Last updated: 26 June 2026

How to Prepare Spells in Baldur's Gate 3

Spell preparation is one of the most important — and most misunderstood — systems in Baldur's Gate 3. Not every class works the same way: some swap spells freely outside combat, others lock in choices at level-up. Knowing which camp your character falls into saves you from wasted picks and makes every encounter far easier to handle.

01Prepared Casters vs Known Casters

Prepared casters have access to their entire class spell list and choose a subset to equip at any time outside combat. Known casters learn a small fixed list when they level up, and those slots are permanent until the next level-up. Understanding which category your class falls into is the first step to using spells efficiently.

Prepared casters — Cleric, Druid, Wizard, and Paladin — can freely swap their prepared spells any time you are not in combat. This gives them enormous flexibility: load up on utility spells for exploration, then switch to combat options before a known fight.

Known casters — Sorcerer, Bard, Warlock, and Ranger — select spells permanently at level-up. Choosing wisely matters because those spells stay until you gain another level (or respec at Withers).

• Prepared casters: Cleric, Druid, Wizard, Paladin — swap freely outside combat
• Known casters: Sorcerer, Bard, Warlock, Ranger — locked until next level-up
• Cantrips occupy a separate slot and are always available — they do not count against your prepared limit and only change at level-up
• Respeccing at Withers lets any class rebuild their spell selection entirely from scratch

02How Many Spells Can You Prepare?

The number a prepared caster can have ready at once depends on two things: class level and spellcasting ability modifier.

• Cleric: Wisdom modifier + Cleric level
• Druid: Wisdom modifier + Druid level
• Wizard: Intelligence modifier + Wizard level
• Paladin: Charisma modifier + half Paladin level (rounded down, minimum 1)

For example, a level 5 Cleric with 18 Wisdom (+4) can prepare 9 spells (5 + 4). Boosting your primary spellcasting stat directly increases how many spells you can have ready.

Domain and Oath spells are a bonus. Clerics gain extra spells from their Domain and Paladins from their Oath. These are always prepared and do not count against your normal cap.

03How to Open the Prepare Spells Screen

Accessing the menu is quick once you know where to look:

1. Select the prepared caster in your party.
2. Press K on keyboard (or open the radial menu on controller) to open the Spellbook.
3. Select Prepare Spells at the top of the spellbook panel.
4. Click any spell to toggle it on or off. Prepared spells are highlighted.
5. Close the menu — changes apply immediately, no long rest required, as long as you are outside combat.

The game shows your current prepared count and your maximum at the top of the screen. If a spell is greyed out, you either lack a high enough spell slot or (for a Wizard) have not yet learned it.

04Wizards: Learning Extra Spells From Scrolls

Wizards have a unique advantage: they can permanently expand their spell list by scribing spells from scrolls into their spellbook. Clerics, Druids, and Paladins automatically know every spell on their class list, but Wizards only know spells they have learned — so scribing scrolls is essential to their versatility.

1. Find a spell scroll in the world, from merchants, or as loot.
2. Right-click the scroll and choose Learn Spell, or open the Wizard Spellbook and click Learn More Spells to see all eligible scrolls.
3. Confirm the transcription. The scroll is consumed and the spell is permanently added.
4. The spell now appears in your Prepare Spells list and can be prepared like any class spell.

Scribing costs 50 gold per spell level and consumes the scroll. Wizards get a 50% discount when scribing spells from their own subclass school of magic. You must already have a spell slot of the same level as the spell, and only Wizard-list spells can be scribed.

05When and How Often Can You Change Prepared Spells?

Prepared casters can change their selection at any point outside of combat. A long rest is the most natural moment but is not required — you can swap spells mid-exploration as long as no enemies are actively engaged.

Take advantage of this flexibility: heading into a dungeon full of fire-immune enemies, swap Fireball for something else before you enter rather than waiting for the next camp.

• Prepared casters (Cleric, Druid, Wizard, Paladin) can swap any time outside combat
• Known casters (Sorcerer, Bard, Warlock, Ranger) can only change spells at level-up
• Cantrips and Domain/Oath spells cannot be swapped via the Prepare Spells menu
• After respeccing at Withers, you rebuild your entire spell list from scratch

06Practical Tips for Spell Preparation

Knowing the mechanics is only half the battle. These habits separate effective casters from ones who feel underpowered:

• Prioritise your spellcasting stat — every point of Wisdom, Intelligence, or Charisma adds a spell to your prepared limit.
• Check the next area's enemy types — undead-heavy zones reward radiant damage; swap accordingly.
• Keep at least one utility slot — spells like Speak with Dead, Detect Thoughts, and Enhance Ability open dialogue and skill checks pure combat loadouts miss.
• Wizards: buy scrolls from vendors and scribe them rather than just casting them — turn a one-use item into a permanent option.
• Multiclass carefully — when combining a prepared caster with a known caster, each class follows its own spell rules separately.
• Remember cantrips are free — they cost no slots and scale with character level, so front-load offensive cantrips and save spell slots for high-impact choices.