The Best Special Arrows In Baldur's Gate 3

Highlights

Special arrows in Baldur's Gate 3 provide additional magical effects on top of standard weapon damage, offering more firepower in battles.
Arrow of Piercing is ideal for hitting enemies behind the target and weakening waiting enemies while frontline fighters take out immediate threats.
Arrow of Acid, Arrow of Ice, and Arrow of Fire have elemental damage effects and additional effects like leaving acid puddles or igniting the ground.

A bow is nothing without arrows, and these handy projectiles can be used in bows and crossbows of any size in Baldur's Gate 3. While standard arrows are fine for everyday fights, there are times when more firepower is needed if victory is to be achieved. These arrows deal standard weapon damage in addition to having some form of magical effect upon impact.

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These special arrows follow a few different rules versus standard arrows. For starters, special arrows cannot be used for an extra attack, but normal arrows can. So, make sure to use the special arrow for the normal attack and the normal arrow for the extra attack. Below is a list of the best arrows in Baldur's Gate 3, at least those that have been found so far.

Updated on January 29, 2024, by Kristy Ambrose: Arrows of various kinds are still readily available in the BG3, even after several bug fixes and updates. Very Rare arrows are purchased from the various merchants late in Act 2 and Act 3, with Uncommon ones found on the bodies of enemies the player has defeated. Players are still finding new areas and enemies to fight, making these arrows more important than ever. Some of the toughest fights involve enemies that are resistant to regular damage and sometimes a special arrow is a way to turn the tide of a difficult battle. It's not always about dealing the most damage, but also about battlefield management, crowd control, and even transportation.

14 Arrow Of Piercing

Hits Creatures Behind The Target For Half Damage

This arrow is the ideal choice when the enemy has been stopped at a choke point by the party's tanks. The Arrow of Piercing helps the frontline fighters defeat their immediate threats while simultaneously weakening the enemies waiting for their turn.

These arrows are also useful if the archer finds themselves split from the party and needs to kite a group of pursuing creatures. It's situational, but the arrow's effectiveness is improved if an enemy group can be slowed because this makes it less likely for the secondary target to move to safety.

13 Arrow Of Dragon Slaying

Double Regular Damage Against Dragons

It's a bit disappointing for a game based on D&D to have so few dragon fights, but the two dragons the protagonist faces in this game are bosses connected to moving toward the endgame in Act 3, and each one involves a plot reveal and a cinematic.

Ansur is the bronze dragon underneath the city that has a history with the Emporer. He's undead, but these arrows still work on him, and it's a tough fight in which some advantages can help. The second dragon you face final fight, the mind-controlled red dragon that's helping to protect the portal to the Elder Brain.

These are Very Rare arrows that you won't find on random enemies. They're in locked chests very occasionally and available from vendors, but they're among the most expensive choices, starting at 80 gold depending on the character's Charisma.

12 Arrow Of Acid

Regular Damage Plus AoE Acid Damage

Some of the greatest ammunition in Baldur's Gate 3 are the ones that are simply arrows with an element attached. One great example of this is the Arrow of Acid, which does the regular damage of one d8 plus two d4 of Acid damage on top.

Besides the direct Acid damage it does, the Arrow of Acid will also leave a puddle of the element on the ground. This means that whenever a friend or foe walks through the Acid, they are likely to take some damage from it.

11 Arrow Of Ice

Includes AoE Cold Damage

The Arrow of Ice explodes upon impact, damaging all enemies within seven feet for 2d4 Cold damage. Damage is reduced by half if the targets pass a Dexterity save. It's best to use these against creatures weak against cold damage and don't use these against undead creatures.

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Another effect of these arrows is it creates an Ice Surface around the point of impact. Creatures moving over this surface move at half speed and can fall and become a prone target for the next arrow. These can be dropped by enemies but also purchased at Druid Grove, Risen Road Toll House, and Shattered Sanctum.

10 Arrow Of Fire

Fire Damage Has Several Uses

Out of all the available ammunition options in Baldur's Gate 3, it's of no surprise to see an arrow as great as the Arrow of Fire. Like the Arrow of Acid, this is quite a basic shot. The arrow itself does one d8 of damage with an extra two d4 of fire damage on top of that.

Besides this, the Arrow of Fire can also ignite the ground underneath it for a few turns, which will also damage anything that walks over it. What makes the Arrow of Fire even better is how it can be used as a match; if any oil barrel is hit or flammable ground is found, aiming this fiery shot at it will cause it to burst into flames.

9 Arrow Of Salving

Heal Instead Of Hurt

Surprisingly, the ammunition the player can use in their ranged weapon doesn't need to only deal damage to the opponent. Some of these arrows have other interesting effects that can greatly benefit the party.

The Arrow of Salving should only be aimed toward allies because it will cure the target struck of certain ailments, such as Poison, Paralysis, or Blindness. While this arrow may not heal a player, it can still be a quick pay to stop a status effect caused by a player's opponents.

