Dungeons & Dragons has a lot of terminology that may confuse fresh players. These terms include Armour Class, Saving Throws, rolling with Disadvantage, and more. Baldur’s Gate 3 aims to be an accurate video game adaptation to the tabletop source material, so it has implemented many of these features.
Saving Throws have been a staple mechanic in the franchise for many years now, staying true to their nature throughout the various editions — despite many of the other mechanics getting massive overhauls.
What Are Saving Throws?
When a character chooses to do something, they make a skill check, attack roll, damage roll, and so forth. However, there are times that things will happen to them without their consent, such as triggering an attack, or a spell setting an entire building on fire. These hazards are when characters will need to make Saving Throws. There is a type of saving throw for each type of Ability.
Strength
A Strength Saving throw can be from a large plant or creature that has you wrapped in vines and tentacles as it drags you deeper into the depths. A good example would be when trying to resist the effects of the Entangle spell.
Dexterity
A lot of spells will have their targets make a Dexterity saving. This is because the spells are not targeting the character specifically, but rather set an entire area ablaze or invade the mind of whomever the caster is already able to see. Dexterity Saving throws are also for natural hazards such as a slippery surface or a trap that is going off with enough time to avoid being hit.
Constitution
A Constitution Saving Throw will have the character trying to resist the effects of something already in their system. This can come in the form of a poison that is coursing through their veins, trying to stay conscious as they run out of air, or stopping a wound from bleeding out. This Saving Throw is also important for spell casters, as it will be what they use to maintain their concentration while casting their spells.
Wisdom
Wisdom Saving throws will be happening a lot in Baldur’s Gate 3. Just like Dexterity Saving Throws, there will be a lot of spells that have those affected by it making a Wisdom Saving Throw. This is the saving throw a character will need to make whenever something tries to invade their mind such as a spell that inflicts the Charmed condition or has them in a dazed state to make them vulnerable to attacks.
Charisma
Charisma Saving Throws are not common, but they do exist. These are similar to Wisdom Saving throws, but they are not directly affecting the target. It is more like the target has been persuaded or is feeling a conflict of interest in what they should be doing. They are being socially manipulated and need to realize what to do.
Intelligence
Intelligence Saving Throws will be able to discern reality from fiction, such as seeing through an illusion using logic and reasoning. Some good examples of spells that will use this as their Saving Throw are Phantasmal Force, Mind Sliver, and Feeblemind.
Class Saving Throw Proficiencies
Each class has two Saving Throws they are naturally proficient in. This means whenever they make a Saving Throw for one of them, they will be able to add their proficiency bonus to it. Below is a table of every class and which two Saving Throws they are proficient in.
Class |
Saving Throw Proficiencies |
---|---|
Barbarian |
Strength and Constitution |
Bard |
Dexterity and Charisma |
Cleric |
Wisdom and Charisma |
Druid |
Wisdom and Intelligence |
Fighter |
Strength and Constitution |
Monk |
Strength and Dexterity |
Paladin |
Wisdom and Charisma |
Ranger |
Strength and Dexterity |
Rogue |
Dexterity and Intelligence |
Sorcerer |
Constitution and Charisma |
Warlock |
Wisdom and Charisma |
Wizard |
Charisma and Intelligence |
Death Saving Throws
Along with the saving throws for each Ability, there is also the dreaded "Death Saving Throw." Characters will need to make these if they wish to not die after their Hit Points have fallen to 0. If they make three successful Saving Throws, they will stabilize. When this happens, an ally will be able to come to their aid and use the Help Action to revive them. However, be mindful that if they should fail this Saving Throw 3 times, they will die. If this happens, you will need to use a Scroll of Revivify in order to revive them.