Weapon Proficiency

A Weapon Proficiency is a skill that determines how well a character can handle certain types of weapons, which may add penalties or bonuses to their attack and damage, depending on the skill level. Most non-warrior classes may become proficient (one proficiency slot) in their weapon array; paladins and rangers can specialize (two slots), and only fighters are able to achieve grand mastery (all five slots).

Certain non-humanoid creatures might also be proficient in fighting with their specific weapons, or even master these.

Examination of the unmodded basic and EE game files indicate that many, but certainly not all, weapon wielding opponents in the game lack individual assigned weapon proficiencies or fighting style points that reflect the changes made to Weapon Proficiency assignment in BG2 SoA and the EE. However, many of these creatures retain the original weapon proficiencies that are grouped together, such as "Large Swords", "Blunt Weapons" or "Missile Weapons". These older or original weapon proficiencies will still provide bonuses in Infinity Engine game versions, including EE. They may not be visible (on the character record) and are "behind the scenes" values. In the popular Save Editors tool, EE Keeper, these values are titled "Legacy Proficiencies" and are listed on the "Miscellaneous" Tab.

Due to previous editing and decisions on this Wiki, a number of creature articles do not actually calculate the final adjusted To Hit, Damage, Weapon Speed Factor and Attacks per round that are modified by Weapon Proficiency. Just be aware that some of these reported values in the info boxes may be slightly off regarding to hit values, damage, weapon speed factors, damage bonuses and final attacks per round - unless specifically noted.

Skill lists

Original Baldur's Gate I system

Proficiency	Excluded classes
Bow	Clerics, incl. all multi-class options Druid and Fighter / Druid Mages
Spiked Weapons	Druid and Fighter / Druid Mages Mage / Thief Thief
Small Sword	Clerics, incl. all multi-class options
Large Sword	Clerics, incl. all multi-class options Mages
Axe	Clerics, incl. all multi-class options Druid and Fighter / Druid Mages Mage / Thief Thief
Blunt Weapons	–
Missile Weapons	–
Spear	Clerics, incl. all multi-class options Mages Mage / Thief Thief

Baldur's Gate & Tales of the Sword Coast

For Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition and Siege of Dragonspear, see further below.

The original Baldur's Gate groups certain, "similar" weapons together and offers only a few categories of weapon proficiencies: eight in number.

See the table to the right for a listing and forbidden classes.

This makes characters more versatile, and they can quickly switch to a different weapon of the same category – e.g. if the one used suddenly breaks – without having to deal with penalties during combat.

Note: For which weapon type belongs into which category, see the table for Baldur's Gate II & Enhanced Editions below.

Note: For a more detailed table about which class is allowed to learn which proficiency, see further below.

Icewind Dale

Main article: Weapon Proficiency on the Icewind Dale Wiki.

Icewind Dale, a "sister" game of Baldur's Gate, which was developed and published between the first and the second part of the Bhaalspawn saga, has a more specialized system of weapon proficiencies, splitting the Baldur's Gate I categories up into many more single weapon types, and keeping only very few weapons within one category.

See the table below for a listing and comparison with Baldur's Gate I and II.

Class restrictions are also handled slightly different from the Baldur's Gate games:

• Crossbows can't be chosen by Thieves

Baldur's Gate II & Enhanced Editions

Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn further cuts down the weapon proficiencies and binds most of them to a single weapon, following even closer the underlying Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition ruleset, documented e.g. in the Player's Handbook. Remaining exceptions are:

• the grouping of scimitars, wakizashi and ninjatōs – mostly new weapons in Part II;
• no difference between Flail and Morning Star – formerly the "Spiked Weapons";
• no difference between light and heavy crossbows;
• and throwing variants of otherwise melee weapons – axes, daggers, and hammers – don't need an own proficiency, either.

These expansions of the weapon proficiency system were carried over into and are still valid for the Enhanced Editions of the games, with slight spelling changes.

See the table below for a listing, forbidden classes and the Baldur's Gate I proficiencies for a comparison.

