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Discover everything you need to know about all Shortswords Listed in Baldur’s Gate 3 and the best one to use in combat.
Shortswords in BG3 are light, finesse, and martial weapons that can be one-handed and have a range of 1.5 meters, dealing with piercing damage. They offer unique properties and have weapon actions like Flourish and Piercing Strike. Crimson Mischief is the best Shortsword to use in combat due to its unique benefits and properties. Selecting the best one is crucial because your gameplay mostly depends on it if you’re a melee player. In this guide, we’ll discuss all Shortswords in Baldur’s Gate 3, their properties, and the unique bonuses they provide to players in combat.
Shortswords Overview in BG3
Shortswords in Baldur’s Gate 3 are one-handed martial melee weapons that deal 1d6 piercing damage and can be dual-wielded. These weapons are ideal for dual-wielding setups, allowing you to maximize damage output. They are useful in melee for close combat while keeping your Dexterity-focused combat style intact. You can find them in shops, dungeons, or as rewards from key quests. Some are looted from bosses or hidden in secret areas.
1d6 base damage can feel underwhelming compared to heavier weapons but its range allows it to be used in melee combat. The properties of weapon type are piercing, finesse, light, and dippable. Bards and Rogues are proficient with Shortswords. There are versatile weapons that excel in builds that focus on dexterity, mobility, and precision. You can equip it to your character’s main hand weapon slot in the inventory, providing additional bonuses and buffs. The user needs Martial weapon proficiency or suffers penalties while wearing the weapon.
What is the purpose of Shortsword in BG3?
Shortswords are melee weapons that are good for precise thrusts and close-quarters combat. You can dual-wielded without special training and they pair well with large shields for formation without risking friendly fire. Shortswords allow players to use their Dexterity modifier for attack rolls and damage. The dual-wielding setup enables an additional attack with the off-hand weapon as a bonus action.
- Flourish- This weapon action allows you to feint an attack to possibly throw your opponent Off Balance.
- Piercing Strike- This weapon action allows you to stab an enemy and possibly inflict Gaping Wounds.
Shortswords synergize with Monk abilities like Flurry of Blows and Stunning Strike. Some magical Shortsword offer unique bonuses like additional damage types, crowd control effect, and improved critical hit chance. The versatility of this weapon type is that they work for both primary and off-hand weapons and are available to most classes with simple weapon proficiency.
List of All Shortswords in BG3
Here are all the Shortswords in Baldur’s Gate 3 including their damage, damage type, and special.
| Weapon | Rarity | Damage | Damage Type | Special |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Githyanki Shortsword | Common | 1d6 | Piercing | |
| Practice Sword | Common | 1d6 | Bludgeoning | |
| Rusty Shortsword | Common | 1d6 | Piercing | |
| Trepan | Common | 1d6 | Piercing | |
| Chessa’s Practice Sword | Common | 1d6 | Bludgeoning | |
| Harper Blade | Common | 1d6 | Piercing | |
| Kass’ Practice Sword | Common | 1d6 | Bludgeoning | |
| Shortsword | Common | 1d6 | Piercing | |
| Shortsword (Yurgir) | Common | 1d6 | Piercing | Not usable by humanoids. |
| Assassin’s Shortsword | Uncommon | 1d6 + 1 | Piercing | Advantage on Stealth Checks. |
| Githyanki Shortsword (+1) | Uncommon | 1d6 + 1 | Piercing | |
| Render of Mind and Body | Uncommon | 1d6 + 1 | Piercing | Psychic Steel Virtuoso When the wielder attacks with Advantage, they deal an additional 1d8 Psychic. |
| Shadow Blade (weapon) | Uncommon | 2d8 | Psychic | Shadow Blade You have an Advantage on Attack rolls against Lightly or Heavily Obscured targets when using this blade. |
