Permanent bonuses

Permanent bonuses are special conditions, character enhancements, or other abilities, which will generally remain permanently after obtaining them. Some permanent bonuses will, however, be removed if the character dies.

There are many different permanent character enhancements or bonuses that can be obtained throughout Baldur's Gate 3. See below for details on these bonuses and how they can be obtained.

Act One

The following permanent character bonuses can be obtained in Act One of the game.

Auntie Ethel's Hair

Gain +1 to an ability score of choice. Can be raised above 20.

How to unlock

Defeat Auntie Ethel during Save Mayrina and take her deal to spare her life.

 Awakened

You can use all of your illithid powers as a bonus action.

How to unlock

Make the Zaith'isk in the infirmary of Crèche Y'llek explode and succeed at all three saving throws. The saves are significantly easier if you are in the device rather than Lae'zel.

Failing any of the saving throws for the Zaith'isk inflicts permanent, stacking penalties to the ability scores of the character inside it: each failure will, respectively, give -2 to Intelligence, Wisdom, and Constitution. Partial ceremorphosis will remove the ability debuff.

 BOOOAL's Blessing

Gain advantage on attack rolls against Bleeding targets.

How to unlock

Sacrifice a companion to BOOOAL in The Festering Cove (hirelings cannot be sacrificed). The effect is granted to all present party members and will stop working if all Kuo-toa in the Cove are killed.

Alternatively, have someone pickpocket the Sickle of BOOOAL from Pooldripp while someone else is in the conversation. Then, either say that you have a better offer when asked to be a sacrifice, then pass a Persuasion check; or shake the Kuo-toa's faith in BOOOAL, then agree to BOOOAL's offer to become his Chosen.

Brand of the Absolute

Allows the benefits from Absolute equipment and unlocks unique dialogue options when speaking to followers of the Absolute.

How to unlock

Agree to let a character be branded by Gut in the Goblin Camp.

Multiple characters can receive the brand after the first character has been branded by Gut by controlling them and speaking to Warlock Greez.

 Find Familiar: Scratch

Gain the ability to summon Scratch as a familiar while outside of camp. While summoned, Scratch will be able to uncover buried treasure.

How to unlock

Leave Scratch with your scent so he joins your camp, then later when he offers you a ball, throw it to play fetch with him. Having Scratch's Ball in your inventory allows you to use Find Familiar: Scratch.

 Find Familiar: Cheeky Quasit

Summon Shovel (or Basket, or Fork), the Cheeky Quasit.

How to unlock

Find the unique Scroll of Summon Quasit in one of the coffins of the hidden area in the Apothecary's Cellar beneath the Blighted Village. Wizards can scribe this spell, or other spellcasting classes (Sorcerer, Wizard, or Warlock) can permanently acquire her through the correct dialogue options.

Instrument proficiency

You know how to play a variety of musical instruments and are able to entertain a crowd with them.

How to unlock

Pass one of two Charisma (Performance) checks while helping Alfira with her song in the Emerald Grove.

Bards have this automatically and this provides no additional benefit to them.

 Loviatar's Love

When you have 30% Hit Points or less, you gain a +2 bonus to attack rolls and Wisdom saving throws.

How to unlock

Submit to Abdirak and put on a good performance for him in the Shattered Sanctum.

Effect is permanently lost upon death.

Necromancy of Thay

Gain the passive feature Forbidden Knowledge, which grants a +1 to Wisdom saving throws and ability checks. You can also cast Speak with Dead once per long rest.

How to unlock

Turn all three pages while reading Necromancy of Thay, a book found in a hidden area in the Apothecary's Cellar beneath the Blighted Village.

Turning only 1 page will grant only Speak with Dead. The reader does not need to succeed on the saving throws associated with turning the pages.

 Paid the Price

You have a +1 bonus to Intimidation checks, but disadvantage on Perception checks. Additionally, you have disadvantage when attacking Hags. Changes the chosen eye's appearance. Mutually exclusive with Volo’s Ersatz Eye.

How to unlock

Accept Auntie Ethel's deal to remove the parasite at the Riverside Teahouse.

 Survival Instinct

Gain the additional illithid power Survival Instinct, which allows the user to infuse a creature with psionic force, healing them if they reach 0 hit points.

How to unlock

Complete the quest Help Omeluum investigate the parasite with Omeluum in the Underdark.

This is a unique illithid power not obtainable through regular illithid power progression.

Volo's Ersatz Eye

Grants a permanent See Invisibility effect. Changes the right eye's appearance. The right eye's colour is changed to "Blue 3". This cannot be reversed using the Magic Mirror. Mutually exclusive with Paid the Price.

