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A Weapon Proficiency is a skill that determines how well a character can handle certain types of weapons, which may add penalties or bonuses to their attack and damage, depending on the skill level. Most non-warrior classes may become proficient (one proficiency slot) in their weapon array; paladins and rangers can specialize (two slots), and only fighters are able to achieve grand mastery (all five slots).

Certain non-humanoid creatures might also be proficient in fighting with their specific weapons, or even master these.

Examination of the unmodded basic and EE game files indicate that many, but certainly not all, weapon wielding opponents in the game lack individual assigned weapon proficiencies or fighting style points that reflect the changes made to Weapon Proficiency assignment in BG2 SoA and the EE. However, many of these creatures retain the original weapon proficiencies that are grouped together, such as "Large Swords", "Blunt Weapons" or "Missile Weapons". These older or original weapon proficiencies will still provide bonuses in Infinity Engine game versions, including EE. They may not be visible (on the character record) and are "behind the scenes" values. In the popular Save Editors tool, EE Keeper, these values are titled "Legacy Proficiencies" and are listed on the "Miscellaneous" Tab.

Due to previous editing and decisions on this Wiki, a number of creature articles do not actually calculate the final adjusted To Hit, Damage, Weapon Speed Factor and Attacks per round that are modified by Weapon Proficiency. Just be aware that some of these reported values in the info boxes may be slightly off regarding to hit values, damage, weapon speed factors, damage bonuses and final attacks per round - unless specifically noted.

Skill lists[]

Original Baldur's Gate I system
Proficiency Excluded classes
Bow
Spiked Weapons
Small Sword
Large Sword
Axe
Blunt Weapons
ā€“
Missile Weapons
ā€“
Spear

Baldur's Gate & Tales of the Sword Coast[]

For Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition and Siege of Dragonspear, see further below.

The original Baldur's Gate groups certain, "similar" weapons together and offers only a few categories of weapon proficiencies: eight in number.

See the table to the right for a listing and forbidden classes.

This makes characters more versatile, and they can quickly switch to a different weapon of the same category ā€“ e.g. if the one used suddenly breaks ā€“ without having to deal with penalties during combat.

Note: For which weapon type belongs into which category, see the table for Baldur's Gate II & Enhanced Editions below.
Note: For a more detailed table about which class is allowed to learn which proficiency, see further below.

Icewind Dale[]

Main article: Weapon Proficiency on the Icewind Dale Wiki.

Icewind Dale, a "sister" game of Baldur's Gate, which was developed and published between the first and the second part of the Bhaalspawn saga, has a more specialized system of weapon proficiencies, splitting the Baldur's Gate I categories up into many more single weapon types, and keeping only very few weapons within one category.

See the table below for a listing and comparison with Baldur's Gate I and II.

Class restrictions are also handled slightly different from the Baldur's Gate games:

Baldur's Gate II & Enhanced Editions[]

Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn further cuts down the weapon proficiencies and binds most of them to a single weapon, following even closer the underlying Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition ruleset, documented e.g. in the Player's Handbook. Remaining exceptions are:

These expansions of the weapon proficiency system were carried over into and are still valid for the Enhanced Editions of the games, with slight spelling changes.

See the table below for a listing, forbidden classes and the Baldur's Gate I proficiencies for a comparison.
Proficiency groupings since Baldur's Gate II
Proficiency BG & TotSC IWD Excluded classes
Bastard Sword Large Sword Great Swords
Long Sword Large Sword Large Swords [N. 1]
Short Sword Small Sword Small Swords
Axe [N. 2] Axe Axes
Two-Handed Sword Large Sword Great Swords
Katana Large Sword [N. 3] ā€“
Scimitar [N. 4] Large Sword Large Swords
Dagger [N. 5] Small Sword Daggers
War Hammer [N. 6] Blunt Weapons Hammers [N. 7]
Club Blunt Weapons Clubs
Spear

Spear

Spears
Halberd Spear Halberds
Flail [N. 8] Spiked Weapons Flails [N. 9]
Mace Blunt Weapons Maces [N. 10]
Quarter Staff Blunt Weapons Quarter Staves
Crossbow Missile Weapons Crossbows
Long Bow Bow Bows
Short Bow Bow Bows
Dart

