Baldur's Gate 3 Best Helmets (& How To Get Them)

Equipping Baldur’s Gate 3 players with the best gear can get tricky later, especially with the complete game experience offering more challenging midgame-to-endgame encounters for players. While helmets add some visual flair to a character’s overall fit, most also benefit characters with various effects. For players who want to kit their characters with the best gear, the right helmet can transform stylish characters into gameplay juggernauts.

With the right Baldur’s Gate 3 helmets, characters can get access to special bonuses and even spells they otherwise need levels for. And with the game’s encounters getting increasingly more difficult as the plot progresses, players may need all the bonuses they could get. Without further ado, here are the best helmets in Baldur’s Gate 3.

Updated on November 24, 2024 by Rhenn Taguiam: With Hotfix #29 geared towards giving console players of Baldur’s Gate 3 better mod stability and a 100-mod limit, fans of the game will likely have a more pleasant gameplay experience now that their additional content should run much smoothly in their non-PC platforms. And for players who want to maximize their character’s potential in their mods, it seems gearing up with the right equipment is the best first step to ensure their party is ready for whatever hijinks their mods would present. Such must-have gear would be the perfect Helmets for their setups – with some must-tries involving a hat that boosts the potency of casters, a mask that lets players act faster, and even a helmet that gives characters more openings to move around.

1 Hat Of The Sharp Caster

Make Use Of A Useless Roll

While it’s true that an Evocation Wizard is among the most powerful builds a player can access in their Baldur’s Gate 3 gameplay, their setup is only as efficient as the damage they manage to score in their roll. If they get a lot of 1s in their damage dice, then their combat output is as useful as a support-dedicated unit. This is where the Hat of the Sharp Caster comes in, as this Rare Helmet allows its wearer to reroll any 1 or 2 on a damage dice for a Spell Attack.

This Helmet has quite the strict requirement for acquisition. Players can only purchase this Helmet from Tara on the roof of the Devil’s Fee. However, Tara is only found in this location when players talk to her on top of the Open Hand Temple during the “Find the Missing Letters” quest, with Gale as a member of the party when she is spoken to.

2 Haste Helm

Move Much Faster When Combat Begins

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Haste remains one of the most efficient Spells a player can access in Baldur’s Gate 3, especially when this allows players to get an extra Action, double the Movement Speed, additional AC, and even Advantage on DEX Saves. While Haste Helm implies to provide a similar benefit when acquired, it gives players something more straightforward: Momentum for three turns when combat begins.

This benefit essentially gives the wearer an additional 1.5m worth of movement per turn of Momentum left, and this is only removed if the wearer is rendered Incapacitated, Prone, Restrained, or slowed. While the extra movement might not seem useful for most players, this is a saving grace for tank-type units who want to rush to an ally’s aid or get themselves in the thick of combat so the rest of the party can reposition themselves.

3 Circlet Of Mental Anguish

Get Free Heals For Spells

Whereas physical combat in Baldur’s Gate 3 requires the attacking party to bypass their target’s Armor Class to deal damage to the opposing combatant, magic often forces a target to roll against the caster’s Spell Save DC in order to resist damage and negative effects. While the rules state that failing a Save against a Spell often forces the target to suffer the full extent of a Spell’s effects, a Spellcaster with the Circlet of Mental Anguish will enjoy +1d4 Hit Points worth of healing whenever a target fails their CHA, INT, and WIS Saves.

This Helmet is a must-have for Spellcasters who love min-maxing their Spellcasting repertoire, especially when players are predisposed to maximize their character’s CHA, INT, and WIS Modifiers to get maximum output for Spells. Having the extra incentive of +1d4 Hit Points whenever enemies suffer the full extent of their Spells can help Spellcasters get passive healing without needing the aid of the resident Cleric.

4 Mask Of Soul Perception

Perfect For The Deft Psionic

When players manage to open the locked Gilded Chest in Helsik’s Room over at the Devil’s Fee, they can encounter the rather peculiar Mask of Soul Perception. This Very Rare item is worth the DC 20 Lockpicking check of the Gilded Chest, as this offers quite a range of benefits perfect for almost any character who gets to wear it.

