The Best Items in Act 1 in Baldur’s Gate
The Whispering Promise
The Wispering Promise is a great ring for a healer, such as Shadowheart or another cleric or druid, with a buff essentially Bless that is relevant for nearly the whole game, which applies any time that character heals someone with this ring equipped.
It can be obtained quite early via purchase from Volo, initially in the druid grove or later. To get into Volo’s trading screen, click the Trade icon in the bottom left corner of the screen on PC, or press triangle button on PS5.
Withers
He’s really not an item but you do loot him from a sarcophagus in a way, and he’s quite useful so make sure to find him in the first mini dungeon.
Silver Pendant
Silver Pendant is quite useful allowing any character wearing it to cast Guidance, which gives a 1d4 (+1-4) bonus to many interactions.
To find it, jump up onto the dirt cliff at X:182 Y:410, climb up the cragged rock, go up the ladder, (Raphael will show up if you haven’t met him yet), and loot the skeleton next to the campfire at X:153 Y:363.
Haste Helm
The Haste Helm provides Momentum at the start of combat. Momentum gives a movement speed bonus 1.5m per remaining duration of the effect and has initial duration of 3 turns. The Haste Helm can be found in a locked chest in the Blighted Village at X:32 Y:409. This is very handy for melee class such as a Fighter or Paladin.
Gloves of Archery
The Gloves of Archery provide a nice +2 damage bonus to ranged weapon attacks. They can be purchased from Grat the Trader in the goblin camp at X:-97 Y:426.
Boots of Aid and Comfort
The Boots of Aid and Comfort are nice for a healer, providing 3 temporary hit points to the healed character. They can be purchased from Grat the Trader in the goblin camp at X:-97 Y:426.
Doom Hammer
Doom Hammer has an ability that prevents a target from regaining hit points, which is useful in a certain fight later in the game. Undead creatures get disadvantage on attack rolls providing addition likelihood of landing a hit on them, and there are many undead creatures in the game. it also uses bludgeoning damage to which certain enemies are vulnerable thereby dealing additional damage. It can be purchased from Grat the Trader in the goblin camp at X:-97 Y:426.
Bow of Awareness
The Bow of Awareness is a nice early bow providing +1 to initiative rolls which helps the character attack earlier in combat order, which may make it more likely to be able to kill enemies before they have a chance to attack the party. Additionally it provides weapon enchantment +1 which gives a +1 bonus to both attack rolls and damage rolls, making you both more likely to land a hit and to deal (slightly) more damage with each one. It can be purchased from Roah Moonglow inside the goblin fortress “Shattered Sanctum” at X:273 Y:-29.
The Spellsparkler
The Spellsparkler is a great early staff for casters, generating lightning charges with spell or cantrip casts. The lightning charges provide +1 to attack rolls and deal an additional 1 lightning damage. To obtain The Spellsparkler, first go to Waukeen’s rest at X:-63 Y:614. Use a strength character to open the door, then go inside and rescue the lady. You get a choice of 3 quest reward items of which this is an option. Be aware if you go anywhere near this area, you must take care of it right away (at least before long resting), otherwise the fire will burn the building and you won’t be able to complete the rescue quest.
Smuggler’s Ring
Smuggler’s ring is an early ring with stealth +2 and sleight of hand +2 although charisma -1. It can be found on a skeleton on The Risen Road at X:57 Y:518.
Elixir of Hill Giant Strength
The Elixir of Hill Giant Strength sets your strength to 21. The main initial source is Auntie Ethel, either in the druid grove or her hut at X:-49 Y:265.
The Sparkle Hands
The Sparkle Hands are great monk gloves. Find them in a chest in the swamp at X:92 Y:213. On the way there make sure to kill the Ancient Mud Mephits first since they summon the young ones. Also nearby grab and read the Letter to Kagha for the Investigate Kagha quest.
Broodmother’s Revenge
Broodmother’s revenge is a useful necklace that provides additional 1-6 Poision damage after being healed. It can be acivitated by a healing potion or spell even if at full health. It can be obtained looted from Kagha, as part of Kagha investigation quest if killed or if she is poisoned on the celebration night.
Hellrider’s Pride
Hellrider’s Pride gloves are nice gloves of a healer providing resistance against damage for the character healed. They can be obtained from Zevlor by completing the Investigate Kagha quest, or pickpocketing Zevlor.
Ring of Protection
The Ring of Protection is useful but requires a careful sequence of steps to obtain. Steal the Idol. First have to get quest from Mol, best way is to save the kid from harpees. Then after completing Kagha Investigation question. Use Arrow of Darkness or Darkness Spell. Then steal idol and go to camp. Then turn in to Mol.
Titanstring Bow
The Titanstring Bow is one of, it not the very, best bow(s) in the game. It adds the strength modifer to damage which is amazing for a strength-based character and/or one using strength elixirs. It can be bought from Brem, a trader in the Zhentaruim basement. But first one must complete the missing shipment quest, which seems to only work for me if Rugan dies, and I return the chest unopened to Zarys.
Crusher’s Ring
Crusher’s ring is useful for extra movement +3m. It can be looted from Crusher one of the goblins outside in the goblin camp. It’s especially useful for melee such as Fighter or Paladin.
Amulet of Misty Step
The Amulet of Misty Step allows one to cast Misty Step which is a teleport spell that can even be used in combat and is quite useful for positioning melee classes as well as others. It can also be used out of combat to navigate the world. This item is useful basically the entire game. It can be found in the Princess Gut’s room in a gilded chest at X:382 Y:6.
Gloves of the Growling Underdog
The Gloves of the Growling Underdog are handy for providing advantage for melee classes. The “surrounded” seems to be fairly generous in diameter simply if 2 enemies are in proximity to the wearer. These gloves can be obtained in Raz’s treasure room.
Wapira’s Crown
Wapira’s Crown self-heals the healer when healing (that’s a lot of healing!). Also nice that it activates other bonuses including Wispering Promise and even Broodmother’s Revenge mentioned above. Wapira’s Crown can be obtained as a reward for completing the quest clearing the goblins from Zevlor, when accepting his bag of gold it’s inside.
Auntie Ethel’s Hair
True it’s a bit unpalatable, but it’s one of the few ways of bonus permanent stat increases, so if you feel up to it take Auntie Ethel’s deal for hair and pick which stat you’d like to get +1.