Editing Permanent bonuses

{{PageSeo
| title = Permanent bonuses
| description = There are many different permanent character enhancements that can be obtained in Baldur's Gate 3. See below for these bonuses and how to obtain them.}}
'''Permanent bonuses''' are special [[conditions]], character enhancements, or other abilities, which will generally remain permanently after obtaining them. Some permanent bonuses will, however, be removed if the character {{cond|Dead|dies}}.

There are many different permanent character enhancements or bonuses that can be obtained throughout [[Baldur's Gate 3]]. See below for details on these bonuses and how they can be obtained.

{{SpoilerWarning}}
{{TOC|limit=3}}
== Act One ==
The following permanent character bonuses can be obtained in [[Act One]] of the game.

=== BOOOAL's Benediction ===
{{main|BOOOAL's Benediction (Condition)}}
Gain {{Advantage}} on [[attack rolls]] against {{cond|Bleeding}} targets.

==== How to unlock ====
Sacrifice a companion to [[BOOOAL]] in [[The Festering Cove]]. Effect stops working if all [[Kuo-toa]] in the Cove are killed.

This buff is granted to all present party members, and is permanently lost upon death.{{verify}}

You cannot use [[hirelings]] for the sacrifice.

=== Paid the price ===
{{main|Paid the Price (Condition)}}
You have a +1 bonus to [[Intimidation]] checks, but {{Disadvantage}} on [[Perception]] checks. Additionally, you have {{Disadvantage}} when attacking Hags. Changes the chosen eye's appearance.

==== How to unlock ====
Accept [[Auntie Ethel]]'s deal to remove the parasite at the [[Riverside Teahouse]].

=== Auntie Ethel's Hair ===
{{main|Auntie Ethel's Hair}}
Gain +1 to an [[Ability Scores|Ability Score]] of choice. Can be raised above 20.

==== How to unlock ====
Defeat [[Auntie Ethel]] during [[Save Mayrina]] and take her deal to spare her life. 

=== Volo's Ersatz Eye ===
{{main|Volo's Ersatz Eye (Condition)}}
Grants a permanent {{IconLink|See_Invisibility_Icon.png|See Invisibility|size=25}} effect. Changes the right eye's appearance. The right eye's colour is permanently changed to "Blue 3". This {{em|cannot}} be reversed using the [[Magic Mirror]].

==== How to unlock ====
Rescue [[Volo]] from the [[Goblin Camp]]. When speaking to him in the [[Campsite]] afterwards, tell him about your Tadpole infection and agree to his experimental surgery.

=== Brand of the Absolute ===
{{main|Brand of the Absolute}}
Allows the benefits from [[:Category:Absolute_Equipment|Absolute Equipment]] and unlocks unique dialogue options when speaking to followers of the Absolute.

==== How to unlock ====
Agree to let a character be branded by [[Gut]] in the [[Goblin Camp]].

Multiple characters can receive the brand after the first character has been branded by [[Gut]] (by controlling them and speaking to [[Warlock Greez]]).

=== Instrument proficiency ===
{{main|Proficiency#Instrument Proficiency}}
You know how to play a variety of musical instruments and are able to entertain a crowd with them.

==== How to unlock ====
Pass one of two Charisma (Performance) checks while helping [[Alfira]] with her song in the [[Druid Grove]].

[[Bard|Bards]] have this automatically and this provides no additional benefit to them.

=== Loviatar's Love ===
{{main|Loviatar's Love (Condition)}}
When you have 30% Hit Points or less, you gain a +2 bonus to Attack Rolls and [[Wisdom]] saving throws.

==== How to unlock ====
Submit to [[Abdirak]] and put on a good performance for him in the [[Shattered Sanctum]].

|Effect is permanently lost if the character dies and is revived.{{verify}}

=== Survival Instinct ===
{{main|Survival Instinct}}
Gain the additional [[Illithid Powers|Illithid Power]] {{Icon|Cleric Tadpole Survival Instinct.png|30|link=Survival Instinct}}[[Survival Instinct]].

==== How to unlock ====
[[Help Omeluum investigate the parasite]].

This is an unique Illithid power not obtainable through regular [[Illithid Powers]] progression.

=== Necromancy of Thay ===
{{main|Necromancy of Thay}}

Gain the {{IconLink|Passive Feature Generic Icon.png|Forbidden Knowledge|size=25}} passive feature and {{Icon|Speak with Dead Icon.png|25|link=Speak with Dead}} [[Speak with Dead]] spell once per long rest.

==== How to unlock ====
Turn all three pages while reading [[Necromancy of Thay]], a [[Books|book]] found in a hidden area in the [[Apothecary's Cellar]] beneath the [[Blighted Village]].

Turning only 1 page will grant only [[Speak with Dead]]. The reader does not need to succeed on the Saving Throws associated with turning the pages.

