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Disambiguation icon This page is about the wizard version of the spell. For the priest version, see Protection From Evil (priest).

Protection From Evil creates a magical barrier around the target to help safeguard it against evil sources of harm.

This spell provides bonuses identical to its priest counterpart but has a shorter duration.

Description[]

When this spell is cast, it creates a magical barrier around the recipient at a distance of one foot. The barrier moves with the recipient and has two major effects: First, all attacks made by evil or evilly enchanted creatures against the protected creature receive a penalty of -2 to each attack roll. Second, summoned demons cannot target the protected creature.

— Game provided spell description

Gameplay[]

The actual effects of this spell were changed throughout the course of the Baldur's Gate series which was not always reflected in its description.

This spell does not apply to all demons; only those specifically summoned by spells like Cacofiend, Summon Fiend, and Gate. For example, as Aec'Letec simply spawns like an ordinary creature, the spell doesn't prevent him from targeting you. It will apply its THAC0 and saving throw effects normally, however.

In the original games, this spell is cumulative with itself. In the Enhanced Editions, it will not stack with itself.

Protection from evil can be dispelled. A Breach spell will remove it as well.

Baldur's Gate[]

Armor Class: -2 bonus
Saving throws: -2 bonus
Immunities: Charmed

Besides using a fixed duration, the very first game is the only one that applies the described saving throw bonus, as the spell should according to pen-and-paper rules. However, together with the armor class bonus, these effects are applied in general and do not check the alignment of enemy creatures, granting them versus any and all attacks and spells. As summoned demons do not exist in the original Baldur's Gate, the later added effect isn't needed – instead it is also the only game that simulates the actual "second" pen-and-paper effect (attack and save bonuses are pooled as first there): immunity to becoming possessed by evil creatures, read "charmed". This, however, isn't written into the description.

Shadows of Amn[]

AC: +2 THAC0 penalty to evil enemies
Immunities: Summoned demons

The original Shadows of Amn doesn't alter the description (besides updating the duration of the spell to a per-level basis) but removes the saving throw bonus and the charm immunity – for both it is technically not possible to limit them to evil sources without much extra effort in coding. The replacement effect, protection from summoned demons, is not mentioned.

Enhanced Editions[]

AC: +2 THAC0 penalty to evil creatures (friend or foe)
Saving throws: -2 bonus against evil creatures (friend or foe, including the caster's own spells)
Immunities: Summoned demons

The Enhanced Editions don't alter the spell effects further but introduce non-stackability with other protection from evil spells. Additionally, they adjust the spell description to reflect the actual effects (but it's missing the saving throw bonuses).

Locations[]

The Black Pits[]

Baldur's Gate[]

Shadows of Amn[]

Throne of Bhaal[]

Trivia[]

  • In pen-and-paper rules, Protection From Evil is a reversible spell and could as well be cast as Protection From Good. The strange spider weaver Raffiyah uses a version of Protection from Good against the party.

Bugs[]

  • Baldur's Gate GTRBPSK Icon BG1Baldur's Gate (1998)
    This icon indicates content from the original Baldur's Gate campaign.
    Tales of the Sword Coast IconBaldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast (1999)
    This icon indicates content from the original Baldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast campaign.
    In the original Baldur's Gate, this spell does not check the alignment of enemy creatures, granting its effects versus any and all attacks and spells. This was fixed in Shadows of Amn and the Enhanced Editions.
  • Shadows of Amn LOADCNTR00004 Icon SoABaldur's Gate II:
    Shadows of Amn
    (2000)
    This icon indicates content from the original Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn campaign.
    Throne of Bhaal LOADCNTR00004 Icon ToBBaldur's Gate II:
    Throne of Bhaal
    (2001)
    This icon indicates content from the original Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal campaign.
    The saving throw bonus is removed since Shadows of Amn, but here still mentioned in the description.

See also[]

Note: Except for spellbook/level specific details, the general effects as described above and the notes about gameplay apply in the same way to the following spells.

Visuals[]

Videos[]

Mod content[]

Mods icon This section is about unofficial content that is only available via fan-made mods.

Spell Revisions mod has changed this arcane spell, changing its effects and duration. It no longer has any extra power over gated Demons. See below for description:
Protection from Evil
Level: 1
School: Abjuration
Range: Touch
Duration: 5 turns
Casting Time: 1
Area of Effect: 1 creature
Saving Throw: None

When this spell is cast, it creates a magical barrier around the recipient at a distance of one foot. The barrier moves with the recipient and has two major effects: first, all attacks made by evil or evilly enchanted creatures against the protected creature receive a -2 penalty to their attack roll, and second, any saving throws caused by such attacks are made by the protected creature with a +2 bonus.

Note:With the SR mod, protection from evil isn't necessary to prevent a gated fiend from attacking the summoner. When brought forth from the Abyss or Hell, the fiend is subjected to several checks involving the summoner's charisma, intelligence and wisdom. If the check is made the fiend will serve the summoner. Failure results in a hostile fiend.

External links[]

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