Shortsword +1
Shortsword +1 is an uncommon, lightly enchanted martial melee weapon in Baldur's Gate 3. Its finesse property and +1 attack and damage bonus make it a practical early-game choice.
Key Takeaways
Shortsword +1 is a straightforward enchanted upgrade for characters who already use martial finesse weapons, offering improved attack and damage rolls without adding a unique combat effect.
Enchanted martial sidearm
The weapon is an uncommon martial melee shortsword with a +1 enchantment bonus to attack and damage rolls. It remains a conventional one-handed weapon rather than a named or legendary blade.
Finesse and light properties
Its finesse property supports Dexterity-based weapon use when the character’s build allows it, while its light property makes it suitable for dual-wielding alongside another light weapon.
Proficiency still matters
The wielder needs martial weapon proficiency to use it effectively. The weapon does not impose an ordinary Strength or Dexterity minimum simply because it is enchanted.
Available through vendor stock
Shortsword +1 can appear among vendor offerings, including Roah Moonglow’s stock in the Shattered Sanctum. Vendor availability should be checked in the relevant Act rather than treated as a guaranteed permanent location.
Reliable but limited upgrade
The +1 bonus improves the weapon’s baseline accuracy and damage compared with a standard shortsword, but the item does not provide the distinctive passive, spell, or weapon action found on some named alternatives.
A practical early comparison
It is a useful general-purpose upgrade for a shortsword user, but later unique finesse weapons may be preferable when their additional effects matter more to the build than a simple enchantment bonus.
Overview
Shortsword +1 is an uncommon martial melee weapon in Baldur’s Gate 3 that improves the dependable shortsword template without replacing it with a unique weapon gimmick.
The weapon is a one-handed shortsword with the Finesse property. That combination makes it a practical fit for characters who can use martial weapons and want a light melee option that can work with Dexterity-based attacks when the surrounding rules and build make that relevant. Its one-handed form also leaves the other hand available for a shield, another weapon, or another item.
Its defining upgrade is its +1 enchantment: compared with an ordinary shortsword, it grants a bonus to attack and damage rolls. This makes Shortsword +1 a straightforward accuracy-and-damage improvement rather than a weapon built around a special spell, conditional rider, or bespoke combat action. The distinction matters because its value comes from consistency, while more unusual named blades may trade a lower enchantment for a stronger effect.
As a standard, non-unique weapon, Shortsword +1 occupies an early-to-mid progression role rather than serving as a major story reward or legendary centerpiece. It can bridge the gap between mundane equipment and more specialized magical weapons, particularly for a rogue, a dual-wielding martial character, or another proficient user who has not yet found a better role-specific option. The weapon is useful precisely because it does not demand a particular subclass or elaborate item combination.
Shortsword +1 is one variant within Baldur’s Gate 3’s broader shortsword family. Its closest alternatives are the ordinary shortsword, which lacks the enchantment bonus, and named or otherwise specialized shortswords, which may offer different properties or effects. The +1 version therefore represents a conventional upgrade to the weapon type, not a separate combat style; whether it remains worthwhile depends on the character’s proficiency, preferred hand arrangement, and the special effects available from competing weapons.
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 Damage1d6+1
- Damage TypePiercing
- Enchantment+1
- RarityUncommon
- Weight0.9 kg
- Value40 gp
- Entry TypeStandard / enhancement variant
Figures verified against Consolidated Game Weapons Database.
Compared to similar piercing weapons
| Weapon | Base Damage | Damage Type | Enchantment | Weight | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shortsword +1 | 1d6+1 | Piercing | +1 | 0.9 kg | 40 gp |
| Duellist's Prerogative | 1d8+3 | Piercing | +3 | 0.9 kg | 1300 gp |
| Crimson Mischief | 1d6+2 | Piercing | +2 | 0.9 kg | 640 gp |
| Knife of the Undermountain King | 1d6+2 | Piercing | +2 | 0.9 kg | 480 gp |
| Sword of Life Stealing | 1d6+2 | Piercing | +2 | 0.9 kg | 480 gp |
Damage is the dice expression; weight and value are the game’s own figures. From Consolidated Game Weapons Database.
How to Obtain
- Reach the Shattered Sanctum in Act 1 and gain access to Roah Moonglow's trader inventory.
- No DLC, New Game Plus, or platform gate is established; stock availability, guaranteed acquisition, missability, and one-per-playthrough status are not confirmed.
- 01In Act 1, travel to the Shattered Sanctum and find the trader Roah Moonglow. Open her inventory and look for Shortsword +1; the weapon can appear among her available stock, but the recalled evidence does not establish that it is guaranteed to be present in every playthrough.
- 02If Roah Moonglow does not offer it, no separate guaranteed quest reward, boss drop, or fixed pickup location is established here. Check other Act 1 vendors as their inventories become available rather than treating Roah's stock as the weapon's only possible source.
Availability
Requires No level, stat, DLC, NG+, or difficulty requirement is established; Martial Weapon Proficiency is relevant to wielding the weapon.
The Shortsword +1 can appear among vendor offerings, including Roah Moonglow's stock in the Shattered Sanctum. Vendor inventories are not presented as permanently fixed, so availability may require checking the relevant stock rather than assuming a guaranteed listing.
Strengths, Weaknesses and Best Uses
Strengths
- The +1 enchantment improves both attack rolls and weapon damage rolls over a standard shortsword, making its benefit reliable rather than dependent on a conditional effect.
- Finesse supports Dexterity-focused characters while preserving a one-handed weapon slot for a shield or another weapon.
- Its shortsword profile suits characters who already use light, dual-wielding, or Sneak Attack-oriented melee tactics, provided they have martial weapon proficiency.
Weaknesses
- The weapon's value is concentrated in its enchantment; it lacks the distinctive spell, rider, or special action that can make named magical weapons stronger choices for a developed build.
- A character without martial weapon proficiency cannot use it as effectively, limiting its practical value despite the straightforward bonus.
- As a one-handed shortsword, it competes with other finesse weapons and with stronger named weapons once those become available.
Best uses
- Equip it on an early- or mid-game Dexterity martial character who wants a dependable finesse weapon without giving up the other hand.
- Use it as a main-hand or off-hand option in a dual-wielding setup when a +1 attack bonus is more useful than a unique conditional effect.
- Keep it as a practical upgrade for a Rogue or similar melee character until a weapon with a more relevant passive, action, or spell replaces it.
Compared With Similar Weapons
| Weapon | Damage dice and type | Enchantment | Properties or actions | Best comparison point |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shortsword +1 | +1 | Finesse; Light | Straight upgrade over the standard shortsword for early-to-mid-game one-handed, dual-wielding, and Rogue use. | — |
| Shortsword | No bonus | Finesse; Light | The nonmagical baseline; Shortsword +1 improves attack and damage rolls without changing the weapon's handling. | — |
| Knife of the Undermountain King | +2 | Finesse; Light; unique critical-hit effects | Lower base die but stronger enchantment and a distinctive critical-focused passive, making it a specialized alternative rather than a simple upgrade. | — |
| Phalar Aluve | +1 | Finesse; Versatile; Sing and Shriek weapon actions | Offers greater weapon-die flexibility and party-support actions, but is a longsword rather than a light shortsword. | — |