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This page is specifically for the mage class in Baldur's Gate LOGOBG00001 Icon SoDBaldur's Gate:
Enhanced Edition
(2012)
This icon indicates content from the Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition campaign.
Siege of Dragonspear LOGOSOD00001 Icon SoDBaldur's Gate:
Siege of Dragonspear
(2016)
This icon indicates content from the Siege of Dragonspear campaign of the Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition.
BGIIlogoonlyBaldur's Gate II
Classic & Enhanced

This icon indicates content from all games of the 2nd Baldur's Gate instalment – all editions and expansions. This may include The Black Pits II.
. For the version in Baldur's Gate GTRBPSK Icon BG1Baldur's Gate (1998)
This icon indicates content from the original Baldur's Gate campaign.
Tales of the Sword Coast IconBaldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast (1999)
This icon indicates content from the original Baldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast campaign.
, refer to Mage (Baldur's Gate).

Introduction[]

Mages are best known for their ability to cast spells which lead to various effects on creatures and objects. Their magic can be used for offensive ends, inflicting damage and status effects on the target. It can also be used for supportive goals, improving the stats of the mage or allies, and can be used to summon creatures. Generally, the mage's arcane magic cannot be used to heal; that skill is the domain of divine casters, such as clerics, druids, or shamans. Mages are, however, able to remove curses from allies.

Their mastery of the magical art comes at the price of weakness in physical combat, as they can neither absorb nor deal large amounts of physical damage. Mages are unable to use most heavy defensive equipment such as shields, headgear and body armor, instead they are largely restricted to magical robes and bracers. For that reason mages aren't usually found on the front line of large battles. They also have a limited selection of weapons, being restricted to staves, daggers, slings and darts, and may place no more than one skill point in any of these. Unlike Specialist Mages, mages can learn any spell from all eight schools of magic. Mages are free to choose any alignment they like.

In order for mages to cast a spell, first they need to successfully scribe a mage spell scroll into their spellbook (scroll lost in process regardless of success or failure). A mage may have any number of spells scribed and available to memorize. They must choose which spells they will have available for immediate use by placing them into a limited number of spell slots. The mage must then rest for eight hours to memorize the spells, which prepares them for casting.

Only humans, elves and half-elves may become mages; gnomes will automatically become Illusionists.

Ability Scores[]

Ability Score Minimum Score^^
Strength 3
Dexterity 3
Constitution 3
Intelligence^ 9
Wisdom 3
Charisma 3

During character creation, rolls below the minimum value for the class will be increased to that value. This table uses the values for humans; other Races have modified ability scores.

^ Prime Requisites for Dual-classing.

^^ Applies only to standard Mage and the Wild Mage class kit. The Specialist Mage class kits have varying minimum ability scores.

  • In Enhanced Editions, Intelligence score determines up to which levels of spells the character can learn, counting in both natural scores and temporary altering values.

Mage Spellbook[]

Successful scroll scribing XP gain
Scroll's spell level

1

2

3

4 5 6 7 8 9

Scroll Scribed

Baldur's Gate LOGOBG00001 Icon SoDBaldur's Gate:
Enhanced Edition
(2012)
This icon indicates content from the Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition campaign.
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Shadows of Amn LOADCNTR00004 Icon SoABaldur's Gate II:
Shadows of Amn
(2000)
This icon indicates content from the original Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn campaign.

Shadows of Amn LOGOSOA00001 Icon BG2EEBaldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition – Shadows of Amn (2013)
This icon indicates content from the Shadows of Amn campaign of the Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition.

1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000 9000

Mages, bards, sorcerers are able to cast wizard spells.

Class kits[]

Mage[]

The wizard strives to be a master of magical energies, shaping them and casting them as spells. To do so, they study strange tongues and obscure facts and devotes much of their time to magical research. A wizard must rely on knowledge and wit to survive. Wizards are rarely seen adventuring without a retinue of fighters and men-at-arms. Because there are different types (or schools) of magic there are different types of wizards. The Mages study all types of magic and learn a wide variety of spells; their broad range makes them well suited to the demands of adventuring.

Class features:

Specialist Mage[]

  • Abjurer specializes in protective magics;
  • Conjurer specializes in creating creatures and objects for assistance;
  • Diviner specializes in detection and divining magics;
  • Enchanter specializes in manipulating the minds of sentient beings;
  • Illusionist specializes in creating illusions to confuse and mislead;
  • Invoker specializes in the manipulation of raw and elemental energies;
  • Necromancer specializes in magic dealing with death;
  • Transmuter specializes in magic that alters physical reality.

