Magic attack is a secondary spell type (the primary type being the school of magic). The phrase "magic attack" should be thought of as "an attack against magic" rather than "an attack that is magical": spells of this type usually destroy Spell protections and other buffs, though many types of dragon breaths are also classified as magic attacks. Examples of Magic attacks include Breach, Spell protection removers like Spellstrike, and Black Dragon Breath.
Mechanics[]
The Magic attack spell type explicitly bypasses Spell Immunity, (Minor) Spell Deflection, (Minor) Spell Turning, Spell Trap and Shield of the Archons, because the defense they provide relies on effects that purposefully let Magic attacks through.
(Minor) Globe of Invulnerability, Protection From Magic and Potion of Magic Blocking, on the other hand, are able to block Magic attacks when they carry effects of the right level. Most Magic attacks cast against player characters, however, carry level 0 effects, which none of these level-based protections can handle. Against these attacks, the best and often only defense is Spell Shield. It grants one level worth of immunity to all Magic attacks, without exception, but exhausts itself by the level of the thwarted attack. Level 0 attacks are not only blocked, but cannot exhaust the shield, making it most useful against them. The full list of non-zero Magic attacks can be found in Spell Shield's wiki article.
List of magic attacks[]
- Anti-Magic Ray
- Anti-Magic Ray (Hive Mother)
- Ballistic Attack
- Black Dragon Breath
- Breach
- Brown Dragon Acid Breath
- Domination (Psionic)
- Ego Whip
- Khelben's Warding Whip
- Lower Fire Resistance
- Lower Resistance
- Pierce Magic
- Pierce Shield
- Psionic Project Force
- Rift Device
- Rod of Reversal
- Ruby Ray of Reversal
- Secret Word
- Shadow Dragon Breath
- Silver Dragon Cone of Cold
- Silver Dragon Paralyzation
- Spell Thrust
- Spellstrike
- Wand of Spell Striking
- Whirlwind (Elemental prince)
- Wish
- Wish: Blow people away
- Wish: Breach on everyone
- Abazigal (dragon form): Lower Electrical Resistance
- Abazigal (dragon form): Repelling shapechanging shock
- Amelyssan: Repelling spear spin [1]
- Chamber of Air: The fan's electrical wind force
- Entu: Domination [2]
- Nyzzlar: Topaz Dragon Breath
- Orluss: Topaz Dragon Breath
- Sahuagin High Priestess: Anti-Magic [3]
- Yllaxia: Topaz Dragon Breath
In Siege of Dragonspear and the original edition of Baldur's Gate II, the Wing Buffet of all dragons is of the Magic attack type. Willful transformation into the Slayer also belongs to this type in the original BGII.
Mod gallery[]
This section is about unofficial content that is only available via fan-made mods.
The Sword Coast Stratagems mod implements changes to Dragon Breath weapons - which should not be blocked by Spell Immunity or be classified as Magic attack type effects.
Breath weapon attacks are revised and not assigned to spell schools and are no longer Magic attack type either. For example, the Shadow Dragon Thaxll'ssillyia breath attack is no longer of the magic attack type.
Footnotes
- ↑ A level 7 attack.
- ↑ It is a level
Baldur's Gate I & II: Enhanced Editions
This icon indicates content from all Enhanced Editions of the Baldur's Gate games. May situationally encompass Siege of Dragonspear and The Black Pits I & II content as well. 5 or
Baldur's Gate I & II Classic
This icon indicates content from all original Baldur's Gate games, extensions included. 3 attack, and he tends to open the fight with it - ↑ Applies to all High Priestesses and the Priestess of Sekolah