There are many different skills in Baldur’s Gate 3. Intelligence is just one such example, albeit it can often seem similar to wisdom on the surface. Nonetheless, there are actually many significant differences between the intelligence and wisdom abilities, and the skills that each unlock are among the most notable. In line with this thought, today, we’re looking at the role of intelligence skills in Baldur’s Gate 3, including how many Baldur’s Gate intelligence skills there are and which of these are the best.
What is the Role of Intelligence in Baldur’s Gate 3?

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Intelligence is a highly important ability in Baldur’s Gate 3, lending itself in a variety of ways that can potentially help enhance your game. As such, when setting up your early game, it’s critical to consider how intelligence could lend itself to your character build. After all, as with many other early-game decisions, such as whether to set up your game with a secure
private server, this choice can actually have a huge impact on your overall gameplay down the line.
Simply put, intelligence has a range of effects on your game, most notably for characters of the wizard class, although it can also lend itself to fighters and rogues. It plays a vital role in spellcasting saving throws; in addition to this, intelligence is also needed for several different skills which can potentially influence your game significantly.
All Baldur’s Gate Intelligence Skills
Skills can lend themselves in many different ways in BG3, and working towards proficiency in these skills can potentially tailor your game to your preferences and play style. Following this thought, considering the following skills at the start of your playthrough could prove incredibly helpful when it comes to building a powerful and versatile character.
History
It might not be an offensive skill, but History is definitely a useful tool to have in any Bard, Cleric, Fighter, Monk, Warlock, or Wizard arsenal. Critically, the skill is particularly useful for helping inform players of ancient events that might tie in with the happenings of the present; as such, it’s a handy way to obtain information that might otherwise go unknown. With that being said, though, while the skill is undoubtedly one that can enrich your game, it’s worth noting that its practical uses are somewhat limited, mainly serving to increase the game’s role play opportunities overall.
Nature
The Nature skill is generally similar to the History skill in Baldur’s Gate 3; however, whereas the latter focuses on ancient history, Nature allows players a greater knowledge and understanding of the natural world around them. Arguably, this skill has a lot more in-game uses, since it allows players to assess biomes and environments and understand what foes might be lurking nearby. As such, it allows you to be much more prepared for a trip out into the wilds than you might otherwise be.
Religion
You’ll need either the acolyte or hermit background in order to take the Religion intelligence skill in Baldur’s Gate 3; however, if you decide to go down this route, this particular skill can undoubtedly prove useful for your gameplay.
Indeed, in addition to providing intriguing lore and information about the gods and divine forces present in the BG world, the Religion skill also allows players to more thoroughly understand how rites, religions, and rituals work, thus making it possible to free artifacts and influence other players. Definitely a handy ability to have.
Arcana
Arcane magic - the thought alone is often enough to send a shiver down the spines of many, with this type of sorcery often coming with dark perceptions. However, in Baldur’s Gate 3, arcane magic is actually incredibly useful - and the Arcana skill further helps with this. Indeed, thanks to the Arcana skill, Baldur’s Gate 3 players are able to better understand magical spells, symbols, and items, thus providing a wealth of useful information that can save you from making a potentially damaging choice in your game. In short: it’s a skill that often comes in handy for players, adding merit to gaining proficiency in this skill.
Investigation
Whether you’re a Bard, Ranger, Rogue, Warlock, or even a Wizard, being able to identify the smallest of details can often come in helpful during your adventures and investigations. Needless to say, then, the Investigation Intelligence skill in Baldur’s Gate 3 can often prove useful for several reasons.
Critically, this handy skill allows you to pick up on the smallest of clues and hidden objects; in short, without it, you may miss out on a lot of lore and opportunities - and this could even leave you in a situation where the ending of your game alters simply because you don’t have this skill to fall back upon.
Frequently Asked Questions
There is no specific requirement to take Intelligence skills in Baldur’s Gate 3 to make it through the game. With that being said, however, they are often incredibly helpful and informative; as such, the outcome of your game could be altered by not possessing these skills.
History is a highly intriguing skill in Baldur’s Gate 3, bringing up a huge amount of ancient lore and information that you might otherwise miss. Thus, it’s integral for a role playing experience; furthermore, it also helps add a greater depth of lore to your game. However, the History skill largely does not have a direct influence on your gameplay itself.
Both Charisma and Intelligence represent useful abilities in Baldur’s Gate 3 for finding out new information, and there’s no simple way to say which is better. This largely comes down to your choice of character class and its respective ability needed for saving throws.
Final Thoughts
Overall, intelligence is undoubtedly an important ability for Baldur’s Gate 3 players to hold. However, while it’s useful in many ways, it’s worth noting that different classes may need to spec their characters different to suit their class’s needed abilities; otherwise, you could end up in a situation where saving throws don’t go in your favor.