What are the best ways to use party-wide stealth in Baldur's Gate 3?

Party-wide stealth in Baldur's Gate 3 is a powerful tactic that allows your entire group to move undetected, set up ambushes, and avoid unnecessary combat. To achieve this effectively, you need to understand the mechanics of stealth, how to coordinate your party, and how to optimize your characters for stealth-based gameplay. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide on how to use party-wide stealth in Baldur's Gate 3.

First, letÔÇÖs break down the mechanics of stealth. In Baldur's Gate 3, stealth is governed by the Hide action, which allows a character to attempt to become invisible to enemies. To successfully hide, a character must be out of the enemyÔÇÖs line of sight and pass a Stealth check against the enemyÔÇÖs Perception. If successful, the character remains hidden until they perform an action that reveals them, such as attacking or moving into an enemyÔÇÖs line of sight. Party-wide stealth requires all party members to successfully hide at the same time, which can be challenging but is achievable with the right setup.

To initiate party-wide stealth, you need to ensure that all party members are in a position where they can hide. This often means positioning them behind cover, such as walls, barrels, or bushes, where they are out of the enemyÔÇÖs line of sight. Once everyone is in position, you can use the Hide action for each character. ItÔÇÖs important to note that some characters may have higher Stealth bonuses than others, so you may need to rely on those with higher bonuses to lead the way or distract enemies while the rest of the party hides.

One effective strategy is to use a character with high Dexterity and proficiency in Stealth, such as a Rogue or Ranger, to scout ahead and identify safe paths for the party. This character can also use abilities like Cunning Action to hide as a bonus action, allowing them to quickly reposition and guide the party. Additionally, spells like Pass Without Trace, which grants a +10 bonus to Stealth checks, can be invaluable for ensuring the entire party remains hidden.

When attempting party-wide stealth, itÔÇÖs crucial to manage your partyÔÇÖs movement carefully. Moving too quickly or carelessly can result in characters being spotted, especially if they fail their Stealth checks. To avoid this, move your party in small increments, ensuring that each character remains hidden before moving the next. You can also use the turn-based mode to control the timing of your movements, allowing you to synchronize your partyÔÇÖs actions and avoid detection.

Another important consideration is the use of distractions. Characters with abilities like Minor Illusion or Thaumaturgy can create distractions to draw enemies away from your partyÔÇÖs path, giving you more opportunities to hide. For example, casting Minor Illusion to create a sound in a different location can cause enemies to investigate, allowing your party to move past them unnoticed.

Common mistakes to avoid include moving your party too close to enemies, failing to account for environmental factors like light and noise, and neglecting to use abilities or spells that enhance stealth. For example, moving in bright light or on noisy surfaces like metal floors can increase the chances of being detected. Always be mindful of your surroundings and use the environment to your advantage.

Advanced techniques for party-wide stealth include using invisibility spells like Greater Invisibility or potions of invisibility to make your party completely undetectable for a short period. This can be particularly useful for bypassing heavily guarded areas or setting up ambushes. Additionally, combining stealth with crowd control spells like Silence or Fog Cloud can further reduce the chances of detection by limiting enemy vision and hearing.

In terms of character building, investing in Dexterity and Stealth proficiency is essential for any character you want to use in a stealth-focused party. Classes like Rogue, Ranger, and Monk are naturally suited for stealth, but other classes can also be effective with the right feats and abilities. For example, a Wizard or Sorcerer with the Alert feat can be surprisingly effective in a stealthy role, especially if they have access to spells that enhance stealth or create distractions.

Finally, itÔÇÖs important to remember that party-wide stealth is not always the best option. Some encounters may require direct combat, and attempting to stealth through them could result in your party being caught off guard. Always assess the situation and decide whether stealth is the most effective strategy before committing to it.

In summary, party-wide stealth in Baldur's Gate 3 requires careful planning, coordination, and optimization of your charactersÔÇÖ abilities. By understanding the mechanics of stealth, using the environment to your advantage, and avoiding common mistakes, you can successfully navigate the gameÔÇÖs challenges with a stealth-focused approach. Whether youÔÇÖre sneaking past enemies, setting up ambushes, or avoiding combat altogether, mastering party-wide stealth can give you a significant advantage in Baldur's Gate 3.