Proficiency groupings since Baldur's Gate II

Proficiency	BG & TotSC	IWD	Excluded classes
Bastard Sword	Large Sword	Great Swords	Beast Masters Clerics, incl. all multi-class options Druids and Fighter / Druid Monks Thieves and Mage / Thief Shamans Wizards
Long Sword	Large Sword	Large Swords	Beast Masters Clerics, incl. all multi-class options Druids and Fighter / Druid Shamans Wizards
Short Sword	Small Sword	Small Swords	Beast Masters Clerics, incl. all multi-class options Druids and Fighter / Druid Shamans Wizards
Axe	Axe	Axes	Beast Masters Clerics, incl. all multi-class options Druids and Fighter / Druid Monks Thieves and Mage / Thief Wizards
Two-Handed Sword	Large Sword	Great Swords	Beast Masters Clerics, incl. all multi-class options Druids and Fighter / Druid Monks Thieves and Mage / Thief Shamans Wizards
Katana	Large Sword	–	Beast Masters Clerics, incl. all multi-class options Druids and Fighter / Druid Shamans Wizards
Scimitar	Large Sword	Large Swords	Beast Master Clerics, incl. all multi-class options Shamans Wizards
Dagger	Small Sword	Daggers	Beast Masters Clerics, incl. all multi-class options
War Hammer	Blunt Weapons	Hammers	Beast Masters Druids and Fighter / Druid Monks Thieves and Mage / Thief Shamans Wizards
Club	Blunt Weapons	Clubs	Wizards
Spear	Spear	Spears	Beast Masters Clerics, incl. all multi-class options Monks Thieves and Mage / Thief Wizards
Halberd	Spear	Halberds	Beast Masters Clerics, incl. all multi-class options Druids and Fighter / Druid Monks Thieves and Mage / Thief Shamans Wizards
Flail	Spiked Weapons	Flails	Beast Masters Druids and Fighter / Druid Monks Thieves and Mage / Thief Shamans Wizards
Mace	Blunt Weapons	Maces	Beast Masters Druids and Fighter / Druid Monks Thieves and Mage / Thief Shamans Wizards
Quarter Staff	Blunt Weapons	Quarter Staves	Monks
Crossbow	Missile Weapons	Crossbows	Cavalier Clerics, incl. all multi-class options Druids and Fighter / Druid Kensai Monks Shamans Wizards
Long Bow	Bow	Bows	Cavalier Clerics, incl. all multi-class options Druids and Fighter / Druid Kensai Monks Thieves and Mage / Thief Shamans Wizards
Short Bow	Bow	Bows	Cavalier Clerics, incl. all multi-class options Druids and Fighter / Druid Kensai Monks Wizards
Dart	Missile Weapons	Missile Weapons	Cavalier Clerics, incl. all multi-class options Kensai
Sling	Missile Weapons	Missile Weapons	Cavalier Kensai

Technical note: The old Baldur's Gate & Tales of the Sword Coast proficiencies are still existent and active in the game files of the newer games. Creatures that haven't the new proficiencies assigned to their code (e.g. ones that were imported into Shadows of Amn from Baldur's Gate or almost any in the Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition) do benefit from the old system's bonuses.

1. Thrown weapons in "melee" mode use the Str bonus to hit, not Dex
2. Thrown weapons in "ranged" mode use the Dex bonus to hit, not Str
3. In BG:EE the following "hurled" weapons also get the strength damage bonus, even in ranged mode: slings and throwing axes/daggers/hammers, but not darts.

Fighting Styles

Introduced in Baldur's Gate II & Enhanced Editions, these melee proficiencies apply to weapon/shield configurations instead of classes of weapons. They do not apply to ranged weapons. There are a few class restrictions. Wizards are not eligible for any fighting styles.

Two-Handed Weapon Style

Proficiency points give the following bonuses when fighting with a two-handed melee weapon.

1. -2 speed (faster), +1 damage, plus a roll of 19 or 20 counts as a critical hit when using a two-handed weapon.
2. -4 speed...

Monks and Wizards are not eligible for this style.

All two-handed weapons such as spear, quarterstaff, halberd, and great sword will benefit from pips placed in this fighting style.

Sword and Shield Style

Proficiency points give the following bonuses when fighting with a one-handed melee weapon and a shield:

1. -2 AC bonus vs. missiles.
2. -4 AC vs. missiles.

Kensai, Monks and Wizards are not eligible for this style (they can't use shields).

Single Weapon Style

Proficiency points give the following bonuses when fighting with a one-handed melee weapon without a shield:

1. -1 AC bonus and a roll of 19 or 20 counts as a critical hit when using a one-handed melee weapon without a shield.
2. -2 AC...

Wizards are not eligible for this style.

Two-Weapon Style

Equipping a 2nd weapon instead of a shield (without spending any proficiency points) yields an extra attack per round with this weapon, at the cost of -4 penalty to attack rolls with the main weapon and -8 with the off-hand weapon. Spending proficiency points reduces these penalties as follows:

1. -2 main, -6 off-hand
2. -0 main, -4 off-hand
3. -0 main, -2 off-hand

Monks and Wizards are not eligible for this style.

