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Discover everything you need to know about the Spell Sniper Feat in Baldur’s Gate 3 and how it works with best classes.
Spell Sniper is a powerful feat for ranged characters who prefer to control the battlefield from a safe distance. Warlocks, Sorcerers, and Wizards are the best classes that work well with the Spell Snipers. You can combine it with the right cantrip to deal heavy damage while staying safe. This works especially well in large, open battlefields where you encounter archers and ranged casters. Choose one cantrip from any spellcasting class to expand your options. It’s best used with long-range attack spells like Fire Bolt and Ray of Frost as it doubles the spell range. Use this highly effective feat to fight enemies who are hiding behind obstacles like rocks or low walls. In this guide, we’ll discuss how Spell Sniper works in Baldur’s Gate 3 and the best tips and tricks to consider when choosing this feat.
How does Spell Sniper Work in Baldur’s Gate 3?
The Spell Sniper in Baldur’s Gate 3 allows you to learn a cantrip and mitigate the number needed to roll a critical hit by 1 while attacking with that specific cantrip. The critical hit threshold is lowered by 1 when you attack the enemy with the cantrip learned through Spell Sniper. This provides you with a higher chance of landing a critical hit. The critical hit bonus will increase if you take multiple Spell Sniper feats. This effect stacks with other items or abilities that also reduce the critical hit range. The cantrip you learn through Spell Sniper depends on your spellcasting ability. The cantrip will become an intelligence-based cantrip for the Wizards.
It’s best to use the Spell Sniper in a ranged attack and have a higher chance of critical hits if you learn Eldritch Blast. Spell Sniper is pretty good for the Warlocks because you can crit more often with your Eldritch Blast. There are a lot of items in the game to boost its damage and maximize it, or even trigger some other effects. This feat applies to all spells that require attack rolls, not just cantrips, and not spells like Fireball that require a save. It is a useful feat for Eldritch Blast builds as it teaches you a cantrip. You must roll an 18 for crit if you have an item that reduces your crit range by 1 and the spell sniper feat.
Best Cantrips for Spell Sniper
Here are all the Cantrips for the Spell Sniper in Baldur’s Gate 3.
- Eldritch Blast- Conjure a beam of crackling energy. Deals 1d10 Force damage to a target. You can upgrade this Cantrip with Warlock abilities.
- Fire Bolt- This cantrip allows you to hurl a bolt of fire at an enemy.
- Ray of Frost- It reduces the target’s Movement Speed by 3m / 10ft. It deals Cold damage to the target and slows it down.
- Bone Chill- Prevent the target from healing until your next turn. An undead target receives Disadvantages on Attack rolls.
- Shocking Grasp- This cantrip makes a melee attack that inflicts Lightning damage and prevents the target from taking Reactions.
- Thorn Whip- It deals damage to a target and pulls it closer to the caster. Use this cantrip to pull the creature 3m / 10ft closer to you.
New Booming Blade Cantrip
Booming Blade is a cantrip that is introduced in Patch 8 and it doesn’t require spell slots to cast and scales with your character’s level. It can be used with abilities like Extra Attack to make multiple attacks in a turn. You can only use Booming Blade once per turn, according to patch notes. These cantrips increase as your character levels up in the game, making it more effective in the endgame. If you’re a Level 5 Fighter with Spell Sniper, then you can send two rays with Eldritch Blast or can also roll two damage dice for Ray of Frost.
Your spellcasting ability for the class you select while getting this feat is utilized by these cantrips. The character can choose Eldritch Blast with the Spell Sniper if you choose Cleric class while gaining it. Keep in mind that this feat will attack a -1 penalty to hit from their ability score, and a +2 from their proficiency is attacked with this feat if you’re a level 4 Champion Fighter with an 8 intelligence. You can stack with the Covert Cowl to enhance the critical hit range.
Spell Sniper does work with Divine Smite, as it is a spell that requires a roll to hit. It also works with touch spells, but how they stack with touch spells can be debated. However, it doesn’t work with Green Flame Blade as the cantrip now explicitly requires a target within 5 feet. You can also use feet with the Potent Spellcasting, allowing you to add your Wisdom Modifier to the damage you deal with Cleric cantrips.
