While playing Baldur's Gate 3, you will probably come across some Elemental Surface Types. These are things that will change the surface or ground that you are walking on and cause you some trouble.
If you are wondering what each type does, you've come to the right place. Here is every Elemental Surface Type and what it does to those who try to walk along them.
Acid
Acid Elemental Surfaces are dangerous to be in. They are a common type as they can be summoned via spells or potions. When you're walking into an area with this Surface Type, you will gain the Acid debuff. This means that your Armor Class is reduced by 2. This can be the deciding factor between winning and losing a battle.
Acid Elemental Surfaces are hard to get rid of. Most of the time, you will need to just do your best to avoid the area and get out as soon as possible. If you are able, avoid walking through these areas and try your best to keep the debuff off of you.
Alcohol
Alcohol can be found all over the game. Chances are, you have seen plenty of barrels of it while adventuring around the Forgotten Realms. If you destroy one of these barrels, the surrounding surface will turn into this specific Elemental Surface Type.
This Surface Type is identical to the Oil Elemental Surface Type. While this may not do anything other than cover the ground, using fire spells on it will cause it to catch fire and explode. This can do massive amounts of damage, so be careful you’re not around it.
Blood
Blood Elemental Surfaces will happen anytime that you injure a living being. If you fight something such as an elemental being or an undead being, you won’t see this Elemental Surface Type. Truly, it doesn’t do much to players.
The only way to get rid of Blood Elemental Surfaces is to use an ice spell on it. This will cause the surface to turn in an Ice Elemental Surface instead. The only issue with this is that you will want to be careful that it doesn’t cause your party any harm.
Caustic Brine
This is one of the first Elemental Surface Types you will find (the Fire Elemental Surface will probably be the first). It can be found in the ship that you are on in the very beginning of the game. It causes the ground to be covered in Caustic Brine, which in turn gives you Acid Damage.
If you want to avoid this, you will need to avoid the area. Much like Acid Elemental Surfaces, Caustic Brine Elemental Surfaces are difficult to remove. Your best bet is to either avoid it altogether or get out as fast as you can.
Fire
Fire Elemental Surface Types are caught on fire. They will deal 1d4 Fire Damage at the start of each turn. They can be caused by certain spells such as Fireball or Fire Shield. They can also be caused by any type of fire landing on certain Elemental Surface types such as Alcohol or Oil.
If you want to get rid of this type of Elemental Surface, you will need to use certain spells or wait until the fire dies down. For instance, Elemental Types such as water or ice can change this Surface Type. Water will cause it to turn to a Water Surface Type, and Ice will cause it to turn into Steam.
Grease
Grease Elemental Surfaces are pretty common. You can use spells to cause them or use different throwables that will throw grease in areas of the battlefield. Thankfully, this specific Elemental Surface won’t do any damage. However, you can still have issues if you aren’t careful.
Like some other Elemental Surface Types, Grease can cause your party to slip, knocking them down for a turn or two. This can really do some damage to your strategy. It can also give you the debuff Difficult Terrain, making you walk slower.
Ice
Ice Elemental Surface Types are coated with Ice. This gives them the Difficult Terrain debuff. While walking on the Ice Elemental Surfaces, your movement speed is cut in half. This makes things much more difficult. Not only that, but you have a chance of slipping, causing you to fall.
If you want to get rid of Ice Elemental Surfaces, you will need to use a fire spell. If you are able to catch it on fire, it will turn to water. You can then easily traverse over it. If you need to prepare a fire spell, you can check this guide out.
Lava
Lava is one of the most dangerous Elemental Surface Types in the game. This is also one of the most rare of all the Elemental Surfaces in the game. Lava is, as you have probably guessed, dangerous since it will burn you rapidly.
You cannot survive long in lava, and you cannot get rid of it. Your best bet is to stay far away from it and only use it to push enemies into. This will make quick work of them and keep you safe at the same time. It is the best way to deal with it.
Mud
Mud is another Elemental Surface Type you will run into during your travels in and around the Forgotten Realms and Baldur’s Gate. Thankfully, it isn’t too terribly bad. This type of surface will cause your party to have the Difficult Terrain debuff. It causes them to have half their movement speed.
Mud surfaces won’t happen very often. The only time you will encounter one is if you are in the wild. They are naturally occurring and do nothing other than slow you down while walking. Thankfully, they are one of the lesser types.
Oil
Oil is a pretty common type of Elemental Surface Type in Baldur’s Gate 3. You can find it pretty much anywhere in the game. You can even find barrels of it just sitting around, waiting for you to use. You can also create your own oil to throw at unsuspecting enemies.
If you want to get rid of Oil Elemental Surfaces, all you need to do is use a fire spell on them. However, be extremely careful doing that. The point of these surfaces is to easily catch fire, so anyone who is standing in the oil will burn.
Steam
Steam Elemental Surface Types are pretty rare. They can only happen when Water Elemental Surface Types mix with fire or vice versa. While it doesn’t do any damage, it can cause some real harm to your party if you aren’t careful.
Steam will give you the Wet Condition. This means that you cannot catch fire, but you will have a vulnerability to ice spells and lightning spells. This can be extremely dangerous if you are fighting against someone who frequently uses such spells.
Water
Water is another Elemental Surface Type. This type, while not dangerous, has the potential to become deadly, depending on what you do to it. Water itself does nothing (unless it is deep water from a stream or river). It can turn into some powerful Elemental Surfaces though.
If you use a fire spell on water, it will turn into steam. This can do some damage to your party if you aren’t careful. If you use an ice spell, it will turn into ice, making it difficult to traverse. Finally, if you use an electric spell, it will electrify the water, making it deadly.