10 NPC-Only Spells in Baldur's Gate 3 I Desperately Wish I Could Cast

Hey everyone! So, we all know Baldur's Gate 3 is packed with an insane number of spells, right? But here's a spicy little secret I bet a lot of players don't know: there's a whole list of spells that your party straight-up cannot cast. I'm not talking about high-level stuff locked behind the level 12 cap. I mean spells that are exclusive to NPCs, and when you look at what they actually do, some of them are absolutely bonkers. Some are just souped-up versions of regular magic, tied to specific boss fights. But others? Man, they have such wild and unique effects that it's torture imagining how much fun (or chaos) we could have with them. So, let's dive into ten of the coolest NPC-only spells in BG3 that I'm literally begging Larian to let me use.

1. Rolan's Mage Armor: The Ultimate Wizard Buff 🧙‍♂️

Our favorite tiefling wizard, Rolan, has a mini-redemption arc that's just chef's kiss. From hiding during the Grove attack to facing down Lorroakan, he's the best. And as a powerful wizard, he gets some unique spells. The crown jewel? Rolan's mage armor. This isn't your grandma's mage armor. The regular version adds AC based on your Dex, which is useless if your wizard has dump-stat Dexterity. Rolan's version? It just flat-out gives you +2 AC, no questions asked. It's so simple, yet so brutally effective. If I could slap this on my squishy Gale, I'd sleep so much better at night.

2. Drunken Inhale: Chaotic Djinni Fun 🍺

Okay, technically, you can access this spell, but your party members can't cast it directly. You need to summon a djinni via planar ally. Once you do, it gets drunken inhale. This spell is pure, mischievous joy. It forces a Con save, and on a fail, the target takes 4d8 Poison damage, gets pulled toward the caster, and becomes Drunk (giving Disadvantage on Dex and Cha checks). The forced movement and damage are great, but the Drunk status is just the cherry on top. Imagine giving this to a Drunken Master monk multiclassed into a caster. The roleplay potential for absolute pandemonium is off the charts!

3. Careful What You Wish For: The Cheesiest Spell Ever 🧀

This is one of the most iconic moments in the game. You're at the Circus of the Last Days, you spin Akabi's wheel, catch him cheating, and he snaps his fingers. Boom. You're magically transformed into a wheel of cheese. The spell careful what you wish for is basically a funny, single-target polymorph. Is it combat-optimal? Not really, unless you want to temporarily turn a problematic enemy into a snack. But think of the sheer, unadulterated comedic value! Being able to wander the Sword Coast, turning random bandits or rude nobles into cheese on a whim? That's the kind of power fantasy I signed up for.

4. Fanatic Retaliation: The Ultimate 'You Killed My Friend' Spell 💥

This one belongs to Kar'niss, the creepy drider in the Shadow-Cursed Lands.

Fanatic retaliation is a powerful rebuke he can only use when an ally falls. It deals a massive 6d10 Psychic damage and inflicts Silence on the target. This spell is a big part of what makes his fight so tough. Now, imagine if we could use it. An enemy drops one of your companions, and you respond with a psychic blast of pure vengeance? That's some next-level emotional gameplay. This feels like it should be an Illithid power with its psychic theme, but having it as a regular spell would be an insanely powerful and satisfying tool.

5. Aegis of the Absolute: The Ultimate Boss Immunity Buff 🛡️

Speaking of raw power, let's talk about the final boss.

The Netherbrain's Aegis of the Absolute is why you can't just spam the same attack on it. Once cast, it makes the caster immune to all damage types they took on the previous turn. It's a genius way to force players to adapt and use their entire toolkit. Now, why should I get to cast it? Because it's a brilliant test of a well-rounded party. It wouldn't break the game against versatile enemies, but as a defensive cooldown on my tank? It would be an incredibly strategic and powerful protective spell, forcing enemies to constantly switch tactics.

6. Castigate Heartform: Psychological Warfare Magic 🧠

Viconia DeVir is a master manipulator, and her heartmapping quiz is terrifyingly effective.

Once she maps your heart, she can use castigate heartform. This curse makes you always take Critical Hits from her attacks. To break it? You have to "act against your nature." A Melancholy heart must perform; a Violent heart must heal someone. The roleplay implications are fascinating! Imagine applying these personality types to NPCs. You could force a cowardly enemy to stand their ground or make a brutal berserker waste a turn healing. It's a spell that turns combat into a psychological puzzle.

7. Mapped Terror: Exploit Your Enemy's Deepest Fears 😱

Viconia isn't done with her mind games. She also has a set of spells called mapped terror.

These spells first inflict Frightened (making you run away), then add a secondary effect based on the target's greatest fear: Blinding Sickness if afraid of the dark, or Dominated on an ally if afraid of betrayal. The roleplay potential is immense. Imagine getting bonus effects for correctly deducing an enemy's fear in dialogue before a fight. Beyond the story, it's just a brutally effective control spell. Having this in my spellbook would make every social interaction a potential combat setup.

8. Forced Teleportation: Your Ticket to Looney Tunes Violence ✨

By the late game, misty step or dimension door is essential for mobility. But Cazador's forced teleportation is on another level.

He uses it to reposition his minions. In our hands? Sure, we could move our low-mobility allies into better spots. But the real fun is using it on enemies. The sheer chaos! Picture this: you're fighting on top of Moonrise Towers. You use forced teleportation on Ketheric Thorm and drop him off the edge. Instant, hilarious, and lethal. It would create so many meme-worthy, physics-defying deaths. The tactical possibilities (and the comedy) are endless.

9. Untenable Secret: Skip the Dialogue, Get the Info 🗣️➡️🤫

We spend so much time in BG3 convincing people to spill their secrets. What if we could just... force them?

That's what the Justiciar Nightweaver's untenable secret spell does. It's a high-level enchantment that makes someone reveal a crucial truth. The story implications are huge! Used correctly, it could unlock fascinating shortcuts or dark revelations. This spell would be perfect for an evil playthrough, especially as a Dark Justiciar. Imagine bypassing entire persuasion chains or uncovering plot twists early. It's the ultimate "cut the crap" button for a power-hungry character.

10. The Dream of Arcane Access 😭

Look, I know why these spells are NPC-only. They're often tied to specific story beats, boss mechanics, or would be balance nightmares. Rolan's armor is part of his character growth; the Netherbrain's Aegis is a core fight mechanic. But a wizard can dream, right? These spells represent a layer of magic in the world that feels just out of our reach, making the world feel deeper and more alive.

Maybe in a future update or a killer mod, we'll get access to some of this wild magic. Until then, I'll just keep looking at Kar'niss and his psychic retaliation with envy. What about you guys? Which NPC-only spell do you wish you could add to your hotbar? Let me know in the comments! And remember, in the world of Baldur's Gate 3, sometimes the coolest magic is the kind you can't even use. 🎮✨