Use Best Sleight of Hand
⚪ Last updated 2023⚠️ Install Order · 2 steps
Install in this order, then this mod last — most mods fail to load without their framework and dependencies in place.
Preview
🔍 Analysis
- 👍 0.3% endorsement rate
- 🏆 #109 of 515 Gameplay mods in this game by downloads
📋 About This Mod
This mod finds the total of the highest combined dexterity + sleight of hand in the party, then subtracts the active character's own bonus (or ignoring this when the active character already has the highest) then adds that remainder as an "Assistance" status that lasts for the duration of the sleight of hand check only.
So for instance if Tav has a 14 dexterity and no proficiency in Sleight of hand (a +2 bonus) and Astarion has a 17 dexterity and expertise in sleight of hand (a +7 bonus for this level say) and the lockpicking is initiated by Tav, then Tav will get a +5 Assistance bonus to their skill roll. The mod does not improve the overall ability of the party, it just allows the convenience of not switching characters for the activity then back again, a nice time-saver.
This mod requires Norbyte's Script Extender which you probably use anyway.
Credit to PlainOldCookies who figured out how to do this for dialogue checks in their Use Highest Modifier in Dialogue
mod which inspired me to adapt this technique for sleight of hand events.
This Baldur's Gate 3 mod automatically uses the party member with the highest Sleight of Hand bonus when picking locks, disarming traps, or picking pockets, eliminating the need to manually switch to Astarion. It's a quality-of-life improvement for players who want smoother thievery without micromanaging party members.
✨ Key Features
📊 Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Huge QoL win — no more swapping characters every time you spot a locked chest or trap.
- Community-approved with 576 endorsements and over 165k downloads, so it's clearly working for a lot of players.
- Simple, focused design: does exactly what it says, no bloat.
⚠️ Cons
- Last updated in December 2023 — might not be compatible with the latest game patches, so check before installing.
- If you're playing solo or with a single character, this mod does nothing for you — it's purely for party play.
For Baldur's Gate 3 players who are tired of constantly switching to Astarion (or another rogue) just to open a chest. If you run a party and want to streamline your thieving, this is a must-have. Skip it if you play solo or don't care about lockpicking/trap disarming.
💡 Beginner Tips
- Make sure your party actually has a character with a high Sleight of Hand bonus — the mod uses the best one, but if everyone is terrible, you'll still fail checks.
- If you're using a mod manager like Vortex, install this mod through it to keep track of updates and avoid conflicts.
- Since the mod was last updated in 2023, test it in a save before relying on it in a serious playthrough — game patches can break mods.
📊 Mod Details
- Game
- Baldurs Gate 3 Mods
- Author
- jonhinkerton
- Version
- 1.0
- Downloads
- 165,097
- Endorsements
- 576
- Category
- Gameplay
- Created
- 12/11/2023
- Updated
- 12/11/2023
🔧 How to Install Baldurs Gate 3 Mods
Download from Nexus.
📖 Full step-by-step install guide for Baldurs Gate 3 →
Visit the official mod page for specific installation instructions for this mod.
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