The Ice Breaker: BG3 Episode #11

[@ApothecaryAlyth]

Glad to see a build that is more item-oriented. I agree with you that the fixed nature and intersting features available on many magic items in BG3 is just ripe for fun/powerful/interesting builds.

[@carlosh9476]

Definitely, this is an appreciated updated just for BG3. I only dislike videos when they include items that aren’t available early. I’d say the cutoff is early, no fights required act 3…. like Nyrulna.

[@UltimateGamer-dc9vf]

​@carlosh9476 I feel like high level items should be used in builds when they just add to it, not if the build works at level 11 when you get the item.

[@Kirk9019]

​@@UltimateGamer-dc9vfI don't mind if someone is making a high level build, provided they state that it is a high level build. Very annoying if someone posts something like "highest damage bg3 build I've ever seen" then you find out that it only works in late act 3 with certain magic items

[@CAiNiAC]

​@@carlosh9476nothing about Nayrulna would make or break a build. Plenty of substitutes until you reach it.

[@ewilson92]

@@Kirk9019 I saw a "highest AC" build on Reddit that required a shield that literally drops in the final fight lol.

[@DSTkunn]

Fun part of this build to make it even more gishy, the diadem of arcane synergy. When you inflict a condition such as wet or chilled, you gain arcane synergy which will add your spellcasting mod of the last casting class you recently leveled into to your weapon attacks

[@DanParker933]

Came into BG3 with absolutely no prior DnD knowledge and I must say, your builds and videos have not only been entertaining but have also been so informative in blooding me into this crazy and wonderful world; cheers for being accessible and positive, mate.

[@justsharki]

Thing is...when Colby says "Welcome home." I do feel at home. Thank you Colby!

[@loadedcouchpotato6567]

I changed my Shadowheart to Tempest and discovered that you can use the Tempest Cleric's Channel Divinity to do max lightning damage with scrolls. So... yeah... stack those Chain Lightning and Lightning Bolt scrolls when you find them.

[@TheBritishPoro]

I was literally thinking the other day, "I wish Colby would make BG3 builds that discuss the magic items in the game, things like the extra missile per Magic Missile cast item are cool!", and here you are!! I remember you having 4k subs, so glad your channel has reached this size. The quality of your builds is unlike anything else on the platform. Keep it up!!!

[@TheUncleJason]

Crafting builds around magic items could be a very popular playlist for Colby.

[@havasimark]

The amulet + Spellsparkler for saving Florrick in Waukeen's rest, replaced by Markoheskir late game. Gloves of belligerent skies from the Inqisitor's room in the Creche. Stormy clamour boots from Omeluum. The basic build is set up by level 3, can be any spellcasting build that you can put magic missile on. It's not dependent on your spellcasting stat, just make sure your spell level progression is unbroken. Follow up with the Ring of absolute force from the Grymforge duergar, Ring of spiteful thunder and the Ne'er misser from Roah in Moonrise, replace absolute force with Callous glow from the vault near Balthazaar's room in the Gauntlet. The Thunderskin cloak from Araj is thematic but doesn't do much, it's okay as long as you don't get anything better. Dual wielding Phalar aluve and using shriek (preferably before combat, because it's an action) or having it another character in the party adds an extra level of depth to the character. You might want to have quickened spell and a few sorcery points to power it for nova capability. Perfectly viable on an agathis/arcane ward build, in that case you might want to add the Lifebringer from Blurg. You have your cloak, helmet, armour and ranged slots free to expand to your taste. If you are running a radiating orb build parallel with this, the enemies get so many debuffs that they just can't hit anyone. These were two of my honour run party.

[@The_LaughingHyena]

When you released your Abjuration build, there was nothing more satisfying than running toward a bunch of melee enemies and forcing them to attack by running past them dealing damage with just movement and then re-casting armor of agathys.

[@jbonez7456]

I never thought I would love to replay a game over and over with different characters but this game blows me away. Your videos help me out so much. I'm also a first-time DnD player.

[@MrDavidKord]

You never played Baldur's Gate 2, did you?

[@davidgriffith1552]

Some of this is D&D, some of it is Larian’s twist. I loved the hell out of BG and BGII, but DOS and DOSII are some of the most replayable games ever made. The different origin stories, different build possibilities, impact of every choice… it’s as much Larian as D&D. I’m STILL not done with my first playthrough of BG3, but I’m already excited about my next!

[@seamonkey8435]

6:07 I feel that! All I do when I’m at work is think about Baldurs gate 3. When I go home, all I do is play BG3. My wife hasn’t been too happy for a couple months.

