Baldur's Gate 3 is Larian Studios' massive CRPG built on the D&D 5th Edition ruleset, offering hundreds of hours of branching narrative across three acts. The game features full voice acting, motion capture, and a staggering number of choices that genuinely alter the story — including romancing companions, betraying allies, or becoming a Dark Urge villain. With turn-based tactical combat, environmental interactions like pushing enemies off cliffs or combining grease and fire, and a 4-player co-op mode, it set a new standard for RPGs when it launched in 2023.
Your choice of equipment defines your damage output and playstyle. This guide ranks every major option, explains what makes each one strong, and tells you which builds they pair best with.
Equipment Rankings
| Equipment | Tier | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gontr Mansen | S | Fighter or Paladin Strength builds | A legendary greatsword found in Act 3 that deals extra psychic damage and has the unique ability to see the memories of creatures you kill. |
| Markoheshkir | A | Wizard, Sorcerer, or Warlock builds | The best staff in the game, found in the Ramazith's Tower vault in Act 3. |
| Bloodthirst | A | Thief Rogue or dual-wielding builds | A legendary dagger found in Act 3 that makes your attacks always eligible for Sneak Attack regardless of positioning. |
| Nyrulna | B | Tavern Brawler Monk or Berserker Barbarian | A legendary trident obtained from the circus in Rivington during Act 3. |
| Crimson Mischief | B | Rogue dual-wield or Ranger builds | A legendary shortsword from the same loot pool as Bloodthirst in Act 3. |
S-Tier: Gontr Mansen
A legendary greatsword found in Act 3 that deals extra psychic damage and has the unique ability to see the memories of creatures you kill. It has a built-in action that deals bonus damage based on your missing hit points. One of the highest DPR weapons for two-handed builds.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Fighter or Paladin Strength builds |
| Key Mechanic | turn-based combat |
| Recommended Build | Fighter |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Gontr Mansen: Pairs naturally with Fighter thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Markoheshkir
The best staff in the game, found in the Ramazith's Tower vault in Act 3. It grants a free spell slot once per long rest and the Kereska's Favour ability which lets you choose an elemental damage type to boost all your spells. Essential for any spellcaster build.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Wizard, Sorcerer, or Warlock builds |
| Key Mechanic | D&D 5e ruleset |
| Recommended Build | Wizard |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Markoheshkir: Pairs naturally with Wizard thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Bloodthirst
A legendary dagger found in Act 3 that makes your attacks always eligible for Sneak Attack regardless of positioning. Combined with Crimson Mischief in the off-hand, it creates the strongest dual-wield setup. Deals additional piercing damage on every hit.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Thief Rogue or dual-wielding builds |
| Key Mechanic | companion approval |
| Recommended Build | Cleric |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Bloodthirst: Pairs naturally with Cleric thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Nyrulna
A legendary trident obtained from the circus in Rivington during Act 3. It returns when thrown like a boomerang and deals bonus thunder damage in an AoE on impact. It also prevents you from being moved against your will. Excellent for thrown weapon Tavern Brawler builds.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Tavern Brawler Monk or Berserker Barbarian |
| Key Mechanic | camp interactions |
| Recommended Build | Rogue |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Nyrulna: Pairs naturally with Rogue thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Crimson Mischief
A legendary shortsword from the same loot pool as Bloodthirst in Act 3. It deals extra piercing damage when you have advantage and bonus damage when your target is below 50% health. The perfect off-hand for any dual-wielding Rogue or Ranger.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Rogue dual-wield or Ranger builds |
| Key Mechanic | environmental combos |
| Recommended Build | Paladin |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Crimson Mischief: Pairs naturally with Paladin thanks to stat scaling synergies.
Equipment Progression Path
The order you should acquire equipment as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Emerald Grove
- Markoheshkir → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Bloodthirst → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Gontr Mansen → Best-in-slot, aim for this by late game
- Upgrade to max → The power spike from max upgrades is enormous
Equipment Tips
- Always upgrade your primary equipment before diversifying — one strong option beats three mediocre ones.
- Match your equipment to your build's stat priorities for maximum scaling.
- Long Rest often in Act 1 — many companion scenes and story events only trigger at camp, and missing them can lock you out of romance options with Shadowheart or Astarion.
- Check our tier list for how equipment rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More Baldur's Gate 3 Guides
- Baldur's Gate 3 Baldur's Gate 3 Overview
- Baldur's Gate 3 Best Builds
- Baldur's Gate 3 Tier List
- Baldur's Gate 3 Walkthrough
- Baldur's Gate 3 Beginner's Guide
- Baldur's Gate 3 Tips & Tricks
- Baldur's Gate 3 Combat Guide
- Baldur's Gate 3 Boss Guide
- Baldur's Gate 3 Maps & Locations
- Baldur's Gate 3 Crafting Guide
- Baldur's Gate 3 Classes & Characters
Similar Games
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- Cyberpunk 2077 Weapons Guide — rpg game with similar mechanics
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Weapons Guide — rpg game with similar mechanics
