Baldur's Gate 3: How To Increase Deception

Deception in Baldur's Gate 3 is a particularly useful skill that players can utilize in order to generate some interesting outcomes throughout a campaign. As a Charisma skill, Deception allows you to influence various characters, from your companions, to groups, to even some of the toughest bosses in the game. What differs it from Persuasion is that it's favored more by characters (and companions) who prefer a sly approach.

A high Deception skill could be the difference between convincing a gang of goblins that you're their new leader, or persuading lawmakers that you definitely weren't sneaking around and stealing treasure from restricted areas. It's all about the character you play, and how you want your adventure to unfold. So, can you increase your Deception skill throughout your game?

Can You Increase Your Deception Skill In Baldur's Gate 3?

While there aren't a huge amount of ways to increase your Deception skill, there are a few methods to boost it slightly. Certain classes will already be proficient in Deception thanks to their Charisma proficiency, such as Warlocks or Bards, but you might want to boost them up a little more, or improve the skill on another character.

Deception Increasing Feats

The best way to increase the Deception skill, permanently, is through Feats, which are granted to characters every four levels. For single-class characters, that's a Feat at Level 4, 8, and 12. The best Feats to select if you're looking to raise Deception, specifically, are:

• Actor: Your Charisma increases by 1, to a maximum of 20. Your Proficiency Bonus is also doubled for Deception and Performance Checks. Grants Deception Proficiency and Performance Proficiency.
• Performer: You gain Musical Instrument Proficiency, and your Charisma increases by 1, to a maximum of 20.
• Magic Initiate - Bard: You learn 2 Cantrips and a Level 1 spell from the bard spell list. You can cast the Level 1 spell once per Long Rest. Your Spellcasting Ability for all 3 spells is Charisma. 
• Magic Initiate - Sorcerer: You learn 2 Cantrips and a Level 1 spell from the sorcerer spell list. You can cast the Level 1 spell once per Long Rest. Your Spellcasting Ability for all 3 spells is Charisma. 
• Magic Initiate - Warlock: You learn 2 Cantrips and a Level 1 spell from the warlock spell list. You can cast the Level 1 spell once per Long Rest. Your Spellcasting Ability for all 3 spells is Charisma. 
• Resilient - Charisma: You increase an Ability by 1, to a maximum of 20, and gain Proficiency in that Ability's Saving Throws.
• Skilled: You gain Proficiency in 3 Skills of your choice.

Deception Increasing Items

Throughout Faerun, there are a huge number of special and magical items that provide various perks. Some are even able to increase your skills and profiencies. These items will increasure your Deception skill:

• Ring of Geniality: Grants Perception +1, Deception +1
• Seemingly Gleaming Ring: Grants Charisma Saving Throws +1, Wisdom Saving Throws -1
• Tarnished Ring: Deception +1
• Firzu's Ring of Trading: Deception +1
• Fey Semblance Amulet: Includes Semblance of Fey, which grants Advantage on Intelligence, Wisdom and Charisma Saving Throws.
• Cerebral Citadel Armor: Frightened Immunity. Also grants Illithid Protection - if the wearer is infested by a mind flayer tadpole, they gain a +1 to Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma Saving Throws. 
• Scroll of Charm Person: Magically charm a humanoid that you can see. A Charmed creature can't harm the charmer, and the charmer has advantage on Charisma checks against the creature.

Deception Increasing Spells

There are also certain spells that help with temporarily increasing skills and abilities. Ones that should help with Deception (and Charisma in general) include:

• Charm Person: Level 1 Enchantment Spell — Charm a humanoid to prevent it from attacking you. You gain Advantage on Charisma Checks in dialogue. Enemies have Advantage on Saving Throws against being Charmed.
• Enhance Ability: Level 2 Transmutation Spell — Bestow a magical enhancement upon an ally. They gain Advantage on Ability Checks with a chosen Ability.
• Friends: Cantrip — Gain Advantage on Charisma Checks against a non-hostile creature. Once the spell ends, the creature knows it was Charmed and might accuse the spellcaster.

Permanent Bonuses

Finally, there are some certain permanent bonuses up for grabs that'll help increase Deception:

• Auntie Ethel's Hair: Gain +1 to an Ability Score of choice.
• Mirror of Loss: Gain +2 to an Ability Score of choice.

And that's all you need to know about increasing your Deception skill. Naturally, the choices you make during your Baldur's Gate 3 playthrough are often difficult to rectify, but there's rarely only ever one clear solution to any problem. So, if you find yourself lacking in the Deception department, don't worry. There's plenty of other ways to achieve your goal.