Additional considerations:

• Some weapons and shields provide benefits from simply being equipped.
• Some monsters require a +1 or +2 weapon to hit and finding two high quality weapons of the same type, or reaching a high proficiency in 2 different weapons can be challenging.
• There's no penalty for using a shield after gaining proficiency in Two-Weapon style. A shield can still be swapped for the off-hand weapon when the shield is more valuable than the chance that the 2nd weapon will do damage.
• Wielding 2 weapons yields almost as much chance of a critical hit as the Two-Handed and Single Weapon styles, but with 3 points of specialization, yields almost double the chance of a regular hit.
• When dual-wielding weapons with different ranges, only that of the mainhand weapon is taken into account. For example, a character who wields a Staff Mace (range: 2) in the mainhand and a dagger (range: 0) in the offhand, will be able to attack from range 2, but if the weapon hands are switched the range will be reduced to 0.

Proficiency bonuses

Proficiency (points spent)		Unskilled (0)	Proficient (1)	Specialized (2)	Master (3)	High Master (4)	Grand Master (5)
Weapon Type	APR bonus, warriors only  (main hand weapons only)	0		+0.5			Baldur's Gate (1998) This icon indicates content from the original Baldur's Gate campaign.Baldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast (1999) This icon indicates content from the original Baldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast campaign.: +1.5 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: Throne of Bhaal (2001) This icon indicates content from the original Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal campaign.: +0.5 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.: +1
	THAC0 modifier	Warriors, Monks: +2 Priests, most Rogues: +3 Wizards, Shadowdancer: +5	0	-1	Baldur's Gate (1998) This icon indicates content from the original Baldur's Gate campaign.Baldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast (1999) This icon indicates content from the original Baldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast campaign.: -3 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: Throne of Bhaal (2001) This icon indicates content from the original Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal campaign.: -2 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.: -3
	Damage bonus	0		+2	Baldur's Gate (1998) This icon indicates content from the original Baldur's Gate campaign.Baldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast (1999) This icon indicates content from the original Baldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast campaign.: +3 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: Throne of Bhaal (2001) This icon indicates content from the original Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal campaign.:+2 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.: +3	Baldur's Gate (1998) This icon indicates content from the original Baldur's Gate campaign.Baldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast (1999) This icon indicates content from the original Baldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast campaign.: +5 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: Throne of Bhaal (2001) This icon indicates content from the original Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal campaign.:+3 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.: +4	Baldur's Gate (1998) This icon indicates content from the original Baldur's Gate campaign.Baldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast (1999) This icon indicates content from the original Baldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast campaign.: +5 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: Throne of Bhaal (2001) This icon indicates content from the original Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal campaign.: +4 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
	Speed Factor bonus	0				-1	-3
Fighting Style	Two-Handed Weapon	Nothing	Damage: +1 Speed Factor -2 Crit: Roll 19	Damage: +1 Speed Factor -4 Crit: Roll 19
	Sword and Shield	Nothing	AC vs Missile: -2	AC vs Missile: -4
	Single Weapon	Nothing	AC: -1 Crit: Roll 19	AC: -2 Crit: Roll 19
	Two-Weapon	Main hand THAC0: +4 Off-hand THAC0: +8	Main hand THAC0: +2 Off-hand THAC0: +6	Off-hand THAC0: +4	Off-hand THAC0: +2

Slots gained with level by class group (Progression by leveling up)

Growth rate differs based on class group. Multi-classes use only the class of the fastest progression. Dual-classes only gain slots from the current active class. Note that all rangers automatically start specialized in Two-Weapon Style. The numbers in this chart for that class are what can be chosen by the player, with the absolute total being two higher. Some classes will reach their maximum proficiency before their highest level due to limited weapon selection.

Level	Warrior group	Priest & Rogue group	Wizard group
1	4	2	1
2
3	1
4		1
5
6	1		1
7
8		1
9	1
10
11
12	1	1	1
13
14
15	1
16		1
17
18	1 (Max for triple multi-classes)		1 (Max for single-class)
19
20		1
21	1 (Max for cleric/ranger)
22
23
24	1 (Max for fighter multi-classes)	1 (Max for cleric/mage)	1
25
26
27	1
28		1 (Max for thief multi-classes, druid, monk, shaman)
29
30	1		1 (Max for dual-class mage)
31
32		1 (Max for single-class cleric)
33	1 (Max for ranger, paladin)
34
35
36	1	1 (Max for dual-class warrior cleric)
37
38
39	1
40		1
Total	17 for fighter, barbarian 15 for ranger, paladin 12 for fighter multi-classes 11 for cleric/ranger 10 for triple multi-classes	12 for thief, bard 11 for dual-class warrior cleric 10 for single-class cleric 9 for thief multi-classes, druid, monk, shaman 8 for cleric/mage	4 for single-class 6 for dual-class mage

Allowed slots investments by class kit

Max slots per weapon differs based on class kit. Fighter, ranger multi-classes may specialize (2 slots), other combinations may only be proficient (1 slot); dual-classes gives the better of the two caps, with fighter dualing are allowed up to 5 slots (both when dualing from and to fighter), but beware of risking wasting and permanently losing any duplicate slot expenditure, as the slots spent are not combined, only chosen the better value if you take the same proficiency in both classes, so keep track of what you have spent. Fighting styles have different investment values.

