Baldur's Gate[]
Wands of Lightning can be used to discharge bolts of lightning, like the spell Lightning Bolt, which does also damage to allies if they cross path with the lightning bolt. The wand's effect is different depending on whether Baldur's Gate or Shadows of Amn is being played.
This wand has a limited number of charges and will be destroyed when it runs out; wands can be "recharged" by selling them to a vendor and purchasing them back. Obviously, ensure the wand has at least one charge remaining if you intend to sell it.
Description[]
| “ | Wand of Lightning
The possessor of the wand can discharge a bolt of lightning. As it passes through a creature, it does 6d6 points of damage with a Save vs. Wand for half. The bolt will continue through the target and proceed to "rebound" until expended. |
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Gameplay[]
The wand discharges a single lightning bolt, which deals 6d6 Electricity damage. It must be cast on a creature, and targets struck by the bolt can Save vs. Wand to take half damage. The bolt will bounce off walls and other objects until expended.
Locations[]
Baldur's Gate[]
Found in:[]
Dropped by:[]
Sold by:[]
Tales of the Sword Coast[]
Dropped by:[]
The Black Pits[]
Sold by:[]
- Xithiss (×1, charges: 5)
Siege of Dragonspear[]
Sold by:[]
- Quartermaster
- Sorcerous Sundries
Shadows of Amn[]
Description[]
| “ | Wand of Lightning
The possessor of the wand can discharge six bolts of lightning; each directed at a target of the user's choosing. As it passes through a creature, each bolt does 3d6 points of damage with a Save vs. Wand for half. Each bolt will continue through its target and proceed to "rebound" until expended. |
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Gameplay[]
The wand discharges six lightning bolts simultaneously, which deal 3d6 electrical damage each. When the wand is used, the user must select six target(s); the same creature can be selected multiple times (e.g., all six bolts may be aimed at one creature). Targets struck by a bolt can Save vs. Wand to take half damage. Each bolt will bounce off walls and other objects until expended.
In the BG2 EE version of the wand, the internal op-coding of the item has been updated. It functions almost the same as the basic SoA game item. It has a range of 45-feet, bypasses mirror image, has a level 3 spell power, and is affected by magic resistance. The item also has a safeguard opcode to prevent the user from targeting themself with 1-6 bolts. Each projectile lightning bolt on a target will get a separate saving throw to determine damage. The wand has a maximum capacity of 50 charges in the EE update.
The lightning bolt(s) from this wand use the same projectile as the wizard's Lightning Bolt spell and are assigned the same 3 Power level, Invocation spell school, and Offensive Damage secondary type. The wand's bolts can potentially be blocked by Magic resistance, any Spell protections type defense such as Minor Spell Deflection, Minor Spell Turning, Minor Globe of Invulnerability, and Spell Immunity: Evocation.
Creatures innately immune to level 3 power levels, such as a Lich or Rakshasa are also immune to the bolt, as will a character wearing the Cloak of Mirroring or Cloak of Reflection.
Locations[]
Shadows of Amn[]
Dropped by:[]
Throne of Bhaal[]
Found in:[]
Notes[]
- Though the description speaks of half the damage with a successful saving throw, the exact amount of electricity damage still dealt is only 1d6, while 2d6 will be negated in the original Baldur's Gate II.
- Wand of Lightning can be exploited in order to use another item with charges 6 times, while depleting only one charge of that item. Pausing the game, using it from a quick item slot, and clicking on a target 6 times (or on up to 6 different targets) like you're using it normally, but then replacing it with the item you actually wanted to use in that quick item slot, and finally unpausing the game, will do it. This way, a player can get more summons from items like Golem Manual (though summon limit still applies), use other powerful wands - like Wand of Cloudkill - for deadly offense, or get high amount of health and THAC0 from a Potion of Power, etc. For more info see Exploits.
Trivia[]
The Advanced D&D 2nd Edition ruleset describes the Wand of Lightning in the Dungeon Master Guide and the Encyclopedia Magica source books.
This wand has two functions that closely resemble wizard spells:
- Shock (Wizard Spell): This does 1-10 hit points of damage to a target struck in melee combat, with no saving throw. Characters wearing metal armor and/or shields are treated as armor class 10. Plain leather and wood work normally. Magical bonuses on metal armor do not affect Armor Class, but a ring of protection does. The shock uses one charge.
- Lightning Bolt: The possessor of the wand can discharge a bolt of lightning. The stroke can be either a forked or straight bolt (see wizard spell, lightning bolt ). Damage is 12-36 (6d6, treating 1s as 2s), but a saving throw is applicable. This function uses two charges and has an initiate modifier of +2.
In the PnP game, this wand has a value of 30,000 gold, but the BG video game version is about half the cost of the source books.
Bugs[]
The wand is currently bugged and doesn’t work in the console versions of BG2EE. Once you click on an a target with the wand, the command to use the wand disappears, and the character using it reverts to an idle state waiting to receive a command. Unfortunately, the only use for the wand in the console versions of BG2EE is to sell it to a vendor for gold.
Gallery[]
External links[]
- Wand of lightning bolts on the Forgotten Realms Wiki, a wiki for the Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting Forgotten Realms.
- Advanced D&D 2nd Edition Wiki - Wand of Lightning (Magic Wand)