How Do Feats Work in Baldur’s Gate 3? A Comprehensive Guide

Feats in Baldur’s Gate 3 are a crucial element in character customization, offering unique abilities and bonuses that can significantly impact your gameplay experience. They are essentially special talents or skills that characters can acquire at certain levels, augmenting their capabilities in various ways, both in and out of combat. Unlike basic stat increases, feats grant specific mechanical advantages, allowing players to fine-tune their character’s build and playstyle. These advantages range from enhancing combat prowess to bolstering spellcasting or even granting entirely new options. Choosing the right feats can be the difference between a character who feels adequate and one who truly excels.

What Are Feats and How Do They Function?

Feats are character features that provide specialized improvements, going beyond the typical stat increases. They are granted to most classes at level 4, 8, and 12, with Fighters gaining an additional feat at level 6. This extra feat for fighters makes them particularly versatile. When a character reaches a level where a feat is available, players are presented with a list of options to choose from. These options are diverse, including combat-oriented feats like Great Weapon Master or Polearm Master, utility feats such as Magic Initiate, and even more general enhancements like Ability Score Improvement.

Essentially, feats provide a layer of customization, allowing players to adapt their characters to their preferred way of playing. Instead of simply becoming more powerful with higher stats, you gain specific new tools and abilities that are not inherently tied to your class. A carefully chosen collection of feats will contribute greatly to a character’s overall effectiveness and style within the game. It’s also important to remember that if none of the available feats align with a particular character build, the “default” option of Ability Score Improvement is available, allowing a player to increase any chosen attribute up to a maximum of 20.

Where to See Your Feats?

Accessing your current feats and their descriptions is straightforward. Within the game, pressing the ‘I’ key will open your character’s details. This interface displays all aspects of your character, including your stats, equipped items, and any active effects. It is here that a section detailing your selected feats will be located. This makes it easy to keep track of what your character can do. This is also the place where you will see effects provided by items and your class as well.

Respec and Feats

If you’ve made a choice you regret or want to experiment with different options, fear not. Baldur’s Gate 3 allows you to respec your character by speaking to Withers. This process allows you to completely re-level your character, giving you the chance to reassign your stats, and, crucially, re-select your feats. This feature is incredibly useful for those who want to test different builds, or just aren’t happy with the current iteration of their adventurer.

FAQs on Feats in Baldur’s Gate 3

Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further explain how feats work in Baldur’s Gate 3:

1. How often do you get feats in BG3?

Most classes get a feat every 4 levels (levels 4, 8, and 12). Fighters receive an additional feat at level 6.

2. Can you change feats in BG3?

Yes, you can change feats by respecing your character with Withers. This allows you to completely re-level and re-choose your feats.

3. What is Ability Score Improvement, and why is it an option?

Ability Score Improvement is a “default” choice when selecting a feat. It allows you to increase any two of your ability scores by one point each, or a single ability score by two points. It is beneficial when you would rather improve your basic stats than gain a specific feat. You can improve your stats up to 20 with this feature.

4. What are some of the best feats for a Fighter in BG3?

Popular fighter feats include:

• Great Weapon Master: Adds significant damage potential to heavy melee attacks.
• Polearm Master: Allows for extra attacks with polearms and reaction attacks.
• Crossbow Expert: Enables close-quarters attacks with crossbows without disadvantage and allows extra ranged attacks.
• Sentinel: Lets you trigger reaction attacks against enemies that are close to you.
• Shield Master: Allows for better use of shields.

5. What are some of the best feats overall in BG3?

Some of the highest-ranked feats, applicable to various classes, include:

• Polearm Master: Versatile for classes using polearms.
• Lucky: Provides extra chances on attack rolls, saving throws, and ability checks.
• War Caster: Beneficial for spellcasters.
• Sharpshooter: Greatly improves ranged combat by ignoring high-ground disadvantage, and allowing for more powerful ranged attacks.
• Sentinel: Helps protect allies by causing reaction attacks when they are targeted.

6. What are some good feats for a Wizard in BG3?

Top feats for Wizards include:

• War Caster: Grants advantage on saving throws to maintain concentration on spells.
• Resilient: Adds proficiency in a chosen saving throw, often Constitution for better concentration.
• Magic Initiate: Lets the wizard learn spells from other classes.
• Elemental Adept: Strengthens the wizard’s elemental spells.
• Tough: Increases maximum HP.

7. How do I know which feats my character has?

You can see a list of your character’s feats by pressing ‘I’ to view your character’s details. There is a specific section for listing out all the currently selected feats.

8. Are feats important in BG3?

Yes, feats are very important. They can drastically improve your character’s abilities and playstyle. They are crucial for character optimization and specialization.

9. Do all classes get feats at the same level intervals?

Most classes gain feats at levels 4, 8, and 12, but the Fighter class gains an additional feat at level 6.

10. Can you dual wield longswords without a feat?

No, longswords are not “light” weapons and cannot be dual wielded without a specific feat. You are limited to daggers, shortswords, scimitars, handaxes and light hammers, unless you gain a feat to allow otherwise.

11. Is there a limit to how high ability scores can be?

The maximum ability score in Baldur’s Gate 3 is 20 after racial and class bonuses.

12. What is the point buy system in BG3?

The point buy system in Baldur’s Gate 3 provides you with 27 points to distribute among the six main attributes. Each attribute starts at 8 and can be raised up to 15 initially.

13. What is the best class to multiclass with Fighter?

The Paladin is often considered the best class to multiclass with Fighter because of Divine Smite, Spellcasting, and the versatility of their fighting style. The Barbarian is also a good secondary choice.

14. What classes are the most beginner-friendly?

The Fighter is often seen as the most beginner-friendly, due to its simple mechanics and strong base skills. Other beginner classes include the Warlock, the Barbarian, and the Ranger.

15. What are some other ways to improve a character beyond level and feats?

You can also boost your character by finding items with helpful effects, and selecting the most beneficial fighting style. These choices combined with good feats will create a powerful adventurer.

Conclusion

Feats are a fundamental part of character progression in Baldur’s Gate 3. They provide a significant layer of customization, enabling you to mold your character into a unique and effective adventurer. By understanding what feats are, how they work, and when they can be obtained, you can unlock the full potential of your heroes and shape your experience in the Forgotten Realms.