Attacks per Round Baldur's Gate
The purpose of this post is to explain the Attack per Round (ApR) mechanic in Baldur's Gate 1 and Baldur's Gate 2.
ApR Definition
Attacks per Round (ApR) represents the number of attacks a character can perform in a given round or six seconds of realtime combat (attack rate). ApR is an especially important stat on the Infinity Engine; indeed, ApR is King.
Maximum ApR
The maximum ApR that can be represented in Baldur's Gate 1 is 5; in BG2, 10.
Baldur's Gate ApR Sources
- Every character, no matter the Baldur's Gate class chosen, receives one base attack at first level, aka 1 ApR.
- Warrior classes (Fighter, Paladin, Ranger) and warrior kits can Specialize in a weapon for +½.
- Warriors also receive +½ at 7th and 13th levels (which is why many players dual-class at those levels).
- Fighter Grandmastery grants a full attack but is not reachable in BG1. GM is reachable in BG2 but it does not grant +ApR. Thus, only in Icewind Dale 1 and Planescape: Torment does GM grant +ApR.
- Darts BG1 set ApR to 3. That means even Mages can throw darts at 3 ApR.
- Bows and some crossbows grant ApR +1 (Light Crossbow of Speed).
- Haste confers ApR +1 and Improved Haste doubles ApR in BG2 only.
- BG2: Dual-wielding grants ApR +1 (an off-hand attack).
- BG2: The Boots of Speed erroneously grant +½ on top of fractional ApR (a rounding up). Thus, 3½ ApR + BoS = 4 ApR, but 3 ApR + BoS ≠ 3½ ApR. In addition, that fractional attack is not doubled by Improved Haste. So if we have 4½ ApR, put on the BoS for 5 ApR and then cast IH, we do not have 10 ApR. We only have 9 ApR.
- Tuigan BG2 confers ApR +1 on top of the normal bow 1-point bonus to ApR.
- Belm BG2 confers ApR +1 (an extra on-hand attack).
- BG2: Gauntlets of Extraordinary Specialization grant ApR +½.
- BG2: Offensive Spin HLA confers ApR +1 (Blade BG2 only).
- BG2: Boon of Lathander special ability confers ApR +1 (Priest of Lathander only).
- BG2: Whirlwind & Greater Whirlwind Attack BG2 HLAs set ApR to 10 (except for throwing knives/daggers, which are bugged under GWW: the max for them is ApR 7 under Improved Haste).
Baldur's Gate 1 ApR
Breakdown of Attacks per Round (ApR) sources:
- Base ApR: 1 (1 ApR)
- Specialization (available at Warrior 1st lvl): +½ (1 ½ ApR)
- Warrior class 7th lvl bonus: +½ (2 ApR)
- +ApR item/spell (e.g, bow/Haste): +1 (3 ½ ApR)
Thus, the max ApR in melee is 3½ and the max ApR with bows is 4½ (when hasted). It is impossible to reach the 5 ApR max in BG1 because we cannot attain Grandmastery. Taking into account party member abilities, the maximum collective or party-wide ApR would be 24 (6x companions wielding bows or darts at 4 ApR). cf. Maximum Ranged Weapon Damage.
Sample of Monster ApR in BG1
| CRE | Class | LVL | THAC0 | DMG | ApR | AC | HPs | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sarevok | Fighter | 15 | -9 | 21.5 | 4 | -5 | 135 | Resistances |
| Aec'Letec | True Tanar'ri | -- | 0 | 13.5 | 4 | -9 | 106 | Death Gaze |
| Demon Knight | Fighter Mage | 15 | -5 | 21.5 | 3½ | -4 | 125 | Fiend |
| Shandalar | Mage | 30 | 8 | 8.5 | 1 | -24 | 96 | AC Lord |
| Tazok | Fighter | 11 | 4 | 17 | 2 | 3 | 125 | Ogre |
| Zhalimar | Fighter | 11 | 8 | 17.5 | 3 | -1 | 115 | Irone Throne |
| Rahvin | Fighter | 9 | 6 | 17.5 | 4 | -1 | 85 | Det. Arrow |
| Drasus | Fighter | 8 | 8 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 87 | Speed Boots |
| Gretek | Fighter | 9 | 9 | 14.5 | 3 | -2 | 70 | Helm & Cloak |
| Delgod | Fighter | 9 | 9 | 9.5 | 3½ | 2 | 22 | Glass Cannon |
| Grael | Undead | -- | 3 | 10.5 | 4 | -4 | 88 | Paralyze |
| Greater Ghoul | Undead | -- | 5 | 10.5 | 3 | 4 | 48 | Paralyze |
| Crypt Crawler | Worm | -- | 9 | 1.5 | 5 | 3 | 32 | Paralyze |