[@toddparker514]

I'm glad I'm not alone I feel your pain lmao

[@ducky36F]

My wife plays BG3 almost as much as me 😂

[@PrinsB]

To hear you reflect on why you choose a particular feat based on wich items you already have and how you acquire specific proficiencys has deepened my understanding of the game and multiclassing so significantly. Thank you Coby ❤

[@MavMaestro]

If you go the bard route, and pick up the gauntlets of giant strength then i suggest picking up in act 1 the diadem of arcane synergy to be consistently adding be your spellcasting modifier to melee weapon damage.

[@Tupadre97]

18:40 create water can also be used infinitely as a ritual by picking the third option when you cast it so you don't actually need the rain dancer staff at all

[@TJPavey]

Fun build. I’d love to see a “quick” summary of your favorite party at end level including items.

[@dragondragondragon]

In the other hand, agathys+ward IS soooo damaging that I usually do far more damage using my action to dash (and bonus action to activate the gnome boots of running) and provoking 2 or 3 more oportunity attacks, than with tridente and flail

[@DnDDeepDive]

Indeed - I mention this in a short recap I'll release Thursday but more and more I'm finding it to be more important to intentionally provoke opportunity attacks than just about anything else I can do - especially if they're wet. Haste is fantastic for this (I just wish it didn't increase my AC in this case :). And of course if you get knocked prone it's a real bummer, but often worth the risk).

[@kingofnerds7693]

i would reccomend grapping the gloves of missile snaring, it mostly fixes your ranged enemy issue

[@jyabriel08]

More of these please, this will be a good series. This came just in time because I decided to replay the other day with durge

[@smills8]

Would love to see a build incorporating illithid powers!

[@vladm2364]

Critlander is already there

[@Shizekage_james]

I have used you companion builds and whoa are they insane. My party has everything it needs and Asterion in particular is unstoppable on sleight of hand skill checks. So glad I've stumbled onto your channel

[@jsung19]

Love seeing an item oriented build! Items are so strong in this game I think it's legitimately better to have no feats with perfect gear than a perfect build with average items. Would definitely love to see more build videos like this

[@saturnineyyy]

Yes, I’m so excited to see this! Most guides that mention items mention the same handful of generic optimal ones (don’t get me wrong I love those items they’re good for a reason) But seeing you take a more unique magic item you like and really going in on it is so fun. Really appreciate your videos always!!

[@labmouse42]

I love this approach. Magic items can completely change a BG3 build.

[@matthewharding584]

I prefer the cold draconic sorc 1, war Cleric 1, Abjuration Wizard 10

[@ehsanrahee7411]

War cleric for the Channel Divinity? I'm considering this idea for my Gale.

[@darkshowlp]

Hey Colby Just wanted to say i really appreciate your intro. Makes me feel welcome every time i watch a video of yours

[@richardsego]

I actually showed it to my brother just as an example that genuine, honest sincerity is possible on YT!

[@daveyfunk]

Just thinking this build would be even crazier if you added 2 Paladin and 1 War Cleric. So changing it to 8 Wizard/1 Sorc/1 War Cleric/2 Paladin. Using Haste you'd get extra attack action and you'd also get 3 bonus attacks each long rest with War Cleric and also create water doubling all cold damage. You lose the 6 level spell slot but you get smites on your weapon attacks and so makes your weapon attacks much more damaging. You'd get two feats and so maybe savage attacks and dual wielder. If you used the ring of mystic scoundrel you could hit first attack (with smite), create water bonus action, attack extra bonus action, hasted attack action. That's some decent damage on your turn and then the enemies you hit with create water are wet for double when they hit you

[@Lyscian420]

2:41 I appreciate this part of your content! I’ve even used your older builds for 5e to brainstorm and get inspiration for cool BG3 builds.

[@FastForward025]

This is definitely one of the most interesting builds in the game I've seen. And I'm constantly scouring the subreddit for good ideas. So now I have another build of yours to add to the list thanks Colby!

[@MrFirefan1234]

Fun Fact: Some classes (Cleric, Druid, and Storm Sorc) that get Create/Destroy Water get the ability to cast a variant of it when they get 2nd lvl spells. They can cast it for free like a cantrip but the wet condition from it only lasts 2 rounds instead of 3 and half the Radius from 4 meters to 2 meters. Still, an AoE way to give enemies the Wet condition with no save or needing to hit is very valuable. I had a very similar Idea for my Honor Mode run which was 1 lvl of White Dragon Sorc/1 lvl of Light Cleric/10 lvls of Abjuration Wizard to maximize Ward and keep full spellcasting progression

[@bryanimre4992]

The can trip version was a bug and it’s been fixed sadly

[@qaendelivery3636]

