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Weaponminor

Glaive

The Glaive is a two-handed martial melee weapon in Baldur's Gate 3 that deals slashing damage and uses the Reach property to attack targets from farther away.

Importance
minor
G
Baldur's Gate 3 · weapon
01

Key Takeaways

01

Reach-focused polearm

The Glaive is a two-handed Martial melee weapon whose reach helps it control space from farther away than ordinary melee weapons.

02

Weapon actions

Its martial weapon actions give it more attack options than a basic unmodified melee attack, including area or control-oriented choices where applicable.

03

Proficiency matters

Characters need Martial Weapon proficiency to use the Glaive effectively; this is a proficiency requirement, not an ability-score minimum.

04

Clear trade-off

Its reach is useful for positioning and front-line control, but the two-handed property prevents simultaneous use of a shield or another off-hand weapon.

05

Close comparison

The Halberd is a natural alternative because it occupies the same two-handed reach-polearm role; the choice depends mainly on their item-specific effects and availability.

02

Overview

Glaive is a standard martial melee polearm in Baldur’s Gate 3. Its defining role is a two-handed, reach-based weapon that lets a proficient character threaten enemies from farther away than most ordinary melee weapons.

The Glaive is not a named legendary weapon or a quest-specific signature item. It belongs to the ordinary martial-weapon roster, so its value comes from the properties shared by its weapon category rather than from a unique passive, spell, or story association. This makes it a practical equipment choice rather than a major collectible.

Its reach is the important distinction in play. A character using a Glaive can attack from farther away than with many standard melee weapons, helping them engage targets while maintaining more space from nearby threats. The weapon is also two-handed, so choosing it commits the character to a polearm-oriented melee role rather than a shield-using setup.

Within the base game’s normal equipment progression, Glaives can serve as straightforward martial alternatives when a character wants reach without relying on a named item. They are most relevant to characters already proficient with martial weapons and able to support a two-handed style. The weapon’s usefulness therefore depends more on positioning and character setup than on a special acquisition condition.

This page covers the standard Glaive identity in Baldur’s Gate 3, not a separately named variant, story relic, or temporary combat effect. Exact enchantment, extra damage, and other item-specific benefits can differ between individual Glaives found during play, while the weapon category’s core identity remains its reach, two-handed handling, and martial melee role.

03

Statistics

This game publishes dice damage rather than 0–100 bars, so the verified damage, enchantment, weight and value are listed instead. Taken from the project's verified weapons database, not from generated text.

  • Base Damage
    1d10
  • Damage Type
    Slashing
  • Rarity
    Common
  • Weight
    2.7 kg
  • Value
    65 gp
  • Entry Type
    Standard / enhancement variant

Figures verified against Consolidated Game Weapons Database.

04

Compared to similar slashing weapons

WeaponBase DamageDamage TypeEnchantmentWeightValue
Glaive1d10Slashing—2.7 kg65 gp
Everburn Blade2d6Slashing—2.7 kg130 gp
Sorrow1d10+1Slashing+12.7 kg380 gp
Balduran's Giantslayer2d6+3Slashing+32.7 kg1300 gp
Silver Sword of the Astral Plane2d6+3Slashing+32.7 kg1300 gp

Damage is the dice expression; weight and value are the game’s own figures. From Consolidated Game Weapons Database.

05

How to Obtain

Before you start
  • Reach The Hollow in the Druid Grove during Act One.
  • Have sufficient gold and martial-weapon proficiency, or another character who can use the weapon effectively.
  1. 01In Act One, visit Dammon in The Hollow at the Druid Grove and check his weapon inventory for the ordinary Glaive. Purchase it if stocked; merchant inventory and prices can vary with progression. The Glaive is a standard vendor weapon rather than a unique quest reward, boss drop, or one-per-playthrough item. Other Act One merchants may also stock ordinary martial weapons, but Dammon is the clearest direct route.
06

Mechanics and Handling

Reach and two-handed handling

The Glaive is a two-handed reach weapon. Its reach lets the wielder make melee attacks and opportunity attacks from farther away than ordinary melee weapons, making spacing especially important when protecting a fragile ally or controlling an approach. Reach does not turn its normal attacks into area attacks, and the weapon provides no inherent status effect on every hit. Its two-handed requirement prevents pairing it with a shield or another weapon in the off-hand.

Weapon actions

The Glaive’s weapon actions give it more utility than its basic slashing attacks. Lacerate adds a Bleeding effect when it connects, while Brace trades movement for Advantage on the next attack with the weapon. Brace is consequently most useful before a committed attack or when the wielder can hold a position; using it while repositioning is less attractive. These actions are separate from the weapon’s ordinary attack sequence and should be treated as tactical options rather than permanent modifiers.

07

Strengths, Weaknesses and Best Uses

Strengths

  • Reach extends the glaive’s melee threat area, helping a front-line character attack without standing directly beside every target.
  • Its two-handed heavy-weapon profile supports Strength-focused martial characters and works with polearm-focused feat choices.
  • Slashing damage and reach make it practical for controlling space around chokepoints and likely approach paths.

Weaknesses

  • Two-Handed prevents using a shield or an off-hand weapon while it is equipped.
  • It is not Finesse, so Dexterity-based characters do not receive the usual Finesse weapon option.
  • Its Heavy property can be awkward for Small characters, and its melee reach does not replace the flexibility of a ranged weapon.

Best uses

  • Use it on a Strength-based front-liner who wants extended melee reach and opportunity-attack coverage.
  • It suits characters holding doorways, corridors, or other narrow approaches where reach can threaten more movement lanes.
  • Choose it when polearm features matter more to the build than shield-based defenses or dual-wielding.
08

Compared With Similar Weapons

WeaponBase damageDamage typePropertiesRole distinction
GlaiveSlashingTwo-Handed; Heavy; ReachReach-focused polearm baseline—
HalberdSlashingTwo-Handed; Heavy; ReachClosest same-role alternative; functionally similar weapon profile—
PikePiercingTwo-Handed; Heavy; ReachSame reach and damage die, but piercing damage—
GreatswordSlashingTwo-Handed; HeavyHigher damage die, but lacks Reach—
Full directory
G+supportingGlaive +1Glaive +1 is a magical, two-handed martial melee weapon that improves attack and damage rolls while retaining the glaive’s slashing damage and extended reach.G+supportingGlaive +2Glaive +2 is a generic magical weapon category in Baldur's Gate 3, providing a +2 bonus to Attack Rolls and Damage Rolls rather than representing one uniquely named artifact.GOsupportingGlaive of the WatchGlaive of the Watch is not documented as an item in the base game of Baldur's Gate 3. Its identity, statistics, acquisition method, and game role require verification.GDsupportingGleamdance DaggerThe Gleamdance Dagger is a rare +2 finesse dagger in Baldur's Gate 3. Its Gleamdancer passive grants an Armour Class bonus when the dagger is wielded in the off-hand.