I would tell you that violence is not the way and that you should always strive to take the higher road, but that wouldn’t get you very far in Baldur’s Gate 3. However, non-violence is preferred sometimes, and the game even comes with a mechanic that allows you to knock your enemies out and put them into quite a deep slumber.
Still, using this move may not be as straightforward as you’d like. If you’re not sure how it all works and how to knock someone out in Baldur’s Gate 3, this is the right guide for you. Here, we explain how to use this mechanic and when this approach is preferable in the game.
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How to knock someone out in Baldur’s Gate 3 (BG3)
If you prefer not to kill your enemies, you’ll be glad to hear that knockouts are available from the very start of Baldur’s Gate 3. You don’t need to unlock this move by doing anything special or leveling up, and it is available to all party members.
To knock someone out in Baldur’s Gate 3, you need to toggle non-lethal attacks on first. It is a passive feature, so you can find it in the Passives tab at the bottom of your screen. However, keep in mind that this only works with melee attacks. As you move on with the fight, the final blow renders your enemy unconscious instead of killing them.
The knockout option can get quite handy, especially at the beginning of the game, since you don’t want to kill your potential party members. Some characters are quest givers, and if you eliminate them early on, you won’t be able to access those missions later on. Non-lethal combat and knocking enemies out are also useful if you need to rob them or if one of your party members gets mind-controlled to attack you.
However, not all enemies can be knocked out in this manner. Some monsters and all undead enemies have to be killed, because non-lethal combat won’t work on them.
We hope this mechanic is useful to you as you progress through Baldur’s Gate 3. If you need more assistance with this game, check out our other guides in our dedicated Baldur’s Gate 3 section!