Missile Weapons

Missile Weapons
Sling

Missile Weapons

Missile Weapons
  1. ā†‘ Incl. Broad Swords
  2. ā†‘ Incl. Throwing Axe
  3. ā†‘ Katanas don't exist in the original Baldur's Gate and its Tales of the Sword Coast expansion, but if, they would be assigned to the weapon proficiency "Large Sword".
  4. ā†‘ Incl. Wakizashi and Ninjatō
  5. ā†‘ Incl. Throwing Dagger
  6. ā†‘ Incl. Throwing Hammer
  7. ā†‘ Incl. Mauls
  8. ā†‘ Incl. Morning Star
  9. ā†‘ For Morning Stars, see Maces
  10. ā†‘ Incl. Morning Stars

Technical note: The old Baldur's Gate & Tales of the Sword Coast proficiencies are still existent and active in the game files of the newer games. Creatures that haven't the new proficiencies assigned to their code (e.g. ones that were imported into Shadows of Amn from Baldur's Gate or almost any in the Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition) do benefit from the old system's bonuses.[1]

  1. Thrown weapons in "melee" mode use the Str bonus to hit, not Dex
  2. Thrown weapons in "ranged" mode use the Dex bonus to hit, not Str
  3. In BG:EE the following "hurled" weapons also get the strength damage bonus, even in ranged mode: slings and throwing axes/daggers/hammers, but not darts.

Fighting Styles[]

Introduced in Baldur's Gate II & Enhanced Editions, these melee proficiencies apply to weapon/shield configurations instead of classes of weapons. They do not apply to ranged weapons. There are a few class restrictions. Wizards are not eligible for any fighting styles.

Two-Handed Weapon Style[]

Proficiency points give the following bonuses when fighting with a two-handed melee weapon.

  1. -2 speed (faster), +1 damage, plus a roll of 19 or 20 counts as a critical hit when using a two-handed weapon.
  2. -4 speed...

Monks and Wizards are not eligible for this style.

All two-handed weapons such as spear, quarterstaff, halberd, and great sword will benefit from pips placed in this fighting style.

Sword and Shield Style[]

Proficiency points give the following bonuses when fighting with a one-handed melee weapon and a shield:

  1. -2 AC bonus vs. missiles.
  2. -4 AC vs. missiles.

Kensai, Monks and Wizards are not eligible for this style (they can't use shields).

Single Weapon Style[]

Proficiency points give the following bonuses when fighting with a one-handed melee weapon without a shield:

  1. -1 AC bonus and a roll of 19 or 20 counts as a critical hit when using a one-handed melee weapon without a shield.
  2. -2 AC...

Wizards are not eligible for this style.

Two-Weapon Style[]

Equipping a 2nd weapon instead of a shield (without spending any proficiency points) yields a 2nd attack per round at the cost of -4 penalty to attack rolls with the main weapon and -8 with the off-hand weapon. Spending proficiency points reduces these penalties as follows:

  1. -2 main, -6 off-hand
  2. -0 main, -4 off-hand
  3. -0 main, -2 off-hand

Monks and Wizards are not eligible for this style.

Additional considerations:

  • Some weapons and shields provide benefits from simply being equipped.
  • Some monsters require a +1 or +2 weapon to hit and finding two high quality weapons of the same type, or reaching a high proficiency in 2 different weapons can be challenging.
  • There's no penalty for using a shield after gaining proficiency in Two-Weapon style. A shield can still be swapped for the off-hand weapon when the shield is more valuable than the chance that the 2nd weapon will do damage.
  • Wielding 2 weapons yields almost as much chance of a critical hit as the Two-Handed and Single Weapon styles, but with 3 points of specialization, yields almost double the chance of a regular hit.

Proficiency bonuses[]

