Baldur’s Gate 3 introduces its most challenging difficulty level known as Honor Mode, where players face the daunting task of guiding their party through the entire game without a single death. Whether succumbing to the might of a formidable boss, accidentally plummeting off a treacherous cliff edge, or encountering any other unfortunate mishap, failure in Honor Mode results in the abrupt end of the quest, forcing players to restart from the beginning. With the stakes set impossibly high, players must employ every trick, tactic, and strategy at their disposal to navigate their journey across all three expansive acts of the game. The unforgiving nature of Honor Mode demands unwavering attention, careful planning, and mastery of gameplay mechanics to emerge victorious against overwhelming odds.
Avoid Battles When You Can
Not every encounter has to be a battle in Baldur’s Gate 3, so the best way to avoid a fight that wipes out your party is to ensure it never happens in the first place. Characters with a sufficiently high Charisma modifier can Convince, Beguile, or Threaten their way through various conflicts. Those with a silver tongue could steer conversations towards a direction away from fighting to preserve your party.
Know Your Enemies
When you have the opportunity to prepare for a battle, consider every possible scenario that could go wrong for your party. Take some time to position your allies in the best spots on the battlefield to target enemies who could pose the most threat. For example, the battle against Balthazar in Baldur’s Gate 3 in Act 2 sees the boss standing near a cliff, so position a character close to him that can push him into the abyss and eliminate him instantly.
Some bosses have Legendary Actions, or moves that allow them to act when it’s not their turn in battle. You should account for these incredibly potent abilities before going to war against certain adversaries. If an optional boss has a Legendary Action you’re not comfortable facing, simply avoid that enemy since any reward they offer isn’t worth risking your entire run.
Create Diverse Multiclass Builds
One of the most effective approaches to Honor Mode is to create the strongest characters possible from available class combinations. The possibilities are nearly endless, from a nearly invisible Rogue multiclass build in Baldur’s Gate 3 to a Fighter/Barbarian hybrid that deals insane damage to its enemies. Experiment with the strongest pairings of classes for each member of your party.
As encounters become more challenging, you may want to consider respeccing your stats with Respecs at camp. This allows you to completely rebuild your character’s abilities into something else for a given boss fight or area in Baldur’s Gate 3. This process only costs 100 Gold, making it easy to do whenever you need to adapt to tough situations that challenge a character’s current build.
Utilize Henchmen
Henchmen can assist you in another way by recruiting named Henchmen to aid your party. These characters can either accompany your main group on an adventure to battle foes or stay at your camp to craft supplies for your party. One of the most optimal roles for a Henchman, as suggested by YouTube creator ItalianSpartacus, is to keep them at your base as an Alchemist to help create additional potions with alchemical abilities.
Henchmen act as allies that can cushion your setbacks during an Honor Mode run, so don’t get too attached. These characters can easily change their class and other attributes with Respecs just as easily as your main companions can in Baldur’s Gate 3. These recruited party members are excellent fodder for disabling traps in various dungeons as well, but remember to send them off on their own while doing this to keep your main party out of danger.
Consume Potions At Every Opportunity
Losing health is more dangerous in Honor Mode, bringing your party one step closer to failing a run. You’ll need to heal at certain points, but dedicating an entire turn to casting spells to heal Hit Points may prevent you from using a character’s stronger features on their turn. Drinking a potion only costs a bonus action, so it’s advantageous to have some on each party member so they each have a source of quick healing.
This logic applies to other potions besides basic healing potions in Baldur’s Gate 3. Whether it’s a Potion of Speed or a Potion of Bravery, you can buff a character using a bonus action with any consumable drink for as long as it is within someone’s inventory. Talk to merchants whenever you can to purchase various potions that could be useful in upcoming battles.
Negotiate More With Merchants
Weapons, armor, potions, and any kind of gear in the game are best acquired from merchant NPCs, whom you need to negotiate with to get better prices. Spending your Gold wisely is essential for Honor Mode, but this difficulty increases the cost of nearly any item sold by merchants. According to YouTube creator NorZZa, one of the most effective ways of getting good deals is to have high favorability with each merchant.
You can improve favorability by selling a lot of items to merchants or giving them Gold without expecting anything in return. As a result, the prices of all items for that merchant become much better, making it easier to buy solid scrolls or gear needed for your party in Baldur’s Gate 3. Any item you sell to a merchant with high favorability also nets you more Gold in return, allowing you to make further investments with more capital.
Stock Up On Provisions
Extended Rests are one of the most crucial resources you’ll rely upon in an Honor Mode rush to restore your party’s health and resources. On this difficulty, it costs a staggering 80 Supplies from food items and other materials to prepare your camp for such a rest. Make sure to scavenge around and explore areas in Baldur’s Gate 3 for various small items that can contribute to this total needed.
Cast Ritual Spells At Camp
When you return to your camp, you should consider having one or more characters cast Ritual spells to apply buffs to your party. Doing this before heading back out into the world could provide you with the protection you need to survive lethal battles ahead. For example, a Henchman Cleric could cast Death Ward or another of the top spells in Baldur’s Gate 3 like Longstrider to give a character additional abilities.
Remember that you should only cast magic that lasts until the next extended rest or several hours. With an enchanted grace period to cast before its effects take hold, they work best when cast in advance. Raising Armor Class, granting temporary Hit Points, and casting magic that prevents various status effects are great examples of well-timed Ritual spells in an Honor Mode run.
Retreat When Necessary
Some battles will simply be impossible to win, either because your party lacks the resources to succeed or an enemy lucked out with a good roll. Enemies saving against a significant spell DC or a character going down doesn’t spell defeat, as long as you swallow your pride and retreat. Fleeing a battle to fight another day is almost a necessary strategy for preserving your Baldur’s Gate 3 mission in Honor Mode.
According to YouTube creator Sawash93, there are many tools available to your party that could prove useful in helping you escape a battle quickly. For example, spells that buff movement like Dash are ideal for allowing you to run as an action over larger distances. Misty Step, a piece of magic that only requires a bonus action to use, teleports a character 30ft away from their current position so they can retreat quickly.
Be Prepared To Lose Some Companions
The harsh reality of Honor Mode is that not every one of your companions will likely make it to the end of your journey. Sometimes, you need to make the tough decision
In conclusion, considering all the strategies and tips provided for playing Baldur’s Gate 3 in Honor Mode, it’s crucial to adopt a comprehensive approach to the game. Avoid unnecessary battles, prepare well for each encounter, use resources wisely, and be ready to adapt to situations as needed. Additionally, be aware that challenges will be tough and failure inevitable, but with the right strategy and perseverance, victory is achievable. It’s important to adapt, learn from mistakes, and have alternative plans to ensure the survival of your team. Good luck on your journey through Baldur’s Gate 3 Honor Mode!
By Andrej Kovacevic
Updated on 23rd April 2024