Baldur’s Gate 3: Persuasion Build

We share a persuasion build designed to influence NPC for players who enjoy dialogue and exploration in Baldur’s Gate 3 RPG.

This build page has been updated for the patch 6 version of Baldur’s Gate 3.

Best Persuasion Build Guide

The Persuasion build in Baldur’s Gate 3 is designed for players who want to pass any dice check while remaining effective in combat. What is unique about this Persauion build is the emphasis on ability check enhancing skills, gear, and companions. Ideally, you will use this if you enjoy dialogue and exploration and want to feel powerful in combat.

We’ve selected the College of Valour Bard, which will play at range with dual Crossbows. This unique playstyle is effective in combat, with great group utility and spell selection for persuasion. Additionally, you can use this build template and recruit a hireling. With that hireling, use this build and bring them to dialogue-specific critical moments like those for permanent bonuses. Never miss out on a Dice Check again with our Persuasion builds for Baldur’s Gate 3!

Persuasion Build Features

The following list presents all the essential Persuasion Build Mechanics and Features in Baldur’s Gate 3:

• Class: Bard
• Subclass: College of Valour
• Primary Ability: Charisma
• Saving Throws: Dexterity and Charisma
• Armour Proficiency: Light, Medium, and Shields
• Weapon Proficiency: Simple and Marital weapons

How Persuasion and Dice Rolls Work in BG3

Dice rolls are the foundation of Baldur’s Gate 3 randomness aspect inside combat, through exploration and dialogue. The most notable time when a DC (difficulty check) appears is during dialogue, where a popup with the number you need to succeed and various modifiers are added. We are focused on passing exploration and dialogue ability checks for this persuasion build. Attack rolls and saving throws are also random d20 rolls. Using a charisma College of Valour Bard, we will add gear, spells, and passive bonuses to increase our skill proficiency. The higher your skill proficiency, the more likely you will pass a DC naturally.

Regardless of the context, your dice roll adds your ability score modifier, proficiency bonus, and other modifiers if applicable. We aim to increase your skill and proficiency bonus so you can pass any dice roll regardless of the situation. In BG3, you can reload or “save scum” if you fail a dice roll. However, this is not possible in Honour Mode. Therefore, it becomes essential to know how these mechanics work and even outfit a persuasion hireling to critical dialogue moments, specifically permanent bonuses.

How to Pass DC in Baldur’s Gate 3

In Baldur’s Gate 3, there are various ways to increase your chances of succeeding in dice checks beyond just relying on skills, gear, and charisma. Below is a list which we will elaborate on throughout this persuasion build guide for Baldur’s Gate 3:

• Jewelry – often uncommon rings increase specific skills like Ring of Genialtiy, increasing persuasion and deception by +1. Equipping these rings before dialogue is useful, then swapping them for a more combat-focused gear.
• Race – The Githyanki have astral knowledge, which gives proficiency bonuses to anyone with an ability score (all skills). Thus, you can run lower intelligence and, increase the ability modifier, and pass dice rolls.
• Bardic Inspiration – specific to the Bard class, a unique bonus that increases ability check by 1d6 or more.
• Guidance – a cantrip from the Cleric that increases ability checks by 1d4.
• Enhance Ability – spell that you gain an advantage on ability checks.
• Merchant – Araj Oblodra in Act 2 sells racial-specific elixirs that gain an advantage in dialogue depending on your racial selection.
• Lucky Feat – gain advantage on ability checks using luck points resource.

Character Creation

Class

The College of Valour Bard is the best class and subclass for a Persuasion build in Baldur’s Gate 3 due to Combat Inspiration and Extra Attack. Not only do you gain a 1d10 to ability checks, but with Extra Attack, your Valour Bard can also do great damage in combat. Moreover, your spell selections will be geared toward utility, while your feats, weapons, and armor will be focused on dual crossbow damage. This build will multiclass to a Fighter after level 10, where you gain Improved Inspiration.

College of Lore Bard Unlocks at Various Levels:

• Level 3 – Medium armour, shields, and martial weapon proficiency unlocked
• Level 3 – Combat Inspiration; upgrades Bardic Inspiration to now add bonus damage to weapon attack or Armour Class (AC).
• Level 6 – Extra Attack: you can make an additional free attack after a weapon attack.

Combine this with the Bard’s wide array of spells and crowd control, and you will be effective in all areas of Baldur’s Gate 3.

