Patch 8 has transformed Baldur’s Gate 3, bringing in an impressive array of new features and enhancements, making the game feel fresh even for veteran players who have achieved platinum status.
This update finally provides meaningful use for various items that previously held little value beyond their resale price. Many of these items can be purchased or discovered throughout the expansive and beautiful game world.
While some items start off simple, as your character levels up, you’ll find yourself needing to take detailed notes to calculate the significant damage you inflict on your foes. Players now widely agree on one thing regarding these items: their integration feels long overdue.
10 Alcohol
More Than Just Camp Supplies
Prior to Patch 8, players primarily interacted with alcohol when prepping for long rests at camp or attempting to earn the Punch Drunk or Bottoms Up trophies. It served mainly as a role-playing element until the introduction of the Way of the Drunken Master Monk subclass.
Alcohol has now become a strategic element in gameplay, necessary for maximizing the effectiveness of your attacks as soon as your Tav takes a sip of wine or ale. This adds an exciting dynamic to each encounter.
The effects may only last two turns, but for a swift and efficient drunken monk, that time is more than sufficient to make an impact.
9 Ring of Flinging
Perfect for Giant Barbarians
At the start of your adventure, you will likely meet Aaron, the vendor at Emerald Grove, who offers various useful items, including the Ring of Flinging. This ring gives a +1d4 bonus to damage when throwing objects, making it perfect for Barbarians.
While previously beneficial mostly for Berzerker Barbarians, this item gains newfound relevance with the addition of the Giant subclass. Barbarians can now unleash incredible throw damage, particularly against medium-sized foes using the Mighty Impel ability at Level 10.
Throwing an opponent now might result in less injury compared to being hit by a freight train!
8 Gloves of Battlemage’s Power
Let the Squishy Wizard Fight
In Dungeons and Dragons, a common rule is to keep Wizards at a distance during battles due to their inherent fragility. The Gloves of Battlemage’s Power have often gone underutilized by spellcasters, save for certain Sorcerers employing Shocking Grasp.
Patching in the Bladesinging Wizard with this update changed this narrative. Now Wizards can cast spells without losing their advantageous position in combat, allowing for fierce frontline engagement.
This offers the Bladesinger a significant tactical edge, maintaining closeness to enemies without compromising their spellcasting capabilities.
7 Helmet of Smiting
What CAN’T You Do Now?
Upon reaching the Underdark in Act One, players can loot all kinds of treasures, including the elusive Helmet of Smiting, which can easily go unnoticed if players aren’t vigilant.
This helmet, found in the Selûnite Temple, grants Paladins temporary HP whenever their Smites apply conditions to foes. This enhancement benefits all Paladins, effectively enabling Smites to continually replenish their health and upgrade their tanking capabilities.
6 Shapeshifter’s Boon Ring
Write Your Name Among the Stars
This ring recently became much more valuable, previously offering an additional 1d4 on Ability Checks while shapeshifted. For spell-focused Druids, Wild Shape is often infrequently used, making it seem less appealing.
The Circle of the Stars subclass changed this dynamic. While using Constellation Wild Shapes doesn’t require actual shapeshifting, the game considers you Wild Shaped for bonuses.
This allows spell-oriented Druids to gain extra boosts to Ability Checks while maintaining their humanoid form, creating a manageable advantage in critical situations.
When combined with the Shapeshifter’s Hat, which provides an additional Wild Shape charge, your Druid can maximize their effectiveness.
5 Resonance Stone
Minds Will Just Crumble
The Hexblade patron has become incredibly popular post-Patch 8, enhancing the importance of the Resonance Stone.
This potent item leaves players Steeped in Bliss, giving advantage on physical checks while imposing disadvantage to mental ones, essentially rendering enemies within 30ft vulnerable to psychic damage.
As psychic damage aligns perfectly with the Hexblade’s specialty, this synergy leads to formidable tactics against opponents, amplifying your capabilities.
4 Ring of Arcane Synergy
Finally, A Use
Items designed for mages who prefer physical weaponry often found themselves disregarded until the introduction of the Bladesinger subclass.
The Ring of Arcane Synergy stands out by augmenting damage dealt with cantrips—transforming attack rolls to include your spellcasting modifier instead of just melee strength.
This effectively empowers half-casters and Bladesinger Wizards to make impactful use of their spells in physical skirmishes instead of rendering the ring a mere pocket change after vendor visits.
3 Eversight Ring
Never, Ever Go Blind
The Eversight Ring was already a formidable item, protecting wearers from blindness, a significant perk for characters lacking Darkvision.
With the arrival of the Shadow Magic Sorcerer, this item gained a notable upgrade. It now allows you to see through your own darkness spells, ensuring that you’re never blinded by your own magic.
As a Shadow Magic Sorcerer, you can cast both normal and magical darkness, and with this ring, you can navigate through both confidently.
2 Sword of Life Stealing
Absolutely Busted Necrotic Damage
When arriving at the Last Light Inn, it’s easy to overlook Dammon’s expanded inventory that now includes the Sword of Life Stealing. This particularly dreadful weapon allows you to deal an extra 10 necrotic damage on critical hits, healing you for that same amount.
While already a strong choice, the inclusion of the new Death Domain subclass for Clerics makes necrotic damage output remarkably powerful.
This sword synergizes exceptionally with any item amplifying necrotic damage, particularly for Death Domain Clerics, solidifying your reputation as a vengeful force.
1 Punch-Drunk Bastard
Legitimate Use for Gimmick Items
With Patch 8, there’s newfound attention given to players enamored with alcohol concepts. Previously, managing the Way of the Drunken Master required modifications to the game.
Items like the Punch-Drunk Bastard, Amulet of the Drunkard, and Drunken Cloth had little practical application, as there was often no reason to engage in intoxication during gameplay. However, the Monk subclass change has revitalized their significance.
Now, these previously gimmicky items serve an actual purpose, providing players with a genuine reason to incorporate them into their strategy rather than relegating them to vendors for cash.
All things considered, the Drunken Gimmick items have now become the shining stars of the item revamps following Patch 8.
Leave a Reply