A build in Baldur’s Gate 3 shows how the correct use of certain cantrips, the ideal environment, and the right items can inflict particularly high damage – and can even take down enemies in one turn. The use is rewarded.
What can the build do? The build allows for dealing so much damage in one turn that enemies could be knocked down with a single hit. The synergy of the required skills and items grants an advantage on attack rolls and thus a higher chance for critical hits, protects oneself from other strong attacks, and doubles a large portion of the inflicted damage.
Together with the latest patch 8 from Baldur’s Gate 3, the game received a cantrip that perfectly rounds out the combination for this build: Booming Blade. Those interested in builds in Baldur’s Gate 3 will have noticed that this cantrip is utilized in many new builds, as it can be extremely useful and powerful.
Generally, the main components of the build are as follows:
- Booming Blade
- Shadow Blade
- Darkness and (Superior) Darkvision
- Resonance Stone
Here you see the animated short film for patch 8 from Baldur’s Gate 3:
The prerequisites for the build
Which classes can utilize the build?
- Sorcerer (Shadow Magic)
- Warlock (Hexblade)
- Wizard (Blade Song)
There are additional classes that can utilize certain parts of the build (like the Arcane Trickster or the Mystic Knight), but the mentioned components together make the build so strong.
Which spells and abilities are required?
Booming Blade (Cantrip):
- Normal weapon damage + 1d8 thunder damage + 2d8 thunder damage (if the target moves)
- At level 11, damage is increased: Normal weapon damage + 2d8 thunder damage + 3d8 thunder damage (if the target moves)
- Here on MeinMMO, we explain a bit more specifically how this cantrip works and what makes it so strong. It is considered a weapon attack and can become even more powerful when used with the weapon of the following spell.
Shadow Blade (Level 2 Spell):
- The spell creates a shadowy shortsword that deals psychic damage. This type of damage is what makes the Shadow Blade so important for the build, as it harmonizes perfectly with an important item (Resonance Stone), which can double the damage.
- As the spell level increases, so does the damage of the Shadow Blade.
- When using the Shadow Blade to attack a target in dim light or darkness, you have advantage on the attack roll. And this advantage is fully utilized in this build.
Darkness and (Superior) Darkvision:
- Through darkness, this build can take advantage of the Shadow Blade. You are well protected by the darkness and have advantage on attack rolls against targets that are in darkness with you: a significant potential for critical hits and high damage.
- For Hexblade Warlocks: The Eldritch Invocation Devil’s Sight: This allows the warlock to see in complete darkness (both magical and non-magical) up to 24 meters. Together with the Darkness spell, it offers a strong advantage.
- For Shadow Magic Sorcerers: Eyes of the Dark: Darkness is a spell that grants the shadow magic sorcerer the same ability as the Hexblade warlock. The spell creates darkness in which the sorcerer can see, while other targets become completely blind.
Which items are needed?
- The Shadow Blade
- Nice-To-Have: Gloves of Battlemage’s Power for Arcane Acuity (+1 on spell attack rolls and your saving throw DC if you also want to use other spells as a spellcaster.)
- The Resonance Stone – The item that further boosts the damage of the build.
How an attack with the mentioned elements as a base might look can be seen in this TikTok video by jaydunna:
Pros and Cons of the Resonance Stone
The item is located in the Mind Flayer Colony from Act 2 and grants the bearer and all characters within a 9-meter radius the condition “Steeped in Bliss.”
This causes all targets within this radius to suffer double psychic damage. Therefore, if you attack as a melee fighter with the Shadow Blade, the target within your radius will also take double damage. Of course, you are also vulnerable to this, so you should ensure that the opponent does not also attack with this type. However, this is relatively rare.
So beware of:
- Mind Flayers and illithid abilities
- Ketheric Thorm
- Other attacks dealing psychic damage such as Vicious Mockery, Dissonant Whispers, or Wrathful Smite.
If you enjoy powerful builds or would like to test the mighty combination of this build yourself, you might be a suitable candidate for a Hexblade Warlock. Here on MeinMMO, we have explained a strong yet beginner-friendly build that combines melee combat with spells, making it suitable for every situation and playstyle: Baldur’s Gate 3: Hexblade Build in Patch 8 – How to build your Hexblade Warlock
