Recently I started playing Baldur’s Gate 3 in “Honor Mode.” This mode means that if your character dies, it’s truly game over—no reloading saves. Sounds thrilling, right? But my first few attempts all ended in failure. The worst one happened when my party was barely out of the woods before getting surrounded by enemies and wiped out. The game ended immediately, giving me zero second chances.
I thought I knew the game pretty well, but it turned out I was completely wrong. Battles I could win in Normal Mode became one-mistake-and-you’re-done in Honor Mode. I got stuck at the same spot several times, and I was so frustrated I wanted to quit.
Then it hit me: I couldn’t rely on luck or just copy my old playstyle. I needed to study carefully and find a way to actually survive.
Why My First Party Failed
My initial team looked like this: I played Paladin, with Shadowheart (Priest), Raziel (Warrior), and Gale (Mage). Seemed solid—healer, tank, damage.
But it all fell apart in one battle. We encountered a group of Gys Yankees at the mountain pass, and they struck first. Gale took a hit on the very first turn and went down.Then the enemies focused their fire on the rest of us. We didn’t even get a chance to fight back before the entire party was wiped.
Another time, I switched to Astryon as my main, hoping to sneakily lay traps for damage. But because our party’s Perception was too low, we got ambushed by an Intelligence monster. Before we could react, we were all dead.
These failures taught me: Honor Mode isn’t about “fighting beautifully,” it’s about “staying alive.”You can’t rely solely on paper stats; you need backup plans and even resort to “any means necessary.”
I Rebuilt My Team, Abandoning “Role-Playing”
From then on, I stopped thinking “I want to be a cool Paladin” or “I want to follow the story path.” I focused on one thing: how to keep the team alive longer.
My new team setup was:
- Myself: No more Paladin. I switched to “Storm Mage.” Started as a Mage, then immediately leveled up to become a Storm Priest. Why? Because this class can wear heavy armor and cast Storm spells, offering superior survivability.
- Shadowheart: She was originally a Deception Priest, skilled in deception and control.But now I’ve switched her to a “Life Domain” Priest, dedicated solely to healing and buffing. Her “Words of Healing” and “Group Sanctuary” have saved me countless times.
- Astrión: I’ve specialized him as a “Shadowland Ranger” wielding a two-handed crossbow. This setup lets him fire before enemies act and get an extra shot.I have him target key enemy units like mages or healers.
- Gail: He remains a mage, but I’ve specialized him in “Summoning.” This prevents his summons from accidentally harming allies and allows him to control the battlefield. His big spells like Fireball and Blizzard are reserved for group engagements.
This team might not look “cool,” but it’s exceptionally reliable in combat.
My Summary of “Survival Hacks”
Having good characters isn’t enough. In Honor Mode, you need to master some tricks—even “exploit loopholes.” These methods might seem like “cheating,” but they genuinely keep you alive.
Buff Your Party Before Combat
Before every crucial battle, I spend one or two turns buffing my entire team. For example:
- Cast Shadowheart’s “Aid” spell to boost everyone’s health by a few points;
- Use the ‘Wayfarer’ ritual to increase movement speed for better positioning;
- If you know you’ll face poison enemies, pre-cast “Protection Against Poison” to shield your team.
These spells take up some skill slots, but pre-buffing is far safer than getting crippled in combat and then trying to heal.
Blocking Entrances with “Cloud of Daggers”
This is one of my favorite tactics. Have Gale cast a spell called “Cloud of Daggers” at doorways or narrow passages. Then position a warrior or paladin upfront to use “Shove” and push enemies back. Once foes step into the cloud, they’ll take continuous damage and won’t dare move.
This works especially well in crowded fights, trapping enemies so we can pick them off one by one.
Have the Mage “Chain Cast”
I found a ring that lets characters add an extra Lightning Energy when casting minor spells. I have Gale cast “Frost Ray” first, then use “Twin Spell” to duplicate it and cast it again.This rapidly maxes out energy, allowing me to clear the field with the ultimate “Lightning Storm.”
Another trick: Pour water on the ground before fighting to make it wet. Casting lightning spells on wet surfaces doubles the damage. I’ve one-shot many mid-tier bosses this way.
Invisibility Outperforms Stealth
Many players rely on “Stealth” to evade enemies. But in Honor Mode, stealth fails easily, and getting spotted means instant death.
My approach: Use Invisibility Potions. Drink one before combat, then move to the optimal position. When enemies approach, suddenly reveal yourself and unleash your ultimate. This not only catches them off guard but also forces them into unfavorable positioning.
Always Be Ready with “Group Sanctuary”
Shadowheart’s “Shield of Protection” is a god-tier skill. Whenever someone is low on health or needs to stand in a dangerous spot, I immediately apply this buff. Enemies attacking them will either miss or only deal minimal damage. AI will even waste turns attacking useless targets.
This tactic gives me crucial breathing room and often turns the tide of battle.
Farming Gear at the Merchant
If you lack good gear early on, do this: Save your game, then buy everything in the shop. If you don’t get what you want, quit the game, reload your save, and buy again. Repeat until you get the нуж ring or boots.
This might sound like “cheating,” but it’s worth it to survive. Sometimes a pair of +1 Defense shoes can mean one less hit taken, saving your life.
Do These Methods Really Work?
They absolutely do.
Once I encountered the Githyanki Patrol I’d previously failed to defeat. This time, I had my Warrior splash water to wet the ground. Gale hit their leader with Blizzard, slowing her down. Astreon unleashed a volley of arrows, killing her outright. The others charged in, all caught in “Cloud of Daggers,” and were slowly whittled down.A battle that should have been a loss turned into an easy victory.
Another time, during a rescue mission in the Nursery, a teammate was down to just a sliver of health. I immediately used “Group Sanctuary” to save the entire team, then slowly healed them out, ultimately clearing the stage.
Now I’m deep into the latter part of Act II. While I still get nervous, I no longer wipe out inexplicably like I used to.
My Final Thoughts
Honor Mode isn’t about “fair fights”—it’s about “finding ways to win.”
You don’t have to be a hero, nor stick to any specific playstyle. As long as you survive, any method counts.
These tactics might seem “unorthodox,” but they’re hard-won lessons from countless failures.
If you’re tackling Honor Mode, don’t fear exploiting loopholes or reloading for gear.
Survival comes first—style comes later.
When you finally claim that golden die, you’ll know it was all worth it.