I swear this guy is psychic, I've been looking for ice build all day yesterday and then BLOP here it is

[@cdoerner224]

Fiend Warlock-2, Abjurer Wizard-10 using create water and Armor of Agathys was my first build at launch once I saw the wet condition. I laughed so hard as I tanked my own AC so bosses would melt to it 😂

[@nellylongarms]

This is an absolutely wild build! I had a fun time trying to guess which items and class levels you were going to pick throughout. Since you're open to doing item-oriented builds, I'd love to see something based on radiating orb and reverberation - two conditions which dovetail quite snugly together. Luminous armor + phalar aluve + spirit guardians is a fantastic package right from level 5, and gets even better when you add the boots of stormy clamor and gloves of belligerent skies to start knocking enemies prone left and right. As well as for a cleric, it's a great build for lore bards with dissonant whispers, since frightened + prone is effectively the same as stunned.

[@kittydaddy2023]

getting enemies wet that have resistance removes the resistance. There's no point in taking the elemental adept feat if the strategy is to get them wet first. If you were trying to get hit, you could do 8 Dex, 14 Str for staff hit and damage with Alert for initiative.

[@furiosomalus]

Hey love your videos. I use your Karlach throw barbarian build, then I use enraged throw and have carafe/bottle of water as the weapon. This does damage, knocks your opponent prone, AND makes them wet. You then get double damage from loghtning/cold and advantage (str/dex saves) to hit cos of the prone condition.

[@FruitScrap]

Alternatively you could try: 1 Sorcerer, 1 War Cleric, 4 Wizard, 6 Bard. You loose out on 2 stacks of Arcane Ward, but get access to heavy armour, martial weapons, and 3 bonus action attacks per long rest. Wear heavy armour with Magical Plate and take the Heavy Armour Master feat. This will give you a flat -5 to incoming damage and increase your strength by 1. You'll have a total of -13 to incoming damage vs -10 (lv 5 Wizard), and a constant -5 when arcane ward runs out. Plus you can still take the Dual Wielder feat!

[@DnDDeepDive]

My favorite has actually been playing a Battle Smith 5 but... that requires mods ;)

[@darthmacabre8311]

You could also get the snow burst ring in the floorboards of the inn in act 2 if you pass a perception check. It creates ice around the targets.

[@Mike-r4h]

It also creates ice around the enemy that hits you in melee range because of Agathys, which means ice under your own feet. Only use this combo with NightWalkers or Hoarfrost boots, unless you like falling prone all the time.

[@thefetherd]

as a small addition to this build, afaik the spell of the flail targets the weapon in the main hand! so you could cast the spell on lets say the staff from act 1 and just equip the trident afterwards. you loose a few points to hit but get more cold damage d4. and the staff would also be bludgeoning! Also the same "weapon swap trick" can be used to get essentially more lvl6 spellslots. there are a lot of staffs and amulets that either let you refill a spellslot or to let a cast not consume a slot, this works great with armour of agathis being cast out of combat most of the time.

[@DnDDeepDive]

I didn’t know this… thanks for the tip!

[@TheMeanDM]

And the Dragonthroat Glaive from Moonrise also let's you enhance a weapon on the ground with an extra 1d4 Elemental damage (and Thunder too) So you could have both Cold and Thunder on that Flail to get *both* x2 Bludgeoning and x2 Thunder. Though we would want to test to see how things proc and if the vulnerability is cleared/broken immediately after being hit by something or if it stays applied for any other length of time.

[@oziejah]

The trident doesn't seem to freeze enemies anymore, it still seems to create the water surface and even freeze it at times but not the enemy itself, bummer. Edit: nevermind, i was using the woe weapon instead of the flail since i could transfer the elemental age but didn't realize that the chill effect was from elements of the epoch which is not transferrable lol.

[@renaigh]

My current Durge character started out as a Bard but after a certain moment early on, I decided to spec into the Oath of Devotion subclass of Paladin and it worked so well for the character I had in mind that I committed to it completely, so far I haven't broken the Oath (yet).

[@Jamisen22]

They must've nerfed the Trident of Waves in patch 6, bc I too was really excited to make an enemy wet without a spell slot, but alas all it does now is create a water surface under the enemy :/ womp womp. I guess they could still slip and fall prone or be electrocuted, but not really what we're going for...

[@Rank-B-Wizard]

If you take a race that gets light armor proficiency, you can grab Mintharas(sp.) armor which gives you advantage on concentration checks.

