Best Halberds In Baldur's Gate 3

Highlights

Baldur's Gate 3 won multiple awards at the Game Awards, including Game of the Year, thanks to its amazing design and combat system.
The Halberd +1 is a great early-game weapon choice, providing a strong enchantment and additional reach in combat.
The Hellbeard Halberd is a powerful weapon that deals lethal poison damage and overcomes resistance to non-magical attacks, making it a formidable choice in late-game battles.

It's no surprise that Baldur’s Gate 3 wiped the floor with rival games at the Game Awards, winning titles across several categories, including "Game Of The Year" and "Best Performance." After all, Larian Studios did an amazing job at fleshing out each area of the game's design while keeping its core to Dungeons & Dragons. The developers did a notably fantastic job with the game's combat system, including its spells, weapons, and equipment. Martial Classes in D&D are well-known for their simplistic, straightforward playstyle. However, Larian Studios managed to breathe life into the classes, granting them plenty of interesting weapon choices, with each type of weapon offering its unique flair.

Lae'zel standing next to a series of Rapiers in Baldur's Gate 3

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In the hands of a character with Great Weapon Mastery, Halberds are one type of weapon that deals devastating damage, capable of obliterating opponents. Akin to Dungeons & Dragons, Baldur’s Gate 3's traditional choices of Greatswords and Greataxes make perfectly destructive weapons. Still, the Halberds bring an exclusive power that makes them stand out among the crowd. Granting their wielder Extra Reach in combat, Halberds are a fantastic choice for a front-line class with low movement speed. On top of this, Halberds add a powerful Rush Attack when wielded, alongside the annihilating cleave and lacerate abilities. Baldur's Gate 3 has many fantastic Halberds to choose from, whether purchased from vendors or looted from enemies.

Updated February 17, 2024 by Skylar Grace:The love that Larian Studios has for Baldur's Gate 3 continues to be seen, as months after the game's initial release, the developers maintain praise through well-received quality-of-life updates.

From hotfixes intended to improve the overall gameplay experience, to patches with animation tweaks that set fans' hearts aflutter, Larian Studios truly goes above and beyond expectations when it comes to simply maintaining a game. Vendors received a few minor tweaks, mostly aiming to protect them from being conned by Tav, which changed the location of some of the items on this list. Thankfully, all relevant information should now be up-to-date.

7 Halberd +1

A Fantastic Early-Game Option

Potential merchants: Roah Moonglow (Shattered Sanctum) and Dammon (Druid Grove). Vendor inventory may change after leveling up or completing a short rest, altering the shopkeeper's item list
Proficiency with this weapon type unlocks: Rush Attack, Lacerate, and Cleave

The Halberd +1 is a brilliant beginner's weapon that has a chance to be sold by any vendor. One of the most common places to purchase the Halberd +1 is very early on in Act I from Dammon at The Druid Grove. Having a weapon with a +1 Enchantment so fresh into Act I is very strong. While on paper the +1 might not look all that impressive, in the early game where opponents have much lower health and Armour Class, the Halberd +1 can feel almost overpowered.

On top of the Halberd +1s Weapon Enchantment, giving the wielder additional methods for reaching opponents with Rush Attack helps early combat feel a lot more fluid, and most of all, fun. Despite lacking a unique passive like the late-game halberds, the Halberd +1 is still a solid option for early-game characters.

6 Merregon Halberd

A Fiendish Halberd From The Hells

Located in the Underdark. Dropped by a Merregon Legionnaire, or found on corpses
Proficiency with this weapon type unlocks: Rush Attack, Lacerate, and Cleave

If the player was unable to purchase the Halberd +1 from vendors early in Act I, the Merregon Halberd is another great early-game weapon alternative. An Uncommon Magic Weapon, the Merregon Halberd adds +1 to damage rolls, much like the Halberd +1. The Merregon Halberds Weapon Enchantment greatly helps its wielder to slice through opponents that have a natural resistance to non-magical attacks, as well as dealing an additional +1 to its damage rolls.

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While lacking a unique Weapon Skill, the Merregon Halberd deals decent damage and unlocks skills such as Rush Attack, Lacerate, and Cleave so long as the wielder is proficient with Great Weapons. Located at the Grymforge after being dropped by a Merregon Legionnaire, the Merregon Halberds natural Extra Reach is an added benefit in the early game.

5 Light Of Creation

A Beautiful Weapon With Shocking Power

Located in the Underdark at the Arcane Tower, dropped by Bernard
Deals an additional +1d6 Lightning Damage that ignores resistances
Proficiency with this weapon type unlocks: Rush Attack, Lacerate, and Cleave

Dropped by Bernard at the Arcane Tower in the Underdark, the Light of Creation is a beautiful Halberd with devastating power. The Light of Creation can deal an additional 1d6 Lightning damage. Unfortunately, this Lightning damage comes at a price. Unless the wielder is a construct, they have a chance to become stunned by the weapon’s Overcharge skill, which can hinder combat.

