Summary
From the undead to the celestial,Baldur’s Gate 3offers magic casters of all stripes the ability to call upon allies in the heat of battle. If you’re set on using these magical allies, you might feel overwhelmed looking through the long spell lists, especially without knowing which of them is going to level up into something useful.
Here’s a list of the best summons in the game so that the next time you step into battle, you can do so knowing that you won’t be alone. While each of these has different class and level requirements, there’s something here for every type of Tav.
1
3
Warlock (Pact of the Chain)
All Animals + Imp, Quasit
The most basic of conjuration spells is Find Familiar, which summons a fey spirit that takes an animal form.The animal summons can do a number of things, but by far, the most useful one of them is the Raven(which is probably the reason why it alone has a name: Quothe). Quothe can blind enemies.
If you’re a Warlock, you can choose the pact boon Pact of the Chain and summon an additional Imp and Quasit, which are even better. There are also several Find Familiar summons that are unique spells found in-game and tied to a specific character or action, such as Minsc’s pet Boo and the Quasit named Shovel, found as a scroll in the Apothecary’s Cellar.
9Scratch The Dog
Unlike the other summons on this list, we aren’t going to prioritize Scratch for his combat abilities (though he does have an opportunity attack and gives a certain advantage on attack rolls). He has other strengths.
Once you have him in your camp,he’ll eventually bring you a ball, which you can take and use to call Scratch as a summon. He can find hidden items, but, more importantly, he’s capable of using the Help action. You can find and summon Scratch no matter your class or level.
Bard (College of Lore)
6
10
All Weapons
This is another basic conjuration spell: a turn-based, floating weapon that does force damage. The weapon is resistant to all physical damage and immune to poison and psychic damage. This summon doesn’t change as it levels up, but for every two levels higher than the original upcast, the weapon gains eight hit points and another 1d8 force damage.
The great axe, greatsword, and halberd all inflict Bleed. The spear and trident have the ability to inflict gaping wounds. And the maul has the possibility to daze opponents. Plus, this summon can be cast as a bonus action, which is always useful.
7
Dryad
A druid-exclusive, this conjuration spell summons a woodland creature to fight alongside your party. Her stats are decent, and her passive feature, Nature’s Step, shields allies nearby from Difficult Terrain, Paralyzed, and Restrained, which can be really useful for certain fights.
This summon is also the only one with a summon of her own! The dryad can summon another creature, a Wood Woad, which can heal ten points by walking across a vine surface. Since both the Dryad and the Wood Woad cancreatethese vine surfaces by castingEntangle, it’s a useful combo.
Class Level
Summons
Cleric, Wizard, Druid (Circle of Spores), Bard (via Magical Secrets), Warlock (Pact of the Tome)
5
Zombies, Skeletons (up to three at fourth level) Ghoul or Flying Ghoul (at fifth level, up to three at sixth level)
9
All Undead
At lower levels, this spell gives casters the option to summon skeletons or zombies, both of which have their perks (zombies can turn other creatures into zombies, which is a delight). But where things start to get really good is when the spell is cast at fifth level, and it allows you to summon Ghouls. Specifically, Flying Ghouls.
These ghouls are the best of the undead available, and if cast at the sixth level, you can have up to three of them at a time. This spell has the most use for Wizards with the Necromancy School, as they can raise more dead per level than any other class or subclass.
11
Ancient Servant (Heinous Mummy)
A more powerful version of Animate Dead, this spell allows you to turn a corpse into a Mummy. This creature has decent stats and 110 hit points, which makes it a decently formidable addition to your party.
While it has its uses, the Mummy is also in stiff competition with other summons at level six, so verify that its special ability to inflict Fear and Mummy Rot on targets is worth it. This summon can also be used by any class if you’ve found the Crypt Lord Ring.
Wizard, Druid
All Elementals (Air, Earth, Fire, Water) Elemental Myrmidons (at sixth level, Air, Earth, Fire, Water)
9+
All Elementals Elemental Myrmidons (at sixth level)
Elementals are not only useful for the variety of status effects they can apply, but for their ability to transport across the battlefield, as abonus action, each time they take a turn.
At level six, you can also upgrade your Elementals to Elemental Myrmidons, which have all the bonuses of the previous elemental summons but with greater damage and bigger moves. In terms of raw power and useful abilities, these are the second best summon you can level up to in the entire game and well worth it.
Planar Ally (Deva, Cambion, Djinni)
Since the Cleric can’t access the powerful Summon Elemental spell, it’s only fair they get a powerful spell all their own.
There are a few options here: you can summon a Deva (who deals mainly radiant damage), a Cambion (fire damage), or a Djinni (thunder damage). The Deva is most useful for its ability to Revive and Help allies, and the Cambion is most useful for its attacks that deal high damage.
However, the best of these is the Djinni, for its versatile move set that allows it unparalleled crowd control. It can transport as a bonus action, and both Drunken Inhale and Sweetplum Gales control enemy movement. It also has the highest hit points of all summons.
Technically, this move can also be learned by Wizards via the Scroll of Bestial Communion in the Sorcerous Sundries Vault, and it can be cast by those wielding theInfernal Rapier.
2Danse Macabre Ghouls
Theonlyway to learn this particular summoning spell is to completethe quest-line associated with the Necromancy of Thay(or make Astarion do it for you). Once you’ve done so, you’ll have the ability to summon four ghouls without the use of Animate Dead. The downside is that these ghouls cannot be controlled.
The ghouls are useful for eating damage thrown at you, and the ability to summon four of them at once helps with stacking different summons. The class that will make the best use of this spell is Wizards with the Necromancy School, but anyone, regardless of class, who goes through all the trouble to finish this quest is able to cast it.
1Artistry Of War Apparitions
Another special summoning spell, this one can onlybe found via scroll in the Sorcerous Sundries Vault.A one-time use item for all other classes but Wizard, Artistry of War summons six apparitions (the ghosts of six dead master strategists) who each strike a target of your choosing.
Think of this spell as a much more powerful version ofMagic Missile. Being able to hit six targets at once with so much force damage is a game-changer in higher-level Act Three battles.
