Summary
InBaldur’s Gate 3, securing critical hits is one of the most satisfying things that one can experience in combat. An attack is considered critical when players roll a natural 20, allowing them to deal double the amount of damage that they normally would. However, the base chance of rolling a natural 20 is only 5%, making critical hits relatively rare withoutspecific items or gear enhancements.
Fortunately, there are several powerful items inBG3that reduce the number needed to score a critical hit, making it possible to land a critical hit on a roll of 19 or even 18. These items can prove game-changing formartial characters like Fighters, Paladins, and Archers, who excel at dealing high burst damage. With that said, here are thebest items that increase the critical hit chance inBaldur’s Gate 3.
Doubles Proficiency Bonuses When Attacking With This Bow
The Dead Shotis arguably the best ranged weapon inBaldur’s Gate 3, and it’s a clean replacement for the popularTitanstring Bow. Wielding the Dead Shot decreases the critical hit requirement by 1 point, and this effect also applies to melee weapons, as long as the bow is equipped.
The critical hit reduction stacks with other items that grant similar effects, allowing players to score critical hits even when rolling 18 and 19. The Dead Shot isan excellent late-game weaponfor Gloom Stalker Rangers and Swords Bard Archers.
8Knife Of The Undermountain King
Re-Roll Dice When Rolling Below 2
TheKnife of the Undermountain Kingoffers a huge power spike to archers and dual wielders in Act 1. This shortsword offers two special abilities: Organ Rearranger, which improves critical hit chance, and Shadow Blade passive, which is supposed to grant advantage against obscured enemies — though it is currently bugged at the time of writing.
Archers looking to further increase their critical hit chance can pair the Knife of the Undermountain King with the Bloodthirst, or they can increase the damage output of critical hits by pairing the knife withDolor Amarusfor 7 additional damage.
7Duellist’s Prerogative
Gain Additional Reaction Each Round
TheDuellist’s Prerogativeis an excellent end-game rapier for Padlocks (Paladin and Warlock multiclass), who excel at dealing massive burst damage with their Divine Smites. However, to benefit from the rapier’s increased critical hit chance,players must have their off-hand empty.
Additionally, Duellist’s Prerogative grants two reactions per turn, letting its wielder deal extra necrotic damage equal to their proficiency bonus. As such, Warlocks who bind their weapon and scale it with Charisma will get the most out of this legendary rapier.
6Bloodthirst
Make Enemies Vulnerable To Piercing Damage
TheBloodthirstis a worthy upgrade to the Knife of the Undermountain King for archery builds, as it grants a +1 armor class in addition to increasing critical hit chance. While most builds will benefit from the weapon’s Improved Critical passive ability,melee builds can utilize the dagger’s Exploit Weakness passive, which after a successful melee attack, makes enemies vulnerable to piercing damage.
Bloodthirst also comes with the Bound Weapon passive, preventing the weapon from being knocked out of its wielder’s hand. Moreover, when thrown, the Bloodthirst automatically returns to its wielder.
The Bloodthirst’s Exploit Weakness does not work when the weapon is thrown.
5Shade-Slayer Cloak
Increase Critical Hit Chance When Hiding
The Shade-Slayer Cloak isa great addition to a rogue’s arsenalor Gloom Stalker Rangers who love attacking enemies from the shadows. While the improved critical hit bonus from cloak stacks with other items like Bloodthirst and the Dead Shot,it isn’t an ability that’s passively available.
Players only gain the critical hit bonus when both hidden (crouched) and obscured, which makes the cloak a situational pick. Nevertheless, archers who attack from high ground or from the shadows will potentially make the most use of the Shade-Slayer Cloak.
4Sarevok’s Horned Helmet
Grants Immunity Against Frightened Condition
Sarevok’s Horned Helmetis an excellent critical hit-improving item that can be used by a variety ofclasses that are proficient in medium armor. This helmet allows classes like Fighters, Barbarians, and Paladins to also benefit from improved critical hit chance, as these classes typically use two-handed weapons.
The helmet also grantsDarkvisionto its wearer, allowing them to see up to 10 ft. in darkness or 50 ft. if the wearer already has the Darkvision ability.
3Unseen Menace
Invisible Weapon That Attacks With Advantage
InBaldur’s Gate 3, theUnseen Menaceis a unique weapon that acquires the invisible property when equipped. When invisible, the weapon has advantage on attack rolls, and when it misses, it loses its invisible property for two turns.
However, what makes this weapon incredible is its ability to score a critical hit when rolling a 19 or 20. Even though the game doesn’t state it, the Unseen Menance’s improved critical hit bonus stacks with other items that also grant critical hit bonuses.
2Elixir Of Viciousness
Grants Improved Critical Hit Rate Until Long Rest
TheElixir of Viciousnessis the only consumable inBaldur’s Gate 3that lets players score a critical hit even when rolling an 18 or 19. Builds that center around stacking improved critical hit bonuses will benefit greatly by utilizing the Elixir of Viciousness before every challenging combat encounter.
Since the Elixir of Viciousness becomes available for purchase after reaching level 6, it pairs especially well withChampion Fighters, who gain the Improved Critical Hit feature at level 3. The effects stack, enabling players to score critical hits on rolls of 18, 19, or 20.
1Killer’s Sweetheart
Guaranteed Critical Hit Once Per Long Rest
While theKiller’s Sweetheartdoesn’t directly increase critical hit chance like s, it does guarantee a critical hit once per long rest after killing an enemy.
The ability to guarantee a critical hit is incredibly powerful when combining the effect with items like theSurgeon’s Subjugation Amulet, which paralyzes a humanoid enemy for two turns upon landing a critical hit. For those who aren’t aware, any attacks made within 10 feet of a paralyzed target automatically become critical hits, making follow-up strikes especially devastating.
