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What Are the Best Maneuvers in Baldur’s Gate 3?

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The best maneuvers in Baldur’s Gate 3 (BG3) depend heavily on your party composition, combat style, and chosen class, particularly for Fighters and Battle Masters. However, some consistently prove to be powerful and versatile. Pushing Attack is almost universally useful for controlling enemy positioning, creating fall damage opportunities, or interrupting spellcasters. Precision Attack significantly increases hit chance, turning a near miss into a hit, crucial for high-damage or debuffing attacks. Tripping Attack is invaluable for knocking enemies prone, granting advantage on melee attacks. Other notable maneuvers include Goading Attack for tanking, Disarming Attack to neuter heavily armed opponents, and Rally for providing temporary hit points and a morale boost. Choosing the right maneuver at the right time can drastically alter the course of a battle, making them essential for tactical combat in BG3.

Understanding Battle Master Maneuvers

The Battle Master Fighter subclass gains access to Combat Superiority Dice and a selection of maneuvers that can be used to enhance their attacks. These maneuvers add tactical depth to combat and allow players to control the battlefield and influence enemy behavior. Learning to effectively use these maneuvers is key to maximizing a Battle Master’s potential. The efficacy of a maneuver also depends on the opponent, the environment, and the overall strategy of the party.

Top-Tier Maneuvers for All Situations

Certain maneuvers stand out as consistently effective across a variety of encounters. These are the bread and butter of any Battle Master and should be considered essential choices when leveling up.

Pushing Attack: Arguably the most versatile maneuver, Pushing Attack allows you to shove an enemy 15 feet in a direction. This can be used to knock enemies off cliffs for fall damage, force them into hazards, or disrupt their positioning. The addition of Force damage makes it even more desirable.
Precision Attack: Turning a near-miss into a hit is incredibly valuable, especially with high-damage weapons or spells. Precision Attack adds a die to your attack roll, potentially converting a failed attack into a critical hit or a successful application of a vital debuff.
Tripping Attack: Knocking an enemy prone grants advantage on melee attacks against them. This can significantly increase your party’s damage output against a single target. Tripping Attack is especially potent against large or heavily armored enemies.
Disarming Attack: Removing an enemy’s weapon can completely disable them, particularly if they rely on it for damage or special abilities. Disarming Attack can turn a dangerous foe into a relatively harmless target.

Situational Maneuvers for Specific Encounters

While the top-tier maneuvers are generally useful, some are more effective in specific situations. Knowing when to use these maneuvers can give you a significant edge in difficult encounters.

Goading Attack: Forces the target to attack you. This is crucial for tanks who need to draw enemy fire away from squishier party members.
Rally: Provides temporary hit points and advantage on Saving Throws against being Frightened to an ally. A great boost to survivability, especially before or during a challenging fight.
Distracting Strike: Gives the next attack roll against the target advantage. This can be used to set up powerful attacks from other party members, such as Rogues with Sneak Attack.
Riposte: A reaction that allows you to attack an enemy who misses you in melee. This is a great way to deal extra damage and punish enemies for failed attacks.

Less Commonly Used, But Still Useful Maneuvers

These maneuvers aren’t always the best choice, but they can still be useful in certain situations or with specific builds.

Evasive Footwork: Add a die to your AC against one attack. Situational, but can be useful for avoiding a critical hit.
Manoeuvring Attack: Allows an ally to move without provoking Opportunity Attacks. This can be useful for repositioning squishy characters or escaping dangerous situations.

Optimizing Your Battle Master Build

Choosing the right maneuvers is only one part of playing a Battle Master. You also need to consider your stats, feats, and equipment to create an effective build.

Stats: Strength or Dexterity (depending on your weapon choice) and Constitution are the most important stats for a Battle Master. Charisma is important for some dialogue options and the Rally maneuver.
Feats: Great Weapon Master, Savage Attacker, and Alert are all strong choices for a Battle Master.
Equipment: Focus on weapons and armor that enhance your attack rolls, damage, and survivability. Look for items that grant additional Combat Superiority Dice or improve your maneuvers.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions about maneuvers in Baldur’s Gate 3:

How do I gain access to maneuvers in BG3? You gain access to maneuvers by selecting the Battle Master Fighter subclass at level 3. This grants you Combat Superiority Dice and allows you to choose a number of maneuvers to learn.
How many maneuvers can I learn as a Battle Master? The number of maneuvers you can learn increases as you level up as a Battle Master Fighter. You start with three maneuvers at level 3, and learn more at levels 7, 10, and 15, ending with a total of nine maneuvers by level 15.
What are Combat Superiority Dice? Combat Superiority Dice are dice that you roll to add effects to your attacks when using maneuvers. They are d8s, which means they roll an 8-sided die. As you level up in the Battle Master subclass, your dice amount increases.
Do Combat Superiority Dice refresh after every battle? No, Combat Superiority Dice are a limited resource. You regain all expended Combat Superiority Dice after a short rest or a long rest. Manage them wisely during longer adventuring days.
Can I use maneuvers with ranged weapons? Yes, many maneuvers can be used with both melee and ranged weapons. Check the description of each maneuver to see if there are any restrictions.
Does the target of a maneuver get a saving throw? Many maneuvers require the target to make a saving throw to resist the effect. The difficulty of the saving throw is based on your Strength or Dexterity modifier (depending on your weapon), your proficiency bonus, and a base number (usually 8).
What happens if an enemy succeeds on a saving throw against a maneuver? If an enemy succeeds on a saving throw against a maneuver, the primary effect of the maneuver is negated. However, you still deal the damage from the attack roll.
Can I use multiple maneuvers on a single attack? No, you can only use one maneuver per attack. Choose wisely!
Can I use a maneuver on an opportunity attack? Yes, you can use maneuvers on opportunity attacks, as long as you have Combat Superiority Dice available.
What’s the best way to improve my Battle Master’s effectiveness? Focus on improving your Strength or Dexterity (depending on your weapon choice), Constitution, and Charisma. Choose feats that enhance your attack rolls, damage, and survivability. Also, learn to effectively use your maneuvers in different situations.
Are there any items that improve Battle Master maneuvers? Yes, certain items in BG3 can enhance your Battle Master’s abilities. Look for items that grant additional Combat Superiority Dice, increase the damage of your maneuvers, or improve your saving throw DC.
Is it worth multiclassing with Battle Master Fighter? Multiclassing with Battle Master Fighter can be a viable option for certain builds. A few levels in Fighter can grant access to valuable maneuvers and the Action Surge ability. However, be aware that multiclassing can delay your access to higher-level class features. Consider this choice based on your character’s needs and build.
Does using Commanding Strike with a rogue allow them to sneak attack twice in one turn? Yes, Commanding Strike allows an ally (rogue) to use their reaction and attack, which means they can sneak attack again as long as the conditions are met.
What is better, a long rest or short rest to replenish my Combat Superiority Dice? Both Short and Long Rests will replenish your Combat Superiority Dice. Choose whatever rest is more convenient for the current situation.
Can other classes get Maneuvers? Yes, through the “Martial Adept” feat, any class can gain access to one maneuver and one Combat Superiority die, usable once per short or long rest.

By understanding the nuances of Battle Master maneuvers and optimizing your build, you can become a formidable force on the battlefield in Baldur’s Gate 3. Experiment with different combinations of maneuvers and strategies to find what works best for your play style and party composition. Good luck, and may your dice rolls be ever in your favor!