Hardiness is a High-level class ability available to fighter, paladin, ranger, and monk classes and their kits.
Description[]
| “ | Calling upon hidden reserves of strength during times of danger, a warrior can use the Hardiness ability to gain 40% resistance to all forms of physical damage. The ability lasts for 1 round for every 2 levels of the warrior. This ability does not stack with Defensive Stance. |
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Gameplay[]
The caster selects this ability from the "Special Abilities" button on the chosen party character menu (also from the default F12 key).
The ability initiates with a zero-casting time on the caster. At this moment a sound effect is audible, the caster undergoes a brief color fade and a 3D graphic plays over the character's sprite. The character's portrait will display a "Hardiness" icon until the ability expires/is removed.
Hardiness provides the caster with a +40% Physical damage resistance bonus while the ability is active.
Other sources of physical damage resistance are additive to this, for example, Defender of Easthaven flail, Armor of Faith divine spell, Shadow Form ability or the Helmet of Dumathoin.
This ability cannot be removed by Dispel Magic effects. However, the ability is classified as a Combat Protection and can be removed by a Breach spell or effect.
The Hardiness ability in the Enhanced Editions limits the ability from cumulative/additive protection from three sources:
- Another instance of the Hardiness ability - SPCL907.spl
- The Defensive Stance ability
- The Hardiness effect from the Wish spell - SPWISH12.spl
Note[]
- In Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal, Hardiness stacks with itself, allowing warrior classes to gain up to 127% physical resistance, making them immune to physical damage and potentially healing hit point damage when struck by that damage type.
- In the Enhanced Edition game, specifically the Throne of Bhaal content, there are just over 20 creatures that are scripted to use Hardiness in combat. Most of these are from Beamdog provided content. Only a handful of opponents are scripted to use Hardiness from Bioware content. Examples include Abazigal, and Rock.
Mod content[]
This section is about unofficial content that is only available via fan-made mods.
The Sword Coast Stratagems mod assigns warrior High Level Class abilities to eligible creatures. This results in the party facing this ability when used by enemies/opponents in combat. Nearly any warrior class with at least 20 experience levels may have an HLA assigned and scripted for use. As the XP levels climb, so will the number of available HLA's, in similar fashion to a player's warrior party members.
The Spell Revisions mod has changed this ability, revising its effects. See below for description:
| “ | Hardiness: Calling upon hidden reserves of strength during times of danger, a warrior can use the Hardiness ability to gain 20% resistance to all forms of damage. The ability lasts for 1 round per 2 levels. | ” |