Dexterity (DEX) is one of the six ability scores.
Introduction[]
It represents agility, balance, finesse.
A high dexterity is beneficial to every character, but especially those who want to excel at fighting with ranged weapons, or Thief, Bard, and Ranger characters who want to use thieving skills.
Effects[]
A character with higher dexterity is more likely to hit with missile weapons, avoid incoming hits from all weapons types, and succeed with thieving skills:
| DEX | Ranged THAC0 | AC | Thieving Skills | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pick Pockets | Open Locks | Find Traps | Move Silently | Hide in Shadows | Set Traps | |||
| 3 | +3 | +4 | Impossible scores for thieves, bards, and rangers. | |||||
| 4 | +2 | +3 | ||||||
| 5 | +1 | +2 | ||||||
| 6 | - | +1 | ||||||
| 7 | - | - | ||||||
| 8 | - | - | ||||||
| 9 | - | - | -15% | -10% | -10% | -20% | -10% | -10% |
| 10 | - | - | -10% | -5% | -10% | -15% | -5% | -10% |
| 11 | - | - | -5% | - | -5% | -10% | - | -5% |
| 12 | - | - | - | - | - | -5% | - | - |
| 13-14 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 15 | - | -1 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 16 | -1 | -2 | - | +5% | - | - | - | - |
| 17 | -1 | -3 | +5% | +10% | - | +5% | +5% | - |
| 18 | -2 | -4 | +10% | +15% | +5% | +10% | +10% | +5% |
| 19 | -3 | -4 | +15% | +20% | +10% | +15% | +15% | +10% |
| 20 | -3 | -4 | +20% | +25% | +15% | +18% | +18% | +15% |
| 21 | -4 | -5 | +25% | +30% | +20% | +20% | +20% | +20% |
| 22 | -4 | -5 | +30% | +35% | +25% | +23% | +23% | +25% |
| 23 | -5 | -5 | +35% | +40% | +30% | +25% | +25% | +30% |
| 24 | -6 | -6 | +40% | +45% | +35% | +30% | +30% | +35% |
| 25 | -7 | -6 | +45% | +50% | +40% | +35% | +35% | +40% |
Stat value[]
Like all ability scores, the dexterity of a player character is determined during character generation.
Buffs[]
There are ways to, at least temporarily, increase a character's dexterity during the game:
| Source | DEX | Duration | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Potion of Mind Focusing | +3 | 12 hours | |
| Cat's Grace (spell) | +1 to +8 | 1 hour/level | cannot raise DEX past 20 |
Penalties[]
- Joril's Axe +3 (-1 Dexterity, +1 Constitution)
Permanent Dexterity Alterations[]
Items[]
- Potion of Strength Transference (+1 DEX, -1 STR) can be found as a random treasure in a container on the third floor of the Tower of Solonor in the Severed Hand.
- Potion of Action Transference (+1 CHA, -1 DEX) can be found as a random drop from Therik in the South-eastern crypt in the Vale of Shadows.
- Potion of Holy Transference (+2 WIS, -1 DEX) can be found as a random treasure in Malavon's Dome in Lower Dorn's Deep, in his throne room.
External links[]
- Dexterity article on the Baldur's Gate Wiki, a wiki for the Baldur's Gate games.
- Dexterity article on the Dungeons and Dragons Wiki, a wiki for the D&D ruleset.