Mastering Reactions in Baldur’s Gate 3: A Comprehensive Guide

Reactions are a crucial element of combat in Baldur’s Gate 3, offering opportunities to respond to enemy actions outside of your own turn. Understanding how to set and utilize reactions effectively can significantly impact your success in the game. But how exactly do you set these powerful responses? The answer is straightforward, and understanding this core mechanic will elevate your strategic gameplay.

Setting Your Reactions

To configure your character’s reactions, you need to access the Character Sheet. This can be found by clicking on your character’s portrait in the lower-left corner of the screen, or by pressing the ‘C’ key. Once the character sheet is open, look for the tab labeled “Reactions“. This tab will display a list of available reaction types for the character.

Within the Reactions tab, you’ll see toggles for various reactions, such as Opportunity Attacks, and Sneak Attack Reactions, among others, depending on your class and chosen abilities. To enable a specific reaction, simply check the box next to it. When a reaction is enabled, your character will automatically trigger the corresponding action when the correct circumstances are met during combat.

Important Considerations:

• Limited Reactions: Characters only have one reaction per round. Therefore, you need to decide which reaction is most critical, or make a conscious effort not to use a minor reaction before a major one can occur.
• Automatic Prompts: When a reaction is triggered, you will often receive a prompt asking for confirmation. This allows you to make a last-second decision on whether to use the reaction or not.
• Class-Specific Reactions: The availability of specific reactions is often determined by your chosen class and subclass. For example, Rogues can use Sneak Attack as a reaction, while other classes might have access to different reactions based on their skills and feats.
• Modifications: While the base game provides a set number of reactions, mods can introduce new and unique reaction mechanics to enhance gameplay. Always be cautious when using mods, as they can alter the balance of the game.

By carefully configuring your reactions, you can strategically control the flow of combat and turn the tide in your favor. This seemingly simple feature provides a massive impact on your character’s effectiveness in Baldur’s Gate 3.

Frequently Asked Questions About Reactions in Baldur’s Gate 3

To further enhance your understanding of reactions in Baldur’s Gate 3, here are 15 frequently asked questions, complete with detailed answers:

1. Can I hold an action in Baldur’s Gate 3?

No, you cannot hold or ready an action in the traditional sense, like you could in some tabletop RPG systems. You can, however, use your reactions to counter enemy moves, thus creating a form of response-based action. Think of your reaction as being a limited form of a prepared response.

2. What is the “Sneak Attack Reaction” toggle?

The Sneak Attack Reaction toggle determines if you want to automatically trigger Sneak Attacks during an Attack of Opportunity on an enemy’s turn. When enabled, if an enemy moves out of your melee range or does something that triggers an opportunity attack, the game will prompt you if you would like to use your Sneak Attack if applicable. Leaving the toggle off will prompt you each time it triggers.

3. How do I use the “Help” action in Baldur’s Gate 3?

The “Help” action is a bonus action found in the bonus action tab. Its symbol is represented by clasping hands. This action allows you to assist a downed character, getting them back into the fight, or grant advantage to another character within 5ft on the first attack on their turn.

4. What does the ALT button do in Baldur’s Gate 3?

Pressing and holding the Left ALT button highlights interactive objects in your environment. This is essential for discovering hidden items, levers, and other important elements you might otherwise miss.

5. How do I romance Astarion?

Romancing Astarion involves:

• Supporting his whims.
• Showing acceptance of his condition.
• Aligning with characters typically considered evil.
• Displaying ruthless behavior.
• Embracing dramatics.
• Showing displays of power.
• Appreciating finer things.
• Demonstrating cruelty.

These actions will increase his approval of your character.

6. How do I save the girl from the hag?

To save the girl from the hag:

• Use Gale’s Magic Missile to quickly eliminate the hag’s clones.
• Focus fire with the rest of your party on the hag.
• Use the button located in the north part of the chamber to release the captive.

7. What is the range for the “Help” action?

When using the “Help” action to assist with an attack, the helper must be within five feet of the creature being targeted.

8. How do I increase attitude with merchants in Baldur’s Gate 3?

To increase a merchant’s attitude towards your character, you must give them gold directly or make worse deals during barter. Merchant approval ranges from -100 to 100, starting at 0 by default.

9. How do I revive dead characters in Baldur’s Gate 3?

To revive fallen party members, visit Withers at the Dank Crypt and pay him 200 gold per character. He will restore them to life, allowing you to continue your adventure with your full party.

10. How does pickpocketing work in Baldur’s Gate 3?

To successfully pickpocket, have a character initiate a conversation with the target NPC. Then, switch characters to your pickpocket, who can then steal from the NPC whose line of sight is fixed on the conversing party member.

11. Can I use Sneak Attack as a reaction?

Yes, Sneak Attack can be a reaction in Baldur’s Gate 3, if you have the corresponding toggle enabled in your reactions tab. When an attack of opportunity is triggered, you can then use sneak attack as a reaction, assuming you are a rogue and meet the requirements for sneak attack.

12. What does “Threatened” mean in BG3?

“Threatened” means that your character has disadvantage on ranged attacks because they are close to an enemy. Other conditions include “Turned” which description is currently unavailable, “Unconscious” which means the character automatically fails Strength and Dex saving throws, and has disadvantage on attack rolls, and “Weak Grip” meaning disadvantage on attack rolls and Strength saving throws.

13. What is the difference between an action and a bonus action?

Actions and bonus actions are both actions your character takes on their turn. Bonus Actions can be used at any point in your turn, not just after an action. They often consist of smaller spells, movement, or certain skills. Despite their name, Bonus Actions don’t have to come after a standard Action.

14. Can you ready an action in Baldur’s Gate 3?

No, players cannot ready actions in Baldur’s Gate 3. Each battle occurs in a turn-based manner, with players moving, taking actions, and using bonus actions each round. Reactions, however, offer a way to respond to actions that happen outside of your own turn.

15. Can familiars use the “Help” action?

Yes, in Baldur’s Gate 3, many familiars can use the “Help” action on an enemy, to impose an advantage on your next attack. This can be an excellent use for a familiar that cannot otherwise attack, such as a cat.

Conclusion

Understanding and effectively utilizing reactions is crucial for success in Baldur’s Gate 3. By mastering the reaction menu and understanding the various options available, players can add an incredible level of control to their strategic gameplay. Use this guide as a starting point, and experiment with your reaction settings to become a master tactician.