When you first start Baldur’s Gate 3, you have the choice to play as either an Origin character or a customized one. Some Origin characters have an item or unique skill that only they can use, and I had to do a lot of digging to figure every single one of them out. Here’s everything you need to know about the Origin characters' special abilities in Baldur’s Gate 3.
All Origin Character and Companion Skills and Items in BG3
Astarion
This flamboyant rogue has several unique abilities that only he can use during any playthrough of Baldur’s Gate 3. After the infamousAstarion bite scene, he is revealed to be a vampire spawn. This gives him immortality and the urge to drink blood, but it doesn’t come with a lot of the cool vampire powers you might expect. Thankfully, it does come withthe Bite ability, which does some additional guaranteed damage against anything that isn’t a construct or undead.
Related:BG3 – How to Cure the Shadow Curse
Once Astarion drinks humanoid blood for the day, he will gain theHappy buffuntil the next long rest. This boost gives him +1 to attack rolls and ability checks. He can drink from one enemy per combat; that creature takes damage and becomesBloodless, which gives them a -1 to attack rolls and ability checks. This includes the player character if you allow Astarion to drink from you.
In an attempt to free Astarion fromCazador’s hold in Act, you have two options. You can kill Cazador and free the other Vampire spawn, or you can have himAscendand become a true vampire with god-like powers. Ascended, he gets:
The Dark Urge
TheDark Urgeis certainly one of the more unique Origin characters ever seen in an RPG. You play as someone with no memories who has evil urges to murder people in horrible ways. But bloodlust isn’t the only thing the Dark Urge gets; you also will get asingle-use level 9 spellthat is unique to the Haunted One background. There is also a unique item earned in Act 1 called theDeathstalker Mantle. It grants the wearerThe Shadow Itself. With it, every time the Dark Urge kills a creature in battle, they become invisible for two turns.
The most interesting part of going through a Dark Urge playthrough is the transformation. If you give in to the Dark Urge in Act 2 and eitherkill the Nightsongor kill Isobel, you will earn an Orin-liketransformation called the Slayer. This gross, giant-bug-like form has unique attacks and its own set of stats.
Gale
Gale of Waterdeep is a wizard you may pick up at the very beginning of Act 1. He has a broken piece of the Weave inside him; during Act One, you’ll learn thatthis magical energy can be used as a bombat the cost of Gale’s life. This is a massive weapon that will wipe out anyone nearby, friend or foe. He also has a much more usefulpermanent buff to Constitution saving throwsand checks.
Halsin
Halsin is the druidthat needs to be saved in Act 1, and he will follow your party in Act 2 to Moonrise. Only Halsin has the ability to change intohis unique druidic form: a brown bear. Other than that, Halsin does not appear to have any exclusive items or other abilities.
Jaheira
The other druid you meet in Act 2 at the Last Light Inn, named Jaheira, comes with a weapon that usually can’t be found until Act 3. She carries aSylvan Scimitar, a weapon withMelee Caster; instead of their Dexterity Modifier, the wielder adds its Spellcasting Ability Modifier to Attack Rolls. Though this weapon isn’t unique to her, it’s certainly the first time you’ll encounter it.
Related:Best Mods for Baldur’s Gate 3 (BG3)
Karlach
Karlach is graced with a unique Barbarian rage that wreaths her in flame, and she has the ability to devour Soul Coins to give an additional 1d4 damage to her attacks. Soul Coins are fairly rare but can be found scattered around the world of Baldur’s Gate 3. Keep a close eye out for them if you have Karlach in your party.
Lae’zel
Lae’zel is a powerful warrior, and her starting gear is proof of this. She hasGithyanki Half-Plate, which gives an AC of 15 to the wearer. This is way better than any other armor in Act 1, and you probably won’t be replacing it anytime soon. It’s not just the armor that Lae’zel gets; she also has aSilver Swordthat can be obtained depending on the player’s choices. The Silver Sword has:
Minsc
Minsc is a legendary hero in the city of Baldur’s Gate that can be added to your party during Act 3. He has a special familiar summon calledSummon Boo, which brings his miniature giant space hamster into battle as a bonus action. This little helper has a melee attack that deals a surprising amount of damage.
Minthara
Minthara is the Lolth-sworn Drow elf who wants to kill everyone in the Druid’s Grove in Act 1. Not only is it possible to get her to join your party, but she is also a romance option. She might be a Paladin, but she wears some amazing stealth-based armor that can be swiped from her dead body. Minthara also has a unique ability calledSoul Branding as a bonus action; it makes the target’s movement speed increase by 1.5m, and their next weapon attack deals an additional 2d4+1 fire damage. Soul Branding ends on landing a successful weapon attack.
Shadowheart
Depending on whetherShadowheart kills the Nightsongor not, she’ll have two different forms in BG3. BothDark Justiciar ShadowheartandSelunite Shadowhearthave exclusive weapons, but they are slightly different from one another. Dark Shadowheart also gains special Dark Justiciar armor when she kills Dame Aylin.
Dark Shadowheart will get theDark Justiciar Half-Plate. It hasShar’s Umbrae(Advantage on stealth checks when obscured),Shar’s Protection(when the wearer has Shield of Faith active, reduce all incoming damage by two, then hit anyone who damages the wearer with 1d4 necrotic), Advantage on Con Saving Throws, and an AC of 17. Anyone wearing it also gets the spellShar’s Aegis, a spell that increases the wearer’s AC by 2 until the next long rest.
Dark Shadowheart also gets the weaponShar’s Spear of Evening, a spear that grants Blind Immunity and has a weapon enchant of +3. It also hasShar’s Blessing, which gives the wearer Advantage on Saving Throws when obscured and deals additional damage to enemies that are obscured. There is also a darkness spell on it for the bearer.
As for the lighter side of things, Selunite Shadowheart will gain two different weapons: theMoonlight GlaiveandSelune’s Spear of Night. The Glaive has reach, glows, and has a weapon enchant of +2. The Spear is much better; this item gives Advantage on Wisdom Saving Throws and Perception checks, darkvision, and weapon enchantment +3. There are two spells on this weapon as well, which areMoonbeam(an offensive spell) andMoonmote(a dancing lights spell).
Wyll
Wyll, in spite of being a human and a Warlock, has aninherent proficiency in the rapier weapon type. This jives with his Background, even if it doesn’t make much sense for his class. Depending on the choices made with Karlach and Mizora, he can also earn theInfernal Robe. It has Fire Shield: Warm (Level 4 Evocation Spell), AC +1, and it gives resistance to Fire Damage.
For more Baldur’s Gate 3, check outBaldur’s Gate 3 Ranger Build Guide – Best Stats and Subclasson Pro Game Guides.
