What Are Lightning Charges In Baldur’s Gate 3, Explained!

Lightning Charges are an equipment feature in Baldur’s Gate 3 that comes into play once you have a specific gear item equipped. This feature is a passive effect that allows you to deal additional damage to your enemies with each strike.

In this guide, we will look at how Lightning Charges work in Baldur’s Gate 3, which equipment generates them, and how you can stack them to devastate enemy lines.

Baldur’s Gate 3: Lightning Charges Explained

Once you equip a specific gear item to generate electric charges, they start stacking up according to the condition. Every time you attack anything, one Lightning Charge is consumed, and you deal one additional Lightning damage. You also gain a +1 bonus on your Attack Rolls.

If you have stacked five or more Lightning Charges, all of them are consumed on the next attack and deal an additional 1d8 Lightning damage in addition to previous perks.

FYI

These charges deal additional damage if the enemy is wet or in standing water. We recommend using these with a build that can create water, like a Druid or a Cleric.

This whole process is automated, and you can’t control it. If you have Lightning Charges available, they will be used on each subsequent attack. You cannot keep them for later use.

Items that generate lightning charges

The following items generate Lightning Charges once you equip them.

The Joltshooter: This bow generates 2 Lightning Charges every time you deal damage with it. It was acquired as a reward for rescuing the Grand Duke.
The Sparky Points: It is a Spear that gains 2 Lightning Charges every time you deal damage with it. Acquired as a reward for rescuing the Grand Duke
The Spellsparkler: This quarterstaff generates 2 Electric Charges every time you deal damage with a cantrip or a spell with this weapon equipped. It is also a reward for Rescuing the Grand Duke.
The Speedy Lightfeet: These pairs of boots generate 3 Lightning Charges every time you use Dash action during combat. Acquired from a chest beneath the Windmill in the Blighted Village (neat gnome’s backpack).
The Watersparkers: These pairs of boots generate 3 Lightning Charges if the wearer starts their turn on an electrified surface. They can be looted from a Gilded Chest near Minthara in the Goblin Camp.
The Sparkle Hands: These gloves generate 2 Lightning Charges if the wearer makes a successful unarmed attack roll. They can be looted from a chest (X: 95, Y: 210) in the Sunlit Wetlands near Auntie Ethel’s Teahouse.
Markoheshkir: This legendary Quarterstaff generates 1 Lightning Charge when the wearer damages a creature with a spell while using Kereska’s favor spell. It can be obtained from the bottom of the Ramazith’s Tower.

FYI

You can only obtain one of the above-mentioned weapons as a reward from Rescue the Grand Duke quest, so be careful with your choice.

A pro tip: You can create a School of Evocation wizard build that focuses on using Magic Missile. Equip the Spellsparker quarterstaff that generates 2 Lightning Charges per attack on an enemy. Magic Missile deals at least three strikes on an enemy. This will end up generating 6 Lightning Charges which result in massive damage output.

Items that use lightning charges in BG3

The following items consume the lightning charges in exchange for powerful abilities or saving throws. The last item requires only four lightning charges, while the others use up any amount you have.

The Blast Pendant: This allows you to deal damage equal to your remaining Lightning Charges with any lightning spell or cantrip. All the lightning charges are consumed. You can obtain it from Dhourn’s petrified body near the Selunite Outpost in the Underdark.
The Jolty Vest: If an enemy makes a successful attack roll against the wearer of this vest, they must succeed a dexterity saving throw. If the attacker fails, they become shocked. This rare, medium armor can be purchased from Brem inside the Zhentarim Hideout after finishing the Find the Missing Shipment side quest.
The Lifebringer: You gain 3HP temporarily after gaining Lightning Charges. However, this HP goes away if you lose the charges. This rare helmet can be purchased from Blurg in the Myconid colony.
The Protecty Sparkswall: This chest item gives the wearer +1 to Saving Throws and Armor Class. You can loot this rare clothing from a chest (X: -645, Y: 362) in the Grymforge.
The Sparkle Hands: These gloves allow you to generate 2 Lightning Charges with each unarmed strike. You gain an advantage against metal constructs and enemies wearing metal armor.
The Real Sparky Sparkswall: It is a shield that requires 4 Lightning Charges to build up the Lightning Aura. It deals 1d6 damage to the enemies in the near vicinity. It can be obtained from a wooden chest (X: -693, Y: 419) in Grymforage