Despite this, the Light of Creation is still a nice upgrade from the Halberd +1. Additionally, players can find various pieces of lighting-themed equipment in the earlier acts, such as The Sparkswall and the Gloves of Belligerent Skies. Combining these armor pieces, players can build Thor-inspired sets that grant resistance and immunity to Lightning damage, as well as increase total Lightning damage output.

4 The Skinburster

Obliterate Multiple Opponents With Force Conduit

Located in the Inquisitor's Chamber in Crèche Y'llek
Dealing melee damage with the weapon earns 2 turns of Force Conduit
Force Conduit reduces incoming damage from Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing by 1 per turn remaining
If able to stack 5 or more turns of Force Conduit, the next incoming damage will instead cause a shockwave of 1-4 Force Damage in a 6m radius
Proficiency with this weapon type unlocks: Rush Attack, Lacerate, and Cleave

Despite its name implying great offensive damage, the Skinburster is actually a pretty good defensive weapon thanks to its Weapon Skill, Skinburster Force. While wielding The Skinburster, whenever the player deals melee damage, they will gain 2 turns of Force Conduit. Force Conduit reduces incoming damage from Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing by 1 per turn, and can accumulate. For characters with multi-attacks, this can equate to quite a hefty chunk of damage reduction.

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Alternatively, if the wielder can stack 5 or more turns of Force Conduit, the next time they take damage they’ll deal 1d4 Force damage in a 6m radius, expending the charges. This Weapon Skill turns any who wields the Skinburster into a ticking time bomb against opponents, rewarding characters who like to be in the thick of a fight. This combat strategy makes The Skinburster an extremely effective weapon on high-risk, high-reward players, or tanks with good Armour Class. Players can locate The Skinburster at Crèche Y'llek.

3 Harmonium Halberd

Overcap The Strength Ability Score

Purchased from Dammon at the Last Light Inn in Act II
Weapon Enchantment: -1 Intelligence, -1 Wisdom, +2 Strength
Proficiency with this weapon type unlocks: Rush Attack, Lacerate, and Cleave

Adding +2 to Strength but taking -1 from both Intelligence and Wisdom, the Harmonium Halberd is a double-edged sword. Thankfully, for most classes looking to wield the Harmonium Halberd, the negatives to Intelligence and Wisdom likely won’t be missed. However, that hefty +2 to Strength Score will certainly be appreciated. Additionally, the +2 to the Strength Ability Score is capped at 23 rather than 20 like most other bonuses, allowing the player to receive a +6 Strength Modifier rather than the typical +5.

This huge bonus to Strength, on top of breaking the 20 Ability Score cap, enables the wielder to throw, move, and pull heavier items. In some cases, players may be able to throw powerful enemies off ledges, or even wrangle them as situational weapons. Plus, as an enchanted weapon, the Harmonium Halberd grants the user +1 on both the attack and damage rolls, making it easier to both hit and defeat opponents. The Harmonium Halberd can be purchased from Dammon at the Last Light Inn.

2 Halberd Of Vigilance

Strike First And Strike Hard

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Purchased from Lann Tarv in Moonrise Towers
Dropped by Lann Tarv in Moonrise Towers
Deals an additional +1d4 Force Damage
Gain +1 to Initiative Rolls
Gives Advantage on Perception Ability Checks
Proficiency with this weapon type unlocks: Rush Attack, Lacerate, and Cleave

Located on or bought from Lann Tarv in Moonrise Towers in Act II, the Halberd of Vigilance is an extremely potent weapon that grants the wielder a bonus to Initiative, as well as an advantage on Perception Checks and attacks made through Reactions. Coupled with Feats like Sentinel or Mage Slayer, the Adroit Reflexes Weapon Skill can deal devastating damage to foes attempting to harm other targets.

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The Halberd of Vigilance severely punishes opponents trying to maneuver away from the wielder, forcing enemies to either stay in place or suffer the consequences. As an enchanted weapon, the Halberd of Vigilance also adds +2 to damage rolls. This +2 damage pairs nicely with the weapon's additional 1d4 of Force Damage, making the Halberd of Vigilance a fantastically strong weapon.

1 Hellbeard Halberd

Shred Through Opponents With Lethal Poison Damage

Purchased from Helsik at the Devil's Fee in the Lower City (must unlock her special stock)
Deals an additional +6 Poison Damage
Weapon Enchantment +2
Proficiency with this weapon type unlocks: Rush Attack, Lacerate, and Cleave

When it comes to raw damage, the Hellbeard Halberd takes the cake. Adding a flat 6 Poison Damage on top of damage rolls, the Hellbeard Halberd is a phenomenal weapon that tears through opponents, so long as they aren’t resistant or immune to poison. On top of this, the Hellbeard Halberds grants +2 to both attack and damage rolls thanks to its Weapon Enchantment.

Due to this Enchantment, the Hellbeard Halberd is also considered a magical weapon, allowing it to overcome resistance to non-magical attacks, which can be a dire necessity when facing some late-game opponents. When wielded by a character with high strength and coupled with thematic equipment such as the Caustic Band, the Hellbeard Halberd can be a truly terrifying, toxic nightmare. Players can purchase the Hellbeard Halberd at the Devil's Fee in the Lower City after unlocking Helsik's special stock.