Summary
- Enhance weapons with coatings like Purple Worm Toxin for additional damage and special effects in Baldur's Gate 3 combat.
- Use Oil of Combustion to make fire damage deadlier, creating powerful combos with AoE spells like Fireball.
- Oil of Accuracy provides a simple but effective +2 bonus to Attack Rolls, making it easier to hit opponents consistently.
Just because Magic Items provide unique effects to weapons in Baldur’s Gate 3 doesn’t mean ordinary armaments can’t contend with their enchanted counterparts. Thanks to the Dip Bonus Action, characters can dip their weapons into surfaces to further enhance their damage output, resulting in coated blades or arrows that give a +1d4 of the damage type associated with the dipping source.
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However, just because Dipping is often done on environmental surfaces doesn’t mean players need to create them to secure certain damage bonuses. With the right Coating, players of Baldur’s Gate 3 can further enhance their weapons with special benefits other than a base damage buff.
(Updated on 26 January 2024 by Rhenn Taguiam) Courtesy of Hotfix #17, players enjoying Baldur's Gate 3 may be able to enjoy it further, as the game removes more bugs that may ruin their present playthrough. This is particularly the case when players try to manipulate the environment with various effects, surfaces, and even Coatings that may drastically affect their combat performance. With the game tweaking more of its gameplay mechanics, players may be able to rely on more Coatings in the game, some of which give players opportunities to use Fire Damage more effectively against opponents, inflict debilitating poisons, and even stop enemies on their tracks. As such, more Coatings have been added to this list to expand further on the game's best options.
15 Purple Worm Toxin
Make Poisons Deal More Damage To Opponents
|
Rarity |
Very Rare |
|---|---|
|
Effect |
Purple Worm Toxin: +1d10 Poison Damage when attacking |
|
Craftable |
Suspension of Purple Worm Slime + Vitriol |
|
Where To Find |
Sister Lidwin (House of Healing), Derryth Bonecloack (Myconid Colony) |
The Very Rare nature of the Purple Worm Toxin is attributed to its extremely potent capabilities as a Coating. When used on a Baldur’s Gate 3 weapon like a Greatsword, it acquires the "Coated In Purple Worm Toxin" Condition for 10 turns. Targets hit with a weapon bearing this condition take 1d10 Poison Damage whenever they end their turn, with the effect only ending upon succeeding a DC 19 CON Save.
What’s more interesting about the Purple Worm Toxin is how it can also create a dippable surface upon being thrown on the ground. The surface itself lasts for 10 turns and remains capable of bestowing the same Condition to all weapons dipped into it. Considering how both uses of the Very Rare Coating still counts towards its consumption, creating a surface near the party that all members can use to inflict debilitating per-turn Poison Damage can give them the best edge in combat.
14 Oil Of Freezing
Setup Powerful Combos With Cold Attacks
|
Rarity |
Rare |
|---|---|
|
Effect |
Encrusted With Frost: 2-turn Disadvantage on DEX Saves; if Coating itself has at least 7 Turns, target must succeed DC 12 CON Save or take 1d4 Cold Damage |
|
Craftable |
Suspension of Frost Salamander Tongue + Ashes |
|
Where To Find |
N/A |
While players can rely on a Baldur’s Gate 3 Wizard build for elemental attribute shenanigans, Oil in Freezing can become a convenient way of debilitating enemy forces with a chilling effect. Coating a weapon with this Oil gives it the Coated in Oil of Freezing Condition, lasting for 10 turns. Hitting an opponent successfully with the Coated weapon will afflict them with the Encrusted With Frost effect.
This two-turn effect will impose Disadvantage on DEX Saves to affected targets. Moreover, if the Coating itself still has at least seven turns remaining on the Coated weapon, Encrusted targets have to pull off a DC 12 CON Save or take 1d4 Cold Damage. While the 1d4 Cold Damage within a certain turn threshold is minuscule, the more important component of this Coating is the DEX Save Disadvantage, practically encouraging combos with heavy-hitting Evocation Spells that enemies would dodge with DEX Saves.
