Many players don’t know, that there are fantastic permanent bonuses and passives you should get in Baldur’s Gate 3. Some will help you become a powerful fighter, others will give you roleplaying benefits.
Baldur’s Gate 3 is a complex game with massive replayability, offering countless hours of gameplay. Those who have already tried the game will be well aware that you won’t be able to experience everything it has to offer in just one playthrough. One of the easy things to miss are permanent bonuses and passive abilities you can easily receive and should try to find in Baldur’s Gate 3.
Permanent Bonuses and Passives You Should Get Baldur’s Gate 3
Here is the list of all permanent bonuses and passives you can get in Baldur’s Gate 3:
| Permanent Bonus | |
|---|---|
| Auntie Ethel’s Hair | Gain +1 to an Ability Score of choice. |
| Boooal’s Benediction | Gain Advantage on Attack Rolls against Bleeding targets. |
| Brand Of The Absolute | Allows the benefits from Absolute Equipment. |
| Loviatar’s Love | When you have 30% Hit Points or less, you gain a +2 bonus to Attack Rolls and Wisdom saving throws. |
| Musical Instrument Proficiency | You know how to play a variety of musical instruments and are able to entertain a crowd with them. |
| Necromancy Of Thay | Gain Speak with Dead once per long rest. |
| Paid The Price | Gain +1 to Intimidation checks. Also prevents the character from making Critical Hits and imposes a Disadvantage on Perception checks. |
| Repulsor | Gain the additional Illithid Power Repulsor. |
| Volo’s Ersatz Eye | Gain +1 to Charisma and -1 to Intelligence. |
Auntie Ethel’s Hair
- Effect: Gain +1 to an Ability Score of choice.
You can obtain this passive bonus if you defeat Auntie Ethel during Save Mayrina’s quest and take her deal to spare her life. The quest is relatively long and dear old woman is a challenging opponent, but the bonus might be worth your effort. You can start the quest in Ac 1. To find the quest and Auntie Ethel’s Riverside Teahouse from Druid Grove take the bridge to Blighted Village, be careful there are goblins there. Then, head north to the swamps and Auntie’s house should be easy to find at the end of the road. She is not what she seems at the start and a powerful enemy especially on low levels so watch out! When Auntie will have low health don’t kill her, instead wait for her turn and she will ask for mercy, starting the dialogue.
Boooal’s Benediction
- Effect: Gain Advantage on Attack Rolls against Bleeding Targets.
To get this passive bonus you must sacrifice a companion to BOOOAL in The Festering Cove. You can find BOOOAL in the Underdark. The easiest way to get there is to teleport to Underdark Beach and head east until you reach a small edge and rocky platform underneath with red exploding mushrooms.
Brand Of The Absolute
- Effect: Allows the benefits from Absolute Equipment.
You’ll meet Priestess Gut for the first time in Shattered Sanctum in the goblin camp. To obtain the Brand of Absolute bonus, your character must agree to be branded by Priestess Gut. After that, you can freely benefit from all the Absolute gear pieces listed below.
The following list presents all Absolute Equipments in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Absolute’s Warboard
- Faithbreaker
- Gloves of Power
- Ring of Absolute Force
- The vision of the Absolute
Loviatar’s Love
- Effect: When you have 30% Hit Points or less, you gain a +2 bonus to Attack Rolls and Wisdom saving throws.
Loviatar’s Love passive bonus you can get in the Shattered Sanctum that you can access from the Goblin Camp. First, you must find Abdirak, he will be praying to Loviatar the goddess of pain. Talk to him and completing 3 hits will reward you with Loviatar’s Love passive.
Musical Instrument Proficiency
- Effect: You know how to play a variety of musical instruments and are able to entertain a crowd with them.
Normally, Musical Instrument Proficiency is only available if you choose a Bard class or a performance proficiency feat at specific levels. Thankfully, the developers thought about the players who don’t want to commit to any of those yet still want to roleplay as a character trained in playing musical instruments. The next permanent bonus will grant you that ability.
To receive Musical Instrument Proficiency in BG3 you need to do is help Alfira with her song in Druid Grove. She can be found on the hill from the central Druid’s circle, looking over the beach and sea underneath. You’ll have to pass two Charisma checks, so it’s a good idea to save the game and load again in case you won’t be able to do so. Now, all you need to do is find yourself at least one of the available musical instruments, and you are ready to entertain the crowds with your beautiful music!
Necromancy Of Thay
Effect: Gain Speak with Dead once per long rest.
Necromancy of Thay is a Status Effect in Baldur’s Gate 3 to receive it head to the Blighted Village to the west from Druid Groce and in one of the houses, you’ll find an entrance to the Apothecay’s cellar. The door is hidden behind the bookcase. To reveal the concealed entrance, simply shift the crates positioned to the left of the bookcase. Hover your mouse over the crates, and pull them aside. This will reveal the secret door to the cellar. In one of the rooms, you will find a book the Necromancy of Thay. Read it and pass all three checks, the last one wisdom will reward you with Speak with Dead and a new permanent bonus.
Paid The Price
Effect: Gain +1 to Intimidation checks. Also prevents the character from making Critical Hits and imposes a Disadvantage on Perception checks.
This permanent bonus in Baldur’s Gate 3 can be earned if during the first conversation with Auntie Ethel in the Riverside Teahouse. Accept her proposition to remove the parasite from your head. During the dialogue select the option “Are you saying you can remove it…” and then, “Fine. Can you remove the parasite?” follow the conversation until you’ll receive the passive.
Repulsor
Effect: Gain the additional Illithid Power Repulsor.
Head to the Underdark, Myconid Colony, and locate a Blurg, he is a Hobgoblin and a trader just next to the fast travel point. Tell him about the tadpole in your head and he will introduce you to the Mind Flayer, Omeluum. Talk to him and help investigate the parasite to receive this BG3 permanent bonus.
Volo’s Ersatz Eye
Effect: Gain +1 to Charisma and -1 to Intelligence.
Obtain Volo’s Ersatz Eye by rescuing Volo and letting him attempt surgery. can find him in the Shattered Sanctum which you can access from the Goblin Camp. He will be close to where Abdirak is praying to Loviatar. This is the passive bonus that carries the negative effects with it, but definitely worth taking on the same characters in Baldur’s Gate 3.
These are all the benefits available in Act 1 and Early Access. When the game is fully released, the list will likely expand, providing players with even more fantastic passive bonuses and permanent benefits in Baldur’s Gate 3.
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