[@largegroupofmales]

Tried an eldritch knight build that used Mourning Frost as its main weapon to encrust enemies with frost and create ice surfaces at their feet to control them. It was an amazing all around build and disturbingly potent for a quarter staff wielding fighter

[@thegamemaker2000]

The Snowburst ring creates an ice surface below a target whenever you deal cold damage. This can prone enemies which would give you advantage on your melee attacks and keep them locked down close to you which can help you stick to ranged targets that are trying to get distance from you. I would grab a set of boots that prevent you from slipping on ice surfaces so you don't slip yourself.

[@Wintermute909]

For anyone who laughed along with Colby at the very end to his rendition of 'Ice Ice Baby', and then laughed again just from pure nostalgia...... *must* , absolutely MUST watch "Fear of a Black Hat" (1994) It's a satirical documentary style film like "Spinal Tap" Where a sociologist/film student follows the meteoric rise & fall of a rap band called N.W.H. Super funny on its own, but is utterly hilarious when you start to recognise all the irl incidents, controversies & rumours from back then. (obviously NWA & Public Enemy are the main inspiration for the band itself, but it is sooooo worth a watch for those interested. Even a Vanilla Ice follows them around.

[@vindaloo1993]

You could also have another character add the Draconic Elemental Weapon buff from the Drakethroat Glaive, it would add a +1 enchantment to your weapons and +1d4 cold damage to your Tav. In case you need more damage.

[@EldritchNight]

Once you freeze the target you could have another character use disintegrate since it's now force damage

[@richardsego]

I was also thinking about his ultimate blaster build; Sorlock doing 9 beams of eldritch blast per round on a frozen target!

[@d.delgado4585]

I'm running the alternate version of this on Gale (mostly a Wizard with a 1 level dip in Sorcerer but taking some levels in Tempest Cleric instead of Bard), and I'm absolutely loving it. Gale is a real powerhouse.

[@EtomidateEnjoyer]

what a fantastic video! you've just got such wonderful screen presence, and it's a lot of fun watching you nerd out.

[@crazybattlegoose8872]

Another amazing thing with arcane ward is the damage from the illithid power "transfer life" is also reduced. Combined with the perma-buff from githyanki camp that let's you use those powers as bonus action... At end game - When Karlach got nuked on the verge of death my character only took 7 points of damage and Karlach regained over 40 hit points.... on a raging barbarian ... amazing

[@scratchly8178]

i just made a white dragonborn sorcerer yesterday, this video came at the PERFECT time!

[@vladm2364]

I see what you did there Durge.

[@twi1ightknight]

grab mahoksir(?) and staff of power for your inventory to give you free max level spell slots. Even if you just use it for your first AOA or summons. then just swap them out.

[@cyrussmith5242]

Also, if you can stomach it, if you kill Karlach in Act 1 to fulfill Mizora's mission for Wyll, you get a Robe with resistance to Fire damage and a free cast of Chill Shield. Could be a really good early game piece, at a high cost

[@Juzam777]

19:40 you can also create a hireling with Withers which will stay at the camp but who will cast Warding Bond on your character

[@ZoneZero253]

Can also bite the hireling with Astarion as well.

[@Juzam777]

@@ZoneZero253 I don’t use Astarion at all but you’re right. They can make the game (especially honor mode) way easier. I’ve got 3 hirelings : one cleric and 2 transmutation wizards (1 with some druid levels also) so after each long rest I can cast warding bond, 2 transmuters stone, longstrider, darkvision and protection from poison on all the group, 16 goodberries, freedom of movement and death ward, heal for free between fights, and crafting the potions twice

[@scottcombs3882]

I've used a similar strat with Gale (re-spec'ed into cleric) that worked just as well. I haven't tested it with the other companions, but Gale just won't die no matter how much damage I take.

[@Juzam777]

@@scottcombs3882 i don’t get how it’s similar with the hireling strat

[@scottcombs3882]

@@Juzam777 Lol my bad. That's because I totally forgot to mention that you leave Gale in camp and just pre buff at the start of each day.

[@DayDreamingDude]

Ooh, excited to see what BG3 shenanigans you are getting up to this time. Just in time to completely overhaul my honour mode party :D

[@travelinlance]

Love the videos as always. Always stay to the end to watch the outtakes! Priceless! Keep up the great work.

[@arjunkishore4080]

My honor run build is similar to this, but a pure caster. They took a cleric dip to keep spell casting progression and gain heavy armor. I’m currently at the Orin fight, and this build is a big reason I was so survivable

[@n-man87]

the bonespike garb (clothing) from early act 3 decreases damage taken by 2 and retaliates with 3 piercing damage. seems like a perfect match for this build.