=== Find Familiar: Scratch ===
{{main|Find Familiar: Scratch}}
Summon the best boy. Scratch's keen nose can discover many things hidden around the world.

==== How to unlock ====
Leave [[Scratch]] with your scent so he joins your camp, then later when he offers you a ball, throw it to play fetch with him. Having [[Scratch's Ball]] in your inventory allows you to use {{SAI|Find Familiar: Scratch}}.

=== Find Familiar: Cheeky Quasit ===
{{main|Shovel|Find Familiar: Cheeky Quasit}}
Summon [[Shovel_(Familiar)|Shovel]] (or Basket, or Fork), the Cheeky Quasit.

==== How to unlock ====
Find the unique {{SmItemIcon|Scroll of Summon Quasit}} in one of the coffins of the hidden area in the [[Apothecary's Cellar]] beneath the [[Blighted Village]]. Wizards can learn this spell, or after summoning talk to the Quasit and they will permanently teach you the spell under [[Find_Familiar#Shovel|certain conditions]].

=== Awakened ===
{{main|Awakened}}
You can use all of your Illithid Powers as a [[Bonus Action]]

==== How to unlock ====
Make the Zaith'isk in the infirmary of [[Crèche Y'llek]] explode and succeed at all three saving throws. The saves are significantly easier if you are in the device rather than Lae'zel. The person that gets the buff is always the player character.

Failing any of the saving throws for the Zaith'isk inflicts permanent, stacking penalties to the [[Ability Score]]s of the character inside it: each failure will, respectively, give -2 to Intelligence, Wisdom, and Constitution.
[[Partial-Illithid|Partial ceremorphosis]] will remove the ability debuff.

== Act Two ==
* The following permanent character bonuses can be obtained in [[Act Two]] of the game's story.
{| class="wikitable"
! Name !! Effect !! How to Obtain !! Notes
|-
| [[Potion of Everlasting Vigour]]|| Gain +2 Strength || Convince [[Astarion]] to bite [[Araj Oblodra]] in Moonrise Towers || Can be raised above 20
|-
| [[Arabella's Shadow Entangle]]|| Entangle an undead or shadow creature  || Tell [[Arabella]] about her parents' fate after [[Save Arabella]] ||
|-
| [[Githzerai Mind Barrier]]|| {{Advantage}} on [[Intelligence]] [[Saving throw|Saving Throws]]  || Insert the [[Waking Mind]] (found at {{coords|750|-139}} after the brain connect puzzle in the [[Mind Flayer Colony]]) into the nearby Mind-Archive Interface, speak to the Slack-Skinned Head, and agree to purge or consume its mind. ||Effect is permanently lost if the character dies and is revived (as of Hotfix #6).
|-
|[[Summon Us]]
|Allows you to summon '''Us''', an intellect devourer.
|Prevent Us from dying on the Nautiloid during the [[Prologue]], then free it from its cage in the [[Mind Flayer Colony]].
|-
| Level 3 Shadow Spell Slot|| An additional Level 3 Spell Slot, separate from normal Spell Slots.{{SmallIcon|Recharge_Icons.png}}Recharge: Once per Long rest.|| Consume the Shadow Weave from the corpse of [[Gerringothe Thorm]], [[Malus Thorm]] or [[Thisobald Thorm]]. Once and only as Gale. Cleansing the Shadow Weave grants [[Mystra's_Blessing_(Condition)|Mystra's Blessing]] until Long rest instead.|| Only available to [[Gale]] while playing his [[Origins|Origin]]. Gale as Companion does not get it.
|-
|[[Slayer (Class Action)|Slayer Form]]|| Gain the ability to transform into the [[Slayer]] once per Long Rest || Kill [[Isobel]], your lover, or the companion with the highest approval toward you as part of [[The Urge]] [[Quests|quest]].<br/><br/>Alternatively, accept to become [[Bhaal|Bhaal's]] Chosen after defeating [[Orin]] in Act Three. || Only available while playing the [[Dark Urge]] Origin.
|}

== Act Three ==
* The following permanent character bonuses can be obtained in [[Act Three]] of the game's story.
{| class="wikitable"
! Name !! Effect !! How to Obtain !! Notes
|-
| [[Partial-illithid|Partial Ceremorphosis]]|| Gain access to [[Illithid_powers#Elite_Powers|tier 3 illithid Powers]], and automatically unlock all tier 1 Illithid Powers and the Fly tier 3 Illithid Power || Consume the [[Astral-Touched Tadpole]] offered by [[the Emperor]]|| This will cause a cosmetic change in the character.
|-
| [[Bless (Condition)|Sweet Stone Features]] || Gain a {{DieIcon|d4|Slashing}} '''+1d4''' bonus to {{Attack Roll}}s and {{SavingThrow}}s. || Pay [[Boney]] in the [[Circus of the Last Days]] 5000 gold to construct a statue of yourself.|| Can only construct a statue for a single character. The effect begins once you long rest.  Statue appearance is exactly as character is seen outside of conversation- pay attention to ranged/melee weapon being displayed.

