Healers belong in every group. At least that’s what most people who play MMOs and RPGs think. In Baldur’s Gate 3, it’s different, say my players: Attack is the best defense here. And that’s true – for one simple reason.
How are you currently playing ractically “wrong”?
- Those who are new to Baldur’s Gate 3 – or Dungeons & Dragons in general – will probably stick to the “Holy Trinity”: at least one tank, one healer, and damage dealers.
- The class designated as the healer in Baldur’s Gate 3 is usually the cleric, one of the strongest classes in the game. Big advantage: Shadowheart, as a popular companion, is directly a cleric, which is why she is present in most groups.
- A user on Reddit now states: Healing isn’t that good at all. He even failed on a boss multiple times until he finally gave up healing. The community agrees.
That’s why damage is better than healing: The thread simply states that it’s better to kill enemies quickly than to heal. This applies to Baldur’s Gate 3 as well as to Dungeons & Dragons, the underlying tabletop role-playing game.
For veterans, this is a well-known fact, newcomers will probably need to get used to it. The idea is actually quite simple. Combat always takes place in turns, and you typically have only one action and one bonus action per turn.
Healing usually costs you a whole action, meaning you can’t do anything else. Enemies don’t take your presence into account: they just keep attacking. Then the following can happen:
- Per turn, the enemy hits you, sometimes with multiple attacks, dealing – let’s say – 2d6+3 damage per turn. This corresponds to a two-handed sword wielded with 16 strength.
- The damage therefore ranges from 5 to 15 per turn at level 1 and can critically hit.
- The standard healing spells Healing Word and Cure Wounds heal for 1d4 or 1d8 per rank (plus the respective modifier). With 16 wisdom/charisma, the bonus is +3.
- The healing therefore ranges from 4 to 7 or from 4 to 11 per turn and cannot critically hit – significantly below the damage dealt by the enemy.
If you defeat the enemy before he gets to experience another turn, you have effectively avoided more damage than you could have healed in the same turn. Later, enemies deal disproportionately more damage, and especially in tactical mode, bosses gain new abilities that can hit really hard. Healing becomes increasingly weaker.
Especially in Honour mode, it’s almost mandatory to reskill your characters – Here’s how:
Certain healing spells are actually worth it
Users on Reddit explain, however, that not every healing is completely wasted. Healing Word, for example, is only a bonus action. If you don’t need it otherwise, you can use your cleric or bard to pull a group member from death saving throws.
There are also several spells that simply increase hit points and items that provide healing, making support spells better again, such as:
- Guidance increases the maximum hit points of the entire group by +5 per level – up to +25 hit points per character. Spells are limited to rank 6.
- At most, you can receive +32 hit points per group member from Hero’s Feast (level 6) and Guidance (level 5), totaling to +128 hit points (more if you have companions).
- Mass Healing Word can become really strong with 2 items. It’s a bonus action and can give you several advantages:
- The Whispered Promise (ring sold by Volo) gives healed creatures a +1d4 bonus on attacks and saving throws.
- Glory of the Hell Rider (gloves sold or looted from Zevlor in act 1) grants healed creatures resistance to physical damage.
- The “Boots of Aid and Comfort” (sold by Grat in the goblin camp) grant healed creatures +3 temporary hit points.
As a rule of thumb, however, it’s better to deal more damage. Many make the mistake of playing Shadowheart completely wrong and therefore wasting her potential entirely.
You typically receive enough healing by taking short rests or consuming potions. If you really have big problems, it’s advisable to either request a respec with Lazarus or choose the right talents. Especially Tough
is particularly strong here: The best talents in the ranking – Which one is good for my class?