[@Sara-df5xi]

I was just finishing my HM playthrough when this build video came out but I needed 4 more achievements -- 3 were evil durge achievements. This build was fun throughout but really shined at 12. The Wavemother's Robe was a great accompaniment. My hits with the flail and trident didn't hit enough to make much of a difference, it really was all about getting people wet and then get them to hit me with opportunity attacks. I was running with 14 or 15 AC. Early in the game I was using Winter's Clutches gloves and the Cold Brim (?) hat. The fight with Orin was hilarious. She just killed herself on my Armor of Agathys. Almost instantly :D.

[@rlcbofficial871]

My take on this type of build. Level one draconic sorcerer. Armor of agathys. Level two-five take abjuration wizard. Feat: dual wielder. Level six war domain cleric. Level seven-twelve wizard. Feat: heavy armor master, or alert. Illithid powers. Transfuse health, free cast, luck of the far realm. Items Head: helmet of grit Body: hell dusk or Adamantine splint armor Arms: gloves of balanced hands. Feet: disintegrating night walkers. Main and off hand melee: flail of ages, trident of the waves act 3 act 1-2 rain dancer and morning frost. Bow: dark fire bow Rings: true loves caress, ring of elemental infusion Amulet: amulet of greater health Cloak: cloak of the weave Necessary potions: Elixir of strength if you dump strength for higher intelligence. Potion of speed. Stats: intelligence 17 Strength 8 (set to 21 with elixir) Constitution 8 (set to 23 with amulet) Dexterity 13 Wisdom 13 Charisma 15 Use transfuse health to knock health to 50% which will give you extra bonus action from helmet of grit for a simulacrum of extra attack with the off hand. Drink elixir of strength, have ally cast warding bond via the rings or by some other means. Apply max level armor of agathys. Now you can make three attacks a turn, one main hand two off hand, or one off hand two main hand if you use the war cleric ability to pull off that icebreaker combo. My personal favorite would be to cast a spell then attack with my bonus actions using the trident to apply the wet condition then walk away to provoke opportunity attacks.

[@ivanbenkovic610]

I made a sorcadin, with armor of agathys trough draconic sorcere. And also playing an asmodeus tiefling to have a blue flame on my right hand, i also changed the skin to blue, took the absolutes protector to get another chill fire, and also the drow sword that does thunder dmg, which deals more dmg if the target is frozen, makes them vulnerable to thunder

[@chrisham7769]

The best out takes!! Great video, I felt so happy living vicariously through your build! Thanks Colby

[@williamking7800]

Hey Colby. I've been working more on what I think is the ideal BG3 honour mode party. First we have the talker. I know you're all about minmaxing combat, but with no savescumming we want someone who can minmax dialogue. The core for this is Githyanki Acolyte, first level rogue, second level Knowledge cleric, and 3 levels of bard for proficiency in 9 skills and Expertise in six, all by level 5. The first go around we get expertise in Persuasion, Intimidation, Deception, Arcana, History, and Insight, with proficiency in Investigation, Performance, and Religion; a respec at the start of Act 3 adds Religion, Stealth and Investigation Expertise along with proficiency in Nature and Sleight of Hand. Because this character will be using both the Warped Headband and the Gloves of Dexterity, they'll have great ability scores for all of these skills (respecing to 10 Str, 14 Con, 16 Wis, 17 Cha). That's just the first 5 levels of the main character. To round out the build, we'll end up Rogue 1/Cleric 1/Swords Bard 8/Fighter 2, with +2 Cha ASI, +1 Cha hair, +2 Cha mirror, and Sharpshooter at the very end of the build. Our damage combo is the Sorrow glaive and the Ring of Arcane Synergy, both in Act 1. Sorrow uniquely provides a bonus action cantrip every turn that we can use to get Arcane Synergy without having to switch our helmet for the Diadem. Near the end we gain Greater Invisibility, and we have the Stealth Expertise to use it. Our best armour is the Elegant Studded Leather for +2 Initiative, advantage on Stealth, and Shield per short rest. Lastly for our bow we want to focus on the Initiative bonus; Hellrider Longbow is best. Our second character is like the first, but strictly combat. Astarian with 16 Str, 16 Dex, 14 Con, 10 Wis. Swords Bard 8/Champion Fighter 4. Expertise in Sleight of Hand and Stealth (respec to Religion expertise for mirror). Alert feat, then Sharpshooter, then +2 Dex ASI. +2 Str elixir. Primary weapon is Titanstring Bow. Our bonus action itemization combo is Wapira's Crown helm, Whispering Promise ring, and Broodmother's Revenge amulet, turning Healing Word on an ally into Bless on them and Bless +1d6 poison on us. Best armour is Graceful Cloth. All of the above is available in Act 1. For the rest of his itemization just focus on things that add dice of damage, not flat damage. You're going to be using the Brace weapon action plenty. And obviously focus on spells without saving throws. Next we need someone with Perception (and Athletics) expertise. Shadowheart (Darkvision, shield proficiency) with 16 Dex, 15 Con, 17 Wis. First level in Rogue, then 1 in Monk, then 3 more in Rogue for Fast Hands and Tavern Brawler, then five more levels in Open Hand Monk, picking up a +2 Wis ASI (+2 Wis mirror as well). Club of Hill Giant Strength or a finesse weapon, dependent upon whether drinking a Strength elixir or not; best is Rhapsody. Shield and helm should prioritize Perception checks and Initiative (Sentinel Shield and Mask of Soul Perception best), armour should prioritize initiative (Bhaalist Armour best). Boots of Kushigo and Khalid's Gift. Gets Bow of Awareness when main character is done with it. Lastly we need someone who can cast Pass Without Trace by level 10. Karlach with 16 Dex, 14 Con, 16 Int, 12 Wis. Start Gold Sorcerer 1, then Wizard 1, then Sorcerer to 4 for Alert, then Tempest Cleric 2, then Land Druid 4 for +2 Int, then last level Wizard for Divination. Fistbreaker Helm is best helm, armour and gloves should prioritize Initiative (Yuan-Ti Scale Mail and Stalker Gloves are best). All other gear should prioritize spell save DC. Needs scrolls of Lightning Bolt and Chain Lightning.