This effect will be overwritten if the character is affected by [[Bless]] or is healed by a character wearing [[The Whispering Promise]]. Once the Bless effect expires, they will not regain Sweet Stone Features until completing another long rest.
|-
|Monk's Hideous Laughter
|Gain casting of [[Tasha's Hideous Laughter]] per long rest
|Carry the [[Sentient Amulet]] from [[Grymforge]] to a casket under the [[Open Hand Temple]] in [[Wyrm's Crossing]], completing [[Help the Cursed Monk]]. Must choose to accept the curse yourself.
|Possible wisdom loss if you fail Constitution/Wisdom saves. The sentient amulet seems to lose all of its abilities after the quest completion.
|-
|The Tharchiate Codex: Blessing
|After a long rest, gain 20 temporary hit points
|Read [[The Tharchiate Codex]] (found at the end of the Vault puzzle in [[Ramazith's Tower]])
|Remains active if [[The Tharchiate Codex]] is also used to obtain Danse Macabre
|-
| [[Danse Macabre]]|| Create 4 ghouls that fight alongside you || Read The Tharchiate Codex (found at the end of the Vault puzzle in Ramazith's Tower), then read the last page of the [[Necromancy of Thay]] (from Act 1) and pass a 20 Wisdom Saving Throw || Comes with a curse that lowers Constitution by 5, but can be removed with the [[Remove Curse]] spell while keeping Danse Macabre
|- {{anchor|Mirror of Loss}} 
| [[Mirror of Loss]]|| Gain +2 to an [[Ability Score]] of your choice (and optionally +1 to Charisma)   || Offer a prayer (DC 25 Religion Check) to the [[Mirror of Loss]] in the [[House of Grief]], then sacrifice one of your ability scores, or your knowledge of the [[Necromancy of Thay]]. You'll receive the option to choose a +2 bonus to any ability.

If you sacrificed an ability, you'll receive the '''Stolen Vigour''' curse (-2 to that Ability). This can be cured via {{SmIconLink|Remove Curse Icon.png|Remove Curse}} (this curse as of v4.1.1.3686210 goes away upon a long rest, and you retain the +2 bonus).

Occasionally, when sacrificing an ability to the mirror, you may receive the '''Patriar's Memory''' buff (+1 CHA). If this happens, interact with the mirror again, sacrifice your knowledge of [[Necromancy of Thay]], and choose an ability to receive a +2 bonus. After both interactions, the mirror is sated. Cast {{SmIconLink|Remove Curse Icon.png|Remove Curse}} and you are left with +1 to Charisma and +2 to an ability of your choice. '''(See notes!)'''
| Can be raised above 20 (up to 24, for all memories, including the Patriar's)
If no prayer is offered prior to sacrificing memories, no bonus is received.

As of Hotfix #4, all bonuses from the Necromancy of Thay are retained when you sacrifice its knowledge, along with the Ability Score increase - this is likely a bug.

As of Hotfix #4, it is unclear whether the '''Patriar's Memory''' buff is a bug, as it doesn't trigger every time. This may require several save-and-load attempts to attain. It is also unclear whether there is a way to gain a +1 bonus to ability scores other than Charisma. {{verify}}

In order to ensure you receive '''Patriar's Memory''' the story the Narrator tells you must be the following: "Disappointment floods your mind. You were sure to succeed Stelmane, but Lord Enver Gortash has stolen your support. All that charming and cajoling in the parlous of the Upper City, Wasted." You can continue to reload until you receive this specific memory.
|-
| [[Unstable Blood]]|| Your blood is now highly flammable and will explode on contact with fire || Give your blood to [[Araj Oblodra]] in [[Moonrise Towers]] in Act 2, then meet her again east of [[The Blushing Mermaid]] in Act 3 and help her again. She will give you a potion that grants this feature once drunk. || '''Tip''': Give to a [[Tiefling]] or [[Dragonborn|Red/Gold Dragonborn]] or equip an item that grants {{Resistance|fire|double|nocat=true}} [[Resistance|Fire Resistance]] to minimize the damage you yourself take from the explosions.
|-
| [[Vampire Ascendant]]|| Gain class actions [[Ascendant Bite]] and [[Misty Escape (Vampire Ascendant)|Mistry Escape]], as well as an extra {{DamageText|1d10|Necrotic}} damage to weapon and unarmed attacks. || Defeat [[Cazador]] without killing any of his [[Vampire Spawn|spawn]] whilst having [[Astarion]] in your party. Afterward, allow Astarian to complete the ascention ritual. || Only available to Astarion.
|}

[[Category:Gameplay mechanics]]