Scrolls are an important, but often neglected, aspect ofDungeons and DragonsandBaldur’s Gate 3. Many players hoard their scrolls. They save them for a tough fight, but for many players, no fight ever seems tough enough to justify using a one-shot item.
Scrolls inBG3work differently for different classes. For wizards, a list of the best scrolls is the same as a list of the best spells, due to wizards expanding their spellbook via scribing scrolls. This uses the scroll in the process, removing it from the inventory. Most of the other classes use spells as magical items with one use. Regardless, these are some of the most useful for players to have on hand.
Updated on May 31, 2025, by Jeff Drake:When this article was first published, Baldur’s Gate 3 was still relatively new. Now that some time has passed, more items have been discovered by players, some of those new items being scrolls. Scrolls play an important role during the fight and are best used toward the end of the fight when the party’s spellcasters are running out of memorized spells. This update will introduce a few of the newer scrolls that have been discovered, and include bullet points detailing where they can be found.
13True Resurrection
Revive A Fallen Companion At Full Health
Spells to bring a dead party member back to life are not the type of spells that players will hopefully use much. Any fight the entire party walks away from is a victory, even if the player is forced to cast every memorized spell, as well as use every potion, magic arrow, and scroll in their inventory.
There are a few choices when it comes to bringing the dead back to life in Baldur’s Gate 3. The best of these options is the True Resurrection scroll. This spell revives a downed character with all of their hit points, unlike the Revivify spell, which revives the target with only one hit point.
12Bestial Communion
Summon Divine Help
Summoning an animal or creature to aid in a fight can be a life-saving tool. Being able to summon a powerful celestial being to help the party almost ensures victory. The scroll of Bestial Communion lets the user summon a Deva; which is a powerful celestial being - along the lines of an angel.
In addition to being a skilled warrior, the Deva also comes with several spell-like abilities. The most important of these abilities is Revivify. So a Deva can not only help win the fight but bring any dead party members back to life after the fight is won. If the party has a wizard this spell should be immediately scribed into their spellbook.
11Dimension Door
Travel Instantly Between Two Points
By means of this spell the caster, and one ally, can be magically teleported to any unoccupied spot within range. This happens instantly, and the range is far enough (98 feet) for the caster to escape a dangerous situation. This spell can also be used to bypass an obstacle in the path.
This is a scroll that should be scribed by the party wizard as soon as it’s obtained, or held until this can be done. This is too valuable for a one-off use in scroll form. This is one of thebest fourth-level spellsin the game.
10Knock
Bypass Locks With Ease
Not every party has a thief, or for that matter, any member with thieving skills. When running a party like this, a locked chest can present more of a problem than it should. This is especially true when first starting, and the options for getting at the loot in a locked chest are limited.
Knock scrolls are essential in a party without a member who can pick locks. In theBaldur’s Gategames, the thief class’s usefulness ends at picking locks, picking pockets, and disarming traps. But those three skills are beyond valuable and help ensure that the party is well-equipped. This scroll eliminates one of those needs, allowing players to unlock doors.
9Lesser Restoration
Remove Debilitating Status Ailments
There are numerousstatus conditionsinBaldur’s Gate 3. In fact, there are so many that unless a player knows what creatures they will be facing in the near future, they pick curative spells with the hope they’ll be helpful in the upcoming fights.
Lesser Restoration removes the poison, disease, paralysis, and blindness status effects for one creature. It’s wise for the party healer to have at least one of these memorized. Sometimes one isn’t enough though, so it’s also wise to have the healer carry a few of these scrolls. Any other party member that can use this scroll,like a paladin, should carry at least one to use on the healer if they become paralyzed, poisoned, or blinded in battle.
Update: This scroll can still be used, but it was removed from the game and requires 3rd party programs to unlock.
8Healing Scrolls
Restore Lost Hit Points With Healing Scrolls
What goes for theScroll of Lesser Restorationgoes double for scrolls with healing spells. Any and all of them, from the lowlyCure WoundsandHealing WordtoPrayer of Healing, can come in handy. Memorized healing spells run out fast in a tough fight, so it makes sense to have some backup healing scrolls on hand.
This is another scroll that might be better if held by a member of the party who can use the scroll but isn’t the party’s main healer. This will improve the chances of saving the party healer should they be critically injured.
7Spike Growth
Great For Enemy Groups And Zoning
InBaldur’s Gate 3, early use of an area of effect (AoE) spell is one of the many ways to easily win a fight. These spells take a tough encounter, and turn it into a 15-second affair during which no party member takes damage. Tactics like this can get boring over time but are nevertheless incredibly effective.
This spell has a fairly large area of effect, a long duration, does damage to enemies moving through the area, and slows enemy movement through the area. This scroll should be saved for times when the party needs to retreat to a more advantageous position.Spike Growthwill slow the enemy’s pursuit and is a good scroll to givethe party’s ranger.
6Fireball
The Definitive Area Of Effect Spell
Fireball, is…well, fireball. It is the one spell most players immediately seek out when starting a game. Players will carry a low-level wizard around in hopes that one day they will find, or purchase, a Scroll of Fireballfor their wizard.
This scroll is on this list simply because of how devastatingly powerful theFireball spellhas been since the early days ofDungeons and Dragons. Once the party wizard has this spell in their spellbook, give the next Fireball scroll to another member of the party who can use it. Simultaneous Fireball spells will defeat most enemy groups instantly.
5Ice Storm
Deal Damage And Leave Surfaces Slick With Ice
In previousBaldur’s Gategames, Ice Storm was usually picked as the damage-dealing fourth-level spell because there weren’t many other options. When compared to Fireball, which is a level lower, Ice Storm seems underwhelming. However, this has changed withBaldur’s Gate 3.
Ice Storm now leaves anicy surfacein the area of effect, which is huge (19-foot radius). There is a good chance creatures caught in the Ice Storm will at some point fall prone. This will make them easy targets for party members with ranged weapons.
4Chromatic Orb
An All-Purpose Spell For Any Situation
Chromatic Orbis a fantastic spelldue to its versatilityin combat. There are many variants of Chromatic Orb; Thunder, Acid, Fire, Lightning, Cold, or Poison damage can be selected. This also covers the surface in fire, ice, or acid, depending on which variant is used.
This ensures the player will be more prepared to exploit the weaknesses of enemy creatures. Fighting a giant insect? A fiery Chromatic Orb will take care of that problem. Awarrior in metal armoris attacking? An acidic Chromatic Orb will weaken their defenses.
