Dexterity is one of the six ability scores, a minimum natural score of 15 or 17 is required for ranger and thief dual-class combinations.
The scores adjust missile weapon THAC0, including throwing daggers, hammers and axes, it also modifies Armor Class, making a character with a high score more difficult to be hit by physical attacks.
While Dexterity has a factor in thieving skills as well, the effects are not limited to the thief class.
Scores table[]
Negative thieving skill values after the adjustments do not inflict penalties - they act as 0, but you do need to overcome them to get positive values.
| Dexterity | Ranged THAC0 adj | Armor Class adj | Pick Pockets adj | Open Locks adj | Find/Disarm Traps adj | Move Silently adj | Hide In Shadows adj | Set Traps adj | Reaction adj.[1] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | +6 | +5 | -15 | -10 | -10 | -20 | -10 | -10 | -6 |
| 2 | +4 | +4 | -4 | ||||||
| 3 | +3 | +3 | -3 | ||||||
| 4 | +2 | +2 | -2 | ||||||
| 5 | +1 | +1 | -1 | ||||||
| 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||
| 7 | |||||||||
| 8 | |||||||||
| 9 | |||||||||
| 10 | -10 | -5 | -15 | -5 | |||||
| 11 | -5 | 0 | -5 | -10 | 0 | -5 | |||
| 12 | 0 | 0 | -5 | 0 | |||||
| 13 | 0 | ||||||||
| 14 | |||||||||
| 15 | -1 | ||||||||
| 16 | -1 | -2 | +5 | 1 | |||||
| 17 | -2 | -3 | +5 | +10 | +5 | 2 | |||
| 18 | -4 | +10 | +15 | +5 | +10 | +5 | |||
| 19 | -3 | +15 | +20 | +10 | +15 | +10 | 3 | ||
| 20 | +20 | +25 | +15 | +18 | +15 | ||||
| 21 | -4 | -5 | +25 | +30 | +20 | +20 | +20 | 4 | |
| 22 | +30 | +35 | +25 | +23 | +25 | ||||
| 23 | +35 | +40 | +30 | +25 | +30 | ||||
| 24 | -5 | -6 | +40 | +45 | +35 | +30 | +35 | 5 | |
| 25 | +45 | +50 | +40 | +35 | +40 | ||||
Attacking an enemy in melee while invisible and being able to backstab will ignore their dexterity bonus to armor.[1]
Dexterity score altering[]
Permanent boosts[]
Baldur's Gate (1998)
This icon indicates content from the original Baldur's Gate campaign.
Baldur's Gate:
Enhanced Edition (2012)
This icon indicates content from the Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition campaign. - Manual of Quickness of Action
Baldur's Gate II:
Throne of Bhaal (2001)
This icon indicates content from the original Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal campaign.
Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition – Throne of Bhaal (2013)
This icon indicates content from the Throne of Bhaal campaign of the Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition. - STAR card from Deck of Many Things, granting +1 dexterity if qualified. (Requires either EE or a BG2fixpatch, otherwise will receive +1 strength instead due to a coding error)- Baldur's Gate II:
Throne of Bhaal (2001)
This icon indicates content from the original Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal campaign.Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition – Throne of Bhaal (2013)
This icon indicates content from the Throne of Bhaal campaign of the Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition. - Machine of Lum the Mad - Baldur's Gate II:
Throne of Bhaal (2001)
This icon indicates content from the original Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal campaign.- while in Hell, may gain a point of dexterity if qualified in the test of Wrath. This was deemed a bug and was fixed by the Enhanced Edition. (the bonus was +2 strength +1 for your primary attribute, akin to the Deck of Many Things)
Permanent penalties[]
- Baldur's Gate II:
Shadows of Amn (2000)
This icon indicates content from the original Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn campaign.Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition – Shadows of Amn (2013)
This icon indicates content from the Shadows of Amn campaign of the Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition. - while in Hell, may lose 1 point in dexterity in the test of Selfishness - Baldur's Gate II:
Shadows of Amn (2000)
This icon indicates content from the original Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn campaign.Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition – Shadows of Amn (2013)
This icon indicates content from the Shadows of Amn campaign of the Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition. - in Spellhold, you have a dream during which you have to select an attribute from which to sacrifice 1 point. Dexterity is on the list of options (along with intelligence, wisdom and constitution). - Baldur's Gate II:
Throne of Bhaal (2001)
This icon indicates content from the original Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal campaign.Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition – Throne of Bhaal (2013)
This icon indicates content from the Throne of Bhaal campaign of the Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition. - Machine of Lum the Mad, entering the wrong code may result in a loss of 1 dexterity point
Temporary boosts[]
Potions[]
Equipment[]
- Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition – Shadows of Amn (2013)
This icon indicates content from the Shadows of Amn campaign of the Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition. - Abyssal Blade - Baldur's Gate:
Siege of Dragonspear (2016)
This icon indicates content from the Siege of Dragonspear campaign of the Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition.Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition – Shadows of Amn (2013)
This icon indicates content from the Shadows of Amn campaign of the Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition. - Archer's Eyes - Baldur's Gate:
Siege of Dragonspear (2016)
This icon indicates content from the Siege of Dragonspear campaign of the Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition. - Blood Red Ioun Stone - Chaos Blade (penalty on hit)
- Quasit familiar in TOB (penalty on hit)
- Gauntlets of Dexterity - they raise dexterity to 18, may reduce dexterity of characters with a higher score
- Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition – Shadows of Amn (2013)
This icon indicates content from the Shadows of Amn campaign of the Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition. - Hawksight - Kiel's Buckler
- Malla's Soul Stone
- Shuruppak's Plate
- Baldur's Gate:
Siege of Dragonspear (2016)
This icon indicates content from the Siege of Dragonspear campaign of the Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition. - Stalker gauntlets
Spells[]
- Draw Upon Holy Might - increases dexterity as well as strength and constitution by 1 per 3 character's level. The spell is in cleric's lv2 spellbook, also available as a "good" Bhaal power through dreams
- Contagion (penalty)