Traditional spellcasters in Baldur’s Gate 3 take the form of glass cannons, where their arsenal of Dungeons & Dragons spells rely on devastating attacks that try to eliminate as many opponents as possible without breaking much of a sweat. In the technical aspect of D&D, many of these spells are from the Evocation School, dedicated to evoking the Weave’s destructive energies in attacks that damage foes in myriad ways.

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When applied to Baldur’s Gate 3, Evocation spells often result in devastating effects that usually one-shot the weakest of opponents. However, certain Evocation spells dominate their counterparts regarding practicality and destructive power for players looking to add some tactical flair to their D&D gameplay.

Updated January 28, 2024 by Rhenn Taguiam: With January 15's recent Hotfix #17 fixing minor issues players of Baldur's Gate 3 are encountering across the game's various platforms, fans of the D&D adaptation may have a much smoother experience slinging spells towards opponents in the game's many combat encounters.

For players who want their Spellcasters to dominate the field with Evocation Spells, certain abilities may exactly be up their alley. On top of the option to create a literal wall of stone are attacks that shatter surrounding objects, provide the Warlock with a staple offense, heal multiple allies, and even reveal invisible creatures.

14 Wall Of Fire (4th-Level)

Create A Wall Of Flames To Damage And Block Enemies

In a tactical RPG like Baldur’s Gate 3, the party that controls the space can dominate the fight. Such is the case of Wall of Fire, a 4th-level spell that creates a literal wall of fire that damages anyone who comes near. Upon initial casting, Wall of Fire deals 5d8 Fire Damage to nearby foes unless they pull off a Dexterity Save.

Regardless of the size of the environment, Wall of Fire is useful in giving the player’s ranged attackers room to attack without worrying about melee. Likewise, the extra turn or two enemies would take navigating the Wall of Fire can give players enough prep time for counter-measures.

13 Wall Of Stone (5th-Level)

Create A Wall Of Stone To Control The Environment

When it comes to the best offense becoming the best defense in Baldur’s Gate 3 gameplay, Wall of Stone can offer players much-needed protection when in a pinch. At the cost of a 5th-Level Spell Slot, players can conjure a wall of non-magical stone that they have to maintain with Concentration.

What makes Wall of Stone an efficient Evocation Spell is its 18-meter distance, allowing players to control the area’s geography in tight battles. Players can use Wall of Stone to deter enemy advances from afar, or even secure their exit without interference.

12 Wall Of Ice (6th-Level)

Chill Enemies To Submission With A Wall Of Ice

When it comes to combat spells in Baldur’s Gate 3, its abilities have an initial damage burst and a lasting effect that makes the most difference in battle. This description fits Wall of Ice, a 6th-level spell that creates a wall of solid ice when used. Enemies on the wall’s general path are punished with 10d6 Cold Damage, which they can avoid through a Dexterity Save.

However, Wall of Ice stands out among other spells for its lasting effect. When the wall finally breaks, it leaves a cloud of freezing air that deals 10d6 damage to creatures inside it. Players who know they’re going to be in a prolonged combat scenario can use Wall of Ice to create much-needed space to reposition while enemies run the risk of being damaged by the wall’s effects.

11 Mass Healing Word (3rd-Level)

Heal Batches Of Allies At A Time

When it comes to healing Spells in Baldur’s Gate 3, players might want to prioritize staples such as Cure Wounds (1st-Level) for cheaper and more directed 1d8 + WIS/CHA healing compared to healing for higher-level Spell Slots. However, Mass Healing Word might be the workaround players need to maximize multi-person healing in a pinch.

With a 3rd-Level Spell, Mass Healing Word can provide the basic healing value of Healing Word (1st-Level) to up to six allies. Granted, Mass Healing Word only heals 1d4 + WIS, however being able to do this to multiple people at once leaves a usual 1st-Level Spell Slot open for more useful Spells, be it for combat or utility.

10 Eldritch Blast (Cantrip)

The Warlock's Staple Damaging Spell

Ever the go-to offensive Spell of the Warlock in Baldur’s Gate 3, the Eldritch Blast is a reliable Cantrip specifically for its flexibility. While Magic Missile (1st-Level) is certainly more practical for its guaranteed hit, Eldritch Blast dealing potentially 1d10 Force Damage with no Spell Slot cost can make it more dependable for the Spellcaster.

Compared to Magic Missile, which can be split into separate guaranteed-hit missiles, Eldritch Blast becomes a more adaptable Spell due to its compatibility with Warlock Eldritch Invocations. For instance, Agonizing Blast will add the CHA Mod to the Blast’s damage, while Repelling Blast can add a 4.5-meter push effect to the attack.

9 Shatter (2nd-Level)

A Wide AOE That Also Damages Objects

Evocation Spells in Baldur’s Gate 3 make the backbone of a Spellcaster’s offensive slate, and among elements available at their disposal, Shatter showcases the potential of Thunder Damage being able to break the enemy’s momentum. With this Spell, a 2nd-Level Spell Slot is enough to deal 3d8 Thunder Damage to all nearby creatures as well as nearby objects in a manageable AOE.

At its core, Shatter’s main strength relies on enforcing Disadvantage on the CON Saves of creatures made of inorganic material. However, the guarantee of breaking objects around the 3-meter radius area of effect can help players set up more powerful attacks, especially when breaking environments, such as barrels of oil.

