Baldur’s Gate 3 is already getting a reputation for being quite challenging; which means players should make every effort to find and equip magic weapons and armor as soon as possible. Fortunately, this game is absolutely loaded with them. Most of them are the standard +1 variety, but there are plenty of magic weapons and armor for every class.

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Magic items are helpful, but it's the magic weapons and armor that really help elevate player characters to the next level and keep them alive. While reading this list bear in mind the game is only in early access – so only the weapons and armor from the first chapter of the game can be examined.

Updated on August 7, 2021, by Jeff Drake: Baldur's Gate 3 has been out for awhile now. That means this list was in desperate need of an update because there have been a few new pieces of armor and weapons that have been discovered. A slew of updates, which mostly corrected bugs, have also added a few new items into the game. The way you play this game, and what class you choose, can (and will) make some weapons and armor more useful than others. This list will focus on weapons and armor that are the most useful in more general terms.

15 Weapon – The Watcher’s Guide

Baldur's Gate 3 Dank Crypt

The Watcher’s Guide is a nice spear…for those few players that choose to use a spear. Spears are very versatile weapons in D&D; they have great range, do decent damage, and have a fairly fast attack speed. The Watcher’s Guide comes with the Rush ability.

This allows the wielder to charge up to 9m, hitting all enemies in the way. This weapon also grants Death’s Promise; which allows an attack to be made at an advantage after missing the target with the previous attack. The Watcher’s Guide can be found in a sarcophagus inside the Dank Crypt.

14 Armor – Herbalist’s Gloves

Baldur's Gate 3 Herbalist's Gloves

Having a party member get poisoned is often a major annoyance when playing D&D - it’s one of those occurrences that few players plan for. The annoyance comes from having to sacrifice a spell slot on a spell that only removes poison, and typically these spells go unused for about 90% of the game.

The Herbalist’s Gloves remove poison automatically from someone when the wearer heals them. This not only makes the party’s healer more efficient but can be a life saver (literally). These can be bought in the Underdark from Derryth Bonecloak.

13 Weapon – Blooded Greataxe

Baldur's Gate 3 Blooded Greataxe

The Blooded Greataxe is one of the better two-hand weapons available in Baldur’s Gate 3 (so far). For starters, it deals 1d12 point of damage per hit. The Blooded Greataxe comes with the Cleave ability; which allows the wielder to hit more than one opponent with a swing.

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Additionally, it also has the Relentless Revenge ability. This causes the Blooded Greataxe to deal an extra 1d6 points of damage when the wielder’s hit points drop below half. This is great for come-from-behind victories. The Blooded Greataxe can be bought from Dammon, who can be found in The Hollow.

12 Armor – Shadow Of Menzoberranzan

Baldur's Gate 3 Shadow of Menzoberranzan

This is perhaps the best of the helmets/head coverings found in the game so far. It may not give any boost to the wearer’s armor class, but its special ability more than makes up for this deficiency. The Shadow of Menzoberranzan grants the Shrouded in Shadow ability – which renders the wearer invisible.

This can be used once per long rest. Becoming invisible can (of course) be used for offensive or defensive purposes – and when used smartly is a game-changing ability. This is perfect item for the rogue in the party, and can be found in the Myconid Colony (in the Underdark).

11 Weapon – Sickle Of Boooal

Baldur's Gate 3 Sickle of Boooal

Sickles are not a weapon one normally finds in D&D games. This weapon has two versions – one is much better than the other. The weaker version is just a sickle with the Slash attribute; which causes bleeding. The more powerful version also provides the wielder with an advantage against bleeding opponents.

This is an excellent weapon for a druid due to their limited choice of weapons. This can be found in the Festering Cove in the Underdark. To get the better version the player must get the sickle from Pooldripp the Zealous with killing him.

10 Armor – Scale Mail +1

Baldur's Gate 3 The Hollow

Armor's most important function is to protect the wearer from being hit. It’s nice if a suit of armor has a magical ability, but in the end, a player should favor armor with a higher armor class rating. This is what makes the Scale Mail +1 so good.

There is only one other suit of armor (in early access) that provides a 15+Dexterity bonus – the Githyanki Half Plate (which hinders stealth actions). Players wanting to give their tank a little more longevity in battle should get this suit of armor. Scale Mail +1 can be bought from Dammon at The Hollow.

9 Weapon – Sword Of Justice

Baldur's Gate 3 Sword of Justice

Two-handed swords are an excellent choice for frontline fighters. They deal a ton of damage – 2d6+1 in this case – and provide a greater reach than most melee weapons. First, this weapon has a +1 enchantment – making it great against creatures immune to non-magical weapons.

The Sword of Justice also has the Cleave ability. Lastly, this sword also grants Tyr’s Protection upon the wielder once per battle. The Sword of Justice is acquired from Anders as part of the “Hunt the Devil” quest. He can be found on the Risen Road.

