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Disambiguation icon This page is about an ability score. For the wizard spell that can modify it, see Strength (spell). For Mazzy's innate ability with a functionality, similar to the spell, see Strength (ability).

Strength is one of the six ability scores and the main attribute of warriors. A minimum natural of 15 or even 17 is required for fighter, ranger and also shadowdancer dual-class combinations.

Effects[]

Strength THAC0 DMG Bashing Weight
1 +5 -4 1 1
2 +3 -2 2 3
3 +3 -1 3 5
4 +2 -1 4 15
5 +2 -1 5 15
6 +1 0 6 30
7 +1 0 7 30
8 0 0 8 50
9 0 0 9 50
10 0 0 10 70
11 0 0 11 70
12 0 0 12 90
13 0 0 13 90
14 0 0 14 120
15 0 0 15 120
16 0 +1 16 150
17 -1 +1 18 170
18 -1 +2 20 200
18/01 – 18/50 -1 +3 25 220
18/51 – 18/75 -2 +3 30 250
18/76 – 18/90 -2 +4 35 280
18/91 – 18/99 -2 +5 40 320
18/00 -3 +6 45 400
19 -3 +7 50 500
20 -3 +8 55 600
21 -4 +9 60 700
22 -4 +10 65 800
23 -5 +11 70 1000
24 -6 +12 75 1200
25 -7 +14 80 1600

Strength modifies a creature's THAC0 and the damage they deal with all melee weapons, as well as for all slings and throwing weapons (not counting darts).

Note: Strength does not benefit the ranged damage of slings or throwing weapons in the Baldur's Gate GTRBPSK Icon BG1Baldur's Gate (1998)
Content from the original Baldur's Gate main campaign
+Tales of the Sword Coast IconTales of the Sword Coast (1999)
Content from the original Baldur's Gate campaign Tales of the Sword Coast
games.
In the Shadows of Amn LOADCNTR00004 Icon SoAShadows of Amn (2000)
Content from the original Baldur's Gate II campaign Shadows of Amn
+Throne of Bhaal LOADCNTR00004 Icon ToBThrone of Bhaal (2001)
Content from the original Baldur's Gate II campaign Throne of Bhaal
games, it is only missing from the ranged damage of throwing daggers.

It also determines weight capability and which equipment a character may wield, plus the ability to bash doors or chests, though not as effective as a thief's Open Locks skill. High strength will also give additional options in certain dialogs. Some enemies can also inflict strength drain on hit, which not only weakens characters but also kills anyone who gets drained down to 0, so higher values help protect against this effect.

Exceptional strength[]

Except for halflings, all warriors get an "exceptional strength" bonus when having a strength of eighteen. This is shown as percentage behind the 18 and a slash, where "00" stands for 100%. The bonus is rolled together with the other scores during character generation and will not change when de- and increasing strength by adding or subtracting points repeatedly. Exceptional strength gives bonuses beyond those for a non- or halfling-warrior's regular eighteen, within certain ranges; according rows in the table to the right are marked with a different color. The wizard spell Strength will set the non- and halfling-warriors' strength to 18/50, while adding 50% to an already present exceptional strength bonus, though not beyond 18/00. Half-orcs of any class (not just warriors) can start the game with 19 strength if they spend enough points at character creation.

Bashing[]

Bashing allows a strong character to open a locked door or chest by force-attacking it. Like a thief's Open Locks skill, bashing works on a threshold system: for being five points below the lock's difficulty, there is a chance of fifty percent to bash it successfully; [citation needed] if the value equals the lock's difficulty or is greater, success is guaranteed. However, even with a strength of 25, which can be achieved by e.g. turning into the Slayer, it will never surpass eighty percent. Also, it doesn't yield experience, as a thief might gain by picking the lock.

Requirements for equipment[]

The tables show values for the base versions of the items; enchanted or otherwise special variants of them may differ.

Weapon type Requires strength
Bastard Sword 11
Battle axe 10
Club 5
Composite longbow 18
Dagger and throwing daggers 3
Dart -
Flail 13
Halberd 13
Heavy crossbow 12
Katana 6
Light crossbow 8
Long bow 6
Long sword 6
Mace 10
Morning star 11
Ninjatō 6
Quarterstaff 5
Scimitar 10
Shortbow 3
Short sword 5
Sling 3
Spear 5
Throwing axe 4
Throwing hammer 6
Two handed sword 14
Wakizashi 5
War hammer 9
Armor type Requires strength
Buckler 4
Small Shield 4
Medium Shield 12
Large Shield 15
Leather Armor 4
Studded Leather Armor 6
Hide Armor 9
Chainmail Armor 8
Elven Chainmail Armor 5
Splint Mail 8
Plate Mail 12
Full Plate Armor 15

Score altering[]

A permanent increase of strength may be acquired via following methods:

If a character with exceptional strength (18/xx) gets a strength increase of +1, they always go to 19, no matter if they started with 18, 18/01 or 18/99.

Many spells and abilities, as well as potions and other item, grant temporary bonuses or penalties to strength; in case of wearable equipment often "permanent" in terms of "as long as being equipped."

Spells and abilities[]

Bonuses
n Champion's Strength, Holy Power, Strength and Strength of One, as well as Mazzy's ability, set the score to a specific value, which may result in a reduction if the target's natural strength is higher than that value.


Penalties

Potions[]

Potions temporarily set the score to a specific value, rather than applying a bonus or penalty. Except for the basic Potion of Strength, they all can only be used by warriors.

Equipment[]

Equipment may set strength to a specific value, possibly causing a reduction if it is actually higher than that; on the other hand, this protects from strength-draining effects.

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