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At base, the Mask of Soul Perception gives its wearer access to its eponymous effect. Its +2 to Attack Rolls, Initiative Rolls, and Perception Checks can greatly boost the combat prowess of an already-potent party member or someone who needs the extra push for more DPS. Secondly, having access to Detect Thoughts as a free cast every Short Rest can make this Helmet useful at the hands of a secondary interrogator, whose access to this Spell means the party’s other Spellcasters may not need to use their 2nd-Level Spell Slot to cast this Spell.

5 Shapeshifter Hat

Allows Druids To Be More Tactical With Their Wild Shapes

Wild Shape is one of the most fundamental aspects of a Druid’s toolkit in both Baldur’s Gate 3 and Dungeons & Dragons, with Shapeshifter Hat providing that extra oomph to a Druid who wants to go out of their way to become a productive participant in combat. Thanks to Wild Shape, Druids can take on more practical forms to solve various situations both inside and outside of combat. However, the skill’s per-Long Rest limitation does pose the risk of Druids choosing to either not have the means to contend with foes with larger forms or to not have that perfect animal shape to scout areas or bypass security.

The Shapeshifter Hat bypasses this issue with a simple solution: give Druids another Wild Shape charge. As long as the Druid wears the Shapeshifter Hat, this extra charge is also carried over whenever they get Long Rests. This gives Druids much-needed versatility with their skills, as they can choose to Wild Shape inside and outside of encounters, or even Wild Shape twice to counter enemy combatants.

6 Cap Of Curing

Get Healed For Inspiring Others

A healer in a game like Baldur’s Gate 3 can guarantee the survival of the entire party, and the Cap Of Curingfurther incentivizes their healing capabilities. This hat is in a chest close to the Tiefling bard Alfira’s original location inside the Druid Grove.

When used, the Cap of Curing gives Bards a much-needed restorative boost. Whenever they use Bardic Inspiration on an ally, they can also heal them for 1d6 HP. Despite its low healing numbers, just 1 HP should be enough to get a partner up and running to kill enemies or make a better recovery. With Bardic Inspiration being a resource Bards can restore, this can be much more efficient than a Potion of Healing.

7 Shadow Of Menzoberranzan

Players who have heard of the Forgotten Realms campaign setting have likely heard of Menzoberranzan, possibly the most popular Drow city in the Underdark. When players enjoying their Baldur’s Gate 3 gameplay enter the Myconic Colony in the Underdark, they’re tasked to eliminate Duergar roaming the area. This quest grants players access to the Shadow Of Menzoberranzan, a hooded cowl that reflects the affinity of the Drow to the dangerous shadows of the Underdark.

When equipped, this Helmet gives players the Shrouded in Shadow Action. Using this turns players Invisible in an instant, broken only when they do anything activity that is another Action, when they Attack, or when they take damage. This Action does require Concentration and is only usable once every Long Rest.

8 Wapira’s Crown

Get Rewarded For Healing Others

The Druids of Baldur’s Gate 3 boast quite an impressive aesthetic with their heavily nature-inspired designs, something Wapira’s Crown offers players as soon as they finish “Save the Refugees” in the Emerald Grove. With Druids being protectors of nature, Wapira’s Crown also helps players become more efficient support units.

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When equipped, Wapira’s Crown bestows upon players the Crowning Glory ability. These users will be healed for 1d6 HP whenever they heal another creature, making this a much-needed free heal. Its 1d6 HP worth of healing makes it a decent substitute for Potion of Healing without needing resources such as Actions and Consumables.

9 Birthright

CHA Boosts Fit For The Party’s Style

When players reach Sorcerous Sundries in the eponymous Baldur’s Gate, their spellcaster allies can equip themselves with some of the game’s deadliest wizarding armaments: with Birthright being exactly the kind of hat a pompous child of magic users would wear. Despite resembling quite the ornamental hat, the Very Rare Helmet comes with a straightforward effect: +2 CHA.

However, it comes with a not-so-obvious secondary ability, in that it also extends the wearer’s Charisma limit to 22. This makes the helmet extremely useful for CHA-reliant Classes, such as the Bard, Sorcerer, and Warlock, where this addition to Charisma can vastly improve the overall strength of their abilities.

10 Circlet Of Hunting

Multi-Hit Enhancements Can Facilitate Powerful Ranger Builds

Upon its purchase from Araj Oblodra in Moonrise Towers, players enjoying their Baldur’s Gate 3 gameplay may notice how the Circlet of Huntingdoes for buff-reliant attackers what Birthright does for CHA-based spellcasters. This Very Rare Helmet is a circlet befitting the lithe huntresses of Toril, whose reliance on the sounds (or lack thereof) of the forest allows them to become the deadliest huntresses in the land.