8 Armor – Hellrider’s Pride

Baldur's Gate 3 Druid's Grove

Hellrider’s Pride is another great item that works best when used by the party’s healer – which apparently was a popular theme among the developers. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. In fact, having a healer of some kind in the party is almost a necessity in Baldur’s Gate 3, so it’s nice that there are so many items to assist them.

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Hellrider’s Pride is a pair of gloves that provide a +1 to the wearers Strength saving throw proficiency. In addition, when the wearer heals another character they are also given temporary resistance to bludgeoning, slashing, and piercing damage. Like many of the better magical items found so far Hellrider’s Pride can be acquired in the Druid’s Grove.

7 Weapon – Nature’s Snare

Baldur's Gate 3 The Underdark

Nature’s Snare is an excellent staff that can be found in a chest located in the Underground Passage. Be careful though, the chest is trapped. This staff has two abilities that would make it an excellent choice for a monk – assuming the monk class will be included when the game officially launches.

The monk class aside, it is still a formidable weapon that can help keep the party’s wizard alive. Nature’s Snare has the Topple ability; which once per short rest can be used to render the target prone to subsequent attacks that turn. The staff also has a chance to Ensnare the target if they are not a plant or a beast.

6 Armor – Warped Headband Of Intellect

Baldur's Gate 3 Warped Headband of Intellect

This was included in the list of best magic items but is so much better than the remaining armor pieces that it is being included here as well. The Warped Headband of Intellect raises the wearer’s Intelligence to an 18.

This is an excellent item for any character class that uses arcane magic as a secondary ability – like an Eldritch Knight or a multiclass character like a thief/wizard. However, multiclass characters are not available in the early access but will be in the final release version.

Getting a free 18 Intelligence will let a player focus on their character’s other primary attributes. This can be received from Lump The Enlightened (an ogre mage) in the Blighted Village.

5 Weapon - Paleoak

Inventory view of the weapon Paleoak_The Best Weapons and Armor in Baldur's Gate 3

Paleoak is an extremely powerful staff that comes with two magical effects. The first effect is to cover the area with vines that can slow and immobilize enemies. If you have a few party members that are good with distance weapons or spellcasters, the vines will give them plenty of time to snipe the enemies for an easy win.

The secondary effect this staff gives is called Faithwarden's Stride, and it removes movement penalties for moving through an area with these vines. It essentially makes the wielder immune to its vine summoning ability. This weapon can also topple opponents when it scores a hit.

This staff is acquired in the Druid grove via the "Investigate Kagha" side quest; just keep in mind that Kagha must survive while playing.

4 Armor - Boots of Speed

Inventory view of the Boots of Speed_The Best Weapons and Armor in Baldur's Gate 3

There's a saying, "speed kills". This is especially true in games that use strategic, squad encounter simulators for combat, like Baldur's Gate 3. These handy boots give the ability called "Click Heels". When the wearer uses this ability they double their movement speed for that turn. Being able to double a character's speed has too many uses to list here, but a few are vital.

Through the course of battle, your character has become surrounded by fire; these boots allow you to get to safety faster. Archer's can now get to a safe distance in one turn. Front-line fighters can get to a party member in need of assistance faster. These boots are located in the Underdark and are obtained from Thulla.

3 Weapon - Visions Of The Absolute

Vision of the Absolute_The Best Weapons and Armor in Baldur's Gate 3

Visions of the Absolute is a two-handed spear with some very useful magical properties. The first ability it grants is the chance to blind opponents with every hit. Using this, a fighter can work their way through an enemy group blinding them - making it safer for non-fighters to engage them.

The second ability this spear grant is an extra 2d6 point of damage against creatures with multiple sets of eyes. You encounter this more than you might think in this game. There are a few fights in this game, against foes like spectators, where this spear makes the encounter much more survivable. This can be found in the Owlbear Nest in the Druid Grove area.

2 Armor - Wapira's Crown

Wapira's Crown_The Best Weapons and Armor in Baldur's Gate 3

Every party should have a healer of some kind. Technically you don't need a healer, but it makes games like Baldur's Gate 3 much more difficult - sometimes healing potions just don't cut it. Wapira's Crown heals the wearer 1d6 hit points.

Often, it is not possible for a character to disengage from an opponent and get to the healer. The result of this is that the healer has to move into the fray to heal a wounded party member. At least now, if they take some damage running to a party member to heal them, the damage is healed for free.

Also, a healer in need of healing themself can now instead heal a party member and get some healing for free. This can be acquired in the Druid Grove as a reward for completing the "Save The Refugees" quest.

1 Weapon - Intransigent Warhammer

Intransigent Warhammer_The Best Weapons and Armor in Baldur's Gate 3

This weapon is about as overpowered as weapons come in this game, at least so far. Here's the catch - you find this weapon at the very end of Chapter 1. This is a little disappointing. You finally get this great weapon then the chapter ends.

At least when the full game is released your character will have the hammer. That's assuming the save files for the Early Release and the Full Game are compatible. At least you'll know where it's located if you can't continue where you left off. This hammer sends out an "Impact Blast" after killing the target or scoring a critical hit, that knocks opponents back and knocks them off their feet.

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