Permanent bonuses

Permanent bonuses are special conditions, character enhancements, or other abilities. With very rare exceptions, these bonuses will remain with the character even after long resting or death.
There are many different permanent character enhancements or bonuses that can be obtained throughout Baldur's Gate 3. See below for details on these bonuses and how they can be obtained.
== Act One ==
The following permanent character bonuses can be obtained in Act One of the game. 
===Auntie Ethel's Hair===
 - gain +1 to an ability score of choice. Can be raised above 20.
==== How to unlock ====
Defeat Auntie Ethel during Save Mayrina and take the hag's deal (or force one upon her) to spare Ethel's life. 
===Awakened===
 - use all illithid powers as a bonus action.
==== How to unlock ====
Succeed at all three saving throws with the Zaith'isk in the infirmary of Crèche Y'llek, causing it to explode. The saves are significantly easier if the player character is in the device rather than Lae'zel.
Failing any of the saving throws for the Zaith'isk inflicts permanent, stacking penalties to the ability scores of the character inside it: each failure will, respectively, give -2 to Intelligence, Wisdom, and Constitution. Partial ceremorphosis or consuming illithid parasites will remove the ability debuffs.
===BOOOAL's Benediction===
 - gain advantage on attack rolls against Bleeding targets.
==== How to unlock ====
Sacrifice a companion to BOOOAL in The Festering Cove (hirelings cannot be sacrificed). The effect is granted to all present party members and will stop working if all Kuo-toa in the Cove are killed.
Alternatively, have someone pickpocket the Sickle of BOOOAL from Pooldripp while another is in the conversation. Then, either say that you have a better offer when asked to be a sacrifice and pass a Persuasion check, or shake the Kuo-toa's faith in BOOOAL and then agree to BOOOAL's offer to become his Chosen.
===Brand of the Absolute===
Brand of the Absolute - allows the benefits from Absolute equipment and unlocks unique dialogue options when speaking to followers of the Absolute.
==== How to unlock ====
Agree to let a character be branded by Gut in the Goblin Camp.
Multiple characters can receive the brand after the first character has been branded by Gut by controlling them and speaking to Warlock Greez.
===Find Familiar: Scratch===
 - gain the ability to summon Scratch as a familiar while outside of camp. While summoned, Scratch will be able to uncover buried treasure.
==== How to unlock ====
Leave Scratch with your scent so he joins your camp. Later when he offers you a ball, throw it to play fetch with him. Having Scratch's Ball in your inventory allows you to use Find Familiar: Scratch.
===Find Familiar: Cheeky Quasit===
 - summon Shovel (or Basket, or Fork), the Cheeky Quasit.
==== How to unlock ====
Find the unique Scroll of Summon Quasit in one of the coffins of the hidden area in the Apothecary's Cellar beneath the Blighted Village. Wizards can scribe this spell, while other spellcasting classes (Sorcerer, Wizard, or Warlock) may acquire the ability to summon her through the correct dialogue options.
===Instrument proficiency===
Instrument proficiency - know how to play a variety of musical instruments and be able to entertain a crowd with them, including for small amounts of gold. 
==== How to unlock ====
Pass one of two Charisma (Performance) checks while helping Alfira with her song in the Emerald Grove.
As Bards already have this proficiency, the meeting with Alfira provides no additional benefit to them.
===Loviatar's Love===
 - gain a +2 bonus to attack rolls and Wisdom saving throws if having 30% Hit Points or less.
==== How to unlock ====
Submit to Abdirak and put on a good performance for him in the Shattered Sanctum.
===Necromancy of Thay===
 - gain the passive feature Forbidden Knowledge, which grants a +1 to Wisdom saving throws and ability checks. The character with this bonus may also cast Speak with Dead once per long rest.
==== How to unlock ====
Turn all three pages while reading Necromancy of Thay, a book found in a hidden area in the Apothecary's Cellar beneath the Blighted Village.
Turning just the first page will grant Speak with Dead. The reader does not need to succeed on the saving throws associated with turning any of the pages.
===Paid the Price===
 - gain a +1 bonus to Intimidation checks, but also a disadvantage on Perception checks. Additionally, gain a disadvantage when attacking Hags. This permanently changes the appearance of the chosen's right eye, cannot be reversed using the Magic Mirror, and is mutually exclusive with Volo’s Ersatz Eye.
==== How to unlock ====
Accept Auntie Ethel's deal to remove the parasite at the Riverside Teahouse.
===Survival Instinct===
 - gain the additional illithid power Survival Instinct, which allows the user to infuse a creature with psionic force, healing them if they reach 0 hit points.
==== How to unlock ====
Complete the quest Help Omeluum investigate the parasite with Omeluum in the Underdark.
This is a unique illithid power and cannot be obtained through regular illithid power progression.
