Baldur’s Gate 3 is no different than any other CRPG when it comes to giving players plenty of agency and variety in their choices. As you trek through the Sword Coast, things can and will get pretty hectic, and you’re going to have to struggle to survive.
And since so many new players have jumped into the genre, there’s a story-focused explorer mode that offers less difficulty for them. Baldur’s Gate 3 has various difficulty options to both ease new players in, as well offer more challenge to veterans. And that’s what today’s guide focuses on. Baldur’s Gate 3 Tactician Difficulty is the step up from Balanced, and it’s designed to be the Hard Mode for those seeking a lot more difficult of an adventure.
But what does it actually change? Keep reading to learn more about what choosing this option does.
What is Baldur’s Gate 3 Tactician Difficulty?
Baldur’s Gate 3 Tactician Difficulty is the biggest challenge in the game. You can choose a difficulty when you first begin a new game, but you can also change it at any time. That means you will be able to swap to a lesser difficulty if you find the higher ones too much to handle.
With Tactician, the highest option currently in the game, you will face all manner of challenges. Compared to Balanced mode, things are a lot tougher. Here’s what this mode changes:
- Enemy HP: Enemy HP is increased by 30% from the Balanced baseline.
- Hit chance: Tactician doesn’t change the base hit chance from Balanced mode.
- Saving throws: NPCs have a higher proficiency bonus compared to Balanced, meaning they also have a higher chance to make saves.
- Tactics: This only increases between Balanced and Tactician Difficulty, meaning they will constantly try to flank you and control your movement with Opporunity Attacks.
- Prices: 30% increase in prices from vendors from Balanced
Tips to Survive Tactician Difficulty
- Buff ahead of time – Your actions in Turn-based Mode are limited, so make use of your ability to buff ahead of time. Buffs like False Life (which gives you seven ‘free’ hit points), or Mage Armor (which increases your AC) will apply between Long Rests.
- Surprise Attacks and Stealth are important – Having a rogue in your party on higher difficulty settings is a huge boon. Being able to sneak up on your foes and get a surprise round for extra damage can really make a difference in tougher fights.
- Party composition is vital – In the same vein as the previous tip, you need to have a balanced party capable of dealing with all manner of debuffs, traps and other issues. Having a Cleric or Druid to heal is a huge help in Baldur’s Gate 3 Tactician Difficulty.
- Manage your Long Rests – Since the cost of Long Rests is doubled in Tactician, you will need to spend extra time gathering supplies, as well as timing when you rest to avoid skipping quests that you can’t go back to.
- Control terrain – Taking the high ground is a huge buff to your damage, and being below your opponents puts you at severe risk, don’t let that happen.
- Save scum – Quicksave is in the game for a reason. Save before any encounters, you can also use magic to scout ahead and find NPCs waiting to ambush you. There’s nothing more frustrating than having to redo 30 minutes of trekking to a fight just to die again.
And in case you don’t remember, there are a few other options you can make use of. Here are the Baldur’s Gate 3 difficulties explained:
- Explorer – Enemies have a penalty to all manner of rolls. Their baseline stats have a penalty, as do all their saves, compared to the default. Items are cheaper in shops and players even get a +2 proficiency bonus to all attack rolls and saving throws. The one big downside is that the player cannot multiclass on this difficulty.
- Balanced – This option is the way the developers intended the game to be played. Enemies will have their baseline stats and bonuses, with no additional help for attacks and saves. Players will find that shop prices and resource costs for Rests are set to default. In the case of Long Rests, that default cost is 40.
- Tactician – This is hard more. Players are easier to hit for enemies, thanks to their increased bonuses to attacks. Saving throws and other rolls also have higher DCs, making it harder for players to steamroll fights and traps. The AI is also a lot more ruthless, using flanking and other tactics to maximize their damage and the overall threat they pose. Long Rest costs have also been doubled to 80.