14 Best Spells/Abilities From Patch 8, Ranked

It’s been a while since Patch 8 finally dropped for Baldur’s Gate 3, which has given players enough time to mess around with the new spells and abilities that came with it.

Either being their own cantrips, coming from a subclass, or some other origin, these actions were added with Patch 8, making an entirely new and equally exciting experience.

With a plethora of new things to do and experience, it’s birthed new builds and play styles that are all tons of fun for players.

Of all the new abilities that came with Patch 8, however, these ones are particularly special.

14

Rakish Sneak Attack

Absolutely Broken Damage Output

Normally, in order for Rogues to trigger Sneak Attack, you have to have Advantage against your target. The best way to guarantee this would be with the Assassin subclass, but that crown was quickly passed over to Swashbuckler instead.

Swashbuckler rogues get access to Rakish Sneak Attack, which removes the need for Advantage – you just get Sneak Attack damage by default, so long as you don’t have Disadvantage.

Sneak Attack’s damage output is normally insane, but being able to Sneak Attack literally anyone and everyone makes the damage absolutely busted, and constantly guaranteed. It’s genuinely staggering the kind of damage that you can inflict with a single hit.

It’s such a small change that suddenly amplifies your damage. Combine this with the Savage Attacker feat (which takes the higher of two damage rolls), and your daggers will cut through someone’s soul itself.

13

Mantle of Inspiration

Every Little Bit Helps

The College of Glamour is the new subclass for Bard, the ultimate buff out of all possible subclasses in the game.

You aren’t strictly offense or defense, but rather a little bit of both, and Mantle of Inspiration is one integral way you can do that. With it, you’re able to grant two allies temporary hit points, as well as Charming anyone who attacks them.

Plus, as you level up, you can target more allies and grant more temporary hit points, making the Mantle of Inspiration one of the easiest ways to turn the tide in battle. By redirecting enemies and bolstering your allies, it’s all going in your favour.

This is especially helpful in Tactician and Honour Mode difficulties, since every little bit of life you replenish is the difference between life or death.

12

Arcane Shot

Battle Master From a Distance

Before Patch 8, the only real ways that a Fighter can genuinely influence other enemies’ turn is if you’re the Battle Master subclass. Even then, there aren’t a lot of distance options, as your Manoeuvres are all in melee range.

That all changed with the Arcane Archer subclass, however, as your Arcane Shot is able to inflict all kinds of conditions and actions.

Your arrows are able to do a number of different actions, some of which are even magical. You can inflict different types of damage, reduce movement, or even Banish someone into another plane of existence, all with your bow.

You basically have Manoeuvres that are exclusively ranged, and if you take the Martial Adept feat with it, the battlefield is absolutely yours.

11

Divine Allegiance

No, Don’t Touch Them

The Oath of the Crown Paladin is especially helpful while operating in a group, being equal parts a buff and a tank for everyone around you. One buff in particular that stands out with the subclass is Divine Allegiance.

With Divine Allegiance, when an enemy goes to attack someone near you, you’re able to use a reaction to take that damage instead (you take radiant damage while your ally heals it). You shield your allies with yourself; considering how tough paladins are, it won’t hurt you anywhere near as badly.

Plus, when you combine this with Duelist’s Prerogative, you’re able to have two reactions, so you can do this twice, meaning you can protect two allies, have a slot for Counterspell, or some other attack.

There’s also something particularly funny about an enemy being all cocky about an attack they’re making, only for you to pull out the UNO Reverse Card.

10

Boot of the Giants

GOAL!

There is something absurdly funny about all the different ways you can attack someone as a Giant Barbarian. Sure, barbarians in general have funny dialogue and actions, but nothing takes the cake quite like the Boot of the Giants.

With this, you’re able to kick someone while you’re Raging for a Bonus Action, up to twice the weight that you’re able to Shove. It’s not a wimpy kick either, you’re literally punting your enemy like a football.

