Summary
Fans eager to explore Faerun in theirBaldur’s Gate 3gameplay may find their characters hindered by the task of removing a deadly Illithid Parasite in their heads that threatens to transform them into the same Mindflayers invading their world. However, their journey not only helps them improve their combat prowess and relationships, but they also gain unique abilities that can permanently change their skillset.
While some of these permanent buffs can be conferred through specific choices that players make in theirBaldur’s Gate 3experience, some permanent buffs are provided as rewards for accomplishing certain quests. Of the game’s many side quests and character missions, here are those that provide permanent buffs that can help players change the tide of battle.
Dark Justiciar’s Journal (Grymforge)
Reward Buff
Monk’s Hideous Laughter (can cast Tasha’s Hideous Laughter, 1st-Level Enchantment, Once per Long Rest)
In the player’s journey in the Grymforge in theirBaldur’s Gate 3gameplay, the Dark Justiciar’s Journal will reference an amulet whose great power causes its holder to laugh uncontrollably. This starts theHelp the Cursed Monkquest, wherein players attempt to acquire theSentient Amuletin the chest guarded by the Lava Elementalinside the Adamantine Forge. Upon its acquisition, avoiding the urge to laugh will have its spirit entrust players with finding his granddaughter Shirra, so he can bestow the curse of eternal madness onto her.
Players are then led to the Open Hand Temple where Shirra resides, which is in Rivington in Act Three. Unfortunately, players discover that Shirra already passed and her remains are in the temple’s underground crypt. The monk’s spirit possesses Shirra’s body upon discovery and laments being unable to pass the curse to his willing granddaughter. He allows players to bear the curse, unlockingTasha’s Hideous Laughteras a permanent available Action once per Long Rest. However, bearing the curse will remove the Sentient Amulet’s existing effects while players should avoid two Saving Throws to avoid permanently losing 2 WIS.
The Buffs: Monk’s Hideous Laughter
When players bear the monk’s curse, his spirit will be at peace while they gain theMonk’s Hideous Laughter. This is technically a cost-free way of casting Tasha’s Hideous Laughter, a 1st-Level Enchantment Spell that inflicts a curse of laughter on a target. Should they fail the WIS Save, they become Prone for up to 10 Turns, all of which will be spent laughing. The effect may disappear if the target is hit.
Arabella’s Shadow Entangle (1st-Level Conjuration, entangle Undead and Shadow creatures)
When playerssave the Tiefling child Arabellafrom Druid Kagha in Act One of theirBaldur’s Gate 3playthrough, they form a kinship with the youngster. Should players help the refugees to Baldur’s Gate, they will find them in the Shadow-Cursed Lands, with Arabella specifically in Reithwin Town. Upon approaching her, Arabella tells players that touching the Idol of Silvanus back in the Druid Grove “changed” her, giving her access to magic. If players agree to help Arabella find her parents, she will teach them what she knows while she stays with Withers in Camp. This unlocksFind Arabella’s Parents.
Thankfully, finding Arabella’s parents isn’t as difficult as some of Act Two’s other quests. Players must go to the House of Healing, a location within Reithwin Town, specifically in its eastern wing. Here, players see the Undead Sister Lidwin tend to Arabella’s parents Locke and Komira, who unfortunately are dead. Players may useSpeak with Dead(3rd-Level Necromancy) to talk to Locke’s body. Upon returning to the Camp, players deliver the news to Arabella, who is shocked and flees. After she takes some time to process her feelings, Withers encourages Arabella to go on her way and follow the Weave to forge her destiny.
The Buffs: Arabella’s Shadow Entangle
After Arabella hears the news of her parents in the Camp, she will give players the Uncommon Ring called the Shadow Blade Ring. In terms of special abilities, Arabella will also teach players how to useArabella’s Shadow Entangle. This is a 1st-Level Conjuration Spell, where players can create shadow tendrils to specifically Entangle undead and shadow creatures. This costs an Action to use, requires Concentration, and needs a STR Save to resist.
The Dark Urge (Playthrough)
The Slayer (Slayer Form, Once per Long Rest), Power Word Kill (9th-Level Enchantment, insta-kill an enemy with less than 100 Hit Points, one-time use)
Throughoutthe player’s adventure as the Dark Urgein theirBaldur’s Gate 3gameplay, their amnesiac character will be plagued with constant reminders of their penchant for the murderous. While the game technically beginsThe Urgecharacter quest at the onset of the experience, the players truly begin their descent by indulging in their murderous intent through the killing of a potential Camp member. The character quest develops further into relevant NPCs slowly nudging the Dark Urge to do even more brutal things, with events culminating in Act Two.
In this part of the game, the Dark Urge gets a prompt to either kill Isobel of the Last Light Inn, their present lover, or the Companion who has the highest approval of them. Doing so unlocks a special buff, where players can tap into their past life’s more vicious form. Interestingly enough, a separate situation can unlock this benefit in Act Three, should players defeat Orin and decide to become Bhaal’s Chosen.
The Buff: The Slayer, Power Word Kill
When players fully tap into their murderous urges, they gain buffs that allow these desires to manifest physically. The first among these manifestations is theSlayer, an Action usable once per Long Rest that transforms players into the grisly Slayer Form. This comes with its separate set of Actions that facilitate fast-paced murderous killing. However, players may also want to take things one step further in Act Three. Upon killing Orin, accepting the fate of being Bhaal’s Chosen will give players access toPower Word Kill, a 9th-level Enchantment that can only be used once due to its vicious effect: forcing an enemy of 100 Hit Points or lower to die.
