Surface effects are an extremely powerful tool in Baldur's Gate 3. By dipping an arrow or sword in fire, for example, you can do flaming attacks that add extra damage to enemies and can potentially set them on fire, causing them to take additional damage over several turns. Not only that, but you can also create large areas of fire by igniting grease or other flammable surfaces, or even cause an explosion by hit barrels of firewine with flaming attacks.
While fire is a powerful tool, it isn't always the most accessible surface. Torches and candles can be found mounted on the walls of dungeons sometimes, but even then it might require you to use an entire turn just to move to the fire and dip your weapon in it. If there aren't any torches or exposed fire surfaces available you may think a flaming at simply isn't an option — especially if no one in your party has prepared fire magic.
As it turns out, there's a way to have fire at the ready anytime you want. All you need is a candle.
Where to find a candle
Most of the candles you encounter throughout BG3 can't be picked up. Any kind you see that is mounted to a surface or standing in a candle holder can be lit but cannot be put into your inventory. For this trick, you'll need a candle you can actually bring with you.
Most of the loot in the world is randomly seeded, and while some objects seem to be weighted — a chest full of scrolls will always have scroll — there doesn't seem to be any way to know exactly where you'll find items like candles.
Check the vendor at Druid Grove first. You'll find him in front of a caravan just across the bridge on the straight path from the main entrance. If he doesn't have any, he likely never will. It doesn't seem like vendor inventories ever update, at least as of patch 4.1.84.2021.
I had the best luck finding candles while exploring the necromancer's cellar in the Blighted Village. I came out of there with 5 candles found scattered in various chests and barrels throughout the cellar (after opening the secret entrance). You only need one though because inventory items can be passed between characters and they never run out.
Using the candle
When in combat, you can use a candle to dip your weapon on any turn. All you need to do is follow these very simple steps. On your turn:
- Open your inventory while controlling the character you want to dip with
- Move the candle into the active character's inventory
- Drop the candle by right-clicking on the icon and selecting "drop"
- close your inventory, the candle will now be on the ground
- Right-click the candle and select "use", the candle will now be lit
- Use your character's "dip" bonus action and left-click on the candle
- Right-click on the candle again and select "pick up" to put it back in your inventory
Of course, this technique does consume a bonus action, so it isn't technically a free move, but it does allow you to drop, dip, and pick the candle back up all in one move. After you finish your turn the next character can take the candle and follow the exact same steps to enflame their own weapon.
It may not be the most tabletop accurate-technique, considering you don't need to use a throw action or something to pass the candle between all your players. It will, however, give you more opportunities to blow stuff up, and isn't that all that really matters?