Cantrips in Baldur’s Gate 3 are spells that any spellcaster can use for an infinite number of times. Unlike spells for which you must prepare a slot and can only be used once per rest, cantrips can be used repeatedly. They are the best alternative for ranged weapons and provide your spellcaster an edge while tackling foes from a distance.
Over time, due to excessive usage, cantrips are spells that become second nature to the spellcasters. They can use these cantrips without a single thought or any prior preparations. Unlike spells, you can’t upscale Cantrips as they don’t use magic slots. The only way to scale Cantrips is by leveling up the character or the skill (in proxy the ability like Wisdom, Intelligence) which granted you the cantrip.
As cantrip is an action in Baldur’s Gate 3, you can always cast a spell after it as a bonus action (if it allows). In addition to combat, many cantrips fall in the utility category. They help you solve puzzles, move objects, and remove obstacles. With so many advantages, we have ranked the 10 best cantrips in the tier list below.
10. Shocking Grasp
Shocking Grasp deals 1~8 Lightning damage and is advantageous against enemies with metallic armor. If the enemy is wet, they take double the damage from this cantrip.
Shocking Grasp is available to Sorcerer, Wizards, Arcane Trickster, and Eldritch Knight classes.
9. Blade Ward
Blade Ward is an Abjuration school cantrip that casts a protective shield on its caster. The person with Blade Ward takes half the damage from Piercing, Slashing, and Bludgeoning attacks. However, you can’t cast this cantrip on other party members or creatures.
The classes that can use Blade Ward are Wizard, Sorcerer, Bard, Warlock, Eldritch Knight, and Arcane Trickster.
8. Dancing Lights
Another utility cantrip, Dancing Lights, illuminates an area of 18m for the next 10 turns. It requires concentration and is particularly helpful for navigating the Underdark or the Shadow Cursed Lands.
Dancing Lights is available to Bard, Wizard, Sorcerer, Arcane Trickster, and Eldritch Knight classes.
7. Mage Hand
One of the best utility cantrips, the Mage Hand, summons an Astral hand to manipulate and move light/medium objects. This hand stays until you dispel it manually.
Mage Hand becomes even more powerful when used with the Arcane Trickster class. You can use it with Minor Invisibility and try to pick locks and disarm traps. You can also use Mage Hand to Shove or Throw enemies and items.
Classes that can use Mage Hand are Bard, Arcane Trickster, Wizard, Warlock, Sorcerer, and Eldritch Knight.
6. Ray of Frost
This cantrip deals 1~8 ice damage to enemies and reduces their movement speed by half. The damage from Ray of Frost increases to 2~16 at character level 5 and 3~24 at character level 10.
If the enemy is already wet, they take twice the damage. You can cast this cantrip on a water surface to create traversable ice patches.
Arcane Tricksters, Sorcerers, Wizards, and Eldritch Knight classes can use this evocation cantrip.
5. Shillelagh
Shillelagh is a transmutation cantrip that turns your staff or club into magical weapons. It deals 1~8 + WIS bludgeoning damage. It also allows you to use your spellcasting ability as your Attack Rolls, increasing melee damage significantly.
The Druid class can use the Shillelagh cantrip as a bonus action. It lasts for 10 turns.
4. Fire Bolt
Our favorite cantrip, Fire Bolt, can be used as offensive and utility. It deals 1~10 fire damage to enemies with a bolt of fire. You can use this fire to light up torches or put things on fire.
This cantrip can be used by Arcane Trickster, Wizard, sorcerer, and Eldritch Knight classes. It is also available to High Elf and High Half-Elf races in Baldur’s Gate 3.
3. Vicious Mockery
Vicious Mockery cantrip not only deals 1~4 psychic damage to enemies but also puts a disadvantage on their next Attack rolls. This will make the enemies miss their next attack most of the time.
However, this multipurpose cantrip is only available to Bards and Warlocks (Pact of the Tome at level 3).
2. Bone Chill
Bone Chill deals 1~8 necrotic damage to enemies. If used on the undead enemies, they get disadvantaged on their next Attack Roll.
While available to Sorcerer, Wizard, Warlock, Arcane Trickster, Eldritch Knight, and Circle of the Spores Druid, Bone Chill cantrip can be used by High Elf and High Half-Elf races in Baldur’s Gate 3.
1. Eldritch Blast
The undisputed champion of offensive cantrips, Eldritch Blast, is a game-changer and somewhat broken, given how overpowered it is. It deals 1~10 force damage with one beam of energy at level 1, 2~20 at level 5 with two beams, and 3~30 at character level 10 with beams.
Eldritch Blast uses your Spellcasting ability + proficiency as its Attack Roll and can be used by the Warlock class.
