Summary
- Initiative stat in Baldur's Gate 3 determines turn order in combat, crucial for taking out dangerous enemies quickly.
- Players can boost initiative with gear like Sentinel Shield (+3) and Elixir of Vigilance (+5, immunity to surprise).
- Items like Soulbreaker Greatsword (+2) and Hellrider Longbow (+3) can give party members an edge in combat.
In Baldur's Gate 3, the Initiative stat determines who gets the first turn in combat, making it one of the most important stats for players looking to seize control of the battlefield. A party with higher initiative can focus on important enemies and eliminate them from combat, making the encounter much more manageable.
While initiative is primarily determined by a character's Dexterity modifier, the stat can be further increased by investing in the Alert feat or equipping initiative-boosting gear. Baldur's Gate 3 features several initiative-boosting items found across all three acts of the game, allowing for an earlier turn in combat. The following list highlights the best initiative improving items, each capable of improving turn order and shaping the flow of a fight.
Baldur's Gate 3: 8 Most Powerful Weapons That Are Easy To Miss
These powerful weapons in Baldur’s Gate 3 are permanently missable if overlooked. Learn where to find them before they are gone for good.
8 Bow Of Awareness
Provides +1 Bonus To Initiative
-
How to Obtain: The
Bow of Awareness
can be purchased from the Zhentarim merchant Roah Moonglow in the Goblin Camp in Act 1.
It's often stated that the first four levels in Baldur's Gate 3 are the most challenging, since party members start out with very low HP, and an unlucky critical hit could one-shot them. This is why initiative is crucial, allowing players to isolate and take out dangerous enemies before they can take a turn of their own.
The Bow of Awareness is an early-game shortbow that grants a +1 bonus to initiative, making it best suited for high-Dexterity characters like archers and rogues.
7 Soulbreaker Greatsword
Provides +2 Bonus To Initiative
- How To Obtain: Looted from Kith'rak Therezzyn in Captain's Quarters in Creche Y'llek in Act 1.
Obtainable towards the end of Act 1 in the Githyanki Creche, the 
Soulbreaker Greatsword is one of the best items for Githyanki, Fighters, and Paladins. In addition to the +2 initiative bonus to anyone who wields it, a Githyanki using this sword deals an additional 1d4 Psychic damage per hit.
Baldur's Gate 3: Best Heavy Armor (& How To Get Them)
For the best defense in Baldur's Gate 3, players should seek out these particular pieces of Heavy Armor.
A Fighter or Paladin with high Dexterity can benefit the most from this weapon, ensuring they go first in the turn order and take out the most dangerous enemy in combat. And, of course, a Githyanki character gets even more out of it.
6 Sentinel Shield
Provides +3 Bonus To Initiative
- How To Obtain: Purchased from the bugbear merchant, Lann Tarv, at Moonrise Towers in Act 2.
The 
Sentinel Shield is one of the best shields in the game, granting a +3 bonus to initiative and +2 to armor class. Additionally, this shield can be acquired relatively early in Act 2 and remains useful even in Act 3.
The shield is best equipped by Sorcerers or Wizards, who benefit from the bonus to armor class as well as a nice boost to their initiative. It's worth noting that knocking out or killing Lann Tarv will still allow the player to loot the shield from his corpse.
5 Elven Chain
Provides +2 Bonus To Initiative
- How To Obtain: Purchased from the Dragonborn merchant Exxvikyap in Rivington in Act 3.
The 
Elven Chain is an excellent initiative-boosting piece of gear. It's best suited for classes that don't have diverse armor proficiency, as the wearer of this armor is automatically considered proficient when wearing it. The Elven Chain's armor proficiency makes it a solid choice for Warlocks and Monks who wish to retain their armor class while enjoying a decent +2 boost to their initiative.
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Given that the armor can be purchased early in Act 3, it's worth getting as soon as possible to benefit from it throughout the act. It's also important to note that knocking out the merchant causes the armor to disappear from their inventory, so purchasing it is the only way to go.
4 Hellrider Longbow
Provides +3 Bonus To Initiative
- How To Obtain: Purchased from the Sharran scout, Ferg Drogher, in Rivington in Act 3.
The 
Hellrider Longbow is also one of the best initiative-boosting items, second only to the Sentinel Shield. This bow offers a +3 bonus to initiative rolls and can be acquired early in Act 3. However, if parties bring Shadowheart along when meeting the Sharran scout, he will lock the party out of trading if she has forsaken Shar.
In addition to offering a bonus on initiative rolls, the Hellrider Longbow also grants advantage on Perception checks, ensuring that parties aren't caught off guard by enemy ambushes.
3 Mask Of Soul Perception
Provides +2 Bonus To Initiative
- How To Obtain: Found in a locked gilded chest in the upper level of Devil's Fee in Act 3.
Players can acquire the Mask of Soul Perception helmet once they reach the Lower City. It is locked inside a gilded chest that requires succeeding on a DC 20 Sleight of Hand check. Besides granting a boost to initiative rolls, the Mask of Soul Perception also provides a +2 bonus to attack rolls and Perception checks.
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The wearer of this helmet can also cast Detect Thoughts, which can be particularly useful if the character using it is the party's face.
2 Flame Enamelled Armour
Provides +2 Bonus To Initiative
- How To Obtain: Can be stolen from a chest in Wyrm's Rock Fortress in Act 3.
The Flame Enamelled Armour is a very rare medium armor that offers 16 AC, resistance to fire damage, and a +2 bonus to initiative and saving throws. The armor can be stolen from a chest in the Wyrm's Rock armory. Since this area is heavily guarded, players may need to rely on 
Greater Invisibility to sneak past the Flaming Fists and Steel Watch guards.
In addition to granting excellent bonuses, the Flame Enamelled Armour also allows the wearer to cast the level 4 Fire Shield spell once per long rest.
1 Elixir of Vigilance
Provides +5 Bonus To Initiative & Immunity Against Surprise
- How To Obtain: Purchased from various merchants throughout Act 2 and Act 3. Players can also craft this item by combining the Sublimate of Bloodstained Hook and any ashes.
The 
Elixir of Vigilance is the best initiative-boosting item in Baldur's Gate 3, offering a +5 bonus to initiative rolls and immunity to the Surprised condition. The Elixir of Vigilance effectively replicates the Alert feat, and it's especially useful for Clerics, who typically don't rely on consumables but benefit more from ability score improvements to their Wisdom stat.
Baldur's Gate 3: Best Summons, Ranked
Magic within Baldur's Gate 3 means that most players will be able to summon something to aid them in battle, but some summons prove to be more useful.
Players with 18 Dexterity already gain a +4 bonus to their initiative rolls, and the Elixir of Vigilance raises their initiative to +9, essentially allowing them to go first in almost every combat encounter. As with other Elixirs, the effect lasts until the next long rest, or until the character drinks another Elixir.
Baldur's Gate 3
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 96 /100 Critics Rec: 97%
- Released
- August 3, 2023
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Larian Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Larian Studios
- Engine
- Divinity 4.0
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op, Local Co-Op
- Cross-Platform Play
- Full cross-platform play.
WHERE TO PLAY
- Franchise
- Baldur's Gate
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
