Athletics is a Strength skill in Baldur’s Gate 3 that decides how well your character shoves, resists being shoved (either Athletics or Acrobatics, whichever is higher), and how far they can jump. A skill pinpoints a certain aspect of an ability score, and being good at it shows you’ve concentrated on that part. There are five different levers to increase Athletics in BG3: proficiency, Strength, Expertise, temporary buffs, and gear. When you stack enough of them, Athletics will turn from a weak Strength check into one of the most reliable stats on your character sheet.
Choose Athletics as a Skill Proficiency
Proficiency is the first and biggest jump. At character creation, pick Athletics from your class or background skill list, and your proficiency bonus will be added to every Athletics roll from that point forward.
| Level | Proficiency Bonus |
|---|---|
| 1–4 | +2 |
| 5–8 | +3 |
| 9–12 | +4 |
Athletics is available as a selectable skill on seven class lists: Barbarian, Bard, Fighter, Monk, Paladin, Ranger, and Rogue.
| Background | Automatic Skills |
|---|---|
| Outlander | Athletics, Survival |
| Soldier | Athletics, Intimidation |
Choosing the Outlander or Soldier gives you Athletics proficiency regardless of class, which is the sure‑fire choice when your class doesn’t list this skill. If you miss Athletics at creation, there’s no way to add it later except by respec, so decide before you exit the character creation screen.
Increase Your Strength Score
Athletics needs Strength, so anything that increases Strength also lifts Athletics in Baldur’s Gate 3. Some boosts are permanent, others are temporary, and they do not stack over each other.
| Method | Effect | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ability Score Improvement (Level 4, 8, 12) | +2 Strength, split however you want | Permanent, no downside |
| Athlete feat | +1 Strength or Dexterity (max 20) | Also gives +50% jump distance and cheap standing from Prone |
| Potion of Everlasting Vigour | +2 Strength permanently, can exceed 20 | One-time item from an Act 2 Astarion/Araj Oblodra interaction |
| Elixir of Hill Giant Strength | Sets Strength to 21 | Temporary, lasts until Long Rest |
| Elixir of Cloud Giant Strength | Sets Strength to 27 | Temporary, lasts until Long Rest, doesn’t stack with other Strength elixirs |
| Gauntlets of Hill Giant Strength | Sets Strength to 23 while worn | Found in the House of Hope, Act 3 |
Elixirs are the cheapest early choice, and you can buy them in bulk from different merchants, so get a stack and use one before any important Athletics check to cover most of the early game. Gauntlets replace the need for elixirs in Act 3, since the bonus is permanent as long as you keep them equipped.
Get Expertise in Athletics
Expertise doubles a skill’s proficiency bonus, but only two classes have it: Rogues, at level 1 and level 6, and Bards, at level 3 and level 10. Either class can use Expertise into any skill they’re already proficient in, with no exceptions to work around. If you’re strong in Athletics, spending a pick on it converts a +4 Proficiency bonus into +8 by late game, on top of whatever your Strength modifier adds.
Rogue’s skill selection includes Athletics, giving you proficiency and Expertise without needing a background. Bards can choose from every skill in the game, so the same applies there.
Buffs That Boost an Athletics Check
- Guidance — a Cleric/Druid/Wizard cantrip that adds 1d4 to the next ability check, Athletics included.
- Bardic Inspiration — a Bard can hand an ally a d6 (scaling to d8 at level 5, d10 at level 10) to add to an Athletics check.
- Enhance Ability (Bull’s Strength) — grants advantage on Strength checks that double your odds to pass a hard Athletics DC.
- Enlarge — gives advantage on Strength checks for its duration, on top of the extra reach and damage.
- Rage — every Barbarian Rage variant (base Rage, Bear Heart, Eagle Heart, Elk Heart, Tiger Heart, Wolf Heart, Wild Magic) provides advantage on Strength checks while active, Athletics included.
Jack of All Trades (base Bard feature) adds half your proficiency bonus to any skill check you’re not already proficient in, and Remarkable Athlete (Champion Fighter subclass) does the same, particularly for Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution skills, Athletics among them. Either one turns a character with zero Athletics into one who at least has a fighting chance on the roll.
Use Guidance and an Elixir of Hill Giant Strength right before a big shove or jump; even a character with no Athletics points can pass most checks in BG3.
Tip: Watch what you eat before a check, too — a Poisoned Apple or even a plain Juicy Apple applies disadvantage to all Strength checks, including Athletics.
Gear That Increases Athletics
Beyond raw Strength, a few gloves and rings grant a flat Athletics bonus, unaffected by ability scores. These rotate by playthrough and are not guaranteed drops, so check merchant inventories in every Act and inspect looted handwear. Paired with the Strength items, a single piece of skill‑specific gear can be the difference between failing and passing the game’s hardest Athletics checks.