[@batsbunny3494]

The synergy between the two weapons is really cool. Never thought of that. A fun addition could be the "Bonespike Garb" with the "Amulet of Greater Health" for 6 more piercing dmg when you get hit + 2 flat dmg reduction. Alternativly one could grab "The Skinburster" for "Forced Conduit" charges to get a more defensive oriented variant. Classic - Cleric 1 / Sorc 1 / Wizard 10 for 20 arcane ward charges and war cleric and/or polearm master + cleave from the weapon to get forced conduit up fast, throw in "Heavy Armour Master" for the fun of it and you won't take dmg anytime soon. Only build that felt nearly as unkillable as that was a tiger barb or battle master (3 attacks + cleave) with the "Sword of Chaos" + "Periapt of Wound Closure". At least for me. Anyhow, great vid. Enjoy your week!

[@tylera2226]

Don't forget create water can be cast as a cantrip (Works on clerics, didn't seem to work for druids). I believe the description over the action describes it as a spell, but when you cast create water in this way it does not consume a spell slot. It makes a puddle about the size that throwing a water pot would be, and it is not permanent water like spell version. It only lasts 2 turns or so.

[@Sapph1reS0rceress]

As someone who has been using the gamertag sapphire sorceress for the past year, thank you for the rather blue oriented sorcerer build to bring it to life. Will be my next honor mode pc!

[@sylentninja1]

You could Always Use water Elementals to help boost Ice in the Area, plus imps Explode so you could use them As Ice Bombs

[@mort681g]

Combining this with bleed maim barb with mobility feat on your team, to force enemies to stand still with wizard as the only target to attack seems really fun, will definitely be a part of my next bg3 honor run (especially strong with boaal buff if u can manage to survive till act 3)

[@IFailAtUsernames19]

I'd love to see more BG3 builds centered on certain items or item effects. With a lot of concepts that just don't exist in tabletop, such as lightning charges, there are probably synergies that are interesting and unexplored.

[@alexw4482]

I think it’s best to stick with 1 sorc/ 1 tempest cleric/10 wizard, and use duelist’s prerogative one handed. You get full spell slot progression, great bonuses to arcane ward, weapon and armor proficiencies, you don’t need strength, and you can taunt enemies to force them to attack you and all the other cool stuff the rapier offers. I do really like the dual wield concept though.

[@MyRegularNameWasTaken]

I remember the moment that Halsin finally joined the party, and I went, "Yes! Finally! Someone I can give all these Cryomancer items I've been collecting!!" (The Icebite Robe, for instance, is another way to access Armor of Agathys)

[@GodCaliban1307]

I love it that you are using wepons i never seen befor on another channel❤ pls make more of these bg3 build guides!!!!

