Baldur's Gate 3 draws its world and mechanics directly from Dungeons & Dragons along with other tabletop RPGs. This means that players have a multitude of choices that they can make to affect the story and the gameplay. This includes interacting with the environment in ways that you may not expect from a typical RPG. During a difficult combat encounter, barrels can be your saving grace.

Barrels are so useful in Baldur's Gate 3 that fans have even come up with the term "Barrelmancy" and unique builds for this playstyle. You can effectively damage enemies and control the battlefield by placing oil or fire wine barrels in key places. Shoot them with a fire attack and watch as your enemies burn up. There are even water barrels that you can use to put out fires to keep your party safe. Here is how you can pick barrels up and place them around the map.

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How to Pick Up Barrels

You can pick up barrels and other heavy objects like crates by walking up to them to interact.

  • Xbox - Press the X button to open the context menu, then select "pick up" to add the barrel to your inventory.
  • PS5 - Press the Square button to open the context menu, then select "pick up" to add the barrel to your inventory.
  • PC - Use your mouse to r ight-click on the barrel to open the context menu and left-click on "pick up."

Heavier objects can and will encumber your characters if you pick up too many. However, the weight limits are higher than you think. A single character can hold on to quite a few barrels in their inventory. It's always smart to save a few for any combat encounters that prove troublesome. You can also select throw from the context menu if you want to toss a barrel at enemies.

How to Place Barrels

You need to open the character sheet and access your inventory to place objects. Select the object, then press the X/Square button required to open the Actions menu. Click on "Place in World" to start dropping barrels at key strategic points. You get a lot of control over where you can place barrels. Objects will even usefully snap onto each other if you want to stack them up. Now that you know how to pick up barrels, you can use them to have a tactical advantage over your enemies.

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Baldur's Gate 3 Tag Page Cover Art
Baldur's Gate 3
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9 /10
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Released
August 3, 2023
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WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
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ESRB
M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence
Developer(s)
Larian Studios
Franchise
Baldur's Gate
Genre(s)
RPG