15 Essential Items For Fighters In Baldur’s Gate 3 (& Where To Find Them)

Fighters are one of the most iconic melee classes in Baldur’s Gate 3 and are unquestionably the most versatile class to play. With proficiency in all weapon and armor types, a fighter character can be molded into anything a player can imagine. With better odds to land critical hits than others and the flexibility to fulfill both tank and DPS roles within the party, knowing which items will help bring out the best in any fighter is key.

While their versatility in combat is a major strength, it can make finding the right gear for a fighter a bit of a headache. I will prioritize different stats, tactics, and equipment when playing with my Eldritch Knight than when having fun with my Battle Master. Regardless of which Baldur’s Gate 3 fighter subclass is chosen, there are certain items found throughout all three acts that will help any fighter shine in battle.

15 Sword Of Justice – Uncommon Greatsword

Can Be Rewarded Or Looted In Act 1 From Anders

A great early-game melee weapon is the Sword Of Justice, which can be either given as a quest reward or looted by Anders in the Toll House. While this +1 sword has decent damage for Act 1, the best reason to seek out Anders is the sword’s feature: Tyr’s Protection. Once per short rest, the Sword of Justice wielder can cast this shield of faith variant at level one as a bonus action. While active, this spell will increase the wielder’s AC by two, making it harder for enemies to land their hits.

14 Cloak Of Protection – Uncommon Cloak

Can Be Purchased In Act 2 From Quartermaster Talli

Once arriving in Act 2, the Harper’s merchant Quartermaster Talli should be the first stop for the party as she is one of the best merchants in BG3 with plenty of excellent gear. The Cloak of Protection can be bought from her and is great for any class, but it is a perfect choice for melee party members who might be the focus for many enemies.

While wearing this cloak, the fighter will have a +1 boost to their AC and all saving throws, making it extremely useful for the rest of the game.

13 Periapt Of Wound Closure – Rare Amulet

Can Be Purchased Or Looted In Act 1 From Lady Esther

Being on the frontlines in many battles can mean that fighters are likely to take a beating more than most party members. Available from Lady Ester, as shown in the video from rAAZ, the Periapt of Wound Closure is perfect as it helps heal and prevent death. While wearing this amulet, the fighter will regain the maximum amount of hit points when they are healed from any spells or potions. The wearer will also automatically stabilize at the start of their turn if they are downed, meaning they won’t have to make death-saving throws.

12 Armour Of Persistence – Very Rare Heavy Armor

Can Be Purchased In Act 3 From Dammon

The Armour of Persistence is a great heavy armor that can be bought from Dammon once the party reaches Act 3. The armor has an AC of 20, one of the highest in BG3, and reduces all incoming damage by two. However, what really makes this armor stand out is that it will also grant the wearer the effects of Resistance and Blade Ward permanently while they have it on. This will grant them resistance to piercing, bludgeoning, and slashing damage, as well as give a 1d4 boost to all saving throws.

11 Crusher’s Ring – Uncommon Ring

Can Be Stolen Or Looted In Act 1 From Crusher

Being able to move around the battlefield quicker is perfect for a melee fighter build and Crusher’s Ring is brilliant for that. While wearing this ring, the fighter’s movement speed is increased by three meters/10 feet and can stack with the Longstrider spell, which gives the same effect. The ring can be taken from Crusher in Act 1’s goblin camp either by looting his body after death or slipping it off his toe, as Nenolia shows in their video by passing a sleight-of-hand DC 10 skill check.

10 The Dead Shot – Very Rare Longbow

Can Be Purchased In Act 3 From Fytz the Firecracker

While many fighters specialize in melee weapons, some may prefer to deal damage with ranged attacks with the archery fighting style at level one. Available to buy in Act 3, The Dead Shot is a fantastic bow that doubles the fighter’s proficiency bonus for attack rolls when using it, unless they have disadvantage on the shot. The Dead Shot also reduces the number needed for a critical hit by one, which can stack with other effects that lower the threshold, such as the Champion Improved Critical Hit feature, making this longbow fun to use.

9 Sarevok’s Horned Helmet – Very Rare Medium Armor Helmet

Can Be Looted In Act 3 From Sarevok Anchev

Another fantastic item that will lower the critical hit threshold and pair well with a Champion fighter is Sarevok’s Horned Helmet. Available to swipe from Sarevok’s body after defeating him during the Murder Tribunal, this awesome-looking helmet will give the wearer dark vision up to three meters/10 feet or extend it to 15 meters/50 feet if they already have the ability. Finally, Sarevok’s Horned Helmet will also prevent the wearer from being frightened, preventing them from moving and imposing a disadvantage on attack rolls and ability checks.

