In Baldur’s Gate 3, Action economy is the most important aspect of combat, and in this guide, we will explain how to get more.
In Baldur’s Gate 3 (BG3), actions are the fundamental building blocks of gameplay. Action is a type of Resource that can be used to perform a variety of abilities. This includes main hand attack, dash, casting spells, and so on. These actions encompass a wide range of activities, from engaging in combat to exploring the environment and interacting with NPCs. However, it’s not explained how to get more actions or make the most out of them.
How to Get More Actions in Baldur’s Gate 3
The best way to get more action in Baldur’s Gate 3 is through a combination of consumables, multiclassing, and spell haste. Consumables like Bloodlust and Potion of Speed are both great additional actions per turn under certain conditions and can be combined. Whereas the Haste spell can be cast via certain spellcasters, through the use of scrolls, or items. Lastly, multiclassing into the Thief Rogue and or the Fighter are powerful way to add additional action or bonus action. Let us break down each aspect of how to gain additional actions.
Action Increasing Consumables
The three most powerful consumable items for increasing actions are Potion of Speed, Elixir of Bloodlust, and Haste Spore Grenade. Each of these items has a way to increase actions either until a long rest or for three turns in combat. Here are the best consumable one-time-use items for gaining actions:
- Elixir of Bloodlust: Once per turn when you kill a foe, you gain 5 temporary hit points and an additional action.
- Potion of Speed: Consume the potion to grant yourself Hastened, one additional action for 3 turns.
- Haste Spore Grenade: Explodes in a cloud of invigorating energy granting Haste to anyone in the cloud.
How Haste Works
Both the Haste Spore Grenade and Potion of Speed grant the most powerful status effect in the game, Hasten. Hasten grants the target +2 to Armour Class, Advantage on Dexterity Saving throws, double Movement Speed, and additional Action. The downside of the Potion of Speed, and the Haste spell is, that once the effect is over, you become lethargic.
Lethargic is a negative status effect that you become exhausted after Haste wears off. You cannot move, take action, bonus action, or reaction, effectively skipping one turn. This is important to note because when you use Potion of Speed, you expect or anticipate combat to end within 3 turns. Otherwise, you will skip a turn and become vulnerable.
Best Consumable Combination
The best consumable combination is Elixir of Bloodlust and Potion of Speed. You can consume Elixir of Bloodlust outside of combat and it last until a long rest. Unlike potion of speed, this elixir grants an additional action once per combat round when killing a target. Therefore, it’s not associated with the Hasten status effect and can “stack” ontop of that effect. Thus, when you consume Elxiir of Bloodlust, use a bonus action for Potion of Speed, and kill a target, your character will have 3 actions in one combat round.
This combination becomes vitally important in Tactican or Honour Mode difficulty where every turn could mean life or death. Moreover, you need to stop at every vendor in Acts 1, 2, and 3 and stock up on important recipes. Buy Worg Fang and Hyena Ear at every vendor so you can make these potions and limit long rest to keep Elixir of Bloodlust active.
Haste Spell
The Haste Spell can be cast by learning the spell, through scrolls, or with items, and is one of the best ways to get extra actions. This level 3 transmutation spell causes allies to become Hasten. The downside of this spell is it requires concentration. Meaning, that if you get attacked, the effect could break or end, causing the lethargic status effect. Therefore, make sure when you cast the spell, you don’t expect incoming damage, or have the War Caster feat, high Constitution, or advantage on Constitution saving throws. Classes that can cast Haste are Sorcerer, Wizard, Druid (Land), Bard (Lore), and Vengeance Paladin.
The legendary bow, Gontr Mael gives Celestial Haste spell. This is unique because the target that receives Hasten for 5 turns, does not suffer a lethargic status effect when the condition ends. This, in combination with the other bow benefits and special features, makes it one of the best items in the game. Even if you don’t intend on using the bow, it’s worth obtaining purely for this spell. An additional option is the Darkfire Shortbow in Act 2. This grants fire and cold resistance and a free once-per-long rest use of the Haste Spell.
Best Spell Combination for Extra Attacks
The best spell combination for additional actions is using the Draconic Bloodline Sorcerer and Twinned Magic combined with Haste. This allows the Sorcerer to cast a single target ability to two targets with one spell. Thus, you can grant Hasten to 2 targets on turn one. The ideal method is to cast it on yourself and another ally who hasn’t taken a turn yet. Be cautious of incoming attacks and do not use this combination if you expect heavy damage due to position so you and your ally do not become lethargic.
Multiclassing
The best way to gain additional action with multiclassing is using the Fighter, with two levels of investment for Action Surge. With Action Surge, you gain an additional action once per short rest. This class action doesn’t cost a bonus action or an action, thus giving you a once-per-combat strategy advantage. If you see the above picture, both the Barbarian and Paladin solo builds are designed for maximum turn-one damage and are capable of four actions. Each of these builds uses an extra attack, giving you two attacks per action, with an additional attack via bonus action for 9 attacks on turn one. With legendary weapons and armor, you can wipe out the opposition in one turn.
How to Get Another Bonus Action
The easiest way to get an additional bonus action is to multiclass to Rogue and Thief. With 3 levels of investment, the Rogue and Thief subclass unlocks the Fast Hands subclass feature giving you an additional bonus action. This allows you to use consumables, oils, and poison all in one turn making the most out of your actions. Keep in mind, that powerful oils and poisons that deal additional damage stack on top of a consumable potion of speed and elixirs for even more combat power.
Honour Mode
With Patch 5, Larian Studios added Honour Mode. An enhanced difficulty setting with one save, and delete save if you die. This guide was created on how to get more actions based on this new difficulty setting. We will be making a full complete comprehensive guide for beating this difficulty setting after further play tests. However, you can check out some of our solo builds (Barbarian, Fighter, Ranger, Paladin), which were designed to beat Tactician difficulty with no companions or allies.
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