Race

The best race for a Persuasion build in Baldur’s Gate 3 is the Githyanki due to the Astral Knowledge passive. You can gain proficiency bonuses in one ability score for all skills! That’s a plus 2 to all skills in intelligence. Thus, you can forgo one specific ability score to focus on the others. Moreover, the Githyanki race has many unique dialogue options, enhancing the game’s roleplay elements.

If you cannot stand the appearance of the Githyanki, select a Wood Elf or high movement speed and stealth proficiency. A third option is Zariel Tiefling because of fire resistance and Thaumatury cantrip.

Ability Score

The Best Ability Score for a Persuasion Build is 16 Charisma, 16 Dexterity, and 14 Constiution. Charisma will influence your spells and provide a dialogue proficiency bonus. Dexterity will be used for dual crossbow weapon attacks, while constitution influences health and concentration saving throws. Strength is the least important because ability checks are rarely used unless you are getting shoved.

Below is the best ability score for a Persuasion build in Baldur’s Gate 3:

• Strength – 8
• Dexterity – 16
• Constitution – 14
• Intelligence – 10
• Wisdom – 10
• Charisma – 16

Landing on even numbers vs. odd is important because odd won’t give you any bonuses. Only even numbers give you an additional +1 score to an ability modifier. However, you can increase your ability score via a quest in Act 1. Make sure to check out our Permanent bonus guide on how you can boost your ability score through quests.

Background & Skills

Guild Artisan is the best background for a persuasion build, and the best skills are persuasion, intimidation, perception, and insight. With 16 or more charisma, you will have a high modifier with any ability checks for these rolls. Wisdom-based skills, perception, and insight are critical for finding everything through exploration. Moreover, use Astral Knowledge Githyanki skills after every long rest and increase intelligence. This will give you a well-rounded selection of skills.

Best Persuasion Build – Level Progression in Baldur’s Gate 3

Level 1

At level 1, select the correct background, race, skills, and ability score, focusing on Charisma and dexterity. The level 1 Bard will be able to pick an instrument and have Bardic Inspiration, Cantrips, and Spells.  Musical instruments are for roleplay, nothing performance-based. This class doesn’t pick a subclass until level 3, so start the game by wearing Light Armour and a ranged simple weapon or hand crossbow. Starting at level 3, you unlock a subclass, Valour, which gives you access to new weapon proficiencies.

• Light – Infuse an object with an aura of light.
• Friends – gain Advantage on Charisma Checks against a non-hostile creature.
• Animal Friendship – charms a beast and convinces it you mean no harm.
• Disguise Self – allows spellcasters to change their appearance temporarily. 
• Longstrider – Increase a creature’s Movement Speed by 3 meters.
• Speak with Animals – allows spellcasters to understand and talk to beasts and animals for a day.
• Bardic Inspiration – 18m range consuming a bonus action ally can add a +1d6 bonus to their next Attack Roll, Ability Check, or Saving Throw. This can be used four times, and charges can be recovered by taking a long rest.

Your spells are mainly for utility, dialogue, and exploration checks. The most important to use and understand is Longstrider. You can cast this on yourself and party after a long rest and increase your movement speed, which is critical at the beginning of BG3. This build will start slow, but at level 3 and 6 you will see a drastic increase in combat performance.

Beginning Act 1 Priorities

Your overall priority with the College of Valour Bard build is the following:

• Complete Prologue
• Recruit Companions
• Unlock Withers, respec companions to proper class/ability score
• Collect the Necromancy of Thay (important in Act 3)
• Reached Hollowed City/Druid Grove
• Sell, Stock up, complete quests
• Unlock summons, Scratch, Shovel
• Progress to level 5
• Reach Underdark and Grymforge
• Check all Permanent Bonuses in Act 1 and the best Gear

Following these steps ensures a strong foundation for her, especially if you plan on playing solo or on Honour Mode difficulty.

Level 2

At level 2, you unlock more utility and one spell for stunning enemies.

• Jack of all Trades – a passive feature that makes you add half your Proficiency Bonus to Ability Checks that you aren’t Proficient in.
• Song of Rest – allows the Bard to restore their allies’ strength by granting an additional Short Rest once per day.
• Tasha’s Hideous Laughter – Leave a creature Prone Prone to laughter without the ability to get up.

One more level to select your subclass, and the build should improve in combat.