8 Arrow Of Fiend Slaying

Double Damage Against Demons, Devils, And Cambions

You'll hear the name of Avernus in the game a lot, which is one of the levels of the Nine Hells, and there are several connections in the BG3 storyline to the residents of the fiery underworld. Thanks to characters like Yurgir and Raphael showing up, along with their minions, these arrows are some of the best to have in the game.

The first fight with Yurigr in the Gauntlet of Shar includes a contingent of Merregon Legionnaires, which are also Fiends. This category of enemy covers a lot of ground and includes the biggest and worst devils along with smaller ones, but you'll want to save these arrows for the big bosses. Going to the House of Hope and taking down Raphael is one of the toughest fights in Act 3, and he might have another Fiend helping him, your old friend Yurgir.

7 Arrow of Lightning

Direct Hits Or Aim For AoE Damage

It may seem like the Arrow of Lightning is the least useful of the elemental arrows, but there are times when this arrow can be incredibly effective. This arrow explodes with an electric burst of energy, dealing 1d4 Lightning damage to all within seven feet. Targets can roll a Dexterity save for half damage.

If this arrow strikes a Water Surface, all creatures on that surface take the electric burst damage. Water Surfaces can be made with an Arrow of Ice. The Ice Surface becomes a Water Surface after two rounds or if exposed to fire. A good combo is to start with an Arrow of Ice and follow with an Arrow of Fire, and then an Arrow of Lightning to charge the water.

6 Arrow Of Roaring Thunder

Damage And Crowd Control

The Arrow of Roaring Thunder in Baldur's Gate 3

As the name of this ammunition suggests, when hitting a foe with an Arrow of Roaring Thunder, players do a lot more than the simple one d10. It also knocks back multiple targets within a certain radius. The Arrow of Roaring Thunder is a great option for when multiple enemies find themselves on an edge.

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Players can aim and fire this lethal shot and have the chance to throw all those foes directly to their death if they fail their saving throw. This works similarly to the Thunderwave spell that many spellcasters can use to push enemies away from them. This arrow can also create space between the archer and their target if you need some crowd control.

5 Arrow Of Darkness

Instead Of Damage, The Power Of Obscurity

Darkness is an incredibly useful effect in both Baldur's Gate 3 and Dungeons & Dragons. It creates a magical darkness that few opponents can look through. Besides the spell with the same name, arches can also create their little cloud of effect when using an Arrow of Darkness.

This can either be aimed directly at an enemy to deal one d8 or d10 of damage and then put the effect around them or shot directly at the ground to simply cause the effect to occur. Blocking the sight of other ranged forces is a great way for the player to keep the battle in their favor.

4 Arrow Of Ilmater

Does Damage And Prevent Healing

The Arrow of Ilmater is named after a Cleric of Lovitar. A player can imagine that this Cleric was as deadly as the arrow that can be used with a crossbow. It is one of the simpler ammunition choices but still holds a lot of potential.

Besides the one d8 of damage and the one d4 of Necrotic damage, the Arrow of Ilmater also prevents the opponent that was hit by the arrow from healing. This gives the player a better chance of quickly defeating an opponent before they can be healed by their allies or use a healing potion.

3 Arrow Of Construct Slaying

Double Damage Against Constructs

A Construct in the D&D universe covers a variety of creatures that are built or summoned and one of their discerning features is how resistant they are to various types of damage. Even magical damage is tricky with these kinds of enemies, but the Arrow of Construct Slaying can give you an advantage in fighting them.

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Grym is one of the most deadly constructs earlier in the game, but when you reach Act 3 there's also the Steel Watch to deal with. These are the metal constructs that patrol the city and flank Gortash in Wyrm's Rock Fortress.

2 Arrow of Many Targets

Handy Multi-Targeting Ability

A Arrow of Many Targets in Baldur's Gate 3

While hitting an opponent while using a ranged weapon is great, many players have their negatives about this. For example, when using a regular arrow, players can only target one foe at a time to attack. Thankfully, some arrows can be used, which allows the player to hit three other targets at once.

With the Arrow of Many Targets, the player aims at one foe that is near to others; this enemy with take the full damage rolled from one d10. Then, the arrow will bend to attack three other foes that are nearby. Although these opponents only take half the damage from the shot, it is still likely to make a dent.

1 Arrow Of Transposition

Fly Without Scrolls Or Spells

The Arrow of Transposition in Baldur's Gate 3

Another arrow that doesn't do damage like the Arrow of Salving is the Arrow of Transposition. This ammunition is incredible for reaching high players when your ranged class hasn't got a spell-like Misty Step or the Enhanced Jump. All the player needs to do is aim where they wish to land, fire the shot, and it will teleport them exactly where they aimed.

Naturally, this arrow can be used both in and out of combat, but its best purpose is giving the player's ranged units the high ground so they have a better chance at hitting their targets that are now down below.