[@ericgonzales419]

It's wild that I built a White Dragon Sorc 1 / War Cleric 1 / Abjuration Wizard 10 to make a gish that capitalizes on this combo but I prioritized Int and it ended up being the most powerful Wizard possible due to the scroll/spell slot synergy. Absolutely unkillable and can cast any spell or bop the enemy for mad damage

[@KoshiBar]

The key for vault 4 is in the temple of Umberlee (water monster god in lower city) in the bedroom/office of the high priestess on the top floor of the temple

[@lyrsenanokar]

My companion set-up is: Shadowheart: Light Cleric 12 (bless and bladeward on heal) Asterion: Assassin Rogue 3, gloomstalker ranger 5, battlemaster fighter 4 (Titan string bow, fight initiator) Gale: White draconic sorc 1, tempest cleric 1, Abjuration wizard 10 (Armour of Persistence, Heavy armour master, AoA retaliation) Wyll: 8 Storm sorc, 2 Tempest Cleric, 2 divination wizard (brutal chain lightnings) Laezel: Vengence Paladin 2, GOOlock 5, Swords Bard 5 (GWM greatsword, short rest smites) Karlach: bear heart Barbarian 4, battlemaster fighter 8 (Shar's Spear of Evening, polearm master, Bhaalist Armour) Main character could be anything really, you have support/buffs/tank from Shadowheart, Caster DPR from Wyll or Gale, Melee DPR from Laezel or Karlach, ranged DPR from Asterion

[@Toddlerone_Gaming]

I worked something like this around level 8 specing as a Sorcerer draconic lightning. Dip intoTempest cleric. Two level dip into warlock for the free arcane ward Eldritch invocation. . . Then wizard all the way out. This can change end game build for sure

[@Renegade-Master-88]

You can get Armour of Shadows eldritch invocation to cast Mage Armour repeatedly by swappimg armors, then pre buff your Armor of Any.

[@sji1214]

I just did a similar build last week in my co op campaign and I did sorcerer 1, tempest cleric 1, and 10 in wizard. The cleric dip give the reaction to zap lightning damage and ability to free cast create water at level two. I pretty much don't attack anything just get things wet, cast sanctuary on teammates and blade ward on myself so I'm focused and I just stand there.

[@sji1214]

By level 4 the build is working great

[@The_Judge300]

A good tip is to have multiple hirelings that you respec to clerics in camp and have them throw warding bonds on your party members. We have only 3 hirelings at the same time, so respeccing one of your companions that you never or almost never use into a cleric as well for this use is smart. Making them cast aid and different resist spells is also very good. If you have Shadowheart much or all the time in your party as I often do, then you save using her spell slots by having hirelings and one camping companion doing all this for you. All can make it to easy for many, but it can be a great help for hard fights or for beginners. I still do it when playing harder modes or when playing solo. Or when I try some rather far from top builds. When you play solo, then it is plenty enough to use Shadowheart for this. Make sure to have you clerics in camp to have max constitution to keep them alive. Gale is self healing when taking damage left in camp, so it can be great to respec him into a cleric and let him be you cleric warding bond camp tank if you don't use him much or at all.

[@ClintonJohnson1]

I love armor of resistance with this build style because it has so much damage reduction built in.

[@GhostWriter520]

A 2-person (or more) tandem of applying the frozen dot and then a Sorlock with lightning damage items to use Eldritch Blast force damage to shatter boss fights seems like a fun combo

[@Thoth728]

love this build, i used it to go through the game the first time. i liked it so much i played through the game solo a second time. its increadibly strong, even on tactician it makes the game laughably easy. i meam most fights enemies didnt even break through the temp hitpoints, its just that good

[@wootenblatz]

Snow Plow is a great build name.

[@1621lionheart]

I hope Larian watches all of these build videos and release them in a DLC... AS ENEMIES

[@starrunner2838]

Don’t give the any ideas

[@oliorogue]

I agree, let some of the fans make some bosses

[@jensenmcjens4029]

Wait a minute. I know how to insert custom enemies into BG3 via mods (or better said, where to learn it). Give me some ideas where to place them and I try to write a "d4 - Fallen legends of Faerun" mod :D If Colby is fine about name/using his builds of course. Thing is, not 100% that they will use the builds perfectly right away. There maybe someone with experience on Larians AI has to help out.

[@gethriel]

Yeah, no. They should START by making the game they promised. Can fun be had? Sure. DESPITE such a trash game.

[@codymarshall587]

@@gethriellmfao, you’re ridiculous but good bait

[@twokingsofold]

It may not work for a video (not sure how many people out there are into modding) but for your own personal enjoyment you should get the Bladesinger subclass mod and 5e spells mod so you can do one of your shadow blade bladesinger builds that you love so much. (Yes shadow blade is in the game, but being able to cast it with spell slots instead of a ring is so much better. Also 5e spells adds booming blade and green flame blade, which happen to work with shadow blade)

[@richardsego]

Yup, he did a video on mods and Bladesinger, just search the channel

[@twokingsofold]

@@richardsego hmm, somehow I missed that one. Guess I'll go look for it

[@twokingsofold]

Haha, found it and it was exactly what I was hoping for. Excellent! So weird that I somehow missed it. I watch every d4 video that pops up, but somehow I missed that one and his one about modding bg3 in general. Guess that's why I should turn on notifications

[@RandomGuy010]

I did something similar a while ago. The game doesn't seem to properly apply arcane ward stacks when you cast shield or counterspell, but it's easy enough to maintain nontheless. Alternatively one could do something like Fighter 1/Thief 3/Abjuration 8 (You'd use a feat on Agathys) if you'd like to trade some spell slots for more melee attacks and gear versatility. It never feels bad to have two off-hand attacks on a caster.