High Elfs / Half-High Elfs
High Elves and Half-High Elves both gain a cantrip of their choice from the Wizard spell list as a racial trait. These cantrips scale off of Intelligence, so the higher your Intelligence, the more powerful the cantrip becomes. While Sorcerers focus on Charisma, they can still benefit from a High Elf cantrip. This can be a useful tool for martials, especially with cantrips like Booming Blade. It is useful for utility or non-damage cantrips but less ideal for damage-focused builds if you’re not investing points in Intelligence.
Cantrips for Spell Sniper
Here are all the cantrips for the Spell Sniper in Baldur’s Gate 3.
- Bone Chill- Prevent the target from healing until your next turn. An undead target receives Disadvantages on Attack rolls.
- Eldritch Blast- Conjure a beam of crackling energy. Deals 1d10 Force damage to a target. This cantrip can be upgraded with Warlock abilities.
- Fire Bolt- This cantrip allows you to hurl a bolt of fire at an enemy.
- Ray of Frost- It reduces the target’s Movement Speed by 3m / 10ft. It deals Cold damage to the target and slows it down.
- Shocking Grasp- This cantrip makes a melee attack that inflicts Lightning damage and prevents the target from taking Reactions.
- Thorn Whip- It deals damage to a target and pulls it closer to the caster. Use this cantrip to pull the creature 3m / 10ft closer to you.
These cantrips increase as your character levels up in the game, making it more effective in the endgame. If you’re a Level 5 Fighter with Spell Sniper, then you can send two rays with Eldritch Blast or can also roll two damage dice for Ray of Frost. Your spellcasting ability for the class you select while getting this feat is utilized by these cantrips. The character can choose Eldritch Blast with the Spell Sniper if you choose Cleric class while gaining it. Keep in mind that this feat will attack a -1 penalty to hit from their ability score, and a +2 from their proficiency is attacked with this feat if you’re a level 4 Champion Fighter with an 8 intelligence. You can stack with the Covert Cowl to enhance the critical hit range.
Using with Divine Smite Spell
Spell Sniper does work with Divine Smite, as it is a spell that requires a roll to hit. It also works with touch spells, but it can be debated on how they stack with touch spells. However, it doesn’t work with Green Flame Blade as the cantrip now explicitly requires a target within 5 feet. You can also use feet with the Potent Spellcasting, allowing you to add your Wisdom Modifier to the damage you deal with Cleric cantrips.
Spell Sniper Tips and Tricks in BG3
Here are the best tips and tricks for the Spell Sniper in Baldur’s Gate 3.
- Use Metamagic to enhance the range of melee range spells that benefit from Spell Sniper.
- Use the Spell Sniper to hit enemies from a safe distance as it doubles your spell range.
- Get to the higher ground to increase your range without requiring to reposition.
- Choose the right cantrip that expands your options or synergizes with your build.
- Select the Fire Bolt for high damage and ignite the enemies, Ray of Frost to reduce the enemy movement speed, and Eldritch Blast for better ranged attacks.
- You need to stay out of enemy range before the fight starts.
- This Feet is best suited for Warlocks, Sorcerers, and Wizards who depend on attack roll spells.
- You can also synergize it with other feats and abilities to make Spell Sniper more effective.
- Combine Spell Sniper with the Evocation Wizard subclass to add your Intelligence modifier to evocation spells.
- Use Flame Blade with the Spell Sniper with a shield in off-hand to deal massive damage.
FAQs about Spell Sniper in Baldur’s Gate 3
Which spells benefit from Spell Sniper?
The Spell Sniper benefits any spell that requires a ranged spell attack in Baldur’s Gate 3. This spell requires a ranged attack roll, such as cantrips like Fire Bolt and spells like Ray of Frost.
Does it stack with other range-extending effects?
Yes, the Spell Sniper effect of reducing the critical hit threshold by 1 stack. It reduces the number you need to roll on a spell attack to achieve a critical hit by 1.
Does it work with melee spell attacks?
Yes, the Spell Sniper feat in Baldur’s Gate 3 does work with melee spell attacks as it reduces the critical hit by 1. Spells like Shocking Grasp and Inflict Wounds can benefit from the critical hit bonus.
What’s the best cantrip to take from Spell Sniper feat?
Eldritch Blast is the best cantrip to use due to its high damage output and scaling potential in the game. You can even pair it with the Warlock invocations to make it even more effective.
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