The kick scales with your Athletics (which is based on your Strength), meaning players should try to go for proficiency with the skill for maximum damage results. Plus, the higher your Athletics, the further (and harder) you can kick, sending enemies into vast, open chasms in one swift motion.

It’s always something that gets a good giggle out of me every time I use it, just because it’s so hilariously absurd.

9

Swarm Teleportation

Who Needs Pixie Dust When You Have Bees?

When you select the Swarmkeeper subclass for Ranger, you have a couple of different options of swarming companions: Bees, Moths, and Jellyfish. This swarm can be switched out every time you level up, and each offers its own perks.

When you hit an enemy, you’re able to select from a few different options: cause extra damage, inflict a condition, or teleport you to a safe location.

You can only teleport about 5m (17ft) away, but that little bit of distance makes a tremendous difference, especially to a ranger trying to get a good vantage point. An extra metre can make an impossible shot into a landing hit, and that could be all you need.

Movement is a hot commodity in Baldur’s Gate 3, so you should take full advantage of any movement you’ve got – especially if it’s free.

8

Accursed Spectre

A Fate Worse Than Death

Have you ever had an encounter that’s so particularly enraging you want to disrespect the enemy’s body even after they died? If you happen to be a Hexblade Warlock, you can actually act on that impulse.

When you inflict Hexblade’s Curse on someone and then kill them while it’s active, you can summon an Accursed Spectre with your reaction. With it, the corpse bursts open and an Accursed Spectre emerges in its place.

The Accursed Spectre will fight alongside you for the remainder of the battle. They can’t move from their spot, but they’re able to whip enemies closer and still deal damage from a distance. Plus, depending on the size of your enemy, you can summon potentially even more powerful spectres that deal a boatload of pain.

It’s a fate worse than death for your enemies, and a relatively satisfying variation of “screw this guy in particular.”

7

Bursting Sinew

Corpses Are Bombs Now

Needless to say, you accumulate several corpses along the field with each encounter. One of the new cantrips that Patch 8 brought has a creative new use for those corpses: turn them into literal bombs.

Bursting Sinew is a Necromancy cantrip that causes a corpse of your choice to explode and do 1d10 piercing damage to everyone in a 10ft radius. This damage scales with you as you level up.

One of the smartest ways you can make it through Tactician and Honour Mode is to use your environment to your advantage, and Bursting Sinew takes that to the next level. You are essentially guaranteed a small AoE with each enemy that falls by your hand.

It’s also just outright hilarious to kill someone, then blow them up for good measure.

6

Booming Blade

Withers, Wake Up, New Build Just Dropped

Having a cantrip that you can cast while Silenced is already absolutely golden, but a cantrip that augments your damage and stacks with extra attack? That’s just platinum.

Booming Blade is an absolutely busted cantrip to where, like Eldritch Blast

, you can make entire builds around the one ability. When you cast it and then strike with your melee weapon, you deal an additional 1d8 thunder damage that scales as you level up.

Plus, when your enemy moves, it deals an additional 1d8 damage, which also scales as you level up. You’re able to do this ewith very action, just like with regular weapons.

With the plethora of items you can get throughout the game that augment your elemental damage, you can make Booming Blade your new bread and butter, with a lot of extra butter.

5

Hound of Ill Omen

Who’s A Good Demon?

Shadow Magic Sorcerers brought a new source of magic that leads to distinct spells, and a new pet to camp, Nimbus.

With the Hound of Ill Omen, you’re able to summon a dog from the Hells, and he’ll fight alongside you for only three Sorcery Points. Plus, he’s a permanent companion unless he’s killed, meaning you won’t have to re-summon him every day; he’ll be patiently waiting at camp when you wake up.

Even then, if your hound falls in battle, you can easily re-summon him for three Sorcery Points again, so long as you at least had a Short Rest between the summons.

And in battle, your hound is not only your best friend, but the best demon in all the Hells.