Across all three Acts ofBaldur’s Gate 3, players can find scores of weapons, from one-handed Crossbows to colossal Greatswords wielded in two hands. The best of these weapons are typically found later on in the game, but when players are in the second Act, for example, they can only get the best Act 2 weapons.
Naturally, damage is a primary stat to look at, but oftenoverlooked is the Weapon Enchantment, as a +1, +2, or +3 Enchantment makes a weapon significantly more likely to hit. Many of the best weapons also have passive effects or their own Actions and Spells. As well as knowing what these weapons do, it’s also vital that players knowwhere to find the best weapons in Act 2 ofBG3.
Updated June 13, 2025, by Joe Grantham:With news that there is another large patch on the way for Larian’s masterpiece, excitement is once again brewing, and fans are jumping into new playthroughs or preparing for their next adventure withBG3’s 12 new subclasses. When they or completely new players inevitably reach the game’s second act, they will want to know which Act 2 weapons are best in BG3, and the more options presented to them, the better.
1d4 + 1 Piercing + 1d4 Necrotic
+1
Effects
N/A
There are manydaggers inBaldur’s Gate 3to be dual-wielded alongside main weapons or other daggers. One of the best in terms of base damage is theRitual Dagger of Shar, thanks to the bonus Necrotic damage it deals. As enemies rarely have resistance to Necrotic damage beyond Act 2, it’s a great dagger to start the third Act with before finding the absolute best available.
The Ritual Dagger of Shar is also fairly easy to acquire, as players don’t have to complete any main missions or enter large dungeons. It is simply found in the Sharran Sanctuary in Reithwin Town. A small puzzle must be completed to gain access to the underground temple, and once inside, the dagger is found on the altar. However, picking it up will trigger a fight.
1d6 + 2 Piercing
+2
While there are more powerfulranged weapons inBG3that make use of both hands, the Hellfire Hand Crossbow is the best light Crossbow in the game, but luckily can be found in Act 2. Not only does it have a Weapon Enchantment of +2, meaning attacks are more likely to hit, but it has a few special effects too. First of all is the ability to set enemies on fire as long as it is used with stealth. Players will also gain access to the Scorching Ray spell, which can be cast for free after every Short Rest.
To obtain this one-handed crossbow, which can be wielded alongside another weapon, players will need to enter the Gauntlet of Shar. They will then need to prevail against an ambush by the boss Yurgir and his minions.
WhileKetheric’s Warhammercan only be found at the very end of the act, it is nevertheless one of the best Act 2 weapons inBG3. As it doesn’t come with any special passives or spells, the power of this Warhammer is instead all down to excellent base damage, bolstered by bonus Psychic damage.
The final encounter with Ketheric Thorm happens in the Mind Flayer Colony, and players should expect a tough fight with two phases. As well as his Warhammer, players can also loot thebest armor available in Act 2from him. This is theReaper’s Embraceheavy armor.
1d6 + 2 Slashing
Scimitars inBaldur’s Gate 3generally aren’t the strongest, but one of the few exceptions is theJusticiar’s Scimitar, which comes with a few bonuses. First of all, characters attacking with Advantage may Blind their target, which will help keep them safe from counterattacks. The weapon also comes with an Action that can deal significantly more damage and can be delivered while stealthed without being revealed.
To acquire this Scimitar, players will need to find and kill Lyrthindor in the Gauntlet of Shar, but at first, he is disguised as a group of rats. These rats can be found at the bottom of a ginormous statue, and players will want to kill them.
TheLeast Expectedbow is easily one of the best Act 2 weapons inBG3, especially for characters who like to strike from the shadows. Beyond its +2 Weapon Enchantment, its main feature is the bonus damage when attacking from the shadows. If players find a safe spot to fire from or can provide their own shadows with spells, they will be able to reign down some serious damage.
This Shortbow, thankfully, isn’t too hard to find and players can enter the Gauntlet of Shar fairly early on in Act 2 if they desire. After completing a locked puzzle door which is required to progress through the area, players should look for a Gilded chest which contains Least Expected.
1d8 + 2 Piercing
TheInfernal Rapieris one of thebest Rapiers inBG3, especially for Warlocks and other sword-wielding spell-casters, who will benefit from it scaling with Spellcasting rather than Dexterity. It also boasts a Weapon Enchantment of +2, meaning attacks are more likely to hit. Perhaps best of all, however, is the accompanying Level 6 spell, which allows players to summon a Cambion.
To get their hands on the Infernal Rapier, players will need to have Wyll as their ally and complete his companion quest known as The Blade of Frontiers. They will then need Wyll in their party when they enter the Tadpoling Centre of the Mind Flayer Colony at the end of Act 2. Here, players will have the option to free Zariel’s asset, who turns out to be Mizora. They will then need to pass a Persuasion check to ask for the Rapier as a reward.
Longsword
Damage
1d8 + 1 Slashing (One-Handed) or 1d10 + 1 Slashing (Two-Handed) + 1d4 Psychic
Crowning Strike:Unleash the wails of the dead, and possibly instill Crown of Madness in the target.
The Blade of Oppressed Souls is one of thebest Longswords inBaldur’s Gate 3and will deal more damage when wielded with both hands. Its bonus Psychic damage is extremely useful, as few enemies are resistant to it. By instilling an enemy with Crown of Madness, fights can become even easier, as they will attack the nearest creature, excluding the wielder of this weapon.
The sword can be found in the Mind Flayer Colony towards the end of Act 2, although players must firstsolve the Necrotic Laboratory puzzle. This puzzle is hard to miss as it’s essentially a large multicolored brain.
1d12 + 2 Slashing
Defensive Attack:When the wielder makes their first attack of the round, they can reduce this weapon’s enchantment by 1 to increase their Armor Class and Saving Throw bonus by 1.
As one of thebest Axes inBaldur’s Gate 3, theDefender Greataxeis a great option for Act 2, and it can be bought very early on. With a Weapon Enchantment of +2, attacks will hit more reliably, and each blow should deal heavy damage.
Wielders also have the option to slightly increase their defenses at the cost of lowering the Weapon Enchantment by 1. This is a good option to have in certain fights. The Greataxe can be bought at the Last Light Inn from the Quartermaster known as Talli.
Life Stealing Critical:On a Critical Hit, the target takes an extra 1-10 Necrotic damage as long as it isn’t a construct or an undead. The wielder also gains 10 temporary hit points.
With a Weapon Enchantment of +2, theSword of Life Stealingis already a solid option, and it can be dual-wielded or used alongside one ofBG3’sbest shields. It becomes a truly great weapon, however, when it crits. This is because bonus Necrotic damage will be dealt, and the wielder will gain 10 temporary HP.
The other great thing about the Sword of Life Stealing is that it can be bought right at the start of Act 2 from Dammon at the Last Light Inn. Thus, it can be used for almost the entire second Act.
1d10 + 2 Slashing + 1d4 Force
TheHalberd of Vigilanceis not only one of the best Act 2 weapons, but also among thebest Two-Handed weapons inBG3. It has excellent Slashing damage, complemented by bonus Force damage, which almost no enemies are resistant to. Any reaction attacks, such as Opportunity Attacks or Sentinel hits, will also be more likely to hit with Advantage.
Lastly, having a slight increase in Initiative should not be overlooked, as this makes it more likely players get to have their turns earlier. Killing enemies before they even get to fight back is one of the best outcomes in combat. The Halberd of Vigilance can be bought at Moonrise Towers early on in Act 2 from Lann Tarv.
