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Someone teach me how to use buffing potions!

booinyoureyesbooinyoureyes Member Posts: 6,164
in General Discussion (Spoiler Warning!)
Hey guys, so I've been thinking. I never use potions other than for medicinal purposes. Very useful to cure disease, remove poison effects and heal hp.

Yet I've been thinking that I'm missing out on a lot and have been considering branching out my medicine cabinet to include the various types of steroids. I know potions of invulnerability are great for your saving throws, but what else should I use? I have a huge problem saving ALL my expendable resources (wands, potions, bolts for my party with no proficiency in crossbows, etc.) so it may also be important to know WHEN I should use them.

Can anyone give a little guidance on the best potions in the game, and for what situations I should use them? Also where are the best/cheapest potions available?

Thanks :)

Comments

  • BelanosBelanos Member Posts: 968
    One potion you'd probably find useful is Oil of Speed. It's essentially a Haste spell in a bottle that's good for a single player. It can come in really handy in a tough battle as you're basically doubling the amount of attacks you can make. It has no impact on casting though, only physical attacks. The various strength boosting potions are also very useful for your melee based characters as they will increase the amount of damage they can inflict on an enemy. Using the two type of potions together can be a very powerful combo.
  • DragonspearDragonspear Member Posts: 1,838
    normally I load up on strength potions and potions of defense/invulnerability for big bads (final boss of durlag's tower, aec'letec, balduran's ship, end game big bads, dragons you get the idea).

    That said, if you're a subscriber to the rest less philosophy, then you can/should use them a lot more often. Most "questlines" in BG2, can be done in less than 2 ingame hours (or maybe a little more). For example, you could do most of the Unseen Eye or Windspear hills dungeons under the effects of these potions if you wanted.

    Other fun potion uses:
    Popping Wisdom flask before you rest (if you aren't at 18 wisdom or higher on your divine characters), should open up those additional spell slots for you to memorize. While the spell slots will disappear when you rest, the spells should stay memorized until you use them. Cheesy, but effective (at least I THINK this works). They are also good for casting Wish with NPCs.

    Dexterity Potions, same duration as strength potions, good since you only get 1 pair of gauntlets of dex in both games.

    Thieving potions.........drink.........pick pocket (the entire city if you can) and be merry! For Christmas you can "gift" them back all their stolen goods (kidding).

    Potion of Insulation (IIRC this is the -10 crushing AC, 100% lightning resist) I pop one of these when I face the full plate wearing guy with the magical warhammer at the bandit camp. Likely intended since this drops off Mulahney. You basically can't be touched in melee by him like this.

    Potion of XYZ elemental resist: have a penchant for casting certain spells of an elemental nature? On top of memorizing the protection from x spells, you can also potion chug to further reduce their impact. Or to put yourself over 100% resist so things like fireball suddenly heal you.
  • GamingFreakGamingFreak Member Posts: 639
    Potions of Defense are good for Fighter/Mages or Kensai (who can't use armor), so keep that in mind. Late game BG1, Potions of Invulnerability are your best friend, so you should use them on all of your front-liners for big battles (like the final boss).
  • booinyoureyesbooinyoureyes Member Posts: 6,164
    @bengoshi returns!!!!!!!!!!!!! and what a comeback! I'd give that 5/5 insightfuls if I could. Exactly what I was looking for. Gonna go on a potion buying spree. I just killed Bodhi and have so much wealth its absurd.
  • SkaffenSkaffen Member Posts: 709
    booinyoureyes said:

    @bengoshi returns!!!!!!!!!!!!! and what a comeback! I'd give that 5/5 insightfuls if I could. Exactly what I was looking for. Gonna go on a potion buying spree. I just killed Bodhi and have so much wealth its absurd.

    Or just steal them - cheese warning: potions of master thievery stack, so drink 3-5 depending on your base skill and you can steal all the potions you can ever drink (including the replacement master thieveries...) :)
  • nanonano Member Posts: 1,632
    Those potions should really be a controlled substance. "I swear officer, I was only buying them because I locked myself out of my house."
  • CorvinoCorvino Member Posts: 2,269
    In BG1 Potions of Power and Potions of Heroism are great for your fighters before a tough fight (Sarevok, Aec'Letec, Karoug), mainly for the THAC0 boost. The 20% HP bonus is great against big hitters as well, giving you a bit more time to chug healing potions or run away. However once your THAC0 gets into negative numbers they appear to have no effect on it, rendering them a bit useless for BG2 apart from the HP bonus.

    In the same way as Potions of Dexterity, Potions of Fortitude are great for any tank with Con<18 before a big fight. It gives a full set of retroactive HP, turning even Shar-Teel into a decent meatshield.

    And never forget Potions of Explosions or Oils of Fiery Burning in BG1. Nothing toasts a large group of tough enemies like 6 simultaneous fireballs. Mmmm. Cheesy goodness.
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