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With the release of Patch 8 forBaldur’s Gate 3, bringing with it several new spells and 12 new subclasses, there are tons of new build options when setting up your party to face the game’s many challenges. With new subclasses like the Drunken Master Monk and the Death Domain Cleric bringing new utility to conditions and damage types that have been in the game since launch, and the Shadow Magic Sorcerer offering more utility to darkness builds, there’s lots to consider.
Many items that have been inBaldur’s Gate 3since launch have gained new utility as a result of the new subclasses and spells added by Patch 8. This guide will go over some of the more notable ones and discuss how the changes made by Patch 8 have improved their utility. While some of these items were already very strong (the Eversight Ring and the Resonance Stone, for example), the addition of new classes like the Hexblade Warlock and Arcane Archer has opened up new uses for many of them.
The Drunkard Equipment & Alcohol
One of the most obvious perks of Patch 8 in terms of making items more usefulis the addition of the Drunken Master Monk.This subclass interacts with the Drunk condition in some interesting ways and makes all of the various forms of alcohol found in the game much more useful. While they were always useful as camp supplies, they can also be used to restore Ki Points in the hands of a Drunken Master, who is also immune to all negative effects from being Drunk.
For similar reasons, the Act 3 Items “The Drunken Cloth”, and “Amulet of the Drunkard” are far more usablenow that there’s a whole subclass that interacts with the Drunk condition.The Amulet of the Drunkard and its healing is especially powerful on a Drunken Master Monk, due to defense being their specialty. The Punch-Drunk Bastard does not fare so well, unfortunately, as it cannot function as a Monk Weapon, though it remains viable if equipped to a Barbarian who has access to adequate booze.
All Sources of Necrotic Damage
Any weapon dealing necrotic damage, and any ability or item interacting with necrotic damage, has received a huge boost in Patch 8thanks to the addition of the Death Domain Cleric.The Death Domain Cleric’s level 6 feature “Inescapable Destruction” allows them to ignore a target’s resistance to necrotic damage. This makes all sources of necrotic damage far more effective.
Some notable examples of weapons that deal necrotic damage include Hoppy and the Sword of Life Stealing, available during Acts 1 and 2,and the Sword of Chaos from Act 3.Several necrotic damage weapons provide additional utility by allowing the user to heal themselves as they deal damage, making them highly useful to front-line fighters and anyone who thrives in melee range (like the aforementioned Death Domain Cleric). The Dark Justiciar Gauntlets and the added necrotic damage they offer pairs well with the Death Domain Cleric too.
Equipment that Supports Gish Builds
Any equipment that supports a Gish playstyle (martial combat + spellcasting hybrid) has naturally gained new utility with the addition of two new subclasses that favor that playstyle. With the addition of the Hexblade Warlockand Spellsinging Wizard, weapons like the Infernal Rapier and equipment like the Ring of Arcane Synergy are now in even more demand than before. A very good way to strengthen your martial prowess through spellcasting is by combining the Ring of Arcane Synergy, Gloves of Battlemage’s Power, and the Helmet of Arcane Acuity.
This setup will let you generate a ton of Arcane Acuity stacks, which will strengthen your attack rolls and spell save DCs. The Band of the Mystic Scoundrel is also helpful here if you have some decent Illusion or Enchantment spells available. Items like the Ring of Elemental Infusion also fit this playstyle well, adding elemental damage to your weapons after you deal elemental damage with a spell. The Daredevil Gloves are another great piece of Gish equipment, allowing you to treat ranged spells as melee spells while in melee range to avoid the penalties.
The Resonance Stone
The Resonance Stone, found in the Mind Flayer Colony near the end of Act 2,has always been a fairly decent way of turning any build using psychic damage into an absolute monster. At the cost of imposing disadvantage on mental saving throws for everyone in 9m/30ft of it, it grants advantage on physical saving throws and also makes everyone in the radius vulnerable to psychic damage. This means that you can double the psychic damage you deal by having someone carry the Resonance Stone into battle.
As of Patch 8, you’re able to now learn the Shadow Blade spell,which creates a shortsword that deals pure psychic damage and can be upcast to increase the damage dealt. When paired with the Resonance Stone on a build with decent melee attack rolls, this can be used to dish out tremendous amounts of psychic damage. Among the classes that can learn Shadow Blade is the Warlock, whose new Hexblade Subclass can also learn Wrathful Smite. Wrathful Smite adds even more psychic damage onto an attack and thus also works perfectly with the Resonance Stone.
The Eversight Ring & Equipment that Benefits from Darkness
While the Eversight Ring is, and always has been, one of the best items in the game,it has found even more utility inany party using the new Shadow Magic Sorcerer subclass.The Eversight Ring makes it impossible for its wearer to be blinded and allows them to see through all forms of darkness. This makes it the ideal equipment for any fighter working alongside a Shadow Magic Sorcerer and their Eyes of Darkness: Darkness spell, allowing them all the benefits of hiding within the darkness and none of the drawbacks, and letting them get advantage on attacks against foes blinded by the darkness. One potent combo would be giving the Eversight Ring to an Arcane Archer, allowing them to snipe blinded enemies from a distance with their Arcane Arrows.
Any equipment that benefits from the user or their target being obscured has also received a boost thanks to the Shadow Magic Sorcerer. This includes the Dark Justiciar gear. The Helmet grants advantage on Stealth Checks when obscured, the Boots allow the user to teleport to an obscured location, and the gloves provide a unique spell that causes creatures targeted to take damage when obscured, all of which pair wonderfully with the Shadow Magic Sorcerer and their easy access to darkness. The Shadowsoaked Blow from the Scimitar allows the wielder to strike within darkness without revealing themselves, and the Justiciar’s Greatshield allows the user to create a cloud of darkness and hide using a single bonus action.
