The Best Skills To Be Proficient At In Baldur’s Gate 3

Baldur’s Gate 3 follows a similar structure to its tabletop RPG counterpart Dungeons & Dragons. Players will find themselves proficient in certain skills. While some of these skills are used in combat, others will assist the player in dialogue interactions with NPCs.

Every choice players make during character customization, from the class to the background, will influence what skills the character has proficiency in. There are eighteen skills available, and each character can only be proficient in a few. With that in mind, these are by far the best skills a player should be proficient in that will help them in their future explorations.

Updated On November 10th, 2024 By Joshua Leeds:
Baldur’s Gate 3 is a long game, and every skill comes in handy at one point or another. This list has been updated to include additional entries, while also giving some best class options for each skill to make sure you get the most out of them. While most skills are good in just about any class, the listed best classes will get just a bit more use out of them depending on your build.

16 Nature

Know About The Wilds Of Faerun

• Applied stat modifier: Intelligence
• Best Classes: Druid & Ranger

Nature can be a fairly useful skill to get, though its uses do vary throughout the game. During Act 1 of the game, you’ll be working alongside a tribe of Druids out in the wilds, while also delving into the Underdark. Both of these areas are rich with Nature and that skill comes in great use during these early sections.

While this skill isn’t useless in later sections of the game, its uses do waver in favor of other skills found further on this list. Act 2 also takes decent advantage of this skill, though it’s not as much of a skill that gets you out of bad situations as it is giving you more knowledge on a situation to approach a solution more knowledgeable.

15 Performance

Convicting Actions Speak Louder Than Words

• Applied stat modifier: Charisma
• Best Classes: Bard & Rogue

Performance can be seen as a bit of a silly skill used by Bards to distract people, and that’s not always far from the truth. Performance has some checks that are mostly meant for humor, though it does have some situations where you’ll need to convince someone with your actions over words, and that’s where performance comes in.

Performance can also be used by those who can play an instrument to make a crowd happy and make the party some gold safely in a town. There are also a few situations where a good performance check can help you avoid difficult combat encounters, making it a good option for those who like solving problems without fighting.

14 Religion

Know About The Gods & Goddesses Of The Land

• Applied stat modifier: Intelligence
• Best Classes: Cleric & Paladin

Religion plays a large role throughout Faerun, especially if you have Shadowheart in your party and are pursuing her storyline. Even avoiding Shadowheart’s story, the game will bring you face to face with many aspects of religion, especially in Act 2, and having the Religion skills can be a huge benefit.

Unlike some skills on this list, Religion can be useful throughout the game, and can even be used to get details of later story elements by passing the right checks during Act 1.

13 Animal Handling

For Those Wanting To Befriend The Many Beasties, This Skill Is A Must

• Applied stat modifier: Wisdom
• Best Classes: Druid, Bard, Ranger

Faerun is home to many wonderful beasts and animals, such as Owlbears, Displacer Beasts, dogs, cats, bears, and plenty more. Animal lovers can befriend many of these adorable creatures, and those with Speak to Animals can even go a step further and speak to them.

But for those unable to communicate, the Animal Handling skill is the next best thing. It is a judge of how well they can communicate to animals with gestures and actions rather than words, and how well the animals will receive this method of communication. Clever use of this skill allows players to recruit animals such as Scratch or the Owlbear cub to their camp.

12 History

Shines Light On Some Ancient Secrets Of The World

• Applied stat modifier: Intelligence
• Best Classes: Bard, Cleric, Monk, Wizard

While some players may consider History boring or lackluster in the real world, History in Baldur’s Gate 3 can give players much-needed context when exploring the world around them. Characters that are proficient in History, an Intelligence-based skill, are more likely to recall events from the past that they have learned about.

This can help a player understand some encounters that can occur. For example, in Act One, the player can step foot into a ruined temple. With proficiency in History, the player is likely to learn that this temple was once for a god that is no longer worshiped in BG3.

11 Investigation

Discover Clues Of Their Surroundings To Uncover Possible Ambushes

• Applied stat modifier: Intelligence
• Best Classes: Wizard, Warlock, Bard, Rogue

While exploring in BG3, players are likely to encounter various mysteries they may need to look into. Being proficient in Investigation will help players when they are searching for clues in these situations. A player may still be able to come to a solution without this Intelligence-based skill, but they are far more likely to succeed if they are proficient.

Investigation may appear that it wouldn’t be used very often, but like History, it can add context to certain scenarios. Uncovering clues before reaching danger is sure to make some players feel as if they have prepared themselves for the possible fight ahead.

10 Medicine

Help The Wounded Or Infirm

• Applied stat modifier: Wisdom
• Best Classes: Cleric, Bard, Druid, Paladin

Throughout their travels, players might meet many people wounded or sick, as the world of myth and magic is not immune to everyday mundanities such as illnesses. This is where the Medicine skill will find most of its uses, as it aids players in diagnosing and treating.

This can result in saving the lives of others in more drastic scenarios, such as companions who have fallen in battle. Companions who have been downed can be stabilized with a good enough Medicine skill check, allowing players to bring them back into the fight at a more appropriate time.

9 Stealth

Sneak Past Enemies To Gain An Advantage In Battle

• Applied stat modifier: Dexterity
• Best Classes: Rogue, Monk, Bard

Any player can crouch and try to stay hidden, but those who are proficient in Stealth can even hide in plain sight. Stealth, which is connected to the Dexterity attribute, is arguably one of the best skills for a player to be proficient in as it goes a lot further than being used for criminal means.

