Summary
Summons can be a huge help inBaldur’s Gate 3, but a particularly great way to access summons isn’t accessible until late in the game’s progression. In classic RPG tradition, summons make it possible to get some extra hands, claws, or various other appendages on the battlefield, often with unique powers that make them particularly valuable assists. More than anything, expanding the party ranks in combat makes it easier to stand against large hordes or enemies that pose unique positioning challenges, handing more of the turn order over to the party.
Baldur’s Gate 3makes some tweaks to standardDungeons & Dragonsdistribution of features and level progression, but much of the story is spent at generally low levels within the system. Although there are a lot of powerful abilities, spells, and magic items to utilize even in Act 1, some of the best options start appearing nearBaldur’s Gate 3’s level cap of 12. It’s possible to get there well before the credits roll, but it’s not a game full of respawning enemies to grind, so approaching that threshold never happens too early in the narrative.
10 Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Spells For Pro Players
As Baldur’s Gate 3 progresses the party will gain access to more powerful spells, so knowing which ones to choose is key with limited spell slots.
Planar Ally Is A Huge Help For Baldur’s Gate 3 Summons
Level 11 Clerics Get Access To Something Special
One great tool for summons inBaldur’s Gate 3isplanar ally, a level 6 conjuration that can only be accessed by Clerics once they reach level 11. Although the spell is generally open to a variety of otherworldly entities in tabletopDnD, its scope is narrowed to three possible summons inBaldur’s Gate 3— cambions, devas, and djinnis, respectively half-fiends, angels, and, unsurprisingly, genies. Each one has its own unique combat purposes, but all of them are powerful options that stand out against many of the other summons available in the game.
As aBaldur’s Gate 3cleric spell,planar allymakes it a lot easier to bring Shadowheart or another cleric into combat without taking a significant hit to firepower. A cleric can simply cast the spell once and then focus on healing, support, and maybe a stray attack here or there, letting the summoned ally pick up the slack.Entities summoned throughplanar allycan stick around until a long rest if they don’t fall in battle, helping to justify the dedication of a valuable spell slot.
10 Best Cleric Spells In Baldur’s Gate 3 (& How To Use Them)
Clerics in Baldur’s Get 3 are often overlooked as just simply healers, but they have far more spells in their arsenals than many realize.
What Each Planar Ally Summon Does In Baldur’s Gate 3
Cambions, Devas, & Djinnis Are All Great Choices
The cambion is a great option for anyone who wants agreatBaldur’s Gate 3summonwith notable survivability, as it tosses an intense number of resistances into the mix. Slashing, piercing, bludgeoning, fire, lightning, ice, cold, and poison all prove less effective against the cambion summon, making it a strong option for a frontline fighter.A rush attack and therays of firespell enhance the cambion’s combat abilities, but utility off the battlefield can also be found through thefiendish charmspell, especially when following it up with the potentially deadlydraining kiss.
5 D&D Cambions & Demons Perfect For A Baldur’s Gate 3 DLC
Because Baldur’s Gate 3 is a pseudo-sequel to 5e’s Descent into Avernus, having a host of hellish new NPCs in the DLC would make perfect sense.
Planar ally’s deva adds some more support options into the mix, potentially helping to stabilize a party when the odds are more overwhelming than a single cleric can handle. Therevivifyspell is obviously a great one when worse comes to worst, but it’s possible to stabilize situations before they go that far south with the Help ability. In terms of offensive abilities, Concussive Smash and the spellwrathful smiteadd some versatility to the deva’s mace. Devas can also be summoned through the spellsights of the seelie, which is granted by the Scroll of Bestial Communion.
The final option, thedjinni, has abilities that largely focus on the power of the wind. Sweetplum Gales is a uniqueBaldur’s Gate 3class action that traps opposing creatures within a restraining whirlwind, Shifting Winds acts as a re-flavoredmisty stepto transport the djinni across areas, and theessential beginner spellthunderwaveblasts targets backward and potentially off of heights.The most inventive djinni option isdrunken inhale, which pulls enemies closer to the caster, deals poison damage, and makes anyone who fails the necessary saving throw drunk.
The djinni isn’t necessarily as powerfully versatile as the otherplanar allysummons inBaldur’s Gate 3, but it’s the perfect choice for a battlefield where positioning is everything.
Baldur’s Gate 3’s Planar Ally Is Very Different Than D&D
Powerful Utility Makes Up For Less Flexibility
Althoughplanar allycan also be useful in tabletopDnD, a lot of the reason why it’s so effective in-game is that it does away with some of the original spell’s specific demands.Simply summoning an otherworldly entity inDnDdoesn’t immediately mean that they’ll be willing to join up in combat, and bargaining is often necessary to convince them to help out. Long or dangerous tasks can end up demanding exorbitant fees, with extended services requiring 10,000 gold per day, a sum that would be incredibly difficult to manage inBaldur’s Gate 3.
Clever Baldur’s Gate 3 Exploit Lets Players Live Out Their Evil Desires With No Repercussions
It’s tempting to get up to no good in Baldur’s Gate 3, and with the right exploit, it can be easy to break the law and never see the consequences.
The tabletop version ofplanar allyisn’t without its advantages, even when going beyond the ability to summon more entities than just cambions, devas, and djinnis. The versatility of bargaining makes it possible to get more creative forms of help from anyone summoned through the spell, potentially getting the party out of tricky situations that none of the specific abilities included inBaldur’s Gate 3would help with. For a party without many financial resources, none of this might matter much, but a rich or particularly convincing group can make a lot happen.
In any situation,the version ofplanar allythat’s implemented inBaldur’s Gate 3should be an obvious choice for anyone who likes summons, and even those ignoring the feature would generally do well to look into its possibilities. Although cambion, deva, and djinni allies might not be as integral to the game as the game-changing summons in games like theFinal Fantasyseries, they can still be a serious help. Level 11 might seem like a long way off at the start of aBaldur’s Gate 3campaign, but when the time finally comes, opting forplanar allyis one of the best ways to go.
Baldur’s Gate 3
Developed and published by Larian Studios, Baldur’s Gate 3 is an upcoming role-playing game set to release in August of 2023. Players will create a character to embark on a large-scale journey and can do so solo or cooperatively with a friend. Combat is a turn-based style this time around.
