What are the best ways to deal with enemy conjuration spells in Baldur's Gate 3?

Dealing with enemy conjuration spells in Baldur's Gate 3 requires a combination of understanding the mechanics, strategic planning, and effective use of your party's abilities. Conjuration spells in D&D 5E, which Baldur's Gate 3 is based on, typically involve summoning creatures or creating objects that can hinder or harm your party. These spells can be particularly challenging because they often add additional enemies to the battlefield, increasing the action economy in favor of your opponents. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide on how to handle these situations effectively.

First, itÔÇÖs important to understand the mechanics of conjuration spells. When an enemy casts a conjuration spell, they are usually summoning creatures or creating effects that persist on the battlefield. These summoned creatures can attack, block movement, or provide other tactical advantages to the enemy. The key to dealing with these spells is to either prevent them from being cast in the first place or to neutralize the summoned creatures quickly.

One of the most effective strategies is to focus on the caster. If you can disrupt or kill the enemy caster before they complete their spell, you can prevent the conjuration entirely. This can be done through spells like Counterspell, which allows you to interrupt an enemyÔÇÖs casting, or by using abilities that impose conditions like Silence, which prevents verbal components of spells. If you have a character with high initiative, such as a Rogue or Monk, you can use their speed to close the distance and attack the caster before they have a chance to act.

If the conjuration spell has already been cast, the next step is to deal with the summoned creatures. These creatures often have lower hit points compared to the main enemies, so focusing fire on them can quickly reduce their numbers. Area-of-effect (AoE) spells like Fireball or Shatter can be particularly effective, as they can damage multiple summoned creatures at once. Additionally, spells like Spirit Guardians or Cloud of Daggers can create zones of damage that harm any creatures that enter or start their turn in the area, making them useful for controlling summoned creatures.

Positioning is also crucial when dealing with conjuration spells. Summoned creatures can block pathways or surround your party, making it difficult to maneuver. Using terrain to your advantage, such as taking high ground or funneling enemies into narrow spaces, can help mitigate this. Characters with high mobility, like Rogues or Monks, can use their abilities to reposition and avoid being surrounded.

Another important consideration is the action economy. Summoned creatures increase the number of actions the enemy side can take each turn, so itÔÇÖs important to reduce their numbers quickly. This means prioritizing attacks on the summoned creatures over other enemies, even if they seem less threatening. Using abilities that grant extra attacks or bonus actions, such as the FighterÔÇÖs Action Surge or the RogueÔÇÖs Cunning Action, can help you take out multiple creatures in a single turn.

Common mistakes to avoid include ignoring the summoned creatures in favor of attacking the main enemies. While it might seem like a good idea to focus on the caster, leaving the summoned creatures unchecked can lead to your party being overwhelmed. Additionally, failing to use AoE spells or abilities that can hit multiple targets can make it harder to deal with large numbers of summoned creatures.

Advanced techniques include using spells like Banishment to remove summoned creatures from the battlefield entirely. This can be particularly useful against powerful summoned creatures that are difficult to kill quickly. Another advanced tactic is to use spells like Hold Monster or Polymorph to incapacitate the summoned creatures, reducing their effectiveness in combat.

In terms of character building, having a balanced party with a mix of damage dealers, controllers, and support characters can make dealing with conjuration spells easier. For example, a Wizard with Counterspell and AoE damage spells can be invaluable, while a Cleric with Spirit Guardians can control the battlefield and protect the party.

Specific examples of dealing with conjuration spells include encounters with enemy spellcasters who summon creatures like wolves or elementals. In these situations, using Counterspell to prevent the summoning, followed by AoE spells to clear the battlefield, can turn the tide of battle in your favor. Another example is using terrain to your advantage, such as positioning your party on high ground to limit the movement of summoned creatures and make them easier to target.

In conclusion, dealing with enemy conjuration spells in Baldur's Gate 3 requires a combination of understanding the mechanics, strategic planning, and effective use of your partyÔÇÖs abilities. By focusing on the caster, using AoE spells, controlling the battlefield, and optimizing your action economy, you can effectively neutralize the threat posed by conjuration spells and emerge victorious in combat.