Astarion (Companion, Playthrough)
Vampire Ascendant (can use Ascendant Bite, Misty Escape, and +1d10 Necrotic Damage to Weapon and Unarmed Attacks)
Should playerschoose to play as Astarion or meet the elf in theirBaldur’s Gate 3playthrough, they may be surprised to learn that he is actually a vampire. Not only that, Astarion himself is surprised to notice that the Illithid parasite in his head allows him to walk in broad daylight without burning himself to a crisp. This unlocksThe Pale Elfquestline, where Astarion comes to terms with his past.
In the tail-end of his character story, Astarion is forced to fight his sire, Cazador Szarr, who tormented him for 200 years. Defeating him will prompt Astarion to contemplate completing the Black Mass ritual. Doing so will transform Astarion into a Vampire Ascendant, drastically changing his personality but also giving him access to special abilities.
The Buffs: Vampire Ascendant
When Astarion becomes aVampire Ascendant, he acquires a buff of the same name. This renewed form allows Astarion to become “beyond mortal,” assuming capabilities more than the typical vampire spawn. Being a Vampire Ascendant alone gives Astarion +1d10 Necrotic Damage whenever he uses weapon and unarmed attacks. However, he also gets access to special actions. The first isAscendant Bite, an exclusive Action that heals for 6d6 Hit Points but deals 6d6 Necrotic Damage. Performing this on a humanoid transforms Astarion into Happy (+1 to all rolls), while targets become Bloodless (-1 to all rolls). Astarion won’t break stealth when performing this Action. The second special ability isMisty Escape, transforming Astarion into a cloud with Advantage on CON, DEX, and STR Saves on top of fitting into small openings. However, assuming this form won’t let Astarion talk, attack, or cast spells.
Omeluum (Underdark)
Survival Instinct (target who reaches 0 HP is healed instead of being Unconscious, Once per Short Rest)
When playersmake their way to the Underdarkfor the first time, they can go to the Ebonlake Grotto to meet locals trying to defend themselves from violent Duergar intruders hoping to find the ancient Grymforge. Among the Grotto’s residents is Omeluum, a benevolent Mindflayer freed from their ilk who offers to help players remove the tadpole in their heads, unlockingHelp Omeluum Investigate the Parasite.
Upon realizing that the parasite is difficult to remove, Omeluum offers to study it. Players need to get to the Arcane Tower or around the Underdark to retrieve the needed reagents, which are the Tongue of Madness and Timmask Spores. Returning to Omeluum will prompt an attempt to study the player, where they have to succeed three Saves. While Omeluum fails to extract the tadpole and instead actually makes it stronger, players will acquire the Survival Instinct Power.
The Buff: Survival Instinct
Upon completing Omeluum’s quest, players unlockSurvival Instinct. This Action is technically an Illithid Power, although it’s not included among the psychic powers players can use due to their dormant parasite. Instead, this is a quest-exclusive Action that can power up the rest of the player’s psionic kit. Upon acquisition, this ability is usable once per Short Rest, where a target will be healed instead of knocked unconscious once they reach 0 Hit Points.
Auntie Ethel (Druid Grove, Blighted Village)
Auntie Ethel’s Hair (+1 to any Ability Score, can exceed 20)
When players meet Auntie Ethel in the Druid Grove, they might see her as the unimposing apothecary of the refugees in her spot at The Hollow. She may also be encountered southwest of the Blighted Village, where Demir and Johl confront her aboutthe kidnapping of Mayrina, their sister. Ideally, players should either side with the brothers or refuse to get involved. That way, Auntie Ethel disappears into her teahouse, the brothers remain safe, andSave Mayrinabegins.
Upon entering the Tea House, Auntie Ethel reveals her nature as a hag and brings Mayrina deep into her lair. Pursuing Ethel leads to a room with hostile servants that can be made docile with Whispering Masks, as well as paths with navigable traps. Players eventually fight Auntie Ethel, where they should get her to around 20% Health to prompt a dialogue. To maximize the quest’s outcomes, players should get to free Mayrina and keep Auntie Ethel’s Hair. That way, they can get Bitter Divorce in the Acrid Workshop, and then go behind the teahouse to raise the corpse of Mayrina’s deceased husband Connor Vinderblad as a zombie.
The Buffs: Auntie Ethel’s Hair
When players getAuntie Ethel’s Hair, they acquire a consumable that gives them the equivalent of half an Ability Score Increase. After its consumption, Auntie Ethel’s Hair transforms into a buff that gives +1 to any Ability Score of the player’s choosing. This buff can raise that Ability Score beyond 20. Even if players respect the character with the buff, this ASI remains.
The Necromancy of Thay (Apothecary’s Cellar, Blighted Village)
Danse Macabre (5th-Level Necromancy, summon 4 Ghoul minions), Forbidden Knowledge (Passive, +1 WIS Save and +1 Ability Checks), Speak With Dead (3rd-Level Necromancy, Once per Long Rest)
When players explore the underground level of the apothecary’s laboratory in the Blighted Village, adventurers enjoying theirBaldur’s Gate 3gameplay can begin quite a conundrum withUnlock the Ancient Tome. This quest startswhen they touch “The Necromancy of Thay,”a book with a ghastly face on the cover and is implied to be made out of flesh. It’s discovered locked unless players get the Dark Amethyst in the Whispering Depths below the webs of the Spider Matriarch mini-boss.
After unlocking the book, a player’s desired character should start reading it. Under no circumstances should players choose options that destroy the tome. After passing three WIS Saves to avoid the curse, the book shuts itself. Players can once again interact with the book after going to the Sorcerous Vault in the Lower City, specifically in the Elminster Section. Unlocking its doors (Silverhand, Evocation, Wish) gives players access to The Tharciate Codex and a final DC 20 WIS Save to unlock the book’s final bonus.
Players can acquire three buffs from The Necromancy of Thay, two from its first opening in Act One and the final buff upon passing the DC 20 WIS Save after getting The Tharciate Codex. The buffs are as follows:
