Breaking 5th Edition in BG3's Honor Mode

[TheEmptyRoad]

Going to give Honor Mode another try. No mods or anything in order to get achievements and such, so no expanded party or level limit expansion or anything.

Any suggestions for how to break 5th(ish) Edition in BG3? Class/Subclass, Race, Party Comp, Tav/Durge/Other Origin?

[Trickster]

I swear, to beat Honor Mode, people resort to the most dishonorable ways of playing! Larian needs to realize they ****** up their difficulty design.


PS: Just abuse Cleric. It's an OP class.

[J1M]

Going to give Honor Mode another try. No mods or anything in order to get achievements and such, so no expanded party or level limit expansion or anything.

Any suggestions for how to break 5th(ish) Edition in BG3? Class/Subclass, Race, Party Comp, Tav/Durge/Other Origin?

The highest damage output that I'm aware of is to dual-wield hand crossbows and focus on multiclass character building choices that give you as many attacks as possible. The lynchpin of this is the Sharpshooter feat. Augment with things that boost your chance to hit.

The best options will vary at a particular level, but I ended up with one that looked like this: Rogue(Thief) 4/Fighter 2/Bard(College of Swords) 6. Ranger has some good options that support this too (Spike Growth). For most of the game I had two sharpshooters in the party. Looks like the other one was Fighter 2/Cleric 1/Rogue(Thief) 4/Ranger(Gloomstalker) 5. Don't remember why I had a Cleric level for Minthara, but it was probably related to out of combat skill checks.

Between action surge, extra attack, bonus actions, and other abilities like slashing flourish, you should be able to do about 12 attacks on your first turn.

I had Tav as a Warlock. Possibly for some damage type variety and charisma skill checks.

[Brother Michael]

You can stack tavern brawler and great weapon master on a monk/fighter with a long sword. Probably not the most overpowered build, but it’s up there in power. Paladins are very powerful in general.

I’ve been playing a custom difficulty that’s essentially honor mode without the perma death rule. My general tip is to hoard plenty of high level scrolls. I’ve clutched out multiple fights with extra chain lightnings or circles of death. This was on a first playthrough, so being able to better prepare would make it easier.

Picking and choosing which encounters you do also helps. I don’t see much point to fighting the spectator, for example.

[buttfucker 3000]

Going to give Honor Mode another try. No mods or anything in order to get achievements and such, so no expanded party or level limit expansion or anything.

Any suggestions for how to break 5th(ish) Edition in BG3? Class/Subclass, Race, Party Comp, Tav/Durge/Other Origin?

Gnomes have a pretty good racial called "Gnome Cunning" (Advantage on Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma Saving Throws). Generally, spells that cause a loss of control to your character (stuns, mind control, confuse, etc) have INT and WIS saving throws, so this racial is very good for resisting that. **** can go sideways so fast if your enemy lands a stun or mind control on you, especially on honor mode. The problem is that you'd have to play an ugly *** Gnome.

[TheEmptyRoad]

I swear, to beat Honor Mode, people resort to the most dishonorable ways of playing! Larian needs to realize they ****** up their difficulty design.


PS: Just abuse Cleric. It's an OP class.

I know, calling it 'Honor Mode' is rather ironic.

I've started a Monk, but I agree, Cleric is OP. CoDzilla never really went away, just changed shape.

[buttfucker 3000]

I swear, to beat Honor Mode, people resort to the most dishonorable ways of playing! Larian needs to realize they ****** up their difficulty design.


PS: Just abuse Cleric. It's an OP class.

I know, calling it 'Honor Mode' is rather ironic.

I've started a Monk, but I agree, Cleric is OP. CoDzilla never really went away, just changed shape.

If you're going Monk, I'd highly recommend multi-classing into a thief rogue for that extra bonus action.

[TheEmptyRoad]

I swear, to beat Honor Mode, people resort to the most dishonorable ways of playing! Larian needs to realize they ****** up their difficulty design.


PS: Just abuse Cleric. It's an OP class.

I know, calling it 'Honor Mode' is rather ironic.

I've started a Monk, but I agree, Cleric is OP. CoDzilla never really went away, just changed shape.

If you're going Monk, I'd highly recommend multi-classing into a thief rogue for that extra bonus action.

Around what level would that be optimal? After level 4?

[Norfleet]

I know, calling it 'Honor Mode' is rather ironic.

Honor Culture has always placed the appearance of honor over any of its specifics. In war, nothing is more honorable than victory!

[Brother Michael]

I swear, to beat Honor Mode, people resort to the most dishonorable ways of playing! Larian needs to realize they ****** up their difficulty design.


PS: Just abuse Cleric. It's an OP class.

Sanctuary should be used early and often!

I can’t say I blame people for at least save scumming when a playthrough is dozens of hours long and rng dependent. Honestly, the mode is made for streamers.

[buttfucker 3000]

I know, calling it 'Honor Mode' is rather ironic.

I've started a Monk, but I agree, Cleric is OP. CoDzilla never really went away, just changed shape.

If you're going Monk, I'd highly recommend multi-classing into a thief rogue for that extra bonus action.

Around what level would that be optimal? After level 4?

I'd get 5 levels in Monk first. That way, you'll have a feat (Tavern Brawler obviously), and an extra attack. Or if you want, you could wait for level 6 and unlock empowered unarmed strikes, which makes your unarmed strikes do much more damage.

[Vaako]

Wasnt there a mod which enables achievements aswell? Could not imagine playing it without increasing the levelcap at least to have higher multiclasses.

[J1M]

Wasnt there a mod which enables achievements aswell? Could not imagine playing it without increasing the levelcap at least to have higher multiclasses.

Isn't raising the level cap just enabling cheats with extra steps?