Level 3

At level 3, the Bard selects their subclass. We recommend the Valour subclass due to combat inspiration and increased proficiencies in weapons and armor. Below is our recommendations and unlocks at level 3:

• College of Valour – combat focus unlocks combat inspiration and more proficiencies.
• Combat Inspiration – Inspire an ally to add a +ld6 bonus to their next Attack Roll, Ability Check.
• Enhance Ability – allows spellcasters to strengthen an aspect of a creature’s physical or mental attributes.
• Race – Githyanki Psionics Jump: Triple a creature’s Jumping distance.
• Armor and Weapons Proficencies – Martial weapons, medium armour, shields.
• Skills – depending on background, the priority is to increase persuasion, perception, and insight (pick two).

You can use two-hand crossbows or a longbow as your ranged weapon at this stage. The hand crossbows are effective because the second weapon fires using a bonus action. Therefore, you gain some bonus action utility, which you couldn’t produce any damage without. Moreover, you gain extra attack at level 6 and even more damage from range.

Level 4

At level 4, you unlock your first feat. For combat-focused builds, select Sharpshooter with a Longbow or Hand Crossbows. If you want to increase your charisma dice rolls, increase charisma by +2.

• Mage Hand – conjures a spectral hand that can interact with objects.
• Detect Thoughts – read the thoughts of certain creatures while talking to them.
• Sharpshooter feat – toggable bonus to increase damage but lower chance to hit.

Level 5

At level 5, you gain one spell, improved bardic inspiration, and font of inspiration. This helps regain Combat Inspiration with a short rest after every fight. Selec the invisibility spell for more survivability.

• Font of Inspiration – a passive feature that causes you to regain all of your Bardic Inspiration Charges after a Long or Short Rest.
• Improved Bardic Inspiration – The bonus gained from Bardic Inspiration increases to +1d8.
• Invisibility – allows spellcasters to turn themselves and other creatures Invisible to the naked eye.
• Race – Misty Step: you teleport to an unoccupied space you can see.

Level 6

At level 6, you unlock Extra Attack. Now, each action will attack twice, and with a hand crossbow, additional damage with an off-hand attack. At this stage, using spells in combat becomes ineffective unless you need an emergency stun or heal.

• Speak with Dead – allows spellcasters to grant a semblance of life to a corpse, allowing it to answer questions.
• Counter Charm – You and any allies within 9m have Advantage on Saving Throws against being Charmed or Frightened.
• Extra Attack – An additional free attack can be made after making an unarmed or weapon attack.

Level 7

At level 7, we suggest unlocking the Freedom of Movement spell. You can cast this on yourself and others outside combat to prevent immobilization. Cast this and Longstrider after each long rest for insane movement potential.

Freedom of Movement – Snap an ally out of any Stun. Difficult Terrain can’t slow them down, and they can’t be magically Paralysed or Restrained.

Level 8

At level 8, you can select another feat and one spell. Confusion is helpful for a massive crowd-control effect. For feat selection, take +2 to Dexterity to improve your combat potential. If not, select Charisma +2 for added bonus in dialogue checks. Look to increase your ability scores further in Act 3 with the Mirror of the Loss bonus.

Confusions – Befuddle a group of creatures, causing them to attack randomly, wander around aimlessly, and occasionally skip turns in a stupor.

Feat – ability improvement +2 to Dexterity.

If you want the greatest combat potential with this build, you can multiclassify the remaining four levels into the Rogue and Thief subclass. This will give you an additional bonus action at level 12 and pairs well with the Hand Crossbow style. You will lose out on additional spells.

Level 9

At level 9, you gain one spell, and Seeming is fun and useful for quests that require disguise. Shapeshifter’s Boon is a ring in Act 3 that increases ability checks further while disguised. There are multiple sources of disguise and gear sets that help you with questing.

Seeming – Disguise up to 4 members of your adventuring party. This is another useful non-combat-related spell that allows you to sneak around in areas you shouldn’t be in as a group. Shapeshifter’s Boon

Level 10

At level 10, you unlock Magic Secrets. This is helpful because you learn non-bard spells. The two we suggest are Conjure Elemental and Counterspell. Conjure Elemental summons a creature to aid you in combat. Furthermore, this summon doesn’t require concentration, so you can cast it outside combat after a long rest. Counterspell uses a spell slot at level 3 or higher to negate an opponent’s spell. Counterspell is a lifesaver for survival. Lastly, Hold Monster is helpful in some of the hardest boss fights in BG3 (Raphael).