In the game, this translates to Hunter’s Eye, an ability that provides +1d4 to all Attack Rolls against creatures affected by Faerie Fire, Guiding Bolt, Hunter’s Mark, and True Strike. Despite its measly +1d4 Bonus, the fact that the bonus is added every time an affected enemy is attacked by this item’s wearer means it suits builds that rely on multi-hit attacks.

11 Fistbreaker Helm

Spellcasting Buffs Can Lead To More Potent Mages

A spellcaster is only as potent as their spells allow them and Fistbreaker Helmensures enemies have a harder time dodging their Spells in Baldur’s Gate 3 combat. When bought from Lann Tarv in the Moonrise Towers, this Rare Helm resembles swirling pieces of wood sculpted to fit the head.

Unlike helmets that usually fit the likes of warriors, the elegance in the Fistbreaker Helm befits a magic user. With Seldom Caught Unawares, its spellcaster wearer gets a +1 Bonus to Initiative Rolls to ensure they get to sling their spells before opponents. Not only that, High Spellcasting secures a +1 Bonus to their Spell Save DC, further increasing the difficulty that enemies have to bypass to dodge their attacks.

12 Pyroquickness Hat

Fire Boosts Encourage More Destructive Plays

Fire is the cleanser, both in meme pages and especially in Baldur’s Gate 3 combat where the Pyroquickness Hat can boost the potency of Spells that can burn enemies to a crisp. Resembling a stylish wizard’s hat, the Pyroquickness Hat is a Very Rare Helmet found in Elminster’s Vault, which in itself is located in the Sorcerous Vault. Similar to other powerful treasures in the area, players need See Invisibility to claim this item.

Such a security measure is suited for its special ability. Fiery Return ensures that whenever its wearer upcasts any leveled Fire Spell, they also get another Bonus Action during this round. When combined with the likes of Freecast (Illithid Power) that reverses Actions and Bonus Actions, spellcasters can abuse their spells quickly.

13 Assassin Of Bhaal Cowl

Bonus Initiative, Invisible Sight Incentivizes First-Strike Rogues

Should players become an Unholy Assassin in the Murder Tribunal, they can purchase the Assassin of Bhaal Cowl from Echo of Abazigal to look the part. In the Baldur’s Gate installment, this Cowl is a Very Rare Helm that represents the cultists willing to wait for Bhaal’s return. When his assassins wield this Cowl, they gain See Invisibility (2nd-Level Divination), which allows them to see even other assassins who try to outwit them.

Moreover, they also gain Murderous Sight, giving them +2 to Initiative Rolls on top of seeing in the dark up to three meters. Such bonuses suit stealthy builds such as the Assassin Rogue, whose ability to jump the gun even on Invisible opponents ensures their capacity to win against all odds.

14 Horns Of The Berserker

When players get to Baldur’s Gate in Act 3, they can obtain Horns of the Berserkerfrom Danthelon’s Dancing Axe. The humorous nature of the store is reflected in the peculiar origins of the Very Rare Helm, in that its effects represent the rocky divorce of its creators, a designer, and an enchanter. This patchwork-looking Helm befits the visage of an enraged fighter, especially with its Seeking Blood giving its wearer +2 to Attack Rolls when they attack targets who already took damage.

Meanwhile, Blood Thirst guarantees an extra 2 Necrotic Damage to all unarmed and melee attacks provided the wearer isn’t at full health, which this effect conveniently guarantees courtesy of a 1d4 Necrotic Damage punishment for not dealing any damage at the end of any turn. As such, this Helm fits the likes of the Barbarian and the Monk, whose reliance on melee and unarmed strikes can take advantage of this item’s bonuses.

15 Helldusk Helmet

Should players reach the House of Hope, their Baldur’s Gate 3 playthrough can take them to a hidden door that contains the Helldusk Helmet provided they pass a DC 10 Wisdom and DC 20 Arcana Check. Doing so reveals the infernal Helldusk Helmet, with its only holes reserved for the eyes, rumored to be forged by the fiendish titan Carixim whose body contains 20,000 souls.

