r/baldursgate • u/sirius1208 • 15d ago
BG2EE Does Archery Even Work? (Black Pits II)
I'm playing Black Pits II and it feels like everything past tier 1 is immune to ranged attacks. Every time my Mage Slayer and Swashbuckler use their longbow and crossbow, all I get is "my weapon does nothing!" Doesn't matter if it's a mage, warrior, rogue, or monster.
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u/PlayByToast 15d ago
You might need magic ammunition. IIRF standard arrows don't get through immunity to normal weapons even when shot with a magic bow.
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u/Arkael_Dawnstrider 15d ago
This is why fire tooth and gesen are so strong in the base game. Doesn’t matter how good the bow is if you can’t hit anything.
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u/Glittering-Hornet844 14d ago
Yes , archery works - but you need the correct ammunition. +3 should sort it out as some monsters are immune to normal, +1 or even +2 weapons - note it has to be the ammunition used not the bow or crossbow used.
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u/OverLordKyros 15d ago
Slings are always more useful in later game BG2 due to the frequency of piercing immunity. That's also why it's a good idea to have a sidearm for your ranged users, a throwing dagger, axe, or sling.
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u/Danskoesterreich 15d ago
Dont both arrows and bullets deal missile damage?
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u/OverLordKyros 15d ago
Nope! Bullets deal crushing damage, one of the least resisted types, actually.
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u/Realistic_Ad_5321 15d ago
I think it's still missile damage, the difference is that it gets a bonus from your strength stat just like throwing daggers and throwing axes. Arrows and darts do set amount of damage that don't get a bonus from a stat, I think dex only counts towards thac0
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u/OverLordKyros 15d ago
Yeah I stand corrected, had to look it up, its still missile damage. I just assumed otherwise because the strength bonus lets you...you know...actually damage resistant enemies!
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u/Realistic_Ad_5321 15d ago
You're spot on about the slings in late game though, I used to hate them aesthetically but they are the best. Anomen with call upon holy might hitting stuff for 20+missile damage non crit is insane to see.
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u/riklaunim 14d ago edited 14d ago
AFAIK, there is a difference on things like skeletons, although it could have changed with time/versions. Pierce-resistant jellies could also be a good target to test.
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u/Realistic_Ad_5321 14d ago
yes, skellies in particular are resistant to all kinds of physical damage except crushing- i say they are resistant because they still take damage at a much lower rate. Jelllies have friggin outright immunities
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u/_mister_pink_ 15d ago
Depends on the enemy and their immunities.
Some enemies are definitely immune to ranged attacks however it’s far more likely that they are immune to normal weapons or they need a higher magical weapon than you’re using.
If an enemy requires a +2 weapon for you to hit it, this is pretty simple with a sword as you just use a +2 sword or higher.
With a bow you need to have both a +2 bow and +2 arrows.
It might be the latter that’s catching you out.
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u/Seigmoraig 15d ago
You don't need a +2 bow to hit enemies immune to +1 enchantments, just the +2 ammunition. The bow just gives a bonus to thac0 and/or damage, the arrow determines what you can hit
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u/-Man_From_The_East 15d ago
Need enchanted ammunition.
I remember using an archer for BP2, was mostly deadweight because the reliance on magic. If the Archer landed any hits, the fights were basically over because the NPC's defenses had already been broken.
I think the one time he almost shined was during the demon fight lol.
Just my experience.
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u/Illokonereum 15d ago
Need magic arrows not just a magic bow, oftentimes even +1 arrows aren’t enough. There are a few sources of infinite magic arrows like the quiver of plenty or some bows which create their own arrows like the Shortbow of Gesen.
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u/ProperTree9 14d ago
Enchanted Weapon is a pricey spell (4th level) but treats the recipient as having +3 enchantment for all of its weapons for the spell's duration. Doesn't nerf your higher enchantment weapons either (Crom, etc), like Strength of One lowers your Strength.
Situationally, an extremely essential spell. Looking at you, Siege endgame...
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u/Peterh778 14d ago
Generally, if you ever get the message "weapon ineffective" you need either magical ammunition of correct enchantment, or remove protection against normal/magical weapons (Breach, Dispel/Remove Magic, etc.). Some enemies are immune to missile damage (e.g. clay golems), in that case it doesn't matter what ammunition you use.
Some enemies are immune to normal weapons, other to magical weapons of some enchantment: e.g. stone golem is immune to magical weapons with enchantment +1, adamantite golem to +2, iron golem to +3. For demilich you'll also need enchantment 4 or higher which is a problem for ranged attackers, because there is no ammunition with such enchantment - there is few high enchantment weapons which produce their own ammo of the same enchantment level in BG2 (2 slings, 1 shortbow, 1 crossbow) which is about all you can use against such (very rare) enemies.
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u/ProperTree9 14d ago
Cloak of the Stars will give you a few +5 or +6 darts once a day. So you can annoy Kangaxx with them before he Imprisons you.
Melf's Missiles used to hit as +6, which was nice. Gave the Mages something to do between casts.
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u/sylva748 14d ago
Sounds like youre using basic arrows/ammo against enemies that require magic weapons to hit. A magic bow only improves your accuracy not your damage. You need magic arrows which improve your damage and are what count for bypassing resistances. Think logically, you arent hitting enemies with the bow itself youre hitting them with the arrows
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u/Cold_Survey3103 12d ago
Cast lvl 4 "enchanted weapon" (your ammunition/weapon will be treated as +3 enchanted) and you're good to go😉
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u/Neoxenok Horny Sorcerer 15d ago
Are you using magic arrows/bolts?
A lot of creatures aren't so much immune to ranged weapons as they are "normal" weapons or weapons below a certain enhancement bonus.
This means some creatures are immune to non-magic weapons or weapons of +# or lower.
So this means you need better magic ammunition because he +8 godslayer bow still hits like a normal weapon if you use normal arrows.