Baldur’s Gate 3: How To Easily Win Any Encounter With Barrels

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The environment is one of your best resources in Baldur’s Gate 3 and barrels can become one of your most powerful weapons. Often, you’ll encounter areas of the map that are packed with explosive barrels — if you’re strong enough, your party members can carry these heavy barrels and use them in combat. Instead of relying on predetermined locations, we can set our own traps and absolutely devastate big bosses. Even late-game bosses can be killed (or severely weakened) in the first turn by setting down Smokepowder Barrels.

Smokepowder Barrels are one of the most powerful (and easy-to-acquire) weapons for devastating bosses in Baldur’s Gate 3. They’re extremely heavy — and often useful for the areas they appear in. But, if you’re willing to save the barrels and use them later, you can absolutely devastate bosses in the opening turn.

After collecting a Barrel, place it next to the boss or enemy you’re about to fight. This doesn’t work for every encounter — but many encounters will let you explore the arena before initiating the fight. Or, if the enemy comes to you, save before battle, then reload and place the barrel pre-emptively where your opponent appears. Smokepowder Barrels are excessively powerful, but all explosive barrels are powerful. Oil Barrels, Firewine Barrels and others are devastating against bosses.

Remember, when collecting barrels, you can Send To Camp by right-clicking in your inventory so you’ll have them ready for future encounters. You don’t need to carry them around with you. Sent to Camp, then collect 7-8 when you need them for an annoying fight. These are best used when dealing with enemies / bosses that don’t initiate the fight immediately — any of the Goblin Camp Leaders, Balthazar, the Githyanki,