Editing Guide:Undocumented Patch 5 updates

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Patch 5 released with an enormous changelog featuring major changes like the introduction of [[Honour difficulty]] and new epilogues. It also included hundreds of gameplay changes and fixes and ended with:
{{quote|And many, many more fixes, improvements, tweaks, and labours of love!}}
This article aims to document these unlisted fixes, improvements, and tweaks.

== Honour mode exclusive changes ==
=== Action economy changes ===
Honour mode features a number of changes to tighten the action economy.
* Extra actions granted through {{Cond|Hastened}} or {{Cond|Bloodlust}} no longer benefit from {{SAI|Extra Attack}}.
** As an example, if you are {{Cond|Hastened|Hastened}} and have {{SAI|Extra Attack}}, you can attack twice with your first action, but only once with the second action.
** The extra action from {{SAI|Action Surge}} still benefits from {{SAI|Extra Attack}}.
* {{SAI|Deepened Pact|Pact of the Blade}} no longer stacks with {{SAI|Extra Attack}}. Previously, a multiclassed {{Class|Warlock}} with any martial class could get 3 attacks per action, and earlier than {{Class|Fighter}}'s {{SAI|Improved Extra Attack}}.

=== Simplification of damage mechanics ===
The interaction between different damage boosts can lead to unexpected (and exploitable) behavior. 
In particular, '''damage riders''' could get applied numerous times in a single attack with '''damage rider sources''' ('''DRS''') causing the attack to deal much more damage than expected. See [[Damage mechanics]] for details.

Honour mode makes sweeping changes to many items and effects to stop damage boosts from interacting with each other. Now, all (or most) damage bonuses are well-behaved and do not interact with each other.
This essentially eliminated '''DRS''' as a concept in Honour mode.
Many builds centered around exploiting '''DRS''' mechanics to deal hundreds (even thousands) of damage per round will not work in Honour mode.

In particular, the changes are:
* {{SAI|Phalar Aluve: Shriek}} no longer creates a separate damage instance ('''DRS''') for every damage source. Instead, it adds bonus damage to each damage source.
* {{SAI|Tavern Brawler}} no longer creates a separate damage instance on throws.
* The weapons {{RarityItem|Assassin's Touch}}, {{RarityItem|Deep Delver}}, {{RarityItem|Dragon's Grasp}}, {{RarityItem|Exterminator's Axe}}, {{RarityItem|Firestoker}}, {{RarityItem|Shortsword of First Blood}}, {{RarityItem|Blooded Greataxe}}, {{RarityItem|Render of Mind and Body}}, {{RarityItem|Sword of Life Stealing}}, {{RarityItem|Crimson Mischief}}, and {{RarityItem|Duellist's Prerogative}} all have had their '''DRS''' bonus damage removed and replaced with ordinary damage boosts.
** A sole weapon has survived the purge: {{RarityItem|Rat Bat}} (''Editors note: Nobody tell Larian'').
* The abilities {{SAI|Sneak Attack}}, {{SAI|Colossus Slayer}}, {{SAI|Divine Smite}}, {{SAI|Divine Strike}} have added checks to ensure that they do not receive extra bonus damage that should only be applied to the base attack.{{Verify}}

=== Legendary actions ===
* [https://www.reddit.com/r/BG3Builds/comments/189cft6/honour_mode_boss_fight_changes/ Topic is being discussed at this reddit post.]

=== Item rarity changes ===
* {{RarityItem|Caustic Band}} rarity changed to Very Rare
* {{RarityItem|Ring of Flinging}} rarity changed to Rare


=== Miscellaneous balance changes ===
* {{SAI|Perilous Stakes}} can only target allies. No more applying easy damage [[vulnerability]] to enemies.