Proficiency (points spent)[P. 1] Unskilled (0) Proficient (1) Specialized (2) Master (3) High Master (4) Grand Master (5)[P. 2]
Weapon Type APR bonus, warriors only [2] 0 +0.5 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.
: +1.5
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.
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.
: +0.5
Enhanced Editions two letters logoBaldur's Gate I & II: Enhanced Editions
This icon indicates content from all Enhanced Editions of the Baldur's Gate games. May situationally encompass Siege of Dragonspear and The Black Pits I & II content as well.
: +1
THAC0 modifier Warriors, Monks: +2
Priests, most Rogues: +3
Wizards, Shadowdancer: +5
0 -1 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.
: -3
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.
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.
: -2
Enhanced Editions two letters logoBaldur's Gate I & II: Enhanced Editions
This icon indicates content from all Enhanced Editions of the Baldur's Gate games. May situationally encompass Siege of Dragonspear and The Black Pits I & II content as well.
: -3
Damage bonus 0 +2 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.
: +3
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.
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.
:+2
Enhanced Editions two letters logoBaldur's Gate I & II: Enhanced Editions
This icon indicates content from all Enhanced Editions of the Baldur's Gate games. May situationally encompass Siege of Dragonspear and The Black Pits I & II content as well.
: +3
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.
: +5
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.
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.
:+3
Enhanced Editions two letters logoBaldur's Gate I & II: Enhanced Editions
This icon indicates content from all Enhanced Editions of the Baldur's Gate games. May situationally encompass Siege of Dragonspear and The Black Pits I & II content as well.
: +4
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.
: +5
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.
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.
: +4
Enhanced Editions two letters logoBaldur's Gate I & II: Enhanced Editions
This icon indicates content from all Enhanced Editions of the Baldur's Gate games. May situationally encompass Siege of Dragonspear and The Black Pits I & II content as well.
: +5
Speed Factor bonus 0 -1 -3
Fighting Style[P. 3] Two-Handed Weapon Nothing Damage: +1
Speed Factor -2
Crit: Roll 19
Damage: +1
Speed Factor -4
Crit: Roll 19
Sword and Shield[P. 4] Nothing AC vs Missile: -2 AC vs Missile: -4
Single Weapon[P. 4] Nothing AC: -1
Crit: Roll 19
AC: -2
Crit: Roll 19
Two-Weapon Main hand THAC0: +4
Off-hand THAC0: +8
Main hand THAC0: +2
Off-hand THAC0: +6
Off-hand THAC0: +4 Off-hand THAC0: +2
  1. ā†‘ There's a minimum level requirement for masteries: 3 for Master, 6 for High Master and 9 for Grand Master. Examples: a Fighter can't be a Master on level 1; A dual-class Fighter3-Druid4 can't use the point gained on Druid4 to achieve High Master, unless the level up is delayed from 3 to 6; A dual-classed Fighter-Druid or Fighter-Thief can achieve Grand Master within the 161,000 XP cap of Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition, but the proficiency point gained on level 8 can only be added when delaying the level up from 7 to 9. This doesn't work 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.
    , because proficiency point allocation always follows the restrictions of the second class.
  2. ā†‘ 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.
    , no known method makes it possible for player characters to achieve Grand Master. That became possible in Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition, see [P. 1].
  3. ā†‘ Applies only for melee weapons or throwing weapons in melee mode.
  4. ā†‘ 4.0 4.1 Works with any one-handed melee weapon.

Slots gained with level by class group[]

Growth rate differs based on class group. Multi-classes use only the class of the fastest progression. Dual-classes only gain slots from the current active class. Note that all rangers automatically start specialized in Two-Weapon Style. The numbers in this chart for that class are what can be chosen by the player, with the absolute total being two higher. Some classes will reach their maximum proficiency before their highest level due to limited weapon selection.

Level Warrior group Priest & Rogue group Wizard group
1 4 2 1
2
3 1
4 1
5
6 1 1
7
8 1
9 1
10
11
12 1 1 1
13
14
15 1
16 1
17
18 1 (Max for triple multi-classes) 1 (Max for single-class)
19
20 1
21 1 (Max for cleric/ranger)
22
23
24 1 (Max for fighter multi-classes) 1 (Max for cleric/mage) 1
25
26
27 1
28 1 (Max for thief multi-classes, druid, monk, shaman)
29
30 1 1 (Max for dual-class mage)
31
32 1 (Max for single-class cleric)
33 1 (Max for ranger, paladin)
34
35
36 1 1 (Max for dual-class warrior cleric)
37
38
39 1
40 1
Total 17 for fighter, barbarian
15 for ranger, paladin
12 for fighter multi-classes
11 for cleric/ranger
10 for triple multi-classes

12 for thief, bard
11 for dual-class warrior cleric
10 for single-class cleric
9 for thief multi-classes, druid, monk, shaman
8 for cleric/mage

4 for single-class
6 for dual-class mage

Allowed slots investments by class kit[]

Max slots per weapon differs based on class kit. Fighter, ranger multi-classes may specialize (2 slots), other combinations may only be proficient (1 slot); dual-classes gives the better of the two caps, with fighter dualing are allowed up to 5 slots (both when dualing from and to fighter), but beware of risking wasting and permanently losing any duplicate slot expenditure, as the slots spent are not combined, only chosen the better value if you take the same proficiency in both classes, so keep track of what you have spent. Fighting styles have different investment values.

At level 1 on character creation, fighter classes cannot allocate more than 2 slots per weapon type or style.