• Minor Illusion – Create an illusion that compels nearby creatures to investigate.
• Hold Monster – Paralyse a creature. It can’t Move, Act, or React. Attacks from within 3 meters are always Critical Hits.
• Skills – depending on race, priority is insight, perception, athletics, or acrobatics.

Magic Secret Selections

Magical Secrets (class feature): Your versatile knack for the arcane lets you learn magic from every discipline. Choose some additional spells to add to your repertoire. We are going to take Conjure Elemental and Blight.

Conjure Elemental – Bend the barrier between the Planes until they disgorge an elemental ally to follow and fight for you.

Counterspell – allows spellcasters to interrupt another caster’s spellcasting, causing it to fail and have no effect.

Alternatively, you can take Bless or Pass without Trace.

Level 11

At level 11, we suggest multiclassing to the Fighter. In exchange for one more feat, you gain a fighting style and action surge. The feat is helpful but not nearly as helpful as another action per fight and increased range damage.

Archery Fighting Style – You gain a +2 bonus to Attack rolls you make with ranged Weapons.

Level 12

Congratulations on reaching the maximum level! You unlock Action Surge. Once you have a short rest, you can take extra action during a turn.

Best Gear for Baldur’s Gate 3 Persuasion Build

We suggest using a range weapon with a Persuasion build because they are incredibly effective with extra attacks. Moreover, you can do the Rogue Thief combination to gain an additional bonus action, which does even more damage with this build. Therefore, either go with a Longbow (Titanstring) or Hand Crossbows, as listed below. This loadout assumes you will go with Hand Crossbow for a fun, unique range of bard builds with incredible dialogue utility.

In Games like Baldur’s Gate 3, you’ll explore the world, loot chests and your enemies’ dead bodies, and complete quests, and all those activities can reward you with useful items, potions, armor, weapons, scrolls, and much more.

Beginner: Starting the Game

Here’s the best beginner gear, items, and equipment for the Persuasion Build in Baldur’s Gate 3:

Gear Slot	Best Gear Item	Effect
Head	Shadow of Menzoberranzan	Invisibility skill
Cape	–
Chest	Hide Armour +2	+14 AC
Gloves	Gloves of Archery	+2 Ranged Damage
Boots	Disintegrating Night Walkers	Free Misty Step
Necklace	Moondrop Pendant	No Opportunity Attacks
Ring	Caustic Band	+2 Acid Damage
Ring	Fetish of Callarduran Smoothhands	Free Invisibility Spell
Weapon 1 Main Hand	Club of Hill Giant Strength	19 Strength
Weapon 2 Off-Hand	Adamantine Shield	+2 AC
Weapon 2 Range	Hand Crossbow +1	1d6 + burned alive
Weapon 2 Off-Hand	Firestoker	1d6+2 piercing

• Shadow of Menzoberranzan: Myconid Colony Underdark (Alternative Haste Helm).
• Hide Armour +2: sold by traders at level 5 or higher. (Alternatives Adamantine Scale Mail, or Githyanki Half Plate).
• Gloves of Archery: Sold by Grat the in the Goblin Camp (Alternatives Gloves of Dexterity, Gloves of Missile Snaring, or Gloves of Hail of Thorns).
• Disintegrating Night Walkers: Looted or stolen from Nere in Grymforge (Alternatives Boots of Striding, or Boots of Genial Striding).
• Moondrop Pendant: Sealed chest inside the Owlbear Nest (Alternatives Amulet of Branding, Amulet of Misty Step, or Amulet of Restoration).
• Caustic Band: Buy it from Derryth in the Myconid colony, Underdark (Alternative The Sparkswall).
• Fetish of Callarduran Smoothhands: Looted from dead gnomes in Grymforge X: -610 Y: 408 (Alternative Strange Conduit Ring, Ring of Absolute Force).
• Club of Hill Giant Strength: Found in Arcane Tower under Stool top level (Alternatives Hunter’s Dagger, or Knife of the Undermountain King).
• Adamantine Shield: Crafted in the Adamantine Forge (Alternatives Glowing Shield, or Wood Woad Shield).
• Hand Crossbow +1: sold by traders either Derryth Bonecloak in the Myconid Colony or Dammon in the Hallow.
• Firestoker: found in chest in Grymforge Dormitory area.