== Changes for all modes ==
The following are changes that apply to all difficulties and modes.
=== Spell changes ===
* The range of {{SAI|Heal}} increased from {{Range|m=1.5|ft=5}} to {{Range|m=18|ft=60}}.
* {{SAI|Otiluke's Resilient Sphere}} can now only be cast on targets of size large or smaller.
* {{SAI|Wall of Ice}} now correctly deals its {{DamageText|10d6|Cold}} damage explosion when broken. Previously, the only damage dealt was by the lingering cold air.
* Casting {{SAI|Shield}} as an {{Class|Abjuration}} no longer grants a stack of {{Cond|Arcane Ward}}. (''Was this ever the case?''{{Verify}}).
* Lockpicking and disarming traps now breaks {{SAI|Invisibility}} and has a chance to break {{SAI|Greater Invisibility}}.{{Verify}}

=== Ability changes ===
* {{SAI|Primal Stampede}} now has a {{Saving throw|CON}} to avoid {{Cond|Prone}}. The DC is 10 + [[Strength]] modifier.
* {{SAI|Aspect of the Beast (Chimpanzee)}} now has a {{Saving throw|CON}} to avoid being {{Cond|Blinded}}. The DC is 8 + [[proficiency bonus]] + [[Dexterity]] modifier.

=== Item changes ===
* Stacks of {{RarityItem|Rhapsody}}'s '''Scarlet Remittance''' are now only gained by killing enemies. Previously, you could easily max the stacks by destroying inanimate objects like crates.
* {{RarityItem|Diadem of Arcane Synergy}} now only gives {{Cond|Arcane Synergy}} when you inflict an effect on an enemy ({{Cond|Threatened}} doesn't count). Previously, it would activate whenever you inflicted any effect on anything.
* Potential new items. These items are listed in a treasure table associated with [[Araj Oblodra]], but it is not confirmed that they are available in-game by normal means.{{Verify}}
** Staff of Accretion ([[Quarterstaves|Quarterstaff]]): Gain {{Cond|Arcane Charge}} when dealing damage with a close range spell (a spell with a range of {{Distance|m=6|ft=20}} or less).
** Braindrain Cloak ([[Cloaks|Cloak]]): Whenever you succeed a {{Saving throw}} against a spell, apply 2 stacks of {{Cond|Mental Fatigue}} on the caster.
** {{RarityItem|Arcane Absorption Dagger}}

=== Effect changes ===
* {{Cond|Arcane Charge}} has been significantly reworked.
** Previously it provided bonus damage equal to your [[proficiency bonus]] to ''all'' damage against {{Cond|Threatened}} targets. It also imposed a 50% [[movement speed]] penalty while it was active.
** Now, it provides 2 bonus damage to spells against threatened targets. There is no movement speed penalty.
** {{RarityItem|Bided Time}} now only activates when hit by an enemy melee attack. Previously, it could be triggered by an allied attack (for example, if you used a {{SAI|Mage Hand}} to hit yourself).
* {{Cond|Arcane Acuity}} has been slightly reworked.
** It can now stack up to 10 times (up from 7).
** When taking damage, you lose 2 stacks of Arcane Acuity.
** This happens with any damage, including self-damage like {{Cond|Heat}}. This means that Heat items and {{RarityItem|Hat of Fire Acuity}} may not work very well together.
* {{Cond|Radiating Orb}} has been slightly reworked.
** It can now stack up to 10 times (up from 7).
** When an affected entity makes an attack roll (whether it hits or misses), 2 stacks will be removed.
** {{RarityItem|Luminous Armour}} previously had a bug where it could exceed the normal stack limit. This has been fixed.
* {{Cond|Mental Fatigue}} has been significantly reworked.
** It can now stack up to 7 times (previously it couldn't stack).
** When an affected entity fails a mental {{Saving throw}} with at least 5 stacks, they are discharged, dealing {{DamageText|1d4|Psychic}} damage.
* {{Cond|Momentum}} can now stack 5 times (up from 4).



=== Minor changes ===
* {{RarityItem|Summon Golem Bell}} now requires an action to use and no longer counts as a "dash" for the purposes of activating items like {{RarityItem|Boots of Arcane Bolstering}}. Previously, it functioned as a completely free way of activating on-dash items.
* {{RarityItem|Eternal Carafe of Wine (Or Sometimes Acid)}} now costs a {{action|bonus}} to use. Previously, it was a completely free source of {{Cond|Alcohol}} (or sometimes {{Cond|Acid}}).
* {{SAI|Knowledge of the Ages|Knowledge of the Ages: Wisdom}} now gives [[proficiency]] in {{Skill|Animal Handling}}, {{Skill|Insight}}, {{Skill|Perception}}, {{Skill|Medicine}}, and {{Skill|Survival}}. It used to give proficiency in {{Skill|Animal Handling}}, {{Skill|History}}, {{Skill|Investigation}}, {{Skill|Nature}}, and {{Skill|Religion}}.