BG3 Inventory Guide

In Baldur’s Gate 3 (BG3), your inventory serves as the backbone of resource management, holding weapons, armor, potions, scrolls, and countless loot items gathered during epic quests. Efficiently accessing and organizing this inventory is crucial to avoid encumbrance, which slows movement and hampers combat performance. This guide explores every aspect of inventory handling, from basic opening methods to advanced sorting and team-wide strategies, tailored for PC, controller, and console players.

Opening Your Character’s Inventory: Step-by-Step Basics

Accessing the inventory begins with selecting a party member. On PC, from the main game screen or during combat, click the portrait of the desired character on the left side of the interface, then press the I key or click the inventory icon. This opens the detailed inventory screen, displaying slots for equipped gear, consumables, and ground items.

For controller users, primarily on PlayStation, Xbox, or PC with gamepad, press the right trigger (R2/RT) to bring up the radial menu. Navigate to the character sheet tab, which expands into a full inventory view. Filters appear automatically, allowing quick categorization without overwhelming clutter.

• PC Shortcut: Portrait click + I key.
• Controller: Right trigger > Character sheet.
• Console Tip: Hold R2 to toggle between character tabs seamlessly.

Console players on PS5 follow similar steps: R2 opens the sheet, and left stick navigation reveals inventory grids. This unified approach ensures all platforms maintain fluidity in item inspection.

Understanding Inventory Layout and Slots

The inventory screen categorizes items into specialized slots for intuitive management. Key areas include:

• Equipment Slots: Helm, armor, weapons, rings, and amulets—drag items here for auto-equip.
• Quiver/Ammo: Dedicated spaces for arrows, bolts, and bullets, limited to three types at a time.
• Consumables: Potions, scrolls, and throwables in expandable rows.
• Ground Piles: Up to 10 visible slots from nearby containers or drops; scroll bar activates for excess items.

Party inventories stack vertically when viewing multiple characters via TAB (PC) or filters (controller). This layout prevents chaos, especially mid-game when loot accumulates rapidly.

Weight is a core mechanic: exceeding capacity incurs penalties. Monitor the weight bar at the screen’s bottom—green for light, yellow for burdened, red for overweight.

Sorting and Filtering: Tame the Loot Chaos

As adventures progress, inventories bloat with junk. Sorting restores order. On PC, click the Sort By button near the search bar for options: Latest (newest loot first), Value (sell price), Weight (heaviest first), or Type (categorized grids).

Controller players press the left stick to cycle filters: Equipment, Weapons, Scrolls, Throwables, Camp Supplies, etc. “None” shows all, sorted by type for broad overviews.

• Latest: Ideal for reviewing fresh drops.
• Value: Prioritize sales at vendors.
• Weight: Offload heavy items quickly.
• Type: Group similar items for bulk actions.

Search bar functionality enhances this: type keywords like “scroll” to isolate categories instantly. Combine with filters for precision.

Multi-Select and Bulk Operations for Efficiency

Selecting single items wastes time. PC users hold Left Ctrl + left-click to pick multiples, then drag to other inventories or right-click for options (sell, drop, use).

For rows, Left Shift + click first and last item selects the range—perfect for sorted lists. Controller: Hold right trigger, scroll left stick along rows.

Vendor interactions shine here: Filter by wares, multi-select junk, and sell en masse. Dropdowns allow category sells (e.g., all common items).

Party-Wide Inventory Management

View all companions’ gear simultaneously. PC: Press TAB for split-screen team view. Controller: Apply party filter to stack inventories vertically.

At camp (Patch 5+), use the bottom-left Camp Companions button for full access without loading screens.

Distribute roles: Assign backpacks to hoarder characters like Shadowheart for scrolls (40-slot bags exist). Rangers carry ammo; mages hold reagents.

Advanced Organization: Bags, Pouches, and Strategies

Special containers revolutionize management. Alchemy Pouches auto-sort ingredients; repeatable for multiples.

• Backpacks: Expand capacity for scrolls or misc.
• Pouches: Type-specific (e.g., gems, keys).
• Strategy: Dedicate one companion as “mule” for vendor fodder.

Regular purges: Sell low-value gear, dismantle junk at camp. Track high-value via value sort before merchants.

Platform-Specific Tips and Troubleshooting

PC Mastery

Keyboard dominates: Ctrl+Click multis, Shift rows, I/TAB toggles. Mods enhance but aren’t needed for core efficiency.

Controller Deep Dive

Left stick filters, right trigger selects. Advanced: Thumbstick-hold for radial menus during trades.

Console Optimization

PS5/Xbox mirror controller; use haptic feedback for slot highlights. Camp chest offloads excess.

Common Pitfalls and Fixes

• Overencumbered? Sort by weight, drop/sell heavies.
• Can’t Find Item? Latest sort + search.
• Team View Missing? Ensure no filters; TAB at camp.

FAQs

How do I open inventory on PS5?

Hold R2 for character sheet, navigate to inventory tab.

Can I see all party inventories at once?

Yes, TAB on PC or party filter on controller; camp button for full access.

What’s the best sort for selling?

Value or Type (equipment for max coin).

Do bags increase weight limit?

No, but they organize; find high-capacity ones like 40-slot backpacks.

How to select multiple items on controller?

Right trigger + left stick scroll.

Pro Tips for Long Campaigns

Anticipate loot spikes in Acts 2-3. Weekly camp visits clear space. Use type-sorted mules for quest items. These habits keep you agile through Faerûn’s trials.