| Shortsword +1 | Uncommon | 1d6 + 1 | Piercing | |
| Shortsword of First Blood | 1d6 | Piercing | Break the Unbroken Deals an additional 1d8 Piercing to targets that still have all their hit points. | |
| Steelforged Sword | Uncommon | 1d6 + 1 | Piercing | |
| Trepan (+1) | Uncommon | 1d6 + 1 | Piercing | Trephination Make a burr hole into an enemy’s skull and possibly knock them Prone. |
| Ambusher | Rare | 1d6 + 1 | Piercing | Sentinel Weapon Gain a +1 bonus to Initiative rolls and Advantage on Perception Ability Checks. Ambusher’s Streak In combat, you deal an additional 1d6 Necrotic damage against creatures that haven’t taken a turn yet. |
| Fleshrender | Rare | 1d6 + 2 | Piercing | Part the Flesh Thrust forward with diabolical precision, possibly stymying your target’s ability to heal. |
| Shortsword +2 | Rare | 1d6 + 2 | Piercing | |
| Slicing Shortsword | Rare | 1d6 + 1 | Piercing | Deepflesh Slice When the wielder attacks with Advantage, the attack inflicts Bleeding. |
| Sword of Clutching Umbra | Rare | 1d6 + 1 | Piercing | Shadowsoaked Blow Strike an enemy, adding your proficiency bonus to the damage. Moreover, if the attack hits, it deals an additional 1d6 Psychic damage. This attack doesn’t break concealment. |
| The Baneful | Rare | 1d6 + 1 | Piercing | Favoured Weapon This weapon has a +1 bonus to damage and Attack rolls. Baneful Bond On a hit, possibly Bane your target. |
| Knife of the Undermountain King | Very Rare | 1d6 + 2 | Piercing | Organ Rearranger Reduce the number you need to roll a Critical Hit while attacking by 1. When they roll 2 damage or less, reroll the dice, taking the highest result. Shadow Blade You have an Advantage on Attack rolls against Lightly or Heavily Obscured targets when using this blade. |
| Sword of Life Stealing | Very Rare | 1d6 + 2 | Piercing | Life Stealing Critical On a Critical Hit, the target takes an extra 10 Necrotic damage as long as it isn’t a construct or an undead. You also gain 10 temporary hit points. |
| Crimson Mischief | Legendary | 1d6 + 2 1d4 | Piercing Necrotic | Prey Upon the Weak This weapon deals an additional 1d4 Piercing damage against targets with 50% of their hit points or fewer. Main Hand Only Redvein Savagery When you make an attack with Advantage, the target takes an additional 7 Piercing damage. Off-Hand Only Crimson Weapon When you make an attack with your off-hand weapon, you can add your Ability Modifier to the damage of the attack. |
Tips and Tricks for using Shortsword in BG3
Here are the tips and tricks for using Shortsword in Baldur’s Gate 3.
- You can also use the opportunity attack feature to make additional attacks with your Shortsword.
- Combine a Shortsword with a sneak attack to deal massive damage.
- Utilize stealth to initiate combat for guaranteed advantage on attack rolls.
- Dual-wielding Shortswords work well with the Fighter’s action surge and multiple attack options.
- Look for magical Shortswords that add effects like critical hit chance and Necrotic damage.
- Pair with Off-Hand for an additional strike and combine two Shortswords to maximize your attacks per turn.
- Use Smite abilities to maximize the damage of critical hits or with Stunning Strike for crowd control.
- You can make the most of the Shortsword by focusing on finesse-based builds and dual-wielding strategies.
Best Shortswords in BG3
Here are the best Shortsword in Baldur’s Gate 3 to use in combat.
- Crimson Mischief- Crimson Mischief is a legendary dagger in Baldur’s Gate 3 that players can find in the third act of the game.This is more powerful when used with another dagger called Bloodthirst. It provides extra damage when attacking with Advantage and against targets with 50% or less of their hit points.
- Sword of Life Stealing- This is a rare +2 Shortsword that deals extra damage and heals the wielder when a critical hit is made. It deals an extra 10 Necrotic damage on a critical hit and heals the wielder for the same amount.
