistance to special types of attacks, while speed factors determine how quickly a character wielding a weapon begins their sequence of attacks. The casting time of a spell is the amount of time the caster is busy doing the motions of casting before the spell’s effects take place. The attack roll is a simulated twenty-sided die roll that determines whether an attack succeeds or fails, with the to-hit number being the result of subtracting the target’s armor class from the attacker’s THAC0.

Many factors can modify the number a character needs for a successful hit, including strength modifiers and magical items. If the target is sleeping or held, the attack automatically hits and causes normal damage.


In conclusion, Advantage is a crucial aspect of combat in Baldur’s Gate 3. It provides players with a significant boost to their chances of hitting an enemy, allowing them to deal more damage and potentially turn the tide of battle. Advantage works by allowing players to roll two d20s and take the higher result, while disadvantage forces players to take the lower result. There are various sources of advantage in the game, including attacking an enemy who can’t see you, attacking a prone enemy with a melee attack, attacking an enemy affected by a status effect, and more. By understanding the sources of advantage and how it works, players can gain the upper hand in combat and increase their chances of success in the game.

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