Jump To:
- Starting out
- Main quest
- Side quests
- Companions
- Items
If you're just starting out in Baldur's Gate 3, you'll have noticed that it is massive in scope and, as such, things can get confusing fast—and that's without the D&D elements at play. There's a lot to get your head around, like how to swap out party members, whether or not you should kill an entire village and the pros and cons of saving a pesky little brain.
In this guide, I'll talk you through basic how-to's and some easy-to-miss side quests, and give you a hand with deciding some major plot points in Baldur's Gate 3, so let's get started. Spoilers beware, obviously.
Starting out
get prepared
Just like the real D&D, Baldur's Gate 3 can take some learning and tweaking to get going, from character creation to the piles of things you have to know how to do to play,
Baldur's Gate 3 classes: Everything you need to know about classes in Baldur's Gate 3.
Baldur's Gate 3 multiplayer: How do you adventure with friends, and should you?
: Whether you're an old hand familiar with previous editions, or completely new to Dungeons & Dragons, this guide will catch you up with its 5th edition.
Baldur's Gate 3 tips: Fraser has some excellent recommendations whether it's your first or fifth foray into the Forgotten Realms.
Baldur's Gate 3 disable launcher: If the Larian launcher is getting in your way, here's how to disable it.
Baldur's Gate 3 abilities, proficiency, and skills explained: Get to grips with all the numbers on your character sheet with our easy guide.
Baldur's Gate 3 stealth: Stealth inBaldur's Gate 3works like you'd expect if you've snuck around in other games, but a number of things can reveal you if you're not careful.
the basics
Once you've started to get your bearings in Faerun, you'll want to to get a handle on some of the many systems and early challenges it throws at you.
How to revive dead companions in Baldur's Gate 3: If a party member dies, you can bring them back—at a cost, of course.
Baldur's Gate 3 save: Save often in Baldur's Gate 3, that's all I've got to say.
Baldur's Gate 3 camp: Setting up camp is important to refill your spell slots and replenish your HP, so here's how.
Baldur's Gate 3 party swap: Bored with your current companions? Here's how to swap out your party members.
Baldur's Gate 3 learn spells: Spells, would you know, are very useful! So here's how to learn new ones.
Baldur's Gate 3 scroll locations: Scrolls can grant you temporary powers or can be absorbed by wizards to learn new spells, so here's where to get them.
Baldur's Gate 3 waypoints: You'll be fast traveling across the map in no time.
5 things you really shouldn't miss in the first 5 hours of Baldur's Gate 3: With so much to do when you're just starting out, here are a few highlights you should hit when you start playing.
Difficulty spikes, failed stealth, and 6 other pitfalls to avoid in your first 10 hours: Baldur's Gate 3's beginning hours are especially brutal, so here's what you need to know to survive.
change things up
Why just take what Baldur's Gate throws at you when you can fiddle with everything? You can optimize your character, class choices, and even your party members.
Baldur's Gate 3 respec: Here's how to respec your characters, including origin characters and other companions.
Baldur's Gate 3 multiclass builds: Why stick with just one class when you could have, like, four?
Baldur's Gate 3 save files: Designate a new host for a co-op campaign, or just send your save to a friend so they can try your Paladin-Bard build.
Baldur's Gate 3 hirelings: Not content with your current companion choices? Then choose some muscle for hire.
Baldur's Gate 3 party size mod: Turn your party into an actual party with this hand mod.
Main quest
important choices
The entire story is packed with different choices, but some of them are more important (or surprising) than others. These are some of the ones that it's handy to have some guidance with.
Baldur's Gate 3 save or raid Emerald Grove?: It's up to you to decide who lives or dies in the first of many big choices.
Baldur's Gate 3 Last Light inn: How to avoid making some big mistakes in Act 2.
Baldur's Gate 3 Raphael's deal: Is this deal with the devil the right one for you?
How to get the "happy" ending: It's not really a happy ending.
questing conundrum
Stuck trying to find one of the many important doodads strewn throughout Baldur's Gate 3? Or just need to find your way through one of the more elusive locations? These are a few of the tougher ones.
Baldur's Gate 3 illithid powers: Here's what you can do with those creepy little Mind Flayer parasites and where to find them.
Baldur's Gate 3 arcane tower: Here's how to progress the Remove the Parasite main quest as you traverse the Arcane Tower.
Baldur's Gate 3 moon lantern: Traverse the Shadow-Cursed Lands in peace.
Where to find every Umbral Gem in the Gauntlet of Shar: Pass Lady Shar's trials with guile, or with an excessive use of Dimension Door.
Baldurs Gate 3 House of Hope: Steal the Orphic Hammer out from under Raphael's clutches.
Side quests
puzzles
Somebody has been wandering the realms of Faerun locking chests and scattering puzzles everywhere, like a cursed fantasy Rubik's cube enthusiast. You aren't alone if you're stuck on one, so here's a few we broke down.
Baldur's Gate 3 cellar door Ornate Mirror: Secret doors always have good loot behind them, right? Here's how to open the secret cellar door in act 1.
Baldur's Gate 3 moon puzzle: This floor puzzle from act 1 looks confusing but is relatively easy to solve, so here's how to do it.
Baldur's Gate 3 gilded chest in the Owlbear Nest: Apart from fighting the owlbear, you can solve this puzzle for some tasty loot.
Baldur's Gate 3 Rosymorn Monastery puzzle: Get the Dawnmaster's Crest so you can steal the Blood of Lathander.
Baldur's Gate 3 brain puzzle: Open the sealed door in the Mind Flayer Colony.
Baldur's Gate 3 Thorm Mausoleum puzzle: Push some buttons and gain entry to the Gauntlet of Shar.
help people
Like any good hero, you'll be called on by a variety of people who need you to rescue them—or who are simply hard to find. These are just a few of their stories.
Baldur's Gate 3 save Arabella: A young tiefling is in trouble, so here's how to get her out of it.
Baldur's Gate 3 Save Mayrina: Help this grieving widow escape the hag's clutches… or don't.
Baldur's Gate 3 find Dammon: This smith has the key to unlocking Karlach's heart.
Baldur's Gate 3 help Pandirna: Cure this Tiefling of her unfortunate paralysis.
Baldur's Gate 3 find Mol: Locate this tricksy Tiefling after she goes missing from Last Light.
Baldur's Gate 3 find Zevlor: Locate the missing Tiefling leader when he goes missing in Act 2.
Baldur's Gate 3 free the artist: Help out the haunted artist and his wife and earn a sweet portrait
find your way
If you're not running after people, you'll