Baldur’s Gate 3: How to Use Mage Hand

A staple Cantrip in tabletop, learning how to use Mage Hand in Baldur’s Gate 3 can feel strange if you’re used to D&D 5e and having a DM guide you. Though you have more control over how it works, actually figuring out when and where to use it can be confusing, especially since the description is rather vague. Even if you aren’t a caster, you’ll want to understand Mage Hand for companions like Gale.

How to Use Mage Hand in Baldur’s Gate 3

• Mage Hand is an Action and requires Concentration.
• It lasts 10 turns or until its health runs out.
• You can grab distant items using Mage Hand.

Using Mage Hand is straightforward in Baldur’s Gate 3. Select Mage Hand from your cantrip options to summon it and take control of it by selecting its portrait, which can be found next to that of the summoner (whether that be a bard, a wizard, or any other class or multiclass character able to wield it).

From here, you can click on objects and use the Mage Hand to complete small tasks. This cantrip can:

• Move light or medium objects.
• Interact with the environment (doors, chests, etc.).
• Move light sources.
• Use Shove and Throw.
• Loot enemies.

I find that Mage Hand isn’t very useful in combat and doesn’t provide the benefits of some other cantrips. It takes an Action to summon, then will roll into the Initiative order. Since it only has about 3 health points, it won’t last long in combat near enemies, making its ability to use the Shove Action not suited for fights.

That’s how to use Mage Hand in Baldur’s Gate 3. This is a cantrip that rewards creativity, so feel free to try new things once you’ve mastered its movements. For more tips and tricks, including builds guides, more, head over to our BG3 guides page.