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Patch 5 ofBaldur’s Gate 3has come with a ton of changes, from epilogues to Honour Mode, but not every change is so well known. With change lists as long as the ones for Baldur’s Gate, it comes as no surprise that some changes don’t always get included in the patch notes. Thanks to community efforts, however, these secret changes have been found and investigated.
Some will affect everyone, while others will affect the lucky few playing in Honour Mode. No matter which category they fit in, however, they all have a significant enough impact on gameplay to be worth mentioning - especially for those crafty players who’ve gotten a little too used to cheesing bosses with that Blood Money exploit. We see you, and unfortunately, so did Larian.
All Undocumented Patch 5 General Changes
The important general changes from this patchmostly affect spells and general status effects.There are also minor ability and item fixes, but many of the general changes for these categories are fixing bugs that made it easier to cheese bosses or create damage stacks.
For those hoping for boons, you’ll findpositive changes in the spell category for Heal, the most powerful healing spell in the game, which increases its overall range andfixes for Ice Wall. On the other hand,Invisibility and Greater Invisibility have two important nerfsto standard gameplay you’ll want to pay attention to.
Arcane Ward and Shield
Spell and Feat Synergy
Arcane Ward gains no longer stack from the casting of Shield.
Permanent change of a pre-existing bug. Shield has not done this since Patch 2, though it was meant to.
Invisibility and Greater Invisibility
Spell Change
Invisibility is now broken by Lockpicking and Disarming Traps. Greater Invisibility must now succeed at Stealth checks to prevent being broken by Lockpicking and Disarming Traps.
Wall of Ice
Spell Fix
Wall of Ice correctly deals damage when broken instead of when characters are exposed to lingering ice particles when traversing or when starting their next turn.
Otiluke’s Resilient Sphere
Otiluke’s Resilient Sphere can only be cast now on large or smaller targets.
Ability and Feat Changes
Aspect of the Beast
Buff
Chimpanzee aspect can avoid Blind condition with a Constitution saving throw (DC = 8+ proficiency bonus + Dex modifier).
Primal Stampede
Can avoid the Prone condition with a Constitution saving throw (DC = 10 + Strength modifier).
Knowledge of the Ages
Feat Fix
Knowledge of the Ages: Wisdom is fixed to now give proficiency in only Wisdom-based skills. History, Investigation, Nature, and Religion (all Intelligence skills) have been replaced with Wisdom-based skills: Insight, Perception, Medicine, and Survival.
Arcane Charge
Significant Overhaul
Instead of a proficiency bonus added to all damage against all Threatened targets and a 50% movement speed penalty while active, this condition now only gives a +2 bonus damage boost against Threatened targets with no movement penalty.
Arcane Acuity
Instead of 7 charges, you can stack this condition up to 10 times but now can lose charges when taking any type of damage - even self-inflicted or condition-based (causing a loss of 2 stacks).
Mental Fatigue
Mental Fatigue can now stack (up to 7 times). These stacks, if reaching 5 or higher, can discharge for 1d4 Psychic damage if the effected creature fails their saving throw (Intelligence or Wisdom).
Radiating Orb
Minor Overhaul
Radiating Orb’s stacks have increased from 7 to 10. These stacks can now be dismissed by 2 if the affected target makes an attacking roll.
Weapon and Item Changes
Rhapsody
Ability Stack Fix
Rhapsody’s unique Scarlet Remittance ability is fixed to now only stack when hitting living creatures instead of inanimate objects.
Twist of Fortune
Ability Cheese Patch
Twist of Fortune’s special ability, Blood Money, is now reworded and patched to consume all gold on a target when used. Prior cheesing to pickpocket excessive amounts of gold on bosses for one-shots still works at the cost of losing that gold.
Diadem of Arcane Synergy
Ability Effect Fix
Similar to Rhapsody, the Arcane Synergy Diadem’s ability is no longer applied to inanimate objects. You may only gain stacks of Arcane Synergy when inflicting effects (except Threatened) on enemies.
Eternal Carafe of Wine/Acid
Action Economy Fix
You must now consume a Bonus Action to drink from this instead of a Free Action.
Summon Golem Bell
You must now consume a full Action to use this item.
All Undocumented Patch 5 Honour Mode Only Changes
Honour Mode changes have the most comprehensive changes to base feature gameplay. Most importantly, they have game-changingnerfs to the Hastened Condition, weapon damage scaling, and applicable bonuses to damaging abilities. The biggest change will be theexceptional nerf to the Pact of Blade Warlock.
Several weapons and items have seen significant price changesto make your journey more difficult and your wallet tighter. Wehighly recommend studying the list belowbefore taking your next leap into Honour Mode.
Pact of the Blade
Action Economy Changes
Pact of the Blade can no longer stack with Extra Attack.
Tavern Brawler
Damage Calculation Changes
Tavern Brawler no longer allows damage instances to be calculated separately on throws.
Various Abilities
Several abilities now cannot be modified by effects to add extra bonus damage. Bonus damage will now be calculated to the base attack damage instead of the damage inflicted by these abilities:
Perilous Stakes
Ability Target Changes
Perilous Stakes' debuff can now only be applied to allies instead of enemies (prevents placing Vulnerability).
Hastened
Feat Synergy Changes
Haste effects no longer stack with Extra Attack. Therefore, Fighters with 2 Extra Attacks can attack three times with their first action but only once more with the second action.
Various Items
Item Rarity Changes
All items included have increased their rarity by one (excpet the Caustic Band who has increased from Uncommon to Very Rare). These items include:
Various Weapons
Weapon Damage Calculation Changes
Several weapons have had Separate Damage Instances removed entirely and have been replaced with a flat damage boost:
Bloodlust / Speed Potions
Drinking these potions, extra actions granted no longer benefit from Extra Attack.
Over 100 other items have seen significant price changes (mostly increases) and cannot succinctly be reflected in this list.
