Baldur’s Gate 3: Best Lightning Spells

Magic plays a large role in Baldur’s Gate 3, be it during exploration, in combat, or as a major part of the overall plotline. To be expected for a game that adapts the magic system within Dungeons and Dragons, BG3 also boasts a wide selection of arcane schools and damage types.

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Of all the damage types, lightning may be one of the most visually striking and visceral, leaving a player’s enemies obliterated, stunned, and smoldering. Ranging from cantrips to level six, lightning spells are predominantly suited to the Sorcerer or Wizard class, but they can also overlap into subclasses like the Eldritch Knight or the Arcane Trickster.

Updated on February 11, 2025, by Kristy Ambrose: Larian Studios can be forgiven for not incorporating every single spell in existence into their game, in spite of various patches and bug fixes. That said, the spells that BG3 does add are all implemented beautifully, and fans of lightning-based spells in D&D have plenty of good options to choose from. The incoming Patch 8 contains some substantial new inforamtion and might have some additions to this list in the form of either spells or special items umbued with elemental power.

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Chromatic Orb

Low-Level Ranged Evocation Spell With An AoE Effect

• Stats: 2d8 (2-16) lightning damage, Level 1 spell

Chromatic Orb

is a jack-of-all-trades spell, allowing players to pick their damage type from multiple options. Lightning is one of these options. The versatility makes this spell handy for facing enemies with damage resistances, as players can specifically choose damage types that the enemy isn’t resistant to. However, there are some drawbacks to Chromatic Orb.

As a level one spell, its damage output can be quite low and it is a ranged attack spell, but has a small area of effect around the targeted creature or object, electrocuting enemies standing in it for subsequent rounds. While this can be helpful, it often limits the number of enemies the player can target, as any allies caught in the area of effect will also be electrocuted.

Chromatic Orb is an evocation spell available to Sorcerers and Wizards. Players can also choose Chromatic Orb as an Eldritch Knight Fighter subclass, Arcane Trickster Rogue subclass, or as a Bard’s magical secret.

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Elemental Weapon

A Transmutation Spell To Infuse A Blade With Electric Energy

• Stats: 1d4 lightning damage in addition to regular physcial damage

Elemental Weapon is a spell exclusive to Paladins, and the only one that allows these divine warriors to wield the power of lightning. While it isn’t the flashiest lightning spell out there, it doesn’t need to be. It is tailored to the class that uses it.

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Paladins are primarily a martial class, using their limited selection of spells to support this. Elemental Weapon is a great example. As with Chromatic Orb, this level three Transmutation spell allows players to choose from a variety of elemental damage types, including lightning. The paladin’s weapon then gains a +1 to attack rolls and deals an additional d4 damage of the chosen type.

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Kereska’s Favour

An Evocation Spell Available Through Markoheshkir

• A variety of Elements are inlcuded in the spell Kereska’s Favour

There are a few spells in the game that are only available through certain items, and Kereska’s Favour is one of the most powerful examples. It’s attainable through Markoheshkir

, a Legendary staff that can be found in a Wizard’s tower above Sorcerer’s Sundres.

Selecting Kereska’s Favor gives the caster another choice of which variation of elemental power to choose, and there’s one for every type of elemantal damage in the game. Bolts of Doom is the one that allows the caster to imbue themselves with the power of lightning and its related powers.

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Lightning Arrow

A Transmutation Spell Adds Lightning AoE to Ranged Attack

• Stats: 4d8 + 2d8 (6-48) lightning damage

Unique to the Ranger class, Lightning Arrow is a Transmutation spell that adds lightning damage to a ranger’s ranged weapon attacks, with smaller bolts of lightning damaging nearby creatures within a rather large area of effect. While it is useful and unique, it does fall into a similar category to Chromatic Orb. It can be hard to find opportunities to use Lightning Arrow without damaging allies in the fray.

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Rangers are primarily a ranged weapon class, and shouldn’t rely on their spellcasting. Since Lightning Arrow is a level three spell, the highest level that a Ranger can get, it does quite a large amount of damage and is worth using when an opportunity arises, but it isn’t the go-to lightning spell. It simply allows rangers the chance to harness the power of lightning!

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Shocking Grasp

Strong Evocation Cantrip Prevents Enemies from Taking Reactions

• Stats: 1d8 (1-8) lightning

It may only be a cantrip, but Shocking Grasp

is not to be underestimated. It may not do as much damage as the beloved Fire Bolt cantrip, with 1d8 as opposed to 1d10. Successfully hitting a target with Shocking Grasp will prevent it from taking reactions, meaning players can dart in, deal damage, and make their retreat without provoking an opportunity attack.

