Larian Studios' work on Baldur's Gate 3 draws from its deep history with the DnD-style RPG genre – they did create the critically-acclaimed Divinity Original Sin and its sequel, after all. One thing that Divinity was particularly known for was Elemental Surfaces, which were so useful that they often would control the outcome of combat more than abilities.
In Baldur's Gate 3, Elemental Surfaces aren't quite as prevalent, but they are nonetheless impactful. For one, players can Dip their weapons in certain Surfaces, like Fire and Poison, giving their attacks a bit more oomph. But despite Elemental Surfaces not being as strong as they were in Divinity Original Sin 2, they're still here, and it's vital to understand the properties of each Surface type in BG3 – lest players succumb to the Stun of an Electrocuted Water surface, or cast a Fire spell onto a Smokepowder surface.
All Elemental Surface Types in BG3
Blood Surface
Blood Surfaces will extinguish Fire and can be Frozen to turn into an Ice surface. Typically, Blood surfaces only come from the areas around defeated creatures that had blood, so while a Blood surface might appear after killing a Humanoid, it won't after killing an Elemental.
Fire Surface
When a creature steps into a Fire surface, it will take 1d4 damage and catch on fire, applying the Burning status effect, which continues to deal 1d4 Fire damage over the next few turns. It's a dippable surface, and when a weapon is coated in Fire it deals an additional 1d4 Fire damage for three turns.
Water Surface
Like Blood surfaces, Water surfaces can be Frozen (turning them into Ice surfaces) and will extinguish any Fire in its vicinity. However, unlike Blood surfaces, Water can also be electrocuted, turning it into Electrified Water.
Electrified Surface
When a creature steps onto an Electrified surface, it will be Electrocuted and take 1d4 Lightning damage. It's similar to the Fire surface effect, but players can't dip their weapons into Electrified surfaces.
Electrified Water Surface
The Electrified Water surface is created when a Water surface is subjected to Lightning damage. When a creature steps into one of these surfaces, it takes 1d4 Lightning damage and is also Shocked. Becoming Wet while Shocked will Stun a character, as will getting Shocked two times.
Ice Surface
Ice surfaces are created when an area is Frozen, typically Water surfaces. When a creature walks on an Ice surface, its movement distance is halved, and it must make a Dexterity saving throw to prevent slipping and becoming Prone – it happens more often than one would think.
Caustic Brine Surface
Caustic Brine is created after throwing a Caustic Bulb, many of which can be found in the starting Mind Flayer ship zone and its crash site. When creatures walk onto a Caustic Brine surface, they take 1d4 Acid damage each turn, which cuts through many resistances.
Poison Surface
A creature walking through a Poisoned surface must make a Constitution saving throw. If it fails, they become Poisoned and gain Disadvantage on both Ability Checks and Attack Rolls. If a weapon is dipped into a Poison surface, it will deal an additional 1d4 Poison damage for three turns.
Mud Surface
Mud surfaces are commonly found in the wilderness, but not very often. These surfaces halve creatures' movement distance when walking through.
Acid Surface
Acid surfaces are created by a variety of abilities and items, and creatures that step into Acid take a -2 penalty to Armor Class. There isn't a saving throw for this condition, the penalty is applied to all who step through the surface.
Steam Cloud Surface
A Steam Cloud surface is created when Fire is used on Water, and can be encountered out in the world in a few locations. Creatures that walk into a Steam Cloud become Wet, preventing them from Burning, gaining resistance to all forms of Fire Damage, and becoming extra vulnerable to Cold and Lightning attacks.
Smokepowder Surface
When a player throws a Smokepowder Barrel onto the ground, it will explode into a Smokepowder surface over a small area. When a creature walks on Smokepowder, nothing happens. But, when Fire damage is applied to the Smokepowder Surface, it will explode and deal both 2d6 Fire damage and 2d6 Force damage to everything on it. The explosion also knocks all affected creatures backward, and becomes a Fire surface thereafter.
Baldur's Gate 3 releases August 3, 2023 on PC and September 6, 2023 for PlayStation 5