The Most Overpowered Spell You’re Not Using in Baldur’s Gate 3

Discover the astonishing potential of the most overlooked and overpowered spell in Baldur’s Gate 3 that you’ve been missing out on.

The Most Overpowered Spell You're Not Using in Baldur's Gate 3

The Most Overpowered Spell in Baldur’s Gate 3

Because it can negate any enemy spell, turn the tide of battle, and save your party from certain doom, Counterspell is the most overpowered spell you’re not using in Baldur’s Gate 3. Counterspell is often overlooked as a useless reaction-based spell with little impact on combat in BG3. Whether it be preventing an incoming stun, damage, or enemy heal, Counter is the most overpowered spell you’re not using in Baldur’s Gate 3. In this guide, we will explain everything you need to know about Counterspell and how to incorporate it into your party composition.

Counterspell in Baldur’s Gate 3

Baldur's Gate 3 Counterspell Explained

Counterspell, a level 3 Abjuration spell, allows spellcasters to interrupt enemy spells. It uses a reaction and a level 3 spell slot or higher to nullify an enemy’s spell. Sorcerers, Warlocks, and Wizards can learn Counterspell at level 5, while Bards can learn it at level 10. Additionally, the Staff of Interruption provides a once-per-long rest level 5 use of Counterspell. Regardless of your class or party composition, it’s crucial to have someone in your party who can cast Counterspell as a reaction.

Reactions are responses to events, or triggers, even outside of your turn. With Counterspell, you can turn on the “Ask” function within your reactions menu. To do this, simply press your spell book and scroll to the reactions menu. Here you can find reactions, and toggle the Ask to on. This will activate Counterspell only when you agree, vs. automatically negating any spell and consuming your spell slots. If you don’t set Counterspell to ask on, your spellcasting counter will quickly drain you of spell slots for needless spells.

Why Counterspell is Overpowered in Baldur’s Gate 3

Counterspell is an inconspicuous spell with the power to counter spells higher than the 3rd level. With just one 3rd-level spell slot, you can counter even the most devastating spells in the game. While the description of Counterspell says it can only counter 3rd-level spells or lower, you can use it to nullify higher-level spells with a Dice Check (DC) of 10 plus the level of the spell. Casting Counterspell at a higher level doesn’t give you any benefit other than access to more spell slots.

Since Counterspell has a range of 18 meters, you must choose wisely which spells to nullify. The most devastating spells are not always damage spells, but crowd control spells. Spells like Slow, Thunderwave, Hold Person, Fear, and Confusion can eliminate or incapacitate multiple party members. These spells, along with area-based damage spells, should be your top targets for Counterspell. Be mindful of your spell slots, and always reserve a level 3 spell slot for a potential game-saving Counterspell.

Upon reaching level 5, ensure that you learn Counterspell immediately. Since only Sorcerers, Warlocks, and Wizards can acquire this spell at this level, you must be selective in your spell choices. In most cases, if players opt for only one spell slot, they usually choose Fireball. Sorcerers and Warlocks will have to swap out a spell to accommodate both Fireball and Counterspell in their spellbook at this level. It is strongly recommended that you choose both Fireball and Counterspell for these builds. This way, you’ll have access to both a potent offensive spell and an exceptionally powerful defensive spell.

How to Use Counterspell

Since Counterspell is a reaction, the most important factor for consistent use is spell slot availability. Early in Baldur’s Gate 3, your spell slots will be limited but expand allowing more frequent uses of Counterspell. One consumable that will aid in obtaining more spell slots is Superior Elixir of Arcane Cultivation. This is a single-use until long rest potion that gives you an additional level 3 spell slot. You can make an Elixir of Arcane Cultivation by mixing Night Orchid and Vitriol.

Wizards in particular have an easier way of obtaining Counterspell via the Spell Scribing class feature. Spell Scribing allows you to consume a scroll and learn a new spell. You can also then swap out spells outside of combat to fit your particular needs before entering. Even if you’re not a Wizard, you can Multiclass class into a Wizard in order to learn the Spell Scribing feature with only one level of investment into the Wizard. This ensures someone in your party will obtain Counterspell regardless of base class.

What Makes an Overpowered Spell in Baldur’s Gate 3

Baldur’s Gate 3 has a wide array of powerful spells and cantrips. Oftentimes, the most basic is overlooked only to be found extremely powerful later on in the game. We hope you learned something from this article The Most Overpowered Spell You’re Not Using in Baldur’s Gate 3. Continue to explore Faerûn and experiment with what seems like limitless combinations of builds, spells, classes, and racial combinations in BG3.


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