At level 1 on character creation, fighter classes cannot allocate more than 2 slots per weapon type or style.

Class	Class kit	Max slots allowed	Exceptions / Restrictions
Fighter	Berserker	5	Limited to Proficient in ranged weapons
	Kensai	5	Cannot use ranged weapons
	Barbarian	2	Mastery in Two-Weapon Style
	Dwarven Defender 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.	2	High Mastery in Axes and Warhammers Mastery in Two-Weapon Style
	Other fighter kits	5
Fighter multi-classes		2	Restricted to cleric or druid weapon selection if using respective class Mastery in Two-Weapon Style
Ranger	Archer	1	Grand Mastery in Crossbows, Longbows, and Shortbows Specialization in Darts and Slings Mastery in Two-Weapon Style (starts Specialized)
	Beast Master	2	Cannot use metal weapons (Club and Quarterstaff are only melee options) Mastery in Two-Weapon Style (starts Specialized)
	Other ranger kits	2	Mastery in Two-Weapon Style (starts Specialized)
Paladin	Cavalier	2	Cannot use ranged weapons Mastery in Two-Weapon Style
	Other paladin kits	2	Mastery in Two-Weapon Style
Cleric		1	Weapons limited to: War Hammer, Club, Flail, Morningstar, Mace, Quarterstaff, and Sling
Druid		1	Weapons limited to: Scimitar, Dagger, Club, Spear, Quarterstaff, Dart, and Sling
Thief	Swashbuckler	1	Specialized in Thief melee weapons (no extra APR) Mastery in Two-Weapon Style SpecializedCE / ProficientEE in other fighting styles
	Other thief kits	1	Weapons limited to: Long Sword, Short Sword, Katana, Wakizashi, Ninja-To, Scimitar, Dagger, Club, Quarterstaff, Light Crossbow, Shortbow, Dart, and Sling
Bard	Blade	1	Mastery in Two-Weapon Style
	Other bard kits	1
Mage, Sorcerer		1	Can only use certain weapons: Dagger, Quarterstaff, Dart, and Sling Cannot use fighting styles
Monk		1	Weapons limited to: Long Sword, Short Sword, Katana, Wakizashi, Ninja-To, Scimitar, Dagger, Club, Dart, and Sling Cannot use fighting styles other than Single Weapon Style
Shaman 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.		1	Weapons limited to: Dagger, Club, Spear, Axe, Quarterstaff, Dart, Sling, and Shortbow
Dual-Class		Varies	Weapon restrictions follows Multi-class Baldur's Gate (1998) This icon indicates content from the original Baldur's Gate campaign.Baldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast (1999) This icon indicates content from the original Baldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast campaign.: Max slots always follows second class 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.: Max slots follows second class until both are active, becomes the less restrictive from both

Achievements

Increasing the proficiency with any weapon to five points, becoming a "Grand Master", will unlock an achievement in Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition and Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition.

	Grand Master Become a Grand Master. [Read more]
	Grand Master Become a Grand Master. [Read more]

Bugs related to weapon proficiency

The non-proficiency penalty for Shadowdancers and Mage-Thieves is incorrect. Reference (clswpbon.2da).

As of BG2EE 2.6, Natural weapons (claws, bites, etc.) and magically created weapons (e.g. Chill Touch) should not benefit from weapon style proficencies. This is identified for correction in the pending Enhanced Edition Fix Pack (EEFP).

Ref: (brblp.itm, brbrp.itm, cdbrbrp.itm, cdbrbrp2.itm, cdgoliro.itm, cdmindfl.itm, cdwolfm.itm, cdwstyl1.eff, cdwstyl1.spl, cdwstyl2.eff, cdwstyl2.spl, chillt.itm, critical.itm, druear.itm, drufir.itm, earthrn.itm, firern.itm, ghoult.itm, harm.itm, plybass.itm, plybear1.itm, plybear2.itm, plymstar.itm, plyspid.itm, plyspid2.itm, plytroll.itm, plywolf1.itm, plywyvrn.itm, polyrat.itm, sgrasp.itm, slayerw1.itm, slayerw2.itm, slayerw3.itm, slayerw4.itm, slaylive.itm, squirp.itm, statdesc.2da, trollall.itm, wolfgr.itm, wolfm.itm, wswolf.itm)

External links

• Weapon Proficiency on the Icewind Dale Wiki, a wiki for the first Icewind Dale game.