[Vaako]

Wasnt there a mod which enables achievements aswell? Could not imagine playing it without increasing the levelcap at least to have higher multiclasses.

Isn't raising the level cap just enabling cheats with extra steps?

Yes and? You can play it singleplayer and put other limitations on yourself if it is too easy for you like less grp members. And if you collect barrels like crazy every fight becomes a joke anyway no cheats needed. Its just about a different experience and I never bought it on steam anyway, I would never get achievements, not that I care.

[buttfucker 3000]

Wasnt there a mod which enables achievements aswell? Could not imagine playing it without increasing the levelcap at least to have higher multiclasses.

Isn't raising the level cap just enabling cheats with extra steps?

Yes and? You can play it singleplayer and put other limitations on yourself if it is too easy for you like less grp members. And if you collect barrels like crazy every fight becomes a joke anyway no cheats needed. Its just about a different experience and I never bought it on steam anyway, I would never get achievements, not that I care.

This reminds me, I recently attempted a solo honor run and got as far as the Gith fight inside the prism at the start of act 3. I spent the entire playthrough brooding over how I'd handle the Myrkul fight and came to the conclusion that the only possible way to beat him would be barrelmancy. Funny enough, my barrelmancy strat worked and got him down and I thought it would be smooth sailing for the rest of the playthrough. Wrong. The Gith monks you fight inside the prism absolutely bitched me. I thought I was prepared, but i was not ready for them to have infintie jumping distance. Basically, they could close any gap by using a single bonus action and **** you up. So my hit-and-run strat was completely nullified here.

[Vaako]

Isn't raising the level cap just enabling cheats with extra steps?

Yes and? You can play it singleplayer and put other limitations on yourself if it is too easy for you like less grp members. And if you collect barrels like crazy every fight becomes a joke anyway no cheats needed. Its just about a different experience and I never bought it on steam anyway, I would never get achievements, not that I care.

This reminds me, I recently attempted a solo honor run and got as far as the Gith fight inside the prism at the start of act 3. I spent the entire playthrough brooding over how I'd handle the Myrkul fight and came to the conclusion that the only possible way to beat him would be barrelmancy. Funny enough, my barrelmancy strat worked and got him down and I thought it would be smooth sailing for the rest of the playthrough. Wrong. The Gith monks you fight inside the prism absolutely bitched me. I thought I was prepared, but i was not ready for them to have infintie jumping distance. Basically, they could close any gap by using a single bonus action and **** you up. So my hit-and-run strat was completely nullified here.

https://www.youtube.com/@ProxyGateTactician/videos

this guy has exploited almost any mechanic you can in this game if you need some inspirations for runs.

[WrenchWring]

All-ranged party with a Sorcerer 12 to spam Extended Globe of Invulnerability. With all the freecast and spell slot replenishing effects, you can get five level-6 spells per long rest in act 3. That's 30 turns of complete invulnerability for your whole party. Your actual damage output barely matters, but ranged builds have crazy DPR anyway. Party might look something like Storm Sorcerer Tav, Tempest Cleric, Ranged Swords Bard with BoMS, TB Throwzerker/Thief. Sorc slaps the Globe down and sets up Wet or blasts with cold/lightning, Tempest Cleric sets up Wet or blasts with lightning and knocks enemies away from the Globe, Bard makes a billion attacks that build up Arcane Acuity and casts Hold Person as a bonus action, Throwzerker throws 4 times per turn and guaranteed prones people or throws enemies out of the Globe so everyone else can hit.

[TheEmptyRoad]

Lost my old Honor Mode save when I switched to my new computer. Something about corrupted files or somesuch.

Anyway, I just got the farthest I ever have on Honor Mode, but the Avatar of Myrkul cooked me. Fun fact: Using the [Persuade] option does not always make things better! I skipped the first portion of that fight, and instead had to fight The Avatar and all the little minions plus those extra respawning minions AND The Avatar has a Bone Chill Aura - so my strategy of freeing Aylin and bum-rushing him with Martials did NOT work. That’s what I get for playing Wyll I suppose. Hexblade w/Shadow Blade-Booming Blade is a menace though, holy ****. I killed Ethel in 1 Turn, ***** didn’t even get to teleport down to her ******** Basement.

Now I’ve started a new run with a custom guy. Halfling Swords Bard named Yolo Swaggins. Since I’ve got healing and support spells AND can pick locks thanks to the Charlatan background I’ve replaced both Astarion and Shart so the other three are all Martials. Made it to the Underdark.

[TheEmptyRoad]

Welp, Yolo Swaggins and Crew died at the Nere fight. No cutscene, some npc just RAN INTO THE FIRE where AN EXPLOSION JUST HAPPENED and aggroed everybody, even the Duergar we made a deal with (Scrying Eye was gone already). ****.

Might try a Sorcerer next, maybe go back to Hexblade.

[TheEmptyRoad]

Made a Wood Elf Monk, like my first serious Honor Mode run that got yeeted into the ether when I switched computers. Gave him the Noble background which gives him Proficiency in Persuasion and a 12 in Charisma so he isn't total **** at being a Face. Decided to stake Astarion again and replace both him and Shart with the Bard Hireling after tweaking her skills so she's got expertise at Sleight of Hand. I also gave her some healing and the Enhance Ability Spell for extra Eagle's...whatever, the Charisma Buff. Gonna see if a Bard really is a good replacement for a Cleric.

Any thoughts on who to replace for Karlach Throw-serker Barbarian-if any? Battle Master Lae'zel or Hexblade Wyll? Are either worth replacing?

[Demonic Fate]

Any thoughts on who to replace for Karlach Throw-serker Barbarian-if any? Battle Master Lae'zel or Hexblade Wyll? Are either worth replacing?

Eldritch Knights are among the best throwers in the game (level 1 ability), and Lae'zel makes sense as an EK respec.