Players can ambush their opponents by sneaking into the room they find themselves in and getting to the upper ground. Like Persuasion, being skilled in Stealth can also allow the player to avoid fights entirely as they easily sneak past dangerous foes that may easily dispatch the player and their party.

8 Acrobatics

Players Are More Agile And Sure On Their Feet

• Applied stat modifier: Dexterity
• Best Classes: Fighter, Monk, Rogue

Dexterity is an attribute that many classes are likely to have a high score in, especially those that take part in ranged combat such as Rangers. When it comes to skills governed by Dexterity, players should focus their proficiency on Acrobatics. Characters that are proficient in this are likely to land on their feet during agile moments. What’s more, it is incredibly useful in combat.

An aspect of Baldur’s Gate 3 is being shoved while in a battle. If a player leaves themselves open to this, they are likely to fall to their death. Thankfully, those proficient in Acrobatics are less likely to be pushed over as they remain steadfast.

7 Insight

See Through Another’s Lies

• Applied stat modifier: Wisdom
• Best Classes: Paladin, Cleric, Bard

Combat isn’t the only place where proficiencies are important, and this Wisdom-based skill is a prime example. When engaging in conversations with NPCs, a player may find themselves listening to a lie. With a high score in Insight, the game’s narrator will let the player know if the individual they are talking to appears nervous, or seems as if they are hiding something.

Moments like this can open more options in the dialogue that players may have never encountered otherwise. This can go even further than conversations. In certain situations, the Insight skill can, for example, alert the player that they are about to walk into a trap.

6 Athletics

Increases The Player’s Chance Of Successfully Shoving A Foe

• Applied stat modifier: Strength
• Best Classes: Barbarian, Fighter, Monk, Paladin

Athletics is the only skill connected to the Strength attribute; the only other thing this attribute is used for is used for melee weapons. However, this skill is still incredibly useful in combat, with a similar role to that of Acrobatics.

Once again players are better defended against being shoved when they are proficient in Athletics. Apart from this, the skill also helps the player when shoving their opponents. This means the enemy gets a taste of their own medicine of being thrown to their deaths when they get too close to the edge.

5 Intimidation

When Diplomacy Fails, There Is Also Intimidation

• Applied stat modifier: Charisma
• Best Classes: Barbarian, Bard, Warlock

Players might think it is overkill to have two Charisma-focused skills for the sake of persuading or scaring the opposing party to get their own way, but it is always useful to have a backup. Persuasion is often championed as the only diplomatic skill a party could need, but sometimes, the honey approach doesn’t always work, and then they need to pull out the vinegar.

Also, diplomacy could be beneficial in a role-playing sense as well, as it may be more befitting for their character to try and intimidate others than Persuade. Even if not, it is always a good idea to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.

4 Arcana

Discern Magic In Objects Or People

• Applied stat modifier: Intelligence
• Best Classes: Wizard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Druid, Cleric

Magic plays a large role in Baldur’s Gate 3, and therefore knowing about the schools of magic and their effects can be extremely helpful. A player should consider being proficient in Arcana, or at least have a decent modifier attached to it. With the help of Arcana, a player can detect magical presences, such as a tome masquerading as something. This skill can even help them receive further context in some situations.

Players will be surprised how often Arcana shows up in the various dialogue options they encounter on their adventure. This skill’s utility makes it vital to have for any worthy Wizard or other spellcaster.

3 Perception

Detect Hidden Or Distant Things

• Applied stat modifier: Wisdom
• Best Classes: Cleric, Druids, Paladin

Of all the skills available in Baldur’s Gate 3, no matter what class a player has chosen, they should always be proficient in the Wisdom-based skill Perception. This is one of the most important skills in the game, as it allows the player to be aware of their surroundings at all times.

Perception can come in handy in many situations. With successful checks, players may notice small details of the environment that could reveal a secret. It can also come up in moments in conversation’ for example, if a character is attempting to distract the player while they get pickpocketed.

2 Sleight Of Hand

Useful For All Rogue Abilities Such As Pick-Pocketing

• Applied stat modifier: Dexterity
• Best Classes: Rogue & Bard

While Sleight of Hand may sound like quite the nefarious skill to be proficient in, it’s vital when exploring the world of Baldur’s Gate 3, and not just for players with nefarious goals. Although it can be used to pick the pockets of any NPC the player passes, an adventurer is more likely to use it when unlocking chests or disarming traps.

A player should always be putting their party first. Locked chests could be filled with all sorts of valuable loot that players may either equip or sell, so they’re worth breaking into. Some of these chests may also be trapped as well as locked, which will need to be dealt with before a player dares to unlock it and examine what’s inside.

1 Persuasion

Use Honeyed Words To Sway Others

• Applied stat modifier: Charisma
• Best Classes: Bard, Warlock, Sorcerer

Being charismatic is almost as essential as being able to battle in Baldur’s Gate 3. Many dangerous or unpleasant situations can be avoided if the player knows how to use their words. Persuasion is one of many skills connected to the Charisma attribute, though it will likely be the one that’s used the most.

Players can use their powers of persuasion to get NPCs to look the other way during certain scenarios, or give them information without ever needing to hand a single gold coin over. Sometimes the easiest solution to a problem is just talking it out.