| Wyvern | Winged | -- | 9 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 63 | Poison |
| Greater Wyvern | Winged | -- | -1 | 23 | 3 | -5 | 94 | Poison |
| Air Aspect | Winged | -- | 5 | 18 | 3 | -4 | 110 | Poison |
| Skeleton Warrior | Undead | -- | 4 | 14.5 | 2 | 2 | 80 | Resistances |
| Battle Horror | Construct | -- | 5 | 11 | 3 | -5 | 58 | Flame Blade |
| Ankheg | Worm | -- | 9 | 20 | 2 | 2 | 52 | Acid Spit |
| Greater Doppelganger | Shapechange | -- | 7 | 6.5 | 5 | 0 | 65 | Mirror Image |
| Greater Basilisk | Reptile | -- | 11 | 3.5 | 3 | 2 | 78 | Petrification |
Baldur's Gate 2 ApR
Breakdown of Attacks per Round (ApR) sources:
- Base ApR: 1 (1 ApR)
- Specialization (available at Warrior 1st lvl): +½ (1 ½ ApR)
- Warrior class 7th lvl bonus: +½ (2 ApR)
- Warrior class 13th lvl bonus: +½ (2 ½ ApR)
- Gauntlets of Extraordinary Specialization: +½ (3 ApR)
- Dual-wield: +1 (4 ApR)
- Belm/Kundane/Scarlet: +1 (5 ApR)
- Haste: +1 (6 ApR) or Improved Haste: ApR x2 (10 ApR)
Thus, it is possible to attain 10 ApR without WW or GWW. That does not make WW or GWW redundant, however, because those HLAs confer 10 ApR with ranged weapons (except throwing knives), sword n board and two-handed weapons.
Fractional Attacks
How do half attacks aka fractional attacks work? Say, if I have 4½ ApR? Turn on Autopause: End of Round to see for yourself: the character will perform four attacks in the first round followed by five in the second.
cf. Basic Combat System.
Some weapons inflict on-hit negative status effects such as stun, slow and vorpal — so, it stands to reason that the more often we can attack with these weapons, the more often these devastating effects are going to trigger. As well, there are weapons that cumulatively buff the wielder as well as drain the enemy with every hit, such as Blackrazor BG2.
Note that, even though BG2 doubles ApR to 10, it doesn't look any good because they just double the animation speed. BG1 ApR 5 > BG2 ApR 10 in terms of look and feel. Plus, BG1 just looks and sounds better across the board.
Note that, even though BG2 doubles ApR to 10, it doesn't look any good because they just double the animation speed. BG1 ApR 5 > BG2 ApR 10 in terms of look and feel. Plus, BG1 just looks and sounds better across the board.
Sample of Monster ApR in BG2
| CRE | Class | LVL | THAC0 | DMG | ApR | AC | HPs | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exile Irenicus | Mage | 30 | 11 | 1.5 | 1 | -5 | 96 | Spellcaster |
| Slayer Irenicus | Slayer | 30 | -12 | 31.5 | 2 | -10 | 217 | -- |
| Illasera the Quick | Fighter | 20 | 7 | 7.5 | 3 | -3 | 98 | Pathetic |
| Gromnir Il-Khan | Barbarian | 20 | -14 | 30 | 5 | -5 | 235 | Half-orc |
| Yaga-Shura | Berserker | 25 | -14 | 28.5 | 3½ | -6 | 186 | Fire Giant |
| Sendai | Multi-class | -- | 3 | -- | 2 | -8 | 217 | Drow |
| Abazigal | Kensai | -- | -28 | 45.5 | 3 | -16 | 290 | Half-dragon |
| " " | Blue Dragon | -- | -13 | 41 | -- | -15 | 220 | -- |
| Balthazar | Monk | -- | -12 | 23.5 | 3 | -8 | 298 | Stances / Specials |
| The Ravager | Taint | -- | -16 | 22.5 | 5 | -12 | 534 | Supertanker |
| TorGal | Troll | -- | 5 | 22 | 3 | -6 | 140 | -- |
| Firkraag | Red Dragon | -- | -12 | 35.5 | 4 | -12 | 184 | -- |
| Adamantite Golem | Golem | -- | -3 | 37 | 1 | 3 | 80 | Resistances |
Dropping Drizzt with collective ApR 24 (no mods, original BG1):
Maximum possible collective ApR on the original Infinity Engine (30 ApR). Extreme effects. Note how there isn't any slow-down until things get really crazy, like when dozens of AoEs are dropped all at once. In some cases we hit the sprite limit, too.
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