Advanced: Endgame

The following is the best gear, items, and equipment for the Persuasion Build in Baldur’s Gate 3:

Gear Slot	Best Gear Item	Effect
Head	Helm of Balduran	Cannot be Stunned
Cape	Cloak of Protection	+1 AC and Saving Throws
Chest	Armour of Agility	16 AC
Gloves	Legacy of the Masters	+2 Attack Roll
Boots	Helldusk Boots	Cannot be Moved
Necklace	Surgeon’s Subjugation Amulet	Stun on Crit
Ring	Killer’s Sweetheart	Auto Critical
Ring	Ring of Regeneration	Self-healing
Weapon 1 Main Hand	Blood of Lathander	Automatic Revive
Weapon 2 Off-Hand	Viconia’s Walking Fortress	+3 AC
Weapon 2 Range	Hellfire Hand Crossbow	Scorching Ray Spell
Weapon 2 Range Off-Hand	Ne’er Misser	Magic Missile Spell

• Helm of Balduran: Found in Dragon’s Sanctum (alternatives Sarevok’s Horned Helmet, Mask of Soul Perception, or Circlet of Hunting).
• Cloak of Protection: Sold by Talli Quartermaster Act 2 (alternative Shade-Slayer Cloak).
• Armour of Agility: Sold at Stormshore Armoury. (alternative Helldusk Armour, Dark Justiciar Half-Plate, or Flame Enamelled Armour).
• Legacy of the Masters: Sold by Dammon in Lower City (alternatives Gloves of Soul Catching, Helldusk Gloves, or Gloves of Dexterity).
• Helldusk Boots: Wyrm’s Rock Fortress (alternative Disintegration Night Walkers).
• Surgeon’s Subjugation Amulet: Looted from Malus Thorm in Act 2. (alternative: Amulet of Greater Health, or Periapt of Wound Closure).
• Killer’s Sweetheart: Found in Self-Same Trial inside the Gauntlet of Shar. (alternative Risky Ring).
• Ring of Regeneration: Found in Lorroakan’s Projection store (alternative Shifting Corpus Ring, or Ring of Free Action).
• Blood of Lathander: Act 1 and 2 Quest ( Alternative Crimson Mischief in main hand with Bloodthirst in off-hand).
• Viconia’s Walking Fortress: Looted from Viconia DeVir, Act 3 (Alternative Shield of Devotion).
• Hellfire Hand Crossbow – Act 2 looted from Yurgir.
• Ne’er Misser – Act 2 sold by Roah in Moonrise Tower.

Companions

With a Bard build, you need more damage dealers and less support. You aim to create a team with one or more frontline fighters, a range build, and a main support.

Here’s a list of the best companions for the Persuasion Build in Baldur’s Gate 3:

• Shadowheart (Life Cleric) – used for healing and buffs, specifically Guidance and Thaumaturgy.
• Gale (Necromancy Wizard) – helpful for high intelligence ability scores and utility spells.
• Astarion (Thief Rogue) – used for lockpicking and stealing. If you have high dexterity and those skills, swap out for Karlach and respec her to Battlemaster Fighter.

When putting your party together, consider companions for their combat prowess and outside abilities and skills that can influence storytelling, dialogue, and exploration. A balanced party will fit the traditional RPG ‘holy trinity’: Tank, Healer, and DPS. Ideally, in Baldur’s Gate 3, you will want one tank, one healer, one melee DPS, and one range DPS. Some classes/subclasses can cover both roles, so feel free to experiment and find out what works best for you.

Best Consumables, Potions, Ammunition, and Items

The following list represents the best individual use consumable items that will aid in our Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Persuasion Build:

• Elixir of Hill Giant Strength: Increases Strength ability score to 21 until Long Rest.
• Elixir of Cloud Giant Strength: Increases Strength ability score to 27 until Long Rest.
• Elixir of Bloodlust: Once per turn when you kill a foe, you gain HP 5 temporary hit points and an additional action.
• Potion of Speed: Gain extra action, +2 AC, Advantage on Dexterity Saving Throws, and double movement speed.
• Drow Poison: Weapon poison that adds Constitution Saving Throw or becomes Poisoned and falls Asleep.
• Potion of Flying: Drink to gain a flying speed of 60ft for one hour.
• Elixir of Heroism: Gain 10 temp HP and become Blessed until a long rest.
• Oil of Accuracy: Coat Weapon. Bonus of +2 in Attack Rolls.
• Elixir of Vigilance: Drink to gain a +5 bonus to Initiative and you can’t be Surprised.

Build Summary – Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Persuasion

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