Abilities: Difference between revisions

| description = Abilites are representations of a creature's physical and mental attributes in ''Baldur's Gate 3''.

'''Abilites''' are representations of a creature's physical and mental attributes in ''Baldur's Gate 3''. There are six abilities in ''Baldur's Gate 3'', and every creature has a set of six '''ability scores''', numerical values which repdesent how well they perform at each ability.

Each ability score translate directly into an '''ability score modifier''' – modifiers which function as bonuses or penalties that are added to most [[dice rolls]] in the game.

Each ability has an ability score modifier, which is derived from its ability score, that add their ability score modifiers to any ability checks, [[saving throws]] and [[attacks|attack rolls]] they make associated with that ability, as well as to the [[Difficulty Class]] (DC) of any spells that they cast.

An ability's modifier is decreased by ''1'' for every odd score below 10, and is increased by ''1'' for every even score above 10.{{note|Ability score modifiera cannot be increased beyond ''+10'', even if their respective ability scores are increased further.}}

Ability checks are dice rolls made to determine whether a creature succeeds or fails at a task. When attempting an ability check, a creature rolls a d20, and then adds the relevant [[Ability score#Ability score modifiers|ability score modifier]] and, if applicable, [[Proficiency bonus|proficiency bonus]] to the results of the roll. If the final results equal or exceeds a target [[Difficulty Class]] (DC), specific to that task, it is considered as success.

<div style="text-align: center;"> Formula: {{InfoBlob|{{D20}} + Ability Score Modifier + (when applicable) proficiency Bonus}}</div>

Ability checks are usually made using a specified skill. Skills are specific areas of expertise, each associated with an ability, that characters can be [[Proficiency|proficient]] in.{{note|Ability checks made using skills are often referred to as ''skill checks'' by the community, although they are not referred to as such in-game.}}

Character add their proficiency bonus to any ability checks they make using skills they are proficient in.

Additionally, some [[races]], subclasses and [[feats]] also give proficiency in specific skills, and [[bards]] receive the class feature [[Jack of All Trades]] at level 2, allowing them to add {{em|half}} their proficiency bonus to ability checks they make using skills they {{em|are not}} proficient in.

* [[Bard|Bards]] gain expertise in two skills they are proficient in at both level 3 and level 10

* [[Knowledge Domain|Knowledge Domain clerics]] gain expertise in two skills, from a choice of Arcana, History, Nature and Religion, at level 1.

Neither proficiency nor expertise stack: there is no special benefit to having multiple sources of proficiency on a single character, nor is there any benefit to having both proficiency {{em|and}} expertise at the same time. Some sources of expertise do, however, require the character to already be proficient in a skill in order to gain expertise in it.

Some ability checks are automatic. For example, when a creature approaches an unactivated trap, the game rolls a [[Perception]] ability check to determine whether the creation notices the trap. Perception is a Wisdom Skill, so the character adds their Wisdom modifier and, if proficient in Perception, their proficiency bonus to the ability check. Once the trap is discovered, the character can interact with it to attempt to [[Disarm]] it, which requires a successful [[Sleight of Hand]] check, a Dexterity Skill.

Ability checks are also common during dialogue, where some responses require a ability check to determine the outcome. Examples include using Charisma-based skills like [[Persuasion]], [[Deception]] or [[Intimidation]] to influence others, or Intelligence-based Skills like [[Investigation]], [[History]] or [[Religion]] to determine or remember facts.

An example of this is the {{SAI|Shove}} action. The creature attempting the Shove rolls Athletics, and the defending creature rolls either Athletics or Acrobatics (the game chooses the Skill with the highest bonus) to contest the Shove. If the attacker's roll is higher than the defender's, the Shove succeeds; otherwise it fails.

Every class has an spellcasting ability whose modifier they add to the attack rolls and save DCs of their known spells.{{note|The primary ability of casters classes always corresponds to their spellcasting ability, with the exception of rangers and classes that gain spellcasting via a subclass class feature.}}{{note|Racial spells may use their own designated ability. For example, the [[cantrip]] granted during character creation by the [[Elf|elf]] or [[Half-Elf|half-elf]] race always uses Intelligence, regardless of the creature's class.}}

Dexterity is the gams's recommended primary stat for monks, rangers and rogues.

; Attack and damage rolls : Creatures add their Dexterity modifier to to the results of attack and damage rolls of ranged weapons and, when the creature's Dexterity score is higher than their Strength score, melee weapons with the [[Finesse]] property.

; Armour Class : Creatures also add their Dexterity modifier to their [[Armour Class]] (AC) – making them more difficult to hit, up to a maximum of ''+2'' when wearing medium [[armour]]. The bonus is ignored when wearing heavy armour.

; Sleight of Hand : Sleigh of Hand is used when attempting to pick locks, disarm [[traps]], pickpocketing NPCs or when attempting to steal items without being noticed.

; Hit points : Creatures add their Constitution modifier to the amount of [[hit points]] they gain on level up. This increase is applied retroactively.

Intelligence represents a creature's recall, as well as their ability to think quickly and reason.

Intelligence is the game's recommended primary stat for wizards, as it is the spellcasting ability of wizards, fighters and rogues.

; Nature : Nature is when attempting to remember facts about nature.

Wisdom is also an important ability for monks, as several of their class features benefit from.

; Animal Handling | Animal Handling is used when interacting with animals.

; Insight : Insight is used to read situations and when attempting to get a greater understanding of someone's intentions

; Perception: Perception is used when a creatures attempts to discover hidden or hard to find things in their surroundings, such as hidden containers, mechanisms or traps, as well as when attempting to spot hidden creatures. During dialogue, it is used to notice hard to spot details.

; Survival : Survival is used when attempting to spot hidden treasure, as well as to dialogues when dealing with anything related to experience with animals or the wilderness.

Wisdom saves are some of the most common saves in the game, frequently mads to resist spells that test a creature's composure, willpower or self control.

Ability scores can be permanently improved through the [[Ability Improvement]] feat, though this cannot raise a score above 20.

There are also several ways of [[permanent bonuses|permanently improving]] ability scores by through [[quests]] and interactions, which can raise ability scores over 20.{{note|The [[Mirror of Loss]] can both permanently improve and temporarily reduce ability scores.|name=mirror}}