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Certain items inBaldur’s Gate 3allow the user to build up Lightning Charges, a modifier that enhances their attack power. If the character builds up enough charges in one go, they’ll be able to enhance their next attack with additional damage.
Read on to find out everything you need to know about Lightning Charges, from how they work to the items that let you build them up. With the right gear, you’ll be able to unleash the power of electricity reliably in combat, giving you a fantastic edge during your journey!
Updated June 04, 2025 by Matt Arnold:We’ve checked for new abilities on the magic items that grant Lightning Charges, and updated our list with the latest versions.
What Are Lightning Charges?
Lightning Charges are typicallyconferred by magic itemsonto the character who has them equipped. The conditions for gaining Lightning Charges will vary by item, but theyalways work the same wayregardless of how they were acquired.
As long as a character has one or more Lightning Charges, theyadd one to all their Attack Rollsand, whenever they deal damage by any means,they deal one Lightning damagein addition to the normal damage from the effect.
The bonus from Lightning Chargesdoes not scale with the number of charges the character currently has.A character with three Lightning Charges still only gets a +1 bonus to Attack Rolls and damage.
Lightning Charges decay at a rate ofone charge per turn.When a character loses their last Lightning Charge, they no longer benefit from their effects until they gain more.
If a character deals damage while they havefive or more Lightning Charges, the charges are immediately consumed and the triggering effect deals1d8 Lightning damagebeyond its normal amount. you’re able to’t choose whether to apply this effect; itautomatically happensas soon as the requirements are met.
Which Equipment Gives Lightning Charges?
Below are all the magic items that we’ve found in Baldur’s Gate 3 that provide Lightning Charges to their users, or provide benefits to characters that have Lightning Charges from another source.
Melee Weapon (1H or 2H)
