Baldur’s Gate 3 How To Cast Spells – Anatomy Of Spells

Did you find it difficult to wrap your mind around how to cast spells in Baldur’s Gate 3? That’s okay, it can be confusing at first, but as with all scholarly pursuits, we have to press on. So join us in explaining how to cast spells in Baldur’s Gate 3 and more.

Spellcasting is a powerful yet limited resource in the game, providing everything from direct damage to utility and everything in between. Some classes excel at it, while others have only limited access, and others have no contact with it at all. With a party of adventurers at your disposal, however, it’s prudent to know how to cast spells, because at least one of them will have the ability to do it. 

How To Cast Spells in BG3

No matter what they’re called or who’s doing it, casting spells in Baldur’s Gate 3 always follows a similar pattern. You will always select the spell, select the target (if applicable) and confirm casting. That’s putting it in simplest terms, but there’s more to it than that. Here are some considerations before you pick a spell to cast:

1. Select the spell you wish to cast
2. Determine the effect. Apply extra effects, elements, or boosted spell slots
3. Select your target or area of effect. If the spell has range, you have to be able to reach it with your movement
4. Click to confirm casting the spell

Always remember that if you’re unsure of a spell’s effect, you can right-click it and pick Examine to read a more detailed description. 

Who Can Cast Spells in Baldur’s Gate 3?

This question while valid is very broad. That’s because the high-fantasy nature of the Forgotten Realms in Baldur’s Gate 3 means that practically anyone can cast spells in some capacity. Many classes or subclasses have an innate ability to cast spells as part of their kit. Similarly, some races or subraces have the natural ability to cast certain spells. And lastly, there are spell scrolls and many magic items that can cast spells.

How Spells Work in Baldur’s Gate 3 – Anatomy of a Spell

While the mechanics of casting spells are fairly simple, there are more considerations that you should take into account to make the most out of it. All spells in the game have the following combination of traits, so it’s good to know what they mean.

Spell Level

Each spell in the game has a distinct level, from 1 to 6. There are also Cantrips, which are low-level spells that can usually be cast an unlimited number of times. Normally, the higher the level of a spell, the more powerful its effect. The mechanic of spell levels goes hand-in-hand with Spell Slots.

Spell Slots

Spell Slots represent the number of times that you can cast a spell of each level before you need to rest. That means that each level of spells that you know has a number of Spell Slots assigned based on your class and level. You are able to utilize spell slots of a higher level to cast a lower-level spell, but not vice versa. 

The main way to regain spell slots is by taking a Long Rest, though there are some ways to circumvent this, like Wizard’s Arcane Recovery ability, or Warlock’s ability to utilize Short Rests.

Prepared Spells and Known Spells

Some classes have to prepare spells to be able to cast them. Others don’t have this issue and can cast them freely as long as they have spell slots. What they all share is that they have a specific list of Spells that they know, which they can learn when they level up. In addition, Wizards can copy spells from Scrolls and add them to their spellbook.

Classes that need to prepare their spells are:

• Cleric
• Druid
• Paladin
• Wizard

Meanwhile, classes that don’t have to prepare their spells are:

• Bard
• Ranger
• Sorcerer
• Warlock

To prepare your spells, you have to select them from your spellbook (by default K on your keyboard) and then take a Long Rest.

Spellcasting Abilities

Every class uses a different ability score as their Spellcasting Ability. That means that they derive their attack bonus, saving throw DC, and more from that specific ability. Let’s take a look at which ability governs spellcasting for the spellcasting classes.

Class	Spellcasting Ability
Bard	Charisma
Cleric	Wisdom
Druid	Wisdom
Paladin	Charisma
Ranger	Wisdom
Sorcerer	Charisma
Wizard	Intelligence
Warlock	Charisma

In addition, if your Fighter takes the Eldritch Knight subclass or your Rogue takes the Arcane Trickster subclass, their spellcasting ability will be Intelligence. For some classes, namely Cleric, Druid, Paladin, and Wizard, their spellcasting ability bonus allows them to prepare additional spells.

Attacks and Saving Throws

Spell attacks and Saving Throws are directly influenced by your spellcasting ability bonus. This bonus determines how likely is your spell to hit, how difficult it would be to resist, and in some cases, if it deals extra damage or if it lasts longer. For this reason, it’s very important to get your spellcasting ability as high as possible, so that your spells can be as potent as they can be.

Concentration

Some spells require something called concentration. What this state means is that the spell remains cast and effective for as long as the caster is concentrating on maintaining the effect. Casters can only concentrate on a single spell at a time, so casting a different concentration spell will immediately end the previous one. Conversely, casting a non-concentration spell won’t affect it.

Furthermore, facing difficulties can make the spell end prematurely. Getting attacked and dealt damage will illicit a Constitution Saving Throw to maintain the spell, and failure means that the concentration spell ends.

Range and Radius

Most spells in Baldur’s Gate 3 have a distinct range or radius of effectiveness. Some spells need to be cast while you’re next to the target, be that friend or foe. These spells will be marked as Melee range. Similar spells are the ones with the range identified as Caster. This means that they will originate on or from the spellcaster themselves.

Others have shorter or longer ranges (expressed in meters or feet), which you can measure by selecting the spell and the game will drag a line showing you how far it can reach within the radius of the caster. Similarly, some spells have a radius. These spells are normally cast on a specific spot or character and then emit their effect in a certain radius.

Duration

Spells can be of various duration. For example, most attack spells are instantaneous. Meanwhile, spells that offer buffs and debuffs have a set duration that can range from a single turn to multiple turns (for instance, many buffs commonly last for 10 turns). Meanwhile, some spells, especially those that require concentration, can last up until they’re dismissed or until the next Long Rest.

Now that your spellcasting is as sharp as any sword, check out our other Baldur’s Gate 3 guides, like How Many Acts in BG3, How To Free Shadowheart, How To Remove Parasite, How To Beat Auntie Ethel and How To Get Infernal Iron.