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The Helm’s infernal origins reflect its effects. Its Immolating Gaze alone can deal 2d8 Fire Damage across three turns with an INT Save, with an additional 2d16 Fire Damage to Burning foes. In addition, Magical Durability gives its user +2 to Saves against Spells, Infernal Sight disables Blinding effects on top of a 12-meter sight across any type of darkness, and the Helm disables any Critical Hits on the wearer.

16 Circlet Of Fire

Free Scorching Ray Improves Any Character’s DPS

Fire is one of the most common damage types in Baldur’s Gate 3 gameplay, especially with its spells capable of inflicting debilitating burns on opponents. It’s fire’s accessibility that makes Fireball such an infamous spell in D&D and explains why Circle of Fire is from either Waukeen’s Rest or the Shattered Sanctum’s vault.

At its core, equipping the Circlet Of Fire bestows upon players the Fiery Return feature. With this benefit, players regain access to a Bonus Action whenever they use a non-Cantrip spell that deals Fire damage. This can quickly incentivize spellcasters and players with access to attacks such as Scorching Ray, which they can use to damage opponents and their immediate environment while at the same time regaining yet another Bonus Action to use.

17 Circlet Of Blasting

Despite their lack of direct defensive boosts, helmets become crucial to a player’s Baldur’s Gate 3 gameplay. And this is not just for aesthetic value but also for the effects they can provide. With the game’s D&D mechanics giving players specific rules on the kind of abilities their characters have, getting the Circlet of Blasting from Blurg in Ebonlake Grotto can boost their arsenal despite its Rare nature.

This weapon grants players the ability of Scorching Ray, a 2nd-level Evocation spell that lets players target three opponents with three rays of fire. This has a distance of 18 meters, with each blast capable of releasing 2d6 Fire Damage. This extra combat spell can be useful regardless of the character equipping it, with a spellcaster using this to free up a spell slot or a non-mage using this to bolster their ranged options to ensure they have something to do and not waste their turns.

18 Headband Of Intellect

INT Buff Can Improve A Spellcaster’s Capabilities

For a Rare Item in a player’s Baldur’s Gate 3 experience, the Headband Of Intellectcan transform spellcasters into juggernauts. Acquired after defeating the Ogre Lump the Enlightened in the Blighted Village, the Headband of Intellect boosts the user’s Intelligence to 19. This makes the Headband of Intellect one of the few items that bestow the player a specific Ability Score value.

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However, despite this straightforward boost, the Headband of Intellect’s perk does have vast implications. Being at Intelligence 19 gives players a +4 bonus to all Intelligence-related checks, practically making information easier to spot inside and outside dialogue. Not only that, Wizards can use this +4 bonus to almost always guarantee their spell attacks.

19 Circlet Of Psionic Revenge

Make A More Survivable Githyanki

When players get to Creche Y’llek in their Baldur’s Gate 3 playthrough, they get to learn more about their Companion Lae’zel’s history and journey across the Realms. However, players out for treasure might want to go to the Inquisitor’s Chamber and search for the chest that contains the Circlet of Psionic Revenge.

The Circlet gives its users some degree of psychic backlash against foes that endanger them. Wearers who have to make any kind of Saving Throw can force the source of the throw to take 1d4 Psychic Damage. Not only that, but Githyanki wearers of the Circlet will get +1 to INT, WIS, and CHA Saves, giving them some degree of extra resistance against effects that will likely affect the way they approach combat.

20 Scabby Pugilist Circlet

Enhance A Monk’s Strikes

At first glance, acquiring the Scabby Pugilist Circlet from Mattis in Act 3 might seem a bit too late in Baldur’s Gate 3. After all, the item’s Martial Bravery effect simply adds +2 Damage to Attacks when the player is surrounded by at least two enemies. Considering that there’s still the likelihood of players missing their hits, the measly +2 might not seem all that of a game-changer. Not to mention, Classes only get a few opportunities to use an Attack each turn, making the Scabby Pugilist Circlet all the more seemingly so-so.

However, this all changes when players realize that the Martial Bravery effect also gives +2 Damage to Unarmed Attacks. While it’s true that most characters will only get a few Attacks per turn, the case is different for the Monk. As a Monk, players can tap into Bonus Actions such as Flurry of Blows and Bonus Unarmed Strike for extra attack opportunities. Not only that, accessing extra Bonus Actions via Wholeness of Body and Fast Hands can proc the Circlet’s +2 Damage consistently.