Exploits

An exploit is the intentional abuse of game mechanics in a way unintended by the developers. Baldur's Gate and Infinity Engine games are no exception, having bugs and glitches even in their fully patched versions.

Philosophy
Because Baldur's Gate and Baldur's Gate II have capped stats, there are technical limits to the abilities of individual characters, and tactics can only go so far to compensate for these limits. Additionally, BioWare selectively ignores many of the D&D rules for dramatic effect or to force a certain course of action, while in a tabletop game the Dungeon Master would be obliged to follow the game rules, even as he/she invents scenarios for the players. This serves as a constraint to true roleplay that would take emerge in later generation RPG games.

Players are discouraged from role-playing as evil characters - despite the most powerful NPCs, Viconia, Sarevok, Edwin and Korgan being of evil alignment - by reducing the rewards for evil actions, and increasing the penalties associated with them. By forcing the player to be either good/neutral, the role-playing, open-ended aspect of these early BioWare games is downplayed, so use of emergent gameplay is required to fully embrace different role-playing experiences.

Use of exploits and the related style of powergaming follows in this vein, allowing the player in-game options for breaking and surpassing the limits set by BioWare, or compensating for unfair advantages or scenarios awarded to or constructed by NPCs. Exploits can be rationalized in-universe as natural or causal phenomenon, not as bugs or glitches, allowing players new venues for opportunity, discovery, and exploration.

Algernon's Cloak
Algernon is a portly old man on the second floor of Feledepost's Inn in Beregost. He wears what appears to be a Nymph's Cloak but it has near unlimited charges of Charm, which requires a very high Save vs. Breath Weapon to resist. The quest involving Algernon's Cloak does not trigger until the player arrives in Baldur's Gate, but the cloak itself is available as early as Chapter 2. Most parties would not know Algernon has the cloak, as typically only an evil-aligned party would murder Algernon and discover it, and thives would not know some random man in an inn would possess such a powerful item.

The cloak can be used to charm almost any character in the game, allowing them to reveal information while under the charmed effect (Baldur's Gate II removes these dialogue strings, preventing players from conversing with charmed/dominated characters) and also allowing one to command them in battle. This even applies to characters far beyond the player's level and abilities, allowing some battles to be won fairly easily so long as the target fails the saving throw. Tactical use of Algernon's Cloak can allow players to command such as Taugoz Tenhammer and Ardenor Crush to destroy their own Bandit Camp (as they are the strongest characters in camp) or to take over a Vampiric Wolf (immune to normal weapons) to massacre the wolf pack it is a part of.

Helm of Opposite Alignment
This powerful artifact was included in the original BG item list but could not be found in game until Tales of the Sword Coast, where the Demon Knight that spawns on the ground floor of Durlag's Tower is wearing it. The Demon Knight in this appearance does not have much in the way of Magic Resistance, but has high HP, suggesting BioWare intended the player to attack it but do little damage. To obtain the Helm, the Demon Knight must be killed quickly before he despawns. The most consistent way to do this is cast Otiluke's Resilient Sphere on the Demon Knight, immobilizing him, then using fists aided by Haste to reduce his HP and knock him out. Once knocked out, he can be slain with regular weapons once the sphere dissipates, or be killed through the sphere with the Dagger of Venom.

A second exploit available through use of the Helm is to permanently alter a character's alignment. When a character is wearing the helm, apply the Girdle of Masculinity/Femininity, which will invert the character's sex while also reverting their alignment back to what it was before donning the helm. Once the curses are removed, the player will be permanently of the opposite alignment, and will behave just as an evil character would.

This alignment exploit applies in both Baldur's Gate and Baldur's Gate II, and also alters the behavior of characters with the new alignment. For example, paladins with Lawful Evil alignment will not fall if a party's reputation plummets, and rather will complain, leave or fight the player if the party's reputation climbs too high. Use of this odd interaction with cursed items can allow players to (somewhat) legally expand the number of good, evil characters they want to party with in both games.

Ghoul Touch
Ghoul Touch is a Level 2 Necromancy Spell that gives a Wizard (or Priest) the ability to paralyze with a touch, but do nothing else. It is not a routinely used spell because it's rather useless and situational. However, Flaming Fist Battle Wizards often use it as a last resort, and killing them after they've cast Ghoul Touch reveals that the Ghoul Touch hand was accidentally flagged as a droppable item in Baldur's Gate, so it is almost like being able to equip the rigid hand of the deceased Flaming Fist. Party members who die while using Ghoul Touch will also exhibit this phenomenon.

Although interesting, Ghoul Touch is not a useful weapon even if it can be equipped, as it is treated as a mace and Wizards do not have any proficiency in it. However, if the character is exported to Baldur's Gate II and allowed to bypass the inventory wipe in the Irenicus Dungeon (only available in multiplayer), they will retain the Ghoul Touch in one of their primary weapon slots where it is an effective weapon, capable of dealing damage alongside paralyzing an opponent without time limit. However, it is easily dispelled and is less potent as the game increases in difficulty.

Flame Arrow
Only arcane spell that bypasses magic resistance

Waiting
Most enemies have spells encoded on items that have limited timers, so simply leaving the game unpaused in places like the Temple of Bhaal, or the Northern Island leads to the bosses becoming much weaker due to their protection spells running out.

Gorion (Prologue)
He casts a number of Level 3 spells but autokills any enemy he targets with the spell once it is cast. Stay out of his line of sight and use spells like Cloudkill or Stinking Cloud to passify him from a distance, then awaken him with offensive spells, arrows or melee. The best option possible is to bounce a lightning bolt off the stairs so it hits him multiple times.

Tethtoril (Prologue)
Possesses Deity Kill, which is as unstoppable as Gorion's instant-kill command, but Diety Kill has a weakness: it is lower than Level 3, and is blocked by Minor Globe of Invulnerability. Use a globed Wizard to soak up Tethtoril's attention while attacking him with whatever other weapons (preferably the Dagger of Venom) are at hand.

Shandalar
Single most powerful NPC/boss in Tales of the Sword Coast, in terms of difficulty and experience given (24,000 EXP). He casts a number of Level 5/6 spells with Improved Alacrity after casting Globe of Invulnerability on himself, eventually teleporting away when he's out of ammo. Attack him from a distance using area spells, Cloudkill, Stinking Cloud or wands, casting Otiluke's Resilient Sphere on him and punching him out with fists, finishing him off with melee or the Dagger of Venom,

Watchers (Prologue)
Killing them gives immediate access to plate armor, so even for players of good alignment, killing one can be valuable as plate armor is difficult to find early in the game.

Summon Cacodemon, Summon Demon, Gate
Gated demons provide experience, so they can be summoned and farmed for experience in a safe environment by players who know those spells.

Nishruu Infinite Charges
Be attacked by a Nishruu while possessing a weapon with a finite number of used charges, and the Nishruu warps the item to have near-infinite charges and allowing those weapons to be sold for millions of Gold. Especially useful with items like the Staff of Power, which are not once-per-day (which wipes the excess charges).

Super Slayer
The most world breaking exploit Faerun has ever seen.