===Volo's Ersatz Eye===
 - gain a permanent See Invisibility effect. This permanently changes the appearance of the chosen's right eye most closely to "Blue 3", cannot be reversed using the Magic Mirror and is mutually exclusive with Paid the Price.
==== How to unlock ====
Rescue Volo from the Goblin Camp. When speaking to him in the campsite afterwards, tell him about your Tadpole infection and agree to his experimental surgery.
== Act Two ==
The following permanent character bonuses can be obtained in Act Two of the game's story.
===Arabella's Shadow Entangle===
 - gain the ability to entangle an Undead or Shadow Creature.
====How to unlock====
Tell Arabella about her parents' fate during the quest Find Arabella's Parents.
===Bardic Inspiration===
 - gain a charge of Bardic Inspiration that is stronger than usual (1d12). Usable once per long rest, and does not consume Bardic Inspiration charges.
This bonus does not strengthen existing Bardic Inspiration uses (if any); they will remain at the appropriate strength for the character's Bard level.
====How to unlock====
At the end of Act Two, if Alfira is still alive, she can be found at Moonrise Towers. Talking with her reveals that she wants to use music to cheer up the tiefling children in the room with her. If the active character is a Bard, the player character can speak with her again to gain the bonus (does not need to perform the song). 
===Githzerai Mind Barrier===
 - gain advantage on Intelligence saving throws.
====How to unlock====
Insert the Waking Mind (found at after the brain connect puzzle in the Mind Flayer Colony) into the nearby Mind-Archive Interface. Speak to the Slack-Skinned Head, and agree to purge or consume its mind. 
===Consumed Shadow Weave===
 Level 3 Shadow Spell Slot - Gale gains an additional level three spell slot, separate from normal spell slots. Recharges per long rest.
==== How to unlock ====
Only available to Gale while playing his origin, and as a companion. 
Consume the Shadow Weave from the corpse of Gerringothe Thorm, Malus Thorm or Thisobald Thorm after slaying them in combat. Cleansing the Shadow Weave grants Mystra's Blessing until Long rest instead.
Defeating Malus or Thisobald via dialogue won't grant the option of consuming or cleansing the Shadow Weave (Bug as of Hotfix #16)
===Potion of Everlasting Vigour===
 - gain +2 Strength. Can be used to raise Strength above 20, and will remain after respeccing the character.
====How to unlock====
Convince Astarion to bite Araj Oblodra in Moonrise Towers.
===Slayer Form===
 - gain the ability to transform into the Slayer once per long rest.
==== How to unlock ====
Only available while playing the Dark Urge Origin. 
Kill either Isobel, or your lover, or the companion with the highest approval toward you, as part of The Urge quest. Alternatively, it can be acquired alongside the one-time-use spell Power Word Kill by accepting to become Bhaal's Chosen after defeating Orin in Act Three. 
Refusing to become Bhaal's Chosen will result in the permanent loss of the Slayer Form.
===Summon Us===
 - summon Us, an intellect devourer, as a familiar.
==== How to unlock ====
Free Us and prevent it from dying on the Nautiloid during the Prologue, then free it from its cage in the Mind Flayer Colony towards the end of Act Two.
Pacifying Us on the Nautiloid via skill checks will cause the resulting debuffs to remain with it the rest of the game.
== Act Three ==
The following permanent character bonuses can be obtained in Act Three of the game's story.
===Anointed in Splendour=== 
 - gain +2 bonus to all s.
==== How to unlock ====
Offer enough gold to one of the deities in the Stormshore Tabernacle to gain the right to ask for a blessing. The exact amount of gold required depends on the character's level and the difficulty settings. This can be done for every character, but an offering will need to be made for each one.
Alternatively, Gale can get this permanent bonus through dialogue. If Gale chooses to ask for Mystra's forgiveness during their meeting at the Stormshore Tabernacle in the Lower City, she will grant him .
===Partial Ceremorphosis===
 - gain access to tier 3 illithid powers, and automatically unlock all tier 1 illithid powers and the tier 3 illithid power Fly. This will cause an irrevocable cosmetic change in the character. Any tadpoles used to obtain tier 1 illithid powers prior to this point will be refunded if this bonus is acquired.
==== How to unlock ====
Consume the Astral-Touched Tadpole offered by the Emperor.
===Danse Macabre===
 - create 4 ghouls that fight alongside you. Comes with a curse that lowers Constitution by 5, but can be removed with the Remove Curse spell while keeping Danse Macabre.
==== How to unlock ====
Read The Tharchiate Codex (found at the end of the Vault puzzle in Ramazith's Tower), then read the last page of the Necromancy of Thay (from Act 1) and pass a DC 20 Wisdom Saving Throw.
===Tasha's Hideous Laughter/Monk's Hideous Laughter===
 - gain the ability to cast Tasha's Hideous Laughter once per long rest.