How to unlock

Rescue Volo from the Goblin Camp. When speaking to him in the campsite afterwards, tell him about your Tadpole infection and agree to his experimental surgery.

Act Two

The following permanent character bonuses can be obtained in Act Two of the game's story.

 Arabella's Shadow Entangle

Entangle an Undead or shadow creature until long rest.

How to unlock

Tell Arabella about her parents' fate during the quest Find Arabella's Parents.

 Bardic Inspiration

Gain a charge of Bardic Inspiration that is stronger than usual (1d12). Usable once per long rest, and does not consume Bardic Inspiration charges.

This bonus does not strengthen existing Bardic Inspiration uses (if any); they will remain at the appropriate strength for the character's Bard level.

How to unlock

At the end of Act Two, if Alfira is still alive, she can be found at Moonrise Towers. Talking with her reveals that she wants to use music to cheer up the tiefing children in the room with her. If the active character is a Bard, you can speak with her again to gain the bonus (you do not need to perform the song).

 Githzerai Mind Barrier

Gain advantage on Intelligence saving throws.

How to unlock

Insert the Waking Mind (found at X: 750 Y: -139 after the brain connect puzzle in the Mind Flayer Colony) into the nearby Mind-Archive Interface. Speak to the Slack-Skinned Head, and agree to purge or consume its mind.

Effect is permanently lost if the character dies and is revived (as of Hotfix #6).

Level 3 Shadow Spell Slot

Gale gains an additional level three spell slot, separate from normal spell slots. Recharges per long rest.

How to unlock

Only available to Gale while playing his origin, and not as a companion.

Consume the Shadow Weave from the corpse of Gerringothe Thorm, Malus Thorm or Thisobald Thorm after slaying them in combat. Cleansing the Shadow Weave grants Mystra's Blessing until Long rest instead.

Defeating Malus or Thisobald via dialogue won't grant the option of consuming or cleansing the Shadow Weave (Bug as of Hotfix #16)

Potion of Everlasting Vigour

Gain +2 Strength. Can be used to raise Strength above 20, and will remain after respecing character.

How to unlock

Convince Astarion to bite Araj Oblodra in Moonrise Towers.

 Slayer Form

Gain the ability to transform into the Slayer once per long rest.

How to unlock

Only available while playing the Dark Urge Origin.

Kill either Isobel, or your lover, or the companion with the highest approval toward you, as part of The Urge quest. Alternatively, it can be acquired alongside the one-time-use spell Power Word Kill by accepting to become Bhaal's Chosen after defeating Orin in Act Three.

Refusing to become Bhaal's Chosen will result in the permanent loss of the Slayer Form.

Summon Us

Allows you to summon Us, an intellect devourer, as a familiar.

How to unlock

Prevent Us from dying on the Nautiloid during the Prologue, then free it from its cage in the Mind Flayer Colony towards the end of Act Two.

Act Three

The following permanent character bonuses can be obtained in Act Three of the game's story.

 Anointed in Splendour

Character gains a +2 bonus to all Saving throws.

How to unlock

Offer enough gold to one of the deities in the Stormshore Tabernacle to gain the right to ask for a blessing. The exact amount of gold required depends on the character's level and the difficulty settings. This can be done for every character but an offering will need to be made for each one.

Alternatively, Gale can get this permanent bonus through dialogue. If Gale chooses to ask for Mystra's forgiveness during their meeting at the Stormshore Tabernacle in the Lower City, she will grant him  Anointed in Splendour.

 Danse Macabre

Create 4 ghouls that fight alongside you. Comes with a curse that lowers Constitution by 5, but can be removed with the Remove Curse spell while keeping Danse Macabre

How to unlock

Read The Tharchiate Codex (found at the end of the Vault puzzle in Ramazith's Tower), then read the last page of the Necromancy of Thay (from Act 1) and pass a DC 20 Wisdom Saving Throw.

 Monk's Hideous Laughter

Gain casting of Tasha's Hideous Laughter per long rest.

How to unlock

Carry the Sentient Amulet from Grymforge to a casket under the Open Hand Temple in Wyrm's Crossing, completing Help the Cursed Monk. Must choose to accept the curse yourself.

Possible wisdom loss if you fail Constitution/Wisdom saves. The Sentient Amulet (Rare) loses all of its abilities if you choose to accept the curse yourself.

Mirror of Loss

Gain +2 to an ability score of your choice (and optionally +1 to Charisma).

