Dexterity Explained in Baldur's Gate 3

Learn what Dexterity does in baldurs gate 3, affecting skills like Stealth, Initiative, and Armor Class. Understand Dexterity modifiers.

Dexterity influences three core skills in baldurs gate 3: Acrobatics, Sleight of Hand, and Stealth. Acrobatics aids in maintaining balance on precarious surfaces and resisting shoves. Sleight of Hand is crucial for lockpicking, stealing, and disarming traps. Stealth determines your ability to remain undetected.

In combat, Dexterity plays a vital role in determining Initiative order. Each participant rolls a d20 and adds their Dexterity modifier to the result to establish the turn order. A higher Dexterity score provides an advantage by allowing characters to act earlier in combat.

Dexterity also contributes to your Armor Class (AC), making you harder to hit. However, certain armor types can impose Disadvantage on Stealth checks, and heavy armor negates any Dexterity bonus to AC. Therefore, if you plan to wear heavy armor, a high Dexterity score might offer less benefit.

Furthermore, your Dexterity modifier is added to Dexterity Saving Throws. For ranged attacks, your Dexterity modifier is applied to both Attack Rolls and Damage Rolls, with the exception of thrown weapons which use Strength. Dexterity can also be used for melee weapons with the “Finesse” trait.

The Dexterity score and its corresponding modifier are as follows: A score of 1 has a -5 modifier; 2-3 has a -4 modifier; 4-5 has a -3 modifier; 6-7 has a -2 modifier; 8-9 has a -1 modifier; 10-11 has a 0 modifier; 12-13 has a +1 modifier; 14-15 has a +2 modifier; 16-17 has a +3 modifier; 18-19 has a +4 modifier; 20-21 has a +5 modifier; 22-23 has a +6 modifier; 24-25 has a +7 modifier; 26-27 has a +8 modifier; 28-29 has a +9 modifier; and a score of 30 has a +10 modifier.

Most characters aim for a Dexterity score of 12 or 14, depending on their build and preferred playstyle.