Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - Technical & Gameplay Problems Non-Lethal damage is lethal

I just accidentally twice because non-lethal damage was decidedly lethal. I had it toggled to on, checked and double-checked just to be sure. It was listed as a condition that would last until long rest. I've done this part of the playthrough before and did not have this problem.

Did you use magic? I think that magic can still kill them when non-lethal damage is toggled on? At least that’s how it’s been for me.

As far as I'm aware the silly issue with extra dice being added after the unconscious non-leathal cut off, and thus automatically killing anything you non-lethal, is still an issue. So, if you have weapons or abilities adding extra dice of damage to your melee attack, you functionally cannot do things non-lethally anyway, unless the damage is just perfect to put them to the 0 threshold with the very last damage die you roll. It's been a thing almost since non-lethal damage was put in in early EA, never fixed as far as I know.

As pointed above, any extra damage can make lethal non lethal attacks

Also, the basic thing, non lethal works only with melee. Magic and ranged are always lethal

Elemental damage can also kill with non lethal

Conditions that add extra damage (ex: bleeding) will also kill after non lethal turn unsconcious

Basically with the equipment and abilities you have usually in Act III, the safest way to make non lethal is reduce the enemy HP. Once it's low, make sure he doesn't have any harmful condition, unequip your weapons and use basic fist attacks (make sure you don't have also any "more unarmed damage equipment")

Thanks, guys. I'll try it without magic and see what happens.