Class Class kit Max slots allowed Exceptions / Restrictions
Fighter Berserker 5 Limited to Proficient in ranged weapons
Kensai 5 Cannot use ranged weapons
Barbarian 2 Mastery in Two-Weapon Style
Dwarven Defender

BGEElogoglowlogoonlyBaldur's Gate I & II: Enhanced Editions
This icon indicates content from all Enhanced Editions of the Baldur's Gate games. May situationally encompass Siege of Dragonspear and The Black Pits I & II content as well.

2 High Mastery in Axes and Warhammers
Mastery in Two-Weapon Style
Other fighter kits 5
Fighter multi-classes 2 Restricted to cleric or druid weapon selection if using respective class
Mastery in Two-Weapon Style
Ranger Archer 1 Grand Mastery in Crossbows, Longbows, and Shortbows
Specialization in Darts and Slings
Mastery in Two-Weapon Style (starts Specialized)
Beast Master 2 Cannot use metal weapons (Club and Quarterstaff are only melee options)
Mastery in Two-Weapon Style (starts Specialized)
Other ranger kits 2 Mastery in Two-Weapon Style (starts Specialized)
Paladin Cavalier 2 Cannot use ranged weapons
Mastery in Two-Weapon Style
Other paladin kits 2 Mastery in Two-Weapon Style
Cleric 1 Weapons limited to: War Hammer, Club, Flail, Morningstar, Mace, Quarterstaff, and Sling
Druid 1 Weapons limited to: Scimitar, Dagger, Club, Spear, Quarterstaff, Dart, and Sling
Thief Swashbuckler 1 Specialized in Thief melee weapons (no extra APR)
Mastery in Two-Weapon Style
SpecializedCE / ProficientEE in other fighting styles
Other thief kits 1 Weapons limited to: Long Sword, Short Sword, Katana, Wakizashi, Ninja-To, Scimitar, Dagger, Club, Quarterstaff, Light Crossbow, Shortbow, Dart, and Sling
Bard Blade 1 Mastery in Two-Weapon Style
Other bard kits 1
Mage, Sorcerer 1 Can only use certain weapons: Dagger, Quarterstaff, Dart, and Sling
Cannot use fighting styles
Monk 1 Weapons limited to: Long Sword, Short Sword, Katana, Wakizashi, Ninja-To, Scimitar, Dagger, Club, Dart, and Sling
Cannot use fighting styles other than Single Weapon Style
Shaman

BGEElogoglowlogoonlyBaldur's Gate I & II: Enhanced Editions
This icon indicates content from all Enhanced Editions of the Baldur's Gate games. May situationally encompass Siege of Dragonspear and The Black Pits I & II content as well.

1 Weapons limited to: Dagger, Club, Spear, Axe, Quarterstaff, Dart, Sling, and Shortbow
Dual-Class Varies Weapon restrictions follows Multi-class

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.
: Max slots always follows second class
Enhanced Editions two letters logoBaldur's Gate I & II: Enhanced Editions
This icon indicates content from all Enhanced Editions of the Baldur's Gate games. May situationally encompass Siege of Dragonspear and The Black Pits I & II content as well.
: Max slots follows second class until both are active, becomes the less restrictive from both

Achievements[]

Increasing the proficiency with any weapon to five points, becoming a "Grand Master", will unlock an achievement in Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition and Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition.[3]

Grand Master Achievement icon BG1EE
Grand Master
Grand Master Achievement icon BG2EE
Grand Master

Bugs related to weapon proficiency[]

The non-proficiency penalty for Shadowdancers and Mage-Thieves is incorrect. Reference (clswpbon.2da).

As of BG2EE 2.6, Natural weapons (claws, bites, etc.) and magically created weapons (e.g. Chill Touch) should not benefit from weapon style proficencies. This is identified for correction in the pending Enhanced Edition Fix Pack (EEFP).

Ref: (brblp.itm, brbrp.itm, cdbrbrp.itm, cdbrbrp2.itm, cdgoliro.itm, cdmindfl.itm, cdwolfm.itm, cdwstyl1.eff, cdwstyl1.spl, cdwstyl2.eff, cdwstyl2.spl, chillt.itm, critical.itm, druear.itm, drufir.itm, earthrn.itm, firern.itm, ghoult.itm, harm.itm, plybass.itm, plybear1.itm, plybear2.itm, plymstar.itm, plyspid.itm, plyspid2.itm, plytroll.itm, plywolf1.itm, plywyvrn.itm, polyrat.itm, sgrasp.itm, slayerw1.itm, slayerw2.itm, slayerw3.itm, slayerw4.itm, slaylive.itm, squirp.itm, statdesc.2da, trollall.itm, wolfgr.itm, wolfm.itm, wswolf.itm)

External links[]

References

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