Baldur’s Gate 3 Momentum explained

Giant Skull in Baldur's Gate 3
Credit: Larian Studios


Giant Skull in Baldur's Gate 3
Credit: Larian Studios
August 24, 2023: Have some questions following the public release of Baldur's Gate 3? Check out our explainer on the Momentum mechanic!

Understanding how Momentum in Baldur's Gate 3 works can help you in your journey through Faerûn, this guide will help you master this powerful mechanic. The latest open-world RPG from Larian Studios is again one that sees strategy and modifiers as the key to victory. Passive effects - such as Momentum - can be easily overlooked and overshadowed by powerful swords, spells, and overall DPS output.

However, making the most out of effects and modifiers will result in a better build, team composition, and turn-to-turn moves and projection. In this guide, we will deal with Momentum, a physics term that describes the amount of movement an object possesses and one of Baldur's Gate's most powerful passives.

For more on the game, check out how to level up fast in Baldur's Gate 3, alongside our picks of the best weapons. We've also got a Baldur's Gate 3 race tier list to help pick your build!

Baldur’s Gate 3 Momentum explained

Characters traveling in Baldur's Gate 3.
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Credit: Larian Studios

Momentum in Baldur's Gate is one of the many Equipment Features you can find in the game. These passive effects are granted for using a specific piece of gear you will find in the game.

These effects will be available in mostly Rare and Very Rare pieces of gear, with some instances in which they will appear in Common and Uncommon items.

Momentum is described as an effect that is produced during moments of urgency. What the effect does is increase movement speed by 3 metres.

Contrary to what you might think, this has to do more to range than actual speed. Every race has a base Racial Speed that will limit how many metres they can move per turn.

With Momentum active, your range will increase by 3m, providing a strategic advantage.

Momentum gear in Baldur's Gate 3

Here is a list of known items that provide the Momentum Equipment Feature when used:

  • Chain of Liberation
  • Haste Helm
  • Springstep Boots
  • Spurred Band
  • Speedy Reply (Scimitar)

Equipment Features that increase Momentum in Baldur's Gate 3

There are other Equipment Features that will increase your Momentum stat as a result of their properties.

For example, Frantic Urgency will provide a Momentum bonus whenever the wearer starts their turn with less than 50% hit points (HP).

Swift Strides will reward you with Momentum for three turns after dashing or performing other similar actions during your combat.

Sprint will reduce the Momentum time by one turn to Sprint once per turn.

Finally, the simplest of them all is Smooth Start, which will grant the wearer Momentum for three turns at the beginning of the combat.

Be sure to make the best out of all the Equipment Features in general, the Momentum effect in particular. While you are at it, check out whether Baldur's Gate 3 will be released on the Nintendo Switch, and whether you can become a vampire.

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