Perception

Perception is a Wisdom-based Skill.

The higher a creature's Wisdom Score, the more likely it will succeed on Perception Checks to spot hidden objects or creatures.

“

Observe your environment. Spot hidden details.

„

— In-game skill description

Proficiency

Characters who are proficient in Perception can add their Proficiency Bonus when making  Ability Checks.

The following classes can choose to select Perception as a proficient skill at Level 1:

•  Barbarian
•  Bard
•  Druid
•  Fighter
•  Ranger
•  Rogue

The following races are proficient in Perception:

•  Elf
•  Drow

Uses

World perception

World or environment perception checks are used to determine whether a player character successfully detects traps, hidden containers or mechanisms, ambushes, or other details in their environment. These are regular skill checks that are performed automatically when the player character is close enough to the thing that can be detected.

Characters with  Dungeon Delver: Perception from the Dungeon Delver feat have  Advantage on these checks.

Note: These are sometimes erroneously referred to as passive perception checks, which they typically are in D&D tabletop, but in Baldur's Gate 3 they are instead implemented as automatic rolls. In the game engine, they are referred to as KnowledgeCheck.

When a roll of this nature is made, a dice roll audio effect is played and a small indicator in the corner of the screen displays success or failure.

Passive perception

Passive checks are ability or skill checks that don't involve an active d20 roll. Instead, the result is determined directly by a formula. In the case of passive Perception checks:

10 + Wisdom modifier + proficiency bonus (if proficient) + advantage modifier + (any other modifiers)

In Baldur's Gate 3, passive perception is mostly used by non-player creatures to determine the Difficulty Class of the Stealth check that a player character needs to make to remain hidden. The roll made by the player character is listed as a Hiding Check in the combat log.

Many creatures also have unlisted flat bonuses to their perception. For example, owlbears have a +5 bonus and worgs have a +4 bonus. However, since skills are not shown when inspecting an enemy, this information is not readily available in game.

Stealth perception

When a player character performs a stealth attack, they roll a Stealth check to remain undetected. Though not shown explicitly, the Difficulty Class of the Stealth Check displayed in the combat log is determined by an active Perception check made by the target or a witness. The creature-specific flat bonuses mentioned in the previous section apply.

Ways to boost or penalize

Raising or lowering Wisdom will also boost/penalize the Wisdom modifier (and therefore Perception) by 1 every even number, up or down.

Equipment and items

Name	Bonus or Penalty	Notes
Ambusher	Advantage
Elixir of Halfling Luck	Advantage	All ability checks
Elixir of Human Versatility	Proficiency	All skills
Faltering Will	Disadvantage	All Wisdom ability checks
Halberd of Vigilance	Advantage
Hellrider Longbow	Advantage
Justiciar's Greatshield	Advantage
Mask of Soul Perception	+2
Selûne's Spear of Night	Advantage
Sentinel Shield	Advantage
Shapeshifter's Boon Ring	+1d4	All ability checks while shapeshifted/disguised
Spoiled Treacle Tart	Disadvantage	All Intelligence/Wisdom ability checks
Watcher's Shield	Advantage

Actions and spells

Name	Bonus or Penalty	Notes
Ascendant Bite	-1 (target) +1 (user)	All ability checks
Astral Knowledge: Wisdom	Proficiency
Bardic Inspiration  Combat Inspiration	+1d6 +1d8 +1d10	Next ability check
Bend Luck: Ability Check Bonus	+1d4	All ability checks
Bestow Curse: Wisdom Disadvantage	Disadvantage	All Wisdom ability checks
Bolstering Magic: Boon	+1d4	All ability checks
Contagion: Blinding Sickness	Disadvantage	All Wisdom ability checks
Cosmic Omen: Ability Check	+1d6	All ability checks
Cutting Words	-1d6	All ability checks
Ethel's Insect Plague	Disadvantage
Guidance	+1d4	All ability checks
Hex (Wisdom)	Disadvantage	All Wisdom ability checks
Improved Bardic Inspiration	+1d12	Next ability check
Insect Plague	Disadvantage
Knowledge of the Ages: Wisdom	Proficiency
Owl's Wisdom	Advantage	All Wisdom ability checks
Psychic Rend	Disadvantage	All Intelligence/Wisdom ability checks
Vampire Bite	-1 (target) +1 (user)	All ability checks

Other sources

Name	Bonus or Penalty	Notes
Aspect of the Beast: Eagle	Advantage
Aura of Possibility	+10	All ability checks
Bliss Spores	+1d6	All ability checks
Blood-draw Sickness	-1	All ability checks
Dark One's Own Luck	+1d10	All ability checks once per short rest
Dungeon Delver: Perception	Advantage
Forbidden Knowledge	+1	All Wisdom ability checks
Hands Off, Petal	Disadvantage	All Wisdom ability checks
Jack of All Trades	Proficiency bonus/2	All skills not proficient in
Light Sensitivity	Disadvantage
Paid the Price	Disadvantage
Sunlight Sensitivity	Disadvantage
Whispers of Madness	Disadvantage	All Wisdom ability checks