Summary
A bow is nothing without arrows, and these handy projectiles can be used in bows and crossbows of any size inBaldur’s Gate 3. While standard arrows are fine for everyday fights, there are times when more firepower is needed if victory is to be achieved. These arrows deal standard weapon damage in addition to having some form of magical effect upon impact.
These special arrows follow a few different rules versus standard arrows. For starters, special arrows cannot be used for an extra attack, but normal arrows can. So, verify to use the special arrow for the normal attack and the normal arrow for the extra attack. Below is a list of thebest arrows inBaldur’s Gate 3, at least those that have been found so far.
Updated on June 18, 2025, by Kristy Ambrose:Arrows of various kinds are still readily available in the BG3, even after several bug fixes and updates. Very Rare arrows are purchased from the various merchants late in Act 2 and Act 3, with Uncommon ones found on the bodies of enemies the player has defeated. Players are still finding new areas and enemies to fight, making these arrows more important than ever. Some of the toughest fights involve enemies that are resistant to regular damage and sometimes a special arrow is a way to turn the tide of a difficult battle. It’s not always about dealing the most damage, but also about battlefield management, crowd control, and even transportation.
14Arrow Of Piercing
Hits Creatures Behind The Target For Half Damage
This arrow is the ideal choice when the enemy has been stopped at a choke point by the party’s tanks. TheArrow of Piercinghelps the frontline fighters defeat their immediate threats while simultaneously weakening the enemies waiting for their turn.
These arrows are also useful if the archer finds themselves split from the party and needs to kite a group of pursuing creatures. It’s situational, but the arrow’s effectiveness is improved if an enemy group can be slowed because this makes it less likely for the secondary target to move to safety.
13Arrow Of Dragon Slaying
Double Regular Damage Against Dragons
It’s a bit disappointing for a game based onD&Dto have so few dragon fights, but the two dragons the protagonist faces in this game are bosses connected to moving toward the endgame in Act 3, and each one involves a plot reveal and a cinematic.
Ansur is the bronze dragon underneath the city that has a history with the Emporer. He’s undead, but these arrows still work on him, and it’s a tough fight in which some advantages can help. The second dragon you face is part of the final fight, the mind-controlled red dragon that’s helping to protect the portal to the Elder Brain.
These are Very Rare arrows that you won’t find on random enemies. They’re in locked chests very occasionally and available from vendors, but they’re among the most expensive choices, starting at 80 gold depending on the character’s Charisma.
12Arrow Of Acid
Regular Damage Plus AoE Acid Damage
Some of the greatest ammunition inBaldur’s Gate 3are the ones that are simply arrows with an element attached. One great example of this is theArrow of Acid, which does the regular damage of one d8 plus two d4 ofAcid damageon top.
Besides the direct Acid damage it does, the Arrow of Acid will also leave a puddle of the element on the ground. This means that whenever a friend or foe walks through the Acid, they are likely to take some damage from it.
11Arrow Of Ice
Includes AoE Cold Damage
TheArrow of Iceexplodes upon impact, damaging all enemies within seven feet for 2d4 Cold damage. Damage is reduced by half if the targets pass a Dexterity save. It’s best to use these against creatures weak against cold damage and don’t use these against undead creatures.
Another effect of these arrows is it creates an Ice Surface around the point of impact. Creatures moving over this surface move at half speed and can fall and become a prone target for the next arrow. These can be dropped by enemies but also purchased at Druid Grove, Risen Road Toll House, and Shattered Sanctum.
10Arrow Of Fire
Fire Damage Has Several Uses
Out of all the available ammunition options inBaldur’s Gate 3, it’s of no surprise to see an arrow as great as theArrow of Fire. Like the Arrow of Acid, this is quite a basic shot. The arrow itself does one d8 of damage with an extra two d4 of fire damage on top of that.
Besides this, the Arrow of Fire can also ignite the ground underneath it for a few turns, which will also damage anything that walks over it. What makes the Arrow of Fire even better is how it can be used as a match; if any oil barrel is hit or flammable ground is found, aiming this fiery shot at it will cause it toburst into flames.
9Arrow Of Salving
Surprisingly, the ammunition the player can use in their ranged weapon doesn’t need to only deal damage to the opponent. Some of these arrows haveother interesting effectsthat can greatly benefit the party.
TheArrow of Salvingshould only be aimed toward allies because it will cure the target struck of certain ailments, such as Poison, Paralysis, or Blindness. While this arrow may not heal a player, it can still be a quick pay to stop a status effect caused by a player’s opponents.
8Arrow Of Fiend Slaying
Double Damage Against Demons, Devils, And Cambions
You’ll hear the name of Avernus in the game a lot, which is one of the levels of the Nine Hells, and there are several connections in the BG3 storyline to the residents of the fiery underworld. Thanks to characters like Yurgir and Raphael showing up, along with their minions, these arrows are some of the best to have in the game.
The first fight with Yurigr in the Gauntlet of Shar includes a contingent of Merregon Legionnaires, which are also Fiends. This category of enemy covers a lot of ground and includes the biggest and worst devils along with smaller ones, but you’ll want to save these arrows for the big bosses. Going to the House of Hope and taking down Raphael is one of the toughest fights in Act 3, and he might have another Fiend helping him, your old friend Yurgir.
7Arrow of Lightning
Direct Hits Or Aim For AoE Damage
It may seem like theArrow of Lightningis the least useful of the elemental arrows, but there are times when this arrow can be incredibly effective. This arrow explodes with an electric burst of energy, dealing 1d4 Lightning damage to all within seven feet. Targets can roll a Dexterity save for half damage.
If this arrow strikes a Water Surface, all creatures on that surface take the electric burst damage. Water Surfaces can be made with an Arrow of Ice. The Ice Surface becomes a Water Surface after two rounds or if exposed to fire. A good combo is to start with an Arrow of Ice and follow with an Arrow of Fire, and then an Arrow of Lightning to charge the water.
6Arrow Of Roaring Thunder
Damage And Crowd Control
As the name of this ammunition suggests, when hitting a foe with anArrow of Roaring Thunder, players do a lot more than the simple one d10. It also knocks back multiple targets within a certain radius. The Arrow of Roaring Thunder is a great option for when multiple enemies find themselves on an edge.
Players can aim and fire this lethal shot and have the chance to throw all those foes directly to their death if they fail their saving throw. This works similarly to the Thunderwave spell that many spellcasters can use to push enemies away from them. This arrow can also create space between the archer and their target if you need some crowd control.
5Arrow Of Darkness
Darkness is an incredibly useful effect in bothBaldur’s Gate 3andDungeons & Dragons. It creates a magical darkness that few opponents can look through. Besides the spell with the same name, arches can also create their little cloud of effect when using anArrow of Darkness.
This can either be aimed directly at an enemy to deal one d8 or d10 of damage and then put the effect around them or shot directly at the ground to simply cause the effect to occur. Blocking the sight ofother ranged forcesis a great way for the player to keep the battle in their favor.