[@LuDan288]

This makes me not as worried to die in my current honor mode run knowing I can then try this one! Sounds so much fun.

[@Legolasrocket]

PSA to everyone in the comments: you can get elemental weapon earlier from the drakethroat glaive (or just have someone else use the spell). Also, these can be cast on other weapons, so you can use any weapon you want

[@MJunkis]

That's a rlly cool idea for a build. Can even use Summon Undead together with the Thay's book for that Death Knight Vibe. Using 5e Spells, the list of usable Ice Magic gets even better.

[@debuyarou7463]

Nice video. Just want to say that you don’t need to invest in STR ever because you can early in Druid Grove buy Elixir of Hill Giant Strength form Auntie Ethel. Later at her house and you can buy 3 of them after each Long Rest. So if you want, you can buy them until before you enter to lake in ACT 2 (lake to Shadow Realm). So don’t kill Auntie Ethel early. Live it for later after you farm a lot Elixirs. I had like more than 40…

[@Artu-D2]

could also add the drakethroat glaive to this build, a sorcerer can twincast it's ability to add more cold damage to both your weapons (you can just unequip it after casting, and lasts until long rest)

[@Kaltvene]

I've already been running an extremely similar build and love it. Great video.

[@jtfike]

Hello. You can get armor of agathys by taking the magic initiate feat for warlock. That way you can have every level as a wizard and have even more arcane ward.

[@aimarvila9254]

I really like this structure for BG3 builds! Really good job

[@RJrevenger]

talking about magic weapons... about the skill of element reinforcement... I dont know about the flail... but I've tested with the glaive you can buy from the bugbear at moontowers (Drakethroat glaive) and there is also the legendary staff at the Ramazith's tower (Despair of Athkatla)... the skill can be twined... so if you have a sorcerer companion, he can twin spell the skill so it can work on him and select you as a secondary target, working on both... sadly it work only for the main hand... it may sound like cheating... but its in the game...

[@Myllorelion]

Methinks Colby needs to rethink this around the Encrusted with Frost debuff. It can happily also use Chilled + Wet as well, but Encrusted just requires you to stack up the debuff for frozen.

[@waverebel9503]

Definitely slotting this in my honor mod list after my oops all monks which will use Alternate Monk - Complete Class and Subclass Rework mod for a lot of variety

[@gabep3586]

Colby! Nice video. I think adding special items and their effects are awesome because that increases build diversity and creativity. I have been thinking about a barbarian rogue tank with Adamantine shield and cloak of displacement. If you could get your AC high enough, I think you’d likely never be hit!

[@jAfr0Thunder86]

The flail of ages is something your character in BG2 assembles.

[@oliorogue]

Apparently you can make your Warding Bond caster be Abjuration Wizard too and they won't suffer as much damage if you Warding Bond all other party members. I haven't tried this yet but am looking forward to. Also my new version of this build is a halfling rogue for a current playthrough with friends. Works well even though I can only use daggers. Get in there dual wielding, melee opportunity attacks to everyone (especially me). There is a great version of this build with monk too.

[@dimKiriyenko]

Hello! As a fellow Gish enthusiast I have a suggestion for you that I can't stop theorycrating and got into analysis paralysis even -- left-hand spellblade. The idea is having a caster statstick in the right hand, something like Blade of the Undermountain King in the left hand, have at least one level in fighter for two-weapon fighting style, three levels into thief for two bonus actions and some caster -- wizard, cleric, warlock, I don't know, this is where analysis paralysis starts. Or just sword bard and thief, but it's not that bards have a lot of offensive spells and also sword bard will have better time doing flourishes than casting spells. To cast with an action, then have two attacks with bonus action. Sounds like a perfect gish/spellblade for me, but can't figure this out -- maybe you can?

[@Yobolight]

Okay, this build is nuts. Super creative.

[@N01ANDO]

Excited to see an item Focused build from you! In the future, if you do this again could you make a section of the video simply going through all recommended items? There are a few great cold focused items that would fit this build and we'd appreciate hearing how you'd optimize them on this build