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There is a lot of information to learn inBaldur’s Gate 3, but above all else, it’s important to understand the basic foundational mechanics of the game. BecauseBG3isbased onDungeons and Dragons Fifth Edition, it features a similar approach to turn-based combat. The simplest explanation of the Action Economy inBG3is that it determines what players can do in a round.
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The different types of Actions inBaldur’s Gate 3don’t matter as much out of combat, unless they use a non-replenishing resource like Spell Slots. But to truly understand the flow of the game’s combat, it’s important to understand what exactly standard Actions, Bonus Actions, Movement Actions, Reactions, and Free Actions are.
What Is Baldur’s Gate 3 Action Economy?
Action Economy inBaldur’s Gate 3essentially the number, and type, ofactions that a character can accomplishin a single round of combat. In terms of balance in combat, Action Economy also refers to the share of total Actions that players' parties have – if there are more enemies than allies on the battlefield, the Action Economy will not be in one’s favor.
InBaldur’s Gate 3, almost all builds get access to one Action, one Bonus Action, and a Movement Action. There are also Free Actions, Reactions, and other types of Actions inBaldur’s Gate 3, too. To see what type of Action a Skill or Ability requires, hover over it on the hotbar or in the spellbook and look to the bottom left of the tooltip – a standard Action, for example, will feature a green circle with the word “Action” next to it here.
Players don’t have to spend their standard Actions, Bonus Actions, or travel the entire length of their Movement Speed when moving. But once all are spent (and max movement distance reached), these Actions don’t refresh until that character’s next turn in Combat or turn-based play.
How Do Actions Work Out of Combat?
Outside of combat, and outside of turn-based mode, most Actions can be performed at will with no restrictions. Just click the ability on the hotbar and target an object – for example, to get through a Cracked Wall, a Warlock can castEldritch Blastback to back without worrying about the Action Economy at all. Characters can Hide at will, throw objects, and consume Potions without worrying about if they’ll be able to use an Offhand Attack this turn. There are no turns in the open world, so there are far fewer restrictions.
However, some Actions require spell slots, which don’t refresh until the end of the day. A Wizard who wants toput out a Fire Surface with Create Watermay need to use a Level 1 spell slot to do so, both in and out of combat, which can limit their spellcasting potential for the rest of the day. Enhance Ability is a Level 2 spell for Clerics, which can be used in dialogue checks for additional bonuses to specific skills, but it uses a spell slot. Be sure to keep an eye on your spell slots, and only use slot-reliant spells out of combat when absolutely necessary.
Regular Reactions, Explained (Green Circle)
A regular Action, or a standard Action, makes up the majority of impactful Actions inBaldur’s Gate 3. Making a physical attack, casting a spell, andeven common skills like Throw, Dash, and Disengage all count as a standard Action in combat.
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Standard Actions are symbolized by a green circle inBaldur’s Gate 3. Though some Classes get access to a second attack after their first one, this doesn’t count as a separate Action, and each initial attack only requires one of these green circles. There are a few ways to increase the number of standard Actions one gets on a turn, like the Potion of Speed, but they tend to be temporary.
Examples of Regular Actions in Baldur’s Gate 3
Bonus Actions, Explained (Orange Triangle)
Bonus Actions are a bit more nuanced than standard Actions, but they are often just as impactful. Bonus Actions tend to be unique to each Class and often to different Subclasses, though some are also granted by rare Equipment and other sources.
Bonus Actions are symbolized by an orange triangle on theBaldur’s Gate 3ability hotbar. Despite their name, Bonus Actions don’t have to come after a standard Action, and can be performed at any time in a turn. These abilities can still use Spell Slots, though, like the Spiritual Weapon spell, which costs a Bonus Action to summon but still requires a Level 2 spell slot.
Examples of Bonus Actions in Baldur’s Gate 3
Movement Action, Explained
In addition to a standard and Bonus Action in every round of combat, characters are able to move a set distance. This is usually determined by Race and creature size (sorry, Gnomes, Halflings, and Dwarves), but can be enhanced with equipment and spells like Longstrider and Jump.
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In combat, players can preview their movement action by simply hovering over a location, which displays the distance they will travel. The blue circle on the bottom right of the UI represents movement distance remaining, and will deplete as playersapproach their max movement distance. Red areas of the preview line symbolize rough terrain, which can slow characters or impart negative effects like Burning and Ensnared on them. Movement can be done bit by bit, not all at once, so travel smaller distances (or use a Gamepad) to navigate difficult terrain more safely.
To cancel an Action and go back to Movement, just right-click a few times to fully deselect the currently-selected ability.
Reactions, Explained (Purple Star)
Reactions are a type of Action that sits outside of the normal Action Economy inBG3. Instead, as the name might suggest, Reactions only happen when something happens to trigger their use. The most common Reaction inBaldur’s Gate 3is the humble Opportunity Attack,which all characters can perform when an enemy moves away from their melee range, and is symbolized by a red arrow on the ground.
Reactions are symbolized by a purple star-like symbol, but they don’t normally appear on the hotbar. Though most Reactions don’t require any resources to cast, some are much more costly, which is why the game offers the ability to “Ask” when a Reaction is triggered. Not every spell slung by an enemy Sorcerer is worth Counterspelling, especially when it takes up a spell slot, and there’s no point in using Hellish Rebuke against a Fire-Resistant foe.
Even without resource costs, it’s a good idea to make the game “Ask” before performing all Reactions. When up against a certain boss that targets its last attacker, Opportunity Attacks can ruin plans – and get weak allies killed. To change this, go into each character’s spellbook and ability list, then tab over to Reactions and tick the “Ask” box for each available skill.
Examples of Reactions in Baldur’s Gate 3
Free Actions, Explained
For the most part, Free Actions are reserved for actions that don’t require any resources, don’t have a major impact or target an enemy in combat, or are otherwise more flavorful or aesthetic than damaging.However, there are some notable exceptions.
Bards can Perform with their instrument at any time, even in combat, without using an Action. Out of combat, this can even generate income (given a high enough Performance skill). Players can also place and pick up objects on the ground at will – it’s just as easy to move a Candle from the inventory to the ground as it is to place an explosive Barrel on the ground, given a high enough Strength stat to carry it in the first place.
Free Actions also extend to three unique damage-for-movement skills: Brace (Melee), Brace (Ranged), and Prepare. Both the melee and ranged versions of Brace cost 7.5 meters of Movement Speed and grant Advantage on the next associated roll. Prepare costs 6 meters of Movement Speed and simply increases damage of melee attacks for that character for the rest of the round. As long as players have the Movement Speed to fuel them, Brace and Prepare don’t cost an additional Action type at all – but they don’t come back until a Short Rest.
Examples of Free Actions in Baldur’s Gate 3
Baldur’s Gate 3is available for PC and will launch on PlayStation 5 on Jun 27, 2025.
