This page is about the general game mechanics of identifying items. For the specific wizard spell, see Identify (spell).

Some special, enchanted or cursed items must be identified before you can understand what they do.

Whether a character can automatically identify an item depends on their lore, which is determined by their class, level, intelligence, and wisdom. Bards have the highest base lore value, followed by mages, sorcerers and thieves. The higher the level and mental attributes, the higher the lore becomes.

If a party has no character with sufficient lore to identify a specific item, a wizard can use the Identify spell or a scroll. Stores and temples also offer identification as a service, though for a charge.

In addition to spells and store services, some items can identify objects directly. The Gentrus's Hand Mirror (Baldur's Gate: Siege of Dragonspear) and the Glasses of Identification (Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn and Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal) each provide three identifications per day, offering a convenient alternative to visiting a temple or merchant.

Gameplay

Unidentified items will usually have a generic and often inaccurate name. Their passive abilities function normally, but activated or charged abilities remain sealed until identified. Once identified, the true name and purpose of the item is revealed.

Many unidentified items cannot be used until identified (for example: wands, potions, or scrolls). Curiously, even if the party has already identified an identical item earlier, the game does not carry this knowledge over automatically — duplicates must be identified again.

Some unidentified items can be equipped and will confer their abilities even before identification, which can be dangerous if the item is cursed.

As of the Tales of the Sword Coast expansion, unidentified items appear with a blue watermark in the inventory. The watermark disappears once the item is identified.

Move the mouse/cursor over the item displayed on the character record Inventory screen and right-click: the character will attempt to identify the item using their lore. You can also identify items with an Identify scroll or spell, or with the Glasses of Identification or Gentrus's Hand Mirror, which saves you from having to locate a temple or store and paying 100 Gold Piece
Currency in the Baldur's Gate series..