Baldur’s Gate 3 players seeking to forge the ultimate weapons and armor should look no further than adamantine, the rarest and most durable metal in the Forgotten Realms. This guide will cover everything you need to know about crafting impenetrable adamantine gear in Larian Studios’ hit new RPG.
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What is Adamantine in Baldur’s Gate 3?
Adamantine is a jet-black metal prized for its unmatched hardness and durability. According to legend, adamantine was forged by the gods themselves deep underground.
In Baldur’s Gate 3, adamantine items have a grayish-black sheen and are immune to damage from non-magical attacks. This makes them incredibly useful for boosting armor class and protecting against critical hits.
Adamantine weapons also bypass physical damage resistance, dealing full damage even to resistant creatures like golems and demons. They can cleave through armor as if it was simple cloth, giving wielders a major damage boost.
BG3 Adamantine Effects and Benefits
Equipping adamantine gear in Baldur’s Gate 3 provides the following potent benefits:
- Adamantine armor grants a +1 bonus to AC and negates an enemy’s armor bonus to AC. This means blows connect directly against their flesh, ignoring any protection from mundane armor.
- Adamantine weapons gain a +1 attack bonus and deal an additional 1d6 damage against objects like doors or chests. They are perfect for breaking and entering.
- Adamantine shields also grant +1 AC but their true value lies in negating critical hits from enemies. Nothing sunders your guard.
With these powers combined, a full set of adamantine equipment can make you an impenetrable juggernaut, shrugging off blows while laying waste to all who stand against you.
Where to Find Adamantine in BG3
Adamantine is exceedingly rare across the Realms. Only a few deposits exist and they are jealously guarded. There are a couple ways to acquire this elusive metal in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Random loot drops – Adamantine items rarely appear as random loot, usually on powerful unique enemies or in hidden treasure stashes. Keep an eye out!
- Purchase from merchants – Some merchants in major cities will stock adamantine weapons and armor for sale, although they demand exorbitant prices due to rarity.
- Crafting – The most reliable way to obtain adamantine gear is to forge it yourself at the Adamantine Forge in Grymforge.
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The Adamantine Forge
Located deep in the dwarf ruins of Grymforge, the Adamantine Forge allows crafters to produce their own weapons, armor, and shields from raw adamantine.
To utilize the forge, you first need to recover the Adamantine Molds scattered throughout Grymforge. There are three molds:
- Weapon Mold – For crafting melee weapons
- Armor Mold – For crafting armor pieces
- Shield Mold – For crafting shields
You also need Mithral Ore which can be mined from deposits in various locations. Mithral is required to fuse and treat the raw adamantine into workable gear.
With molds and mithral in hand, interact with the Adamantine Forge to open the crafting menu. Here you can select which item you want to forge. The process requires any standard weapon, armor, or shield plus 1 Mithral Ore and consumes them to create the adamantine version.
For example, combining a Longsword + 1 Mithral Ore makes an Adamantine Longsword. Combining Chain Mail + 1 Mithral Ore makes Adamantine Chain Mail. And so on.
Recommended BG3 Adamantine Gear
While every adamantine item is powerful, some stand out as particularly devastating additions to your arsenal:
- Adamantine Splint Mail – Probably the best adamantine armor, this impenetrable suit bolsters AC while negating enemy armor bonuses for maximum damage.
- Adamantine Greatsword – A hardy greatsword that hits brutally hard, cleaving through defenses with every swing.
- Adamantine Warhammer – Bludgeon foes and smash objects with ease using this unbreakable hammer.
- Adamantine Shield – Completely nullify critical hits with this stalwart shield.
Prioritize crafting these items first to amplify your adventuring prowess.
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Enchant Even Further
The bonuses from adamantine stack with existing enchantments. This means you can take a +2 Longsword to the forge and turn it into a +3 Adamantine Longsword, gaining major attack and damage bonuses along with all the powers of adamantine.
With the right enchanted base items, you can create veritable artifacts using the Adamantine Forge. The sky is the limit so craft away!
FAQ – August 6, 2023
What are the benefits of using adamantine items in BG3?
Adamantine items grant bonuses to AC and attack rolls. They also bypass damage resistances and deal extra damage to objects. A full set can make you extremely hardy and deadly.
Can adamantine items be found in the base game?
Yes, adamantine items can appear as random loot drops from enemies or treasure caches. They are very rare though. Merchants may also sell them at extremely high prices.
How do I craft adamantine items in Baldur’s Gate 3?
You need to find the Adamantine Forge in Grymforge along with mithral ore and adamantine molds. You can then combine weapons, armor and mithral to craft adamantine gear.
What are the best BG3 adamantine items?
Recommended items include the Adamantine Splint Mail, Greatsword, Warhammer, and Shield due to their damage/protection bonuses. Enchanted gear can be further improved.
What are the weaknesses of adamantine items?
Adamantine is very rare and expensive. Crafting enough for a whole gear set requires a massive investment of time and resources. The items are also still vulnerable to magical damage.