==== How to unlock ====
Carry the Sentient Amulet from Grymforge to a casket under the Open Hand Temple in Wyrm's Crossing, completing Help the Cursed Monk. Must choose to accept the curse yourself.
Possible wisdom loss if you fail Constitution/Wisdom saves. The will lose all of its abilities if you choose to accept the curse yourself.
=== Mirror of Loss === 
Mirror of Loss - gain +2 to an ability score of your choice (and optionally +1 to Charisma).
==== How to unlock ====
Successfully offer a prayer () to the Mirror of Loss in the House of Grief, then sacrifice one or more of your ability scores. You may receive the option to choose a permanent +2 bonus to any ability, and/or a +1 bonus to CHA. If you do not succeed on the DC 25 Religion check, the +2 buff is not available as a random reward. You can alternatively sacrifice your knowledge of the Necromancy of Thay to receive a guaranteed +2 of your choice, even without offering a prayer.
For each ability you sacrifice, you'll receive the Stolen Vigour curse, giving -2 to that Ability. This can be cured via Remove Curse, or (as of v4.1.1.4251417) performing a long rest. Either method of removing the curse allows you to retain the stat buff(s) you may have received.
Buffs granted by the Mirror can raise affected ability scores up to 24. 
As of v4.1.1.4811634, the bonuses from the Necromancy of Thay are properly lost when sacrificing its knowledge.
You will receive the Patriar's Memory (+1 CHA) if the Narrator tells you the following after sacrificing an ability score: "Disappointment floods your mind. You were sure to succeed Stelmane, but Lord Enver Gortash has stolen your support. All that charming and cajoling in the parlous of the Upper City, Wasted." You can continue to reload until you receive this specific memory. However, due to the mechanics of how the various outcomes are chosen (described in detail on the Mirror of Loss page), this outcome becomes significantly less likely to occur for characters who have completed the DC 25 Religion check. 
===Slayer Knowledge===
 - gain advantage against Slayer abilities.
When playing as the Dark Urge with the Slayer form unlocked, it also grants the Piercing Growl skill.
==== How to unlock ====
Rescue Volo while he is tied up to explosives near the Steel Watch Foundry. Talk to him after the fight that ensues, and he will return to camp.
Back at the camp, talk to him again and he will explain that he was targeted by the Lord of Murder Bhaal and his Chosen. The player character can then ask him about the Slayer and he will offer a guidebook written by the wizard Irenicus. If the character reads this book they will gain the passive feature.
===Sweet Stone Features===
 - gain a +1d4 bonus to attack rolls and saving throws.
==== How to unlock ====
Pay Boney in the Circus of the Last Days 5000 gold for Stoney to construct a statue of the player character or a companion. The effect goes to whomever is depicted. Stony can only construct one statue for the party. The effect begins after a long rest.
Prior to Patch 7, this effect was overwritten if the character was affected by Bless or healed by a character wearing The Whispering Promise. Once the Bless effect expired, they did not regain Sweet Stone Features until completing another long rest.
==== Astarion: Special interaction ====
If Astarion is the one depicted as a statue, the Sweet Stone Features condition overrules the condition he would otherwise acquire in the Szarr Palace. The Curse of the Sired status gives Astarion disadvantage on all saving throws while in a place of trauma. With a statue of himself at camp, Astarion does not suffer that penalty and gets to keep the effect of the Sweet Stone Features condition instead, even while in the palace.
===The Tharchiate Codex: Blessing===
 - gain 20 temporary hit points after a Long Rest. Remains active if The Tharchiate Codex is also used to obtain Danse Macabre.
==== How to unlock ====
Read The Tharchiate Codex (found at the end of the Vault puzzle in Ramazith's Tower). Only available to the first character who reads the Codex.
===Unstable Blood===
 - the player character's blood is now highly flammable; if bleeding and creating a blood surface, it will explode on contact with fire.
==== How to unlock ====
Give the player character's blood to Araj Oblodra in Moonrise Towers in Act 2, then meet her again east of The Blushing Mermaid in Act 3 and help her again. She will give a potion that grants this feature after it is consumed.
===Vampire ===
Accepting a romanced Vampire Ascendant Astarion results in the gain of gains class action Bite (Vampire Spawn) as well as access to the buff from Circle of Bones.
==== How to unlock ====
Only available to some characters that accept the offer to be turned into a vampire.
Allow romanced Astarion to complete the ascension ritual and comply with the request to be turned into a vampire.
===Vampire Ascendant===
 - Astarion gains class actions and , as well as an extra necrotic damage on his weapon and unarmed attacks.
==== How to unlock ====
Only available to Astarion (companion or origin).
Defeat Cazador without killing any of his spawn whilst having Astarion in your party. Afterward, allow Astarion to complete the ascension ritual.
==See Also==
* Temporary bonuses
Category:Gameplay mechanics