13 Arsonist's Oil
Turn Fire Resistance Into A Vulnerability
|
Rarity |
Uncommon |
|---|---|
|
Effect |
Target's Fire Resistance becomes Fire Vulnerability |
|
Craftable |
Sublimate of Frosted Ears + Ashes |
|
Where To Find |
N/A |
Despite the overall firepower of Spells like Fireball, they become useless when used against foes who have Fire Resistance. However, with Arsonist’s Oil, characters like an Eldritch Knight can guarantee that foes who normally resist Fire Damage are still able to suffer the wrath of their flames. When used as a Coating, the Coated weapon receives the Coated In Arsonist’s Oil Condition. Should players hit a foe who has Resistance to Fire Damage, this Resistance transforms into a Vulnerability for two turns. When used against bosses who ordinarily have innate Resistances, an Eldritch Knight can combo Arsonist’s Oil with an ever-reliable Scorching Ray.
Since Arsonist’s Oil lasts for 10 turns on the affected weapon, it may be better off used as a surface. When thrown on the ground, weapons dipped in Arsonist’s Oil can inflict the same Condition to targets, but at least the player’s nearby allies should theoretically now be able to transfer the condition to multiple targets at a time.
12 Crawler Mucus
Inflict Paralyzed And Poisoned In One Strike
|
Rarity |
Rare |
|---|---|
|
Effect |
Inflicts Paralysed and Poisoned |
|
Craftable |
Salts of Carrion Crawler Tentacle + Vitriol |
|
Where To Find |
Echo of Abazigal (Murder Tribunal), Fytz the Firecracker (Lower City) |
While a Scimitar-toting Rogue in Baldur’s Gate 3 may be able to pull off debilitating Sneak Attacks with the right Advantage, they might want to maximize their available damage with a Coating like Crawler Mucus. Coating their weapon with this icky oil gives it the Coated In Crawler Mucus Condition for 10 turns, where targets struck with the Coated armament get the Stricken With Crawler Mucus effect.
Targets affected by this debuff need to succeed a DC 13 CON Save or become both Poisoned and Paralyzed for a turn. At the hands of an ally who can inflict this on a target, a Rogue multi-hitting a Sneak Attack into an affected target not only enjoys an auto-Crit at Advantage when hit in melee (Paralyzed), the target even Reacts at a Disadvantage (Poisoned) if they try to hit back.
11 Oil Of Combustion
Make Fire Damage Deadlier To Opponents
|
Rarity |
Rare |
|---|---|
|
Effect |
Targets take extra 4d4+4 Fire Damage if they receive Fire Damage within 2 Turns |
|
Craftable |
Ashes of Mephit Magma + Essence |
|
Where To Find |
N/A |
Anyone who’s ever played a Spellcaster in D&D knows that Mage Hand can become one of the most powerful assets to a party due to its versatility. When it comes to its use as something that can throw Grenades at opponents, Oil of Combustion can be quite a dependable multi-purpose item. When used as a Coating, the affected armament receives the 10-turn Coated in Oil of Combustion Condition. Hitting a target with this Condition inflicts the Oil of Combustion Condition, dousing them with oil that makes them take an extra 3d6 Fire Damage should they receive Fire Damage.
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It’s this effect that makes Oil of Combustion more practical as a Grenade instead. Should this become a surface, the player’s long-ranged combatants can bombard Coated arrows onto opponents before their Wizard casts Fireball. Since the Oil’s effects will release extra 3d6 Fire Damage at a 10-foot radius, Oil of Combustion can make for a debilitating AoE.
10 Oil Of Diminution
Make Enemies Pint-Sized And Easier To Deal With
| Rarity | Uncommon |
|---|---|
| Effect | Reduced: Disadvantage to Strength, -1d4 Melee Damage |
| Craftable | Essence of Sylvan Stone + Suspension |
| Where To Find | N/A |
Other than creating distance, Shoving doesn’t seem all too effective when defeating foes in Baldur’s Gate 3 - that is until players discover that Shoving enemies off cliffs and ledges can make boss battles easier than expected. Unfortunately, many bosses end up boasting high Strength stats that trying to Shove them can become tougher than players anticipate.