Class features:

  • Have different minimum Ability Scores in character generation in addition to intelligence score of 9

Advantages:

  • May cast one additional arcane spell per spell level
  • Receives a +15% learning chance bonus when scribing scrolls from the chosen school
  • Receives a -2 bonus when making saving throws against spells from the chosen school, including cleric spells and innate abilities
  • Targets suffer a +2 penalty when making Saving Throws against spells from the chosen school, also applies to cleric spells (for multi- or dual-classing mages) and innate abilities

Disadvantages:

  • May not learn, use arcane scrolls, or cast any arcane spells of the opposite school. However, may still use all priest scrolls and spells if multi- or dual- to cleric
  • Receives a -15% learning chance penalty when scribing scrolls from other schools

Gameplay

Wild Mage[]

Wild Mages are wizards who specialize in the study of wild magic. They have access to spells to protect themselves from wild magic and bend it to their wills. Wild magic is extremely unpredictable and should be used with caution.

Wild Magic is a new type of magic that is characterized by powerful and dangerous surges of unpredictable magic. Generally considered to be an unfortunate byproduct of the Time of Troubles, wild magic has recently begun to attract the attention of many a curious or scholarly wizard.

Class features:

  • May memorize one additional arcane spell per spell level
  • May cast the 1st-level spell Nahal's Reckless Dweomer, 2nd-level spell Chaos Shield and 7th-level spell Improved Chaos Shield, all included in spellbook automatically
  • Upon casting a spell, including casting from scrolls, there is a 5% chance of incurring a Wild Surge, which generates a completely random magical effect from the spell being cast. Its effects may be either beneficial or detrimental to the Wild Mage and allies
  • Casting level varies somewhat whenever a Wild Mage casts a spell - anywhere between 5 levels lower and levels higher than the Wild Mage's true level.
  • May not dual class. This can be circumvented by installing Tweaks Anthology mod.

Gameplay

High-level class abilities[]

Mages start to learn level 10 spells beginning at level 18. Once picked, those spells can be accessed from the level 9 wizard spellbook (they are never available as scrolls), the spells need only to be selected once. There is no benefit beyond the 8th HLA gain as none may be chosen more than once.

  • The option to spend three high-level class ability points to gain a level 6, level 7, and level 8 spellslots consecutively.

Memorizable spells progression[]

The number of memorizable spells by level increases with nearly every newly gained class level, only from twenty onwards there are some levels without progression. The related game files' 2da table, MXSPLWIZ, defines spell progression even for levels that cannot be gained by player-controlled characters, marked red below; however, there are a few NPCs and hostile mages leveled this high.

Note: Icons mark the level cap for each game.
Class level Spell level Total
slots
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
1 1 1
2 2 2
3 2 1 3
4 3 2 5
5 4 2 1 7
6 4 2 2 8
7

Baldur's Gate GTRBPSK Icon BG1Baldur's Gate (1998)
Content from the original Baldur's Gate main campaign

4 3 2 1 10
8 4 3 3 2 12
9

WikiBaldur's Gate
Tales of the Sword Coast
(1999)
Content from the original Tales of the Sword Coast in the Baldur's Gate main campaign
Baldur's Gate LOGOBG00001 Icon SoDBaldur's Gate:
Enhanced Edition
(2012)
Content from the Enhanced Edition campaign Baldur's Gate

4 3 3 2 1 13
10

The Black Pits LOGOTBP00001 Icon SoDThe Black Pits (2012)
Content from the Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition campaign The Black Pits

4 4 3 2 2 15
11

Siege of Dragonspear LOGOSOD00001 Icon SoDSiege of Dragonspear (2016)
Content from the Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition campaign Siege of Dragonspear

4 4 4 3 3 18
12 4 4 4 4 4 1 21
13 5 5 5 4 4 2 25
14 5 5 5 4 4 2 1 26
15 5 5 5 5 5 2 1 28
16 5 5 5 5 5 3 2 1 31
17

Shadows of Amn LOADCNTR00004 Icon SoAShadows of Amn (2000)
Content from the original Baldur's Gate II campaign Shadows of Amn

5 5 5 5 5 3 3 2 33
18 5 5 5 5 5 3 3 2 1 34
19 5 5 5 5 5 3 3 3 1 35
20 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 3 2 37
21
22 5 5 5 5 5 5 3 3 3 39
23
24 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 3 40
25 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 4 3 41
26
27 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 4 4 42
28 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 4 43
29 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 44
30
31

Throne of Bhaal LOADCNTR00004 Icon ToBThrone of Bhaal (2001)
Content from the original Baldur's Gate II campaign Throne of Bhaal
Shadows of Amn LOGOSOA00001 Icon BG2EEBaldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition
Shadows of Amn
(2013)
Content from the Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition campaign Shadows of Amn
Throne of Bhaal LOGOTOB00001 Icon BG2EEBaldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition
Throne of Bhaal
(2013)
Content from the Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition campaign Throne of Bhaal
Gladiators of Thay LOGOTBP00001 Icon BG2EEThe Black Pits II: Gladiators of Thay (2013)
Content from the Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition campaign The Black Pits II: Gladiators of Thay

32
33
34
35 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 45
36
37
38
39
40

There are items in the game that, when equipped, allow to memorize more spells of certain levels. Also, mages can gain an additional level 6, 7 and 8 slot by spending a High-Level Ability (HLA). See spell progression tables.