8 Sword Of Chaos – Very Rare Greatsword

Can Be Looted In Act 3 From Sarevok Anchev

Also available to loot from Sarevok is the Sword of Chaos, which deals an extra 1d4 necrotic damage with each attack, which is great against many of the humanoid enemies in Act 3. But the Sword of Chaos’ best feature is its healing ability, which heals the wielder 1d6 hit points each time they hit a target. I paired this with the Periapt of Wound Closure to guarantee six hit points with each melee attack on an enemy, and with three attacks per turn by level 11, my fighters were almost unstoppable.

7 Killer’s Sweetheart – Very Rare Ring

Can Be Looted In Act 2 From Gauntlet of Shar’s Self-Same Trial

The Killer’s Sweetheart ring is the perfect way to help any fighter deal as much damage as possible in a fight. While wearing this ring, once per long rest, when the fighter kills a target, their next attack will be a critical hit. This very rare ring will drop in the Self-Same Trial within the Gauntlet of Shar from the copy of the player character, but only if none of the party have the Cheater’s Folly condition. To guarantee the ring will appear, the party must only attack the shadow copies of themselves.

6 Adamantine Splint Armour – Very Rare Heavy Armor

Can Be Forged In Act 1 At The Adamantine Forge

The Adamantine Forge offers some of the best early game armor in BG3, with the Adamantine pieces still being useful to the party right through to Act 3. The Adamantine Splint Armour is the heavy armor option and is well worth finding the mithral ore it takes to create it. While wearing this armor, all incoming damage is reduced by two, and attackers can’t land critical hits on the wearer. Best of all, when they land their melee attacks, enemies are sent reeling for three turns, imposing a -1 penalty to their attack rolls.

5 Balduran’s Giantslayer – Legendary Greatsword

Can Be Looted In Act 3 From Ansur

Some items in BG3 truly live up to their names and Balduran’s Giantslayer does just that. Firstly, it has a special action called Topple the Big Folk, which lets the wielder deal extra damage equal to their proficiency bonus and topple large, huge, or gargantuan creatures. The sword also doubles the damage from the fighter’s Strength modifier and grants an advantage on attack rolls against targets larger or bigger. Finally, it allows the wielder to grow in size to deal an additional 1d6 damage, have advantage on Strength checks and saving throws, and gain 27 temporary hit points.

4 Viconia’s Walking Fortress – Legendary Shield

Can Be Looted In Act 3 From Viconia DeVir

Viconia’s Walking Fortress offers a +3 to AC, the shield also allows warding bond to be cast at level two once per long rest to help boost an ally. While using it, the fighter will have an advantage on saving throws against spells, and all spell attack rolls against them will be at a disadvantage. As a reaction, when hit by a melee attack, the shield can deal 2d4 force damage and, as a bonus action, can create a shell around the fighter to reflect any projectiles once per short rest.

3 Helldusk Boots – Very Rare Boots

Can Be Found In Act 3 In Wyrm’s Rock Fortress

The Helldusk Boots are an excellent choice for any character but especially useful for frontline fighters as one of their features prevents enemy spells or actions from forcibly moving the wearer or knocking them prone. The boots allow the fighter to ignore difficult terrain and also allow a reaction to be used to succeed on failed saving throws.

Finally, they have a once-per-short-rest teleport option that also deals 2d8 fire damage. The boots are locked away in Gortash’s quarters, but RPG Junkie has a great video showing how to grab them without a fight.

2 Helldusk Armour – Legendary Heavy Armor

Can Be Looted In Act 3 From Raphael

Another part of BG3‘s Helldusk Armor set is the Helldusk Armour itself requiring a trip to the House of Hope. This heavy armor grants proficiency to any wearer and allows the Fly spell to be cast at level three once per long rest. While wearing this legendary armor, the fighter will have resistance to fire damage and take three less damage from all sources. Finally, whenever the wearer succeeds on a saving throw, the attacker that caused it will receive the burning condition and take 1d4 fire damage for three turns.

1 Helm Of Balduran – Legendary Medium Helmet

Can Be Found In Act 3 In The Dragon’s Sanctum

Finally, there is the Helm of Balduran, which is easily one of the best helmets in Baldur’s Gate 3. Found on top of an altar in Ansur’s area of the Wyrmway, this helmet increases its wearer’s AC by one and gives a +1 boost to saving throws. While wearing it, the fighter will be immune to stun and attackers will not be able to land critical hits. Lastly, this legendary helmet will heal its wearer two hit points at the start of every turn in combat, making it perfect for melee fighters in a tough spot.

Sources: rAAZ/YouTube, Nenolia/YouTube, RPG Junkie/YouTube