Baldur’s Gate II / Spells & counters

Baldur’s Gate II: Spell protections, Breach and anti-mage tools

Read enemy defenses and select the spell that addresses the actual problem.

Edition covered

Guides cover unmodified Baldur’s Gate II: Enhanced Edition, primarily the Shadows of Amn campaign. Throne of Bhaal and Watcher’s Keep are identified separately. Original-campaign companion advice remains relevant to classic BGII, but Enhanced Edition additions and modded spell interactions are not silently mixed in. Pictures show Enhanced Edition.

6 items · one picture per entry · open a picture for full size.

Spells & counters

Combat and specific protections

Breach

Does not remove every illusion or spell defense.

Reference

Eligible low-level spell protections

Spell Thrust

Not a substitute for combat-protection removal.

Reference

A suitable spell protection

Secret Word

Read its level and target limits.

Reference

Illusion detection and removal

True Sight

Different from lowering magic resistance.

Reference

Reduces magic resistance

Lower Resistance

Does not by itself erase combat protections.

Reference

Protects against several mental or control effects

Chaotic Commands

Best prepared before the threat lands.

Reference

Quick notes

Identify the kind of protection before casting. An enemy can resist attacks through combat protections, illusions, spell defenses or magic resistance.
Carry more than one kind of anti-magic tool. Spell Thrust handles eligible lower-level spell protections, Secret Word removes a suitable spell protection and True Sight helps against illusions.
Prevent disabling effects on important characters. Fear, confusion, charm, paralysis and level drain can end a fight even when HP is still high.
Do not import modded spell-defense rules. Sword Coast Stratagems and spell-revision mods can change how defenses interact.

Identify the kind of protection before casting

Different defensive problems
Problem	Example	Useful response
Combat protection	Stoneskin or Protection from Magical Weapons	Breach when the target is eligible.
Illusion	Mirror Image or invisibility effects	True Sight or other appropriate detection.
Spell protection	Spell Turning or related defenses	A suitable spell-protection remover.
Magic resistance	Spells fail to affect the creature	Lower Resistance where applicable.
Spell-level immunity	Certain powerful creatures ignore lower-level spells	Use a tool outside that immunity rather than repeated Breach.

Useful tip

Breach is not a universal answer to every magical defense; the combat log tells you which layer remains.

References

Guide references
Reference	Website
Beamdog: Amn Survival Guide	files.beamdog.com
Beamdog: Mastering Melee and Magic	files.beamdog.com
Beamdog: Enhanced Edition product	store.steampowered.com
Baldur’s Gate Wiki: Breach and protection types	baldursgate.fandom.com