Table for experience, hitpoints and weapon proficiency[]

Level Level
Cap
XP
Required
Hit Dice Weapon
Proficiency
THAC0 Saving throws
D/W/P/B/S
No. of HLA
1 0 1d4 +1 20 14/11/13/15/12
2 2,500 2d4 20 14/11/13/15/12
3 5,000 3d4 20 14/11/13/15/12
4 10,000 4d4 19 14/11/13/15/12
5 20,000 5d4 19 14/11/13/15/12
6 40,000 6d4 +1 19 13/9/11/13/10
7 60,000 7d4 18 13/9/11/13/10
8 90,000 8d4 18 13/9/11/13/10
9 Baldur's Gate LOGOBG00001 Icon SoDBaldur's Gate:
Enhanced Edition
(2012)
This icon indicates content from the Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition campaign.
135,000 9d4 18 13/9/11/13/10
10 The Black Pits LOGOTBP00001 Icon SoDThe Black Pits (2012)
This icon indicates content from the Black Pits campaign in the Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition.
250,000 10d4 17 13/9/11/13/10
11 Siege of Dragonspear LOGOSOD00001 Icon SoDBaldur's Gate:
Siege of Dragonspear
(2016)
This icon indicates content from the Siege of Dragonspear campaign of the Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition.
375,000 10d4+1 17 11/7/9/11/8
12 750,000 10d4+2 +1 17 11/7/9/11/8
13 1,125,000 10d4+3 16 11/7/9/11/8
14 1,500,000 10d4+4 16 11/7/9/11/8
15 1,875,000 10d4+5 16 11/7/9/11/8
16 2,250,000 10d4+6 15 10/5/7/9/6
17 Shadows of Amn LOADCNTR00004 Icon SoABaldur's Gate II:
Shadows of Amn
(2000)
This icon indicates content from the original Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn campaign.
2,625,000 10d4+7 15 10/5/7/9/6
18 3,000,000 10d4+8 +1 15 10/5/7/9/6 1
19 3,375,000 10d4+9 14 10/5/7/9/6 2
20 3,750,000 10d4+10 14 10/5/7/9/6 3
21 4,125,000 10d4+11 14 8/3/5/7/4 4
22 4,500,000 10d4+12 13 8/3/5/7/4 5
23 4,875,000 10d4+13 13 8/3/5/7/4 6
24 5,250,000 10d4+14 +1 13 8/3/5/7/4 7
25 5,625,000 10d4+15 13 8/3/5/7/4 8
26 6,000,000 10d4+16 13 8/3/5/7/4 9
27 6,375,000 10d4+17 13 8/3/5/7/4 10
28 6,750,000 10d4+18 13 8/3/5/7/4 11
29 7,125,000 10d4+19 13 8/3/5/7/4 12
30 7,500,000 10d4+20 +1 13 8/3/5/7/4 13
31 Throne of Bhaal LOADCNTR00004 Icon ToBBaldur's Gate II:
Throne of Bhaal
(2001)
This icon indicates content from the original Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal campaign.

Shadows of Amn LOGOSOA00001 Icon BG2EEBaldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition – Shadows of Amn (2013)
This icon indicates content from the Shadows of Amn campaign of the Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition.
Gladiators of Thay LOGOTBP00001 Icon BG2EEThe Black Pits II:
Gladiators of Thay
(2013)
This icon indicates content from the Black Pits II: Gladiators of Thay campaign in the Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition.

7,875,000 10d4+21 13 8/3/5/7/4 14
Total 6 14

Stronghold[]

If no other stronghold is in care, protagonists with a active mage class are able to claim Lavok's Sphere upon the completion of The hunt for Valygar Corthala side quest in Shadows of Amn campaign.

Class Group exclusive items[]

Arcane Spellcasters exclusive items[]

Notes[]

  • Multi-class or dual-class mages can equip armor, but will be unable to cast spells until it is removed or unless it's elven chain mail. However, helmets can be equipped with no penalty to casting ability.

Gameplay (community)[]

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References

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