With Oil of Diminution, this becomes much easier to accomplish. When hit, a target needs to succeed a Constitution Save or suffer Disadvantage on Strength Checks and get a -1d4 penalty for all their melee attack damage. This means even if players still can’t Shove their target despite the Disadvantage, the creature in question still suffers some melee damage reduction.
9 Wizardsbane Oil
Transform Spellcasters Into Easier Targets
| Rarity | Uncommon |
|---|---|
| Effect | -3 to Spell Attack Rolls and Spell Save DC, Disadvantage to Concentration Save |
| Craftable | Essence of Gremishka Tail + Suspension |
| Where To Find | N/A |
Regardless of how powerful a mage’s spell is in their Baldur’s Gate 3 gameplay, their attack power is almost always useless if enemies still manage to succeed in their Saves. With the 
Wizardsbane Oil, players can make sure spellcasters become useless outright. Coating a weapon with this oil will have targets receive a -3 debuff to their Spell Attack Rolls and Spell Save DC, making it much easier for them to miss and for the players to dodge attacks.
Moreover, Wizardsbane Oil ensures the target has a Disadvantage in maintaining their Concentration, making this perfect for multi-specializing Bards that can be assigned as the resident mage-killer. Despite this oil’s effects lasting for only two turns, a character with high enough attack stats can continuously inflict this debuff on pesky spellcasters before they strike back.
8 Basic Poison
Default Poison Can Be Consistently Powerful
| Rarity | Common |
|---|---|
| Effect | Inflicts Poisoned for 3 turns |
| Craftable | Vitriol of Bonecap + Ashes |
| Where To Find | Various merchants, enemies, and locations |
Despite the commonality of 
Basic Poison as a Coating, its accessibility throughout Baldur’s Gate 3 gameplay makes it a must-have for constant damage over time in encounters. When used as a weapon coat, Basic Poison will force targets to succeed a CON Save or become Poisoned.
While the damage dealt to targets as they retain the Poison status differs depending on their Poison Resistance, Basic Poison can continuously impart this effect as long as the coating persists. This makes Basic Poison a good pair for classes with multiple attack options, such as Thief Rogues with their Extra Bonus Attack, or Fighters with their Action Surges.
7 Serpent Fang Toxin
Deal Extra Poison Damage To Boost DPS
|
Rarity |
Uncommon |
|---|---|
|
Effect |
Attacks deal +1d6 Poison Damage |
|
Craftable |
Suspension of Snake Venom + Vitriol |
|
Where To Find |
N/A |
Players enjoying their Baldur’s Gate 3 playthroughs may not immediately rely on damage-over-time as a surefire way of eliminating opponents, especially since the damage they deal might not be enough to land a killing blow. 
Serpent Fang Toxin tries to bypass this problem by ensuring players deal extra damage per attack instead.
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When used as a Coating, the Serpent Fang Toxin grants an additional 1d6 Poison Damage to active weapons that land successful hits. The 1d6 boost is the equivalent of a Sneak Attack for the Rogue, making this quite a deadly addition to an assassin’s arsenal.
6 Thisobald’s Brewed-Up Bellyglummer
More Powerful Poison Damage To Foes
| Rarity | Very Rare |
|---|---|
| Effect | DC 17 CON Save or take 1d6 Poison Damage at the end of every turn |
| Craftable | Salts of Corpse Rose + Suspension |
| Where To Find | N/A |
Perhaps the epitome of Poison-based Coatings in Baldur’s Gate 3 combat, using 
Thisobald's Brewed-Up Bellyglummer can become one of the best methods of dealing consistent Poison Damage to foes given its rather powerful nature. At its core, foes hit need to succeed a DC 17 Constitution Save or risk receiving 1d6 Poison Damage per turn.
Despite the straightforward nature of this Coating, the DC 17 Constitution Save can be tough to beat, especially since not all creatures prioritize CON among their Attributes. Not to mention, using a weapon with this Coating in multi-attack situations can continuously apply the status effect anyway.