In the early parts of Baldur's Gate 3, Adamantine gear can serve as significant upgrades for characters. However, given how limited Mithral Ore is, players can only craft two pieces of Adamantine equipment per campaign. This makes the relatively simple act of using the Adamantine Forge a bit trickier, as not all the gear players can make from it are equal.

Below is an overview of each of the Adamantine equipment in Baldur's Gate 3, ranked according to their value. Take note that while all of them are useful for this stage of the game, players will want to consider other alternatives that are available to them elsewhere.

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All Adamantine Forge Items, Ranked

BG3 Adamantine Scale Armour

Best Adamantine Items in BG3

S
  1. Adamantine Shield

A
  1. Adamantine Splint Armour
  2. Adamantine Scale Mail

B
  1. Adamantine Scimitar
  2. Adamantine Mace
  3. Adamantine Longsword

We've sorted the Adamantine items based on their usefulness relative to each other and other items in their respective slots. Again, all Adamantine items are worth getting, but whether or not players actually craft them depends on the needs of the party and the players' individual tastes.

Each category of Adamantine item shares similar effects between individual gear pieces. These effects include:

  • Adamantine Backlash/Shield (Armor and Shield): When a melee attack misses you, the attacker is sent Reeling for 2 turns.
  • Intense Adamantine Backlash (Heavy Armour): Same as above, but Reeling lasts for 3 turns.
  • Diamondsbane (Weapons): If an Adamantine weapon hits an object, the hit is always critical.
  • Lethal Weapon (Weapons): Weapons ignore Bludgeoning/Slashing Resistance.
  • Attackers can't land Critical Hits on characters using Adamantine Armour/Shields.

S-Tier Adamantine Items in BG3

adamantine shield

The Adamantine Shield is the only S-tier Adamantine item, and that's largely due to the fact that it's an off-hand item that grants its user the same benefits as the Adamantine armor pieces. It's great for any character that doesn't rely on dual-wielding or two-handed weapons, and even more so for Paladins or Clerics. Pair this with the Luminous Armour, and you'll have a frontline tank that can deal and avoid tons of damage.

A-Tier Adamantine Items in BG3

Adamantine Splint Armour stats in Baldur's Gate 3

The two Adamantine armor pieces occupy A-tier thanks to the stellar defenses they provide. Not only are their Armour Classes decent for this stage of the game, but they also have the Adamantine Backlash effects, which will send enemies Reeling when they miss their attacks. Reeling enemies have a -1 penalty to their Attack Rolls, making these armor pieces even more valuable for when the party is in a big fight.

Adamantine Splint Armour is Heavy Armour with 18 AC, while Adamantine Scale Mail is Medium Armour with 16 AC.

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B-Tier Adamantine Items in BG3

Adamantine Mace in Baldur's Gate 3

The Adamantine weapons fall under B-tier not because they're bad, but because there are much better weapon options in Act 1. There's almost no point in crafting any of the Adamantine weapons, especially not when the following ones exist and are obtainable early on:

Players who really want an Adamantine weapon for any reason should still feel free to craft one. However, keep in mind that you only get two pieces of Mithral Ore per campaign.

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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
Publisher(s)
Larian Studios
Engine
Divinity 4.0
Multiplayer
Online Co-Op, Local Co-Op
Cross-Platform Play
Full cross-platform play.
Div
Cross Save
Full cross-platform progression.
Div
Franchise
Baldur's Gate
Number of Players
1-4
Split Screen Orientation
Vertical Only
Steam Deck Compatibility
Verified
PC Release Date
August 3, 2023
Xbox Series X|S Release Date
December 7, 2023
PS5 Release Date
September 6, 2023
Genre(s)
RPG
OpenCritic Rating
Mighty
Local Co-Op Support
1-2 Players
How Long To Beat
100+ Hours
X|S Optimized
yes
PS Plus Availability
N/A