How to unlock

Successfully offer a prayer ( DC 25 Religion check) to the Mirror of Loss in the House of Grief, then sacrifice one or more of your ability scores. You may receive the option to choose a permanent +2 bonus to any ability, and/or a +1 bonus to CHA. If you do not succeed on the DC 25 Religion check, the +2 buff is not available as a random reward. You can alternatively sacrifice your knowledge of the Necromancy of Thay to receive a guaranteed +2 of your choice, even without offering a prayer.

For each ability you sacrifice, you'll receive the Stolen Vigour curse, giving -2 to that Ability. This can be cured via Remove Curse, or (as of v4.1.1.4251417) performing a long rest. Either method of removing the curse allows you to retain the stat buff(s) you may have received.

Buffs granted by the Mirror can raise the affected ability score up to 24.

As of v4.1.1.4811634, the bonuses from the Necromancy of Thay are properly lost when you sacrifice its knowledge.

You will receive the Patriar's Memory (+1 CHA) if the Narrator tells you the following after sacrificing an ability score: "Disappointment floods your mind. You were sure to succeed Stelmane, but Lord Enver Gortash has stolen your support. All that charming and cajoling in the parlous of the Upper City, Wasted." You can continue to reload until you receive this specific memory, though be aware that this outcome becomes significantly less likely to occur for characters who have completed the DC 25 Religion check, due to the mechanics of how the various outcomes are chosen (described in detail on the Mirror of Loss page).

Partial Ceremorphosis

Gain access to tier 3 illithid powers, and automatically unlock all tier 1 illithid powers and the tier 3 illithid power Fly. This will cause a cosmetic change in the character. Any tadpoles used in the granted tier 1 illithid powers will be refunded when this bonus is obtained.

How to unlock

Consume the Astral-Touched Tadpole offered by the Emperor.

Slayer Knowledge

Grants advantage against Slayer abilities.

When playing as the Dark Urge with the Slayer form unlocked, it also grants the Piercing Growl skill.

How to unlock

Rescue Volo while he is tied up to explosives near the Steel Watch Foundry. Talk to him after the fight that ensues, and he will return to your camp.

Back at the camp, talk to him again and he will explain that he was targeted by the Lord of Murder Bhaal and his Chosen. You can then ask him about the Slayer and he will offer you a guidebook written by the wizard Irenicus. Read this book and you will gain the passive feature.

 Sweet Stone Features

Gain a +1d4 bonus to attack rolls and saving throws.

How to unlock

Pay Boney in the Circus of the Last Days 5000 gold for Stoney to construct a statue of yourself or a companion. The effect goes to whoever is depicted. Stony can only construct a statue for a single character. The effect begins once you long rest.

This effect will be overwritten if the character is affected by Bless or is healed by a character wearing The Whispering Promise. Once the Bless effect expires, they will not regain Sweet Stone Features until completing another long rest.

Astarion: Special interaction

If Astarion is the one depicted as a statue, the Sweet Stone Features condition overrules the Curse of the Sired condition that he would otherwise acquire in the Szarr Palace. The Curse of the Sired status gives Astarion disadvantage on all saving throws while in a place of trauma. With a statue of himself at camp, Astarion does not suffer that penalty and gets to keep the effect of the Sweet Stone Features condition instead, even while in the palace.

 The Tharchiate Codex: Blessing

After a long rest, gain 20 temporary hit points. Remains active if The Tharchiate Codex is also used to obtain Danse Macabre.

How to unlock

Read The Tharchiate Codex (found at the end of the Vault puzzle in Ramazith's Tower). Only available to the first character who reads the Codex.

 Unstable Blood

Gain the passive Unstable Blood. Your blood is now highly flammable; if you bleed and create a blood surface, it will explode on contact with fire.

How to unlock

Give your blood to Araj Oblodra in Moonrise Towers in Act 2, then meet her again east of The Blushing Mermaid in Act 3 and help her again. She will give you a potion that grants this feature once drunk.

Tip: Give to a tiefling or red, gold or brass dragonborn, or equip an item that grants Fire resistance to minimise the damage you yourself take from the explosions.

 Vampire Ascendant

Astarion gains class actions  Ascendant Bite and  Misty Escape, as well as an extra 1d10 necrotic damage on his weapon and unarmed attacks.

How to unlock

Only available to Astarion (companion or origin).

Defeat Cazador without killing any of his spawn whilst having Astarion in your party. Afterward, allow Astarion to complete the ascension ritual.

See Also

• Temporary bonuses