- Knife of the Undermountain King- This is a rare Shortsword in Baldur’s Gate 3 that can significantly improve a character’s offensive capabilities. It also enhances the frequency of scoring Critical Hits and provides an advantage against enemies in the shadows.
1) Crimson Mischief
| Damage | Enchantment | Weapon Skills | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1d6 + 2 Piercing | +2 | Life Stealing Critical | Looted from Orin, Act 3. |
Crimson Mischief in Baldur’s Gate 3 is a legendary Shortsword with different available perks depending on whether you equip this to your main or off-hand. Like daggers, it is meant to be used as one of two in a dual-wielding build. Such builds are typically most powerful when used with the Rogue or Ranger class. The primary perk on Crimson Mischief provides extra Piercing damage against targets who have less than 50% of their health left. This bonus applies no matter which hand you equip the weapon to.
If you equip this sword to the Main Hand you’ll be granted an extra 7 Piercing damage whenever you attack from Advantage. The Off-Hand perk allows you to add your Ability Modifier to the damage caused by the attack. To get Crimson Mischief in Baldur’s Gate 3 you need to proceed through the game until Act 3, where you can fight and defeat Orin to loot the Shortsword from her.
2) Sword of Life Stealing
| Damage | Enchantment | Weapon Skills | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1d6 + 2 Piercing | +2 | Life Stealing Critical | Sold by Dammon at the Last Light Inn, Act 2. |
In Baldur’s Gate 3, the Sword of Life Stealing is a Shortsword that deals extra damage and can return some health points on a successful critical hit. The main bonus found on this weapon is called Life Stealing Critical. With it, a successful Critical Hit will not only cause additional Necrotic damage to the target but also passively heal whoever wields it for 10 HP. This could be potentially very impactful for a Ranger or Rogue attacking from Stealth, or for a Champion Fighter. At level 3 the Champion Fighter subclass unlocks the Improved Critical Hit feature. It reduces the number you need to roll a Critical Hit while attacking is reduced by 1. Additionally, the effect can stack.
While not as powerful as some of the end-game weapons found in Act 3 of BG3, the Sword of Life Stealing is a really nice mid-game sword that will serve you well until you can pick up something better in the city of Baldur’s Gate. To get the Sword of Life Stealing in Baldur’s Gate 3, you must visit Dammon in the stables of the Last Light Inn during Act 2.
3) Knife of the Undermountain King
| Damage | Enchantment | Weapon Skills | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1d6 + 2 Piercing | +2 | Organ Rearranger Shadow Blade | Sold by A’jak’nir Jeera at Creche Y’llek, Act 1. |
The Knife of the Undermountain King in Baldur’s Gate 3 is a versatile weapon. It possess excellent bonuses, and making it suitable for rangers, and rogues. Its unique feature, Shadow Blade, grants the wielder an Advantage on Attack Rolls when targeting Lightly or Heavily Obscured foes. This advantage can be a game-changer, particularly for characters who rely on stealth or prefer to strike from the shadows. In addition to its exceptional advantage-granting ability, the Knife of the Undermountain King boasts a Weapon Enchantment of +2, further increasing its potency in combat.
The Organ Rearranger bonus when rolling a 19, the wielder scores a critical hit, increasing the damage output. Moreover, if the initial damage roll is two or less, the blade allows a reroll, taking the highest result. This unique feature applies to various types of attacks, including offhand weapons, ranged attacks, and spell attack rolls. This making it a versatile tool for a wide range of character builds. A’jak’nir Jeera sells the Knife of the Undermountain King for 720 gold in Creche Y’llek in Mountain Pass while transitioning from Act 1 to Act 2.
FAQs about All Shortswords in Baldur’s Gate 3 Listed
Are there Shortswords in Baldur’s Gate 3?
Yes, Shortswords are available as a weapon type in Baldur’s Gate 3. These are versatile marital melee weapons that most of the classes can use.
How many Shortswords are there in BG3?
There are 26 Shortswords in Baldur’s Gate 3 ranging from the nonmagical type to Finesse/Martial type variants.
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