8 Faerie Fire (1st-Level)

Reveal Pesky Invisible Enemies To Secure The Advantage

A powerful Spell in Baldur’s Gate 3 becomes useless if its high damage numbers don’t secure the hit on the enemy. This is a setback Faerie Fire attempts to rectify with its effect. When cast, Faerie Fire not only shows all invisible foes within its 18-meter target range but also imposes Advantage on Attack Rolls against them.

It’s this last portion that transforms the Faerie Fire into a potent 1st-Level Evocation Spell. The guaranteed Advantage towards illuminated enemies can set up powerful combos for damage, such as pairing Faerie Fire with a Sneak Attack from a high-level Rogue.

7 Chromatic Orb (1st-Level)

Manipulate The Battlefield With Different Damage Types

Surfaces are integral to Baldur’s Gate 3 combat strategies, especially when characters can do various things with them. On top of damaging enemies by stepping on them or via explosions, surfaces can augment weapons through dips or slow down enemies by becoming rugged terrain. Thanks to Chromatic Orb, players can create surfaces whenever they wish.

When cast, Chromatic Orb deals around 2d8 (Cold, Fire, Lightning, Poison) or 3d8 (Thunder) Damage and creates a surface on impact, potentially affecting a cluster of targets. Despite its minor damage, manipulating the Chromatic Orb’s element can accommodate the weaknesses of various creatures in the game.

6 Scorching Ray (2nd-Level)

A More Targeted Fire Spell

Multi-target spells in Baldur’s Gate 3 are some of the most cost-efficient abilities in the RPG, especially since they can hit multiple targets at the cost of a single spell. Such is the case of Scorching Ray, a powerful 2nd-level spell that releases three rays of fire that deal 2d6 Fire Damage each.

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Despite its lower DPS compared to its more intense counterparts, Scorching Ray is more reliable due to having multiple targets. Players can divide each Scorching Ray among three targets, focus fire on a single one, or do a 2-1 split. This freedom of choice and decent Fire damage make this a reliable combat spell.

5 Magic Missile (1st-Level)

Guaranteed-Hit Wonder For Spellcasters

Whereas the Warlock of Dungeons & Dragons has the Magic Missile, most other spellcasters have Magic Missile. This iconic D&D spell is also adapted into Baldur’s Gate 3 gameplay, manifesting in three darts that consistently hit their target.

When cast, each Magic Missile can deal 2-5 Force Damage each, with its upcast versions increasing the number of targets. Despite the low DPS, Magic Missile is exceptionally low-cost for its 100% accuracy, making it a must-use weapon against weaker mobs.

4 Mass Cure Wounds (5th-Level)

Powerful Healing For Multiple Allies

Just because the Evocation School in Dungeons & Dragons deals with destructive magic doesn’t mean it’s all about going “kaboom,” especially for spellcasters who want to be prepared for the worst. In a player’s Baldur’s Gate 3 playthrough, mages can cast Mass Cure Wounds in emergencies to give the party some much-needed healing.

When cast, Mass Cure Wounds can heal up to 6 targets for 3d8+1d8 HP/level + Spell Ability Modifier, making this a multi-target “upcast” of traditional Cure Wounds. Despite its hefty spell slot cost, Mass Cure Wounds is worth adding to a Prepared Spells roster in worst-case scenarios, especially if the primary healer is close to running out of heals.

3 Flame Strike (5th-Level)

Powerful Damaging Attack When Used Against Bosses

Among the slate of powerful 5th-Level Evocation spells that a mage can use in their Baldur’s Gate 3 gameplay, Flame Strike has the potential to be the most devastating due to its value in combat. Upon casting, Flame Strike takes the form of a pillar of fire that is cast down from the heavens. Enemies in the area are hit for 5d6 Fire + 5d6 Radiant Damage, with those who succeed a Dexterity Save only taking half damage.

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Flame Strike’s straightforward nature can make it a dangerous spell, being able to eliminate mobs or even one-shot bosses with a properly placed strike. Its nature as a 5th-level spell means its spellcaster should treat it as a nuke, activating it only in the most ideal of situations.

2 Sunbeam (6th-Level)

Consistent Damage With Blind Can Debilitate Enemies

It’s one thing for a powerful Baldur’s Gate 3 player to deal a lot of damage, but it’s a whole other thing entirely for them to do this consistently. When cast, Sunbeam summons a beam of light from the sky that Blinds all creatures in its path and damages them for 6d8 Radiant Damage, taking only half on a Constitution Save.

Aside from the sheer firepower of this spell on the get-go, its secondary effect makes its cost worthwhile. Across a 10-turn duration, players can recast Sunbeam once per turn without any additional cost, giving players access to an efficient mob-clearing tool in tough boss fights.

1 Fireball (3rd-Level)

Infamous Wide AOE And Massive Damage Can Tackle Multiple Threats At Once

There’s a reason Fireball has earned infamy across various tabletop circles, and this has to do with packing quite a lot of damage in such a small area. When cast, Fireball summons a bright fiery ball from the caster’s fingers and sends it in the direction of the target, exploding on impact. This causes 8d6 Fire Damage to erupt in the area, damaging all creatures in the vicinity unless they pull off a Dexterity Save, which means they only take half damage.

What makes Fireball such a must-have spell is its sheer damage output. A guaranteed 4d6 damage per target in a small area is still debilitating to bosses, and can even eliminate most low-level mobs. At higher difficulties, a single Fireball could end boss fights quickly.

Baldur's Gate 3

Platform(s)

PC , macOS , PS5 , Xbox Series X

Released

August 3, 2023

Developer(s)

Larian Studios

Genre(s)

RPG