Baldur's Gate 3 Enemies: Reading a Fight Before It Starts

Baldurs Gate 3 enemies range from a single goblin to multi-phase bosses with legendary actions, and the game gives you the tools to scout most of them before a single die is rolled.

Examine before you engage

Highlighting an enemy shows their level, resistances, vulnerabilities and any notable actions in their kit. This is not optional reading — walking into a fight blind against something resistant to your main damage type is the single most common way an easy encounter turns into a wipe.

Environment matters as much as stats

Height advantage, chokepoints, explosive barrels and terrain hazards are usually more decisive than raw numbers. A weak party can beat a strong enemy group by fighting on ground the enemy didn't choose.

Boss fights add mechanics, not just health

Named bosses generally introduce legendary actions — extra moves taken outside the normal turn order — and often a phase change partway through the fight. Treating a boss like a bigger version of a normal enemy, rather than reading what it actually does between your turns, is what catches people out.

Stealth as an alternative

Plenty of fights can be avoided, thinned out, or opened with a surprise round through stealth. Checking whether a fight is optional before committing to it is worth doing — not every enemy group needs to be fought at all.