It is a melee spell attack, and it is often highly likely to strike true since attacks against opponents wearing metal armor have advantage. Being a melee spell attack is its primary drawback, as it does require the caster to be quite close to their target. Shocking Grasp available to Wizards, Sorcerers, Arcane Trickster Rogues, and Eldritch Knight Fighters.

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Witch Bolt

High Damage Evocation Spell

• Damage: 1d12 (1-12) lightning

Witch Bolt

is a ranged spell attack that connects the caster to their target with a beam of lightning for a maximum of ten turns. Once connected, the caster can administer the damage each turn without expending a spell slot and without needing to make another attack roll.

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While it can feel like a waste of a spell slot if the attack misses or if concentration is lost early, Witch Bolt does a surprising amount of damage even on its initial beam, let alone when the caster applies that damage each round. Even better, it’s only a level-one spell. Witch Bolt is available to Wizards, Sorcerers, and Warlocks. It is also available to a few subclasses: Eldritch Knight fighters, and Arcane Trickster rogues.

4

Glyph of Warding

A Customizable AoE Abjuration Spell

• Damage: 5d8 (5-40) Lightning/Fire/Acid/Cold/Thunder

Glyph of Warding

is a level 3 Abjuration spell that creates a large Glyph trap on any surface and primes it with one of seven possible effects. It either deals Fire, Lightning, Thunder, Cold, or Acid damage when triggered, puts targets to sleep, or creates a pushback effect.

Casting Glyph of Warding does not require Concentration, even though it is a persistent effect. The only limitation to this spell is that only one Glyph can be active at one time; casting a second Glyph will make the first one disappear.

Unlike the Dungeons and Dragons ruleset, Glyph of Warding in BG3 is an instant-cast spell that can trigger an explosion on the same turn that it is cast. There is no need to bait enemies into stepping onto a trapped platform, making the spell much more usable. Additionally, since Glyph of Warding can be customized to deal any type of elemental damage, including Lightning, it can be tailored to exploit the opponent’s weaknesses on the fly.

Glyph of Warding is a better version of Fireball that deals nearly as much damage but can be adapted to fit the situation better. It’s one of the most powerful spells available to Bards, Clerics, and Wizards at level 5 and should be prioritized as one of the best spells in the mid to late game.

3

Call Lightning

Like ‘Witch Bolt’, But A Conjuration AoE Spell

• Damage: 3d10 (3-30) lightning

Call Lightning

is like Witch Bolt if it was an area-of-effect spell and could never miss its mark. It allows casters to call a lightning strike within an area of effect, potentially damaging multiple enemies. It can often be easier to maneuver this spell around allies as well, since it targets a certain area as opposed to a specific target.

A Dexterity save is required by anyone caught in its area, and targets still take half the damage on a success. Following the initial strike, casters can then maintain concentration to conjure the storm again, choosing a new location if they like, without expending a spell slot. Call Lightning is available to Druids, Sorcerers, Tempest Clerics, Pact of the Tome Warlocks, and Bards using their magical secrets.

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Lightning Bolt

High Damage Spell Can Target Many Enemies

• Damage: 8d6 (8-48) lightning

Lightning Bolt is perhaps the simplest lightning spell in Baldur’s Gate 3, yet it’s still one of the most impressive. It is a bolt of lightning that is fired in a thirty-meter line extending from the caster. Anyone caught in the beam must make a dexterity save to avoid the full brunt of the spell, taking half the damage on a success.

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The beam is somehow wide enough that players can get many enemies caught in it, while slim enough that it’s not too hard to fire in between allies. It is a high-damage spell available to Sorcerers and Wizards, as well as Bards with magical secrets. It is a great addition to any spellcaster’s repertoire.

1

Chain Lightning

Maximum Level Evocation Lightning Spell

• Damage: 10d8 (10-80) lightning

It may not come as a surprise that there is a large level difference between the number one spot and the other lightning spells. Chain Lightning

is three levels higher than the previous highest lightning spell, and the maximum level that spellcasters can reach in Baldur’s Gate 3. Casters make a ranged attack against a target, and the target must make a dexterity saving throw, taking half damage on a success.

The ‘chain’ part of the spell consists of a maximum of three bolts of lightning that can leap off the target, damaging up to three enemies within an eighteen-meter radius. It has everything the perfect lightning spell should be: high damage, lots of range, area of effect, half damage even on a successful save, and striking visuals. Available to Sorcerers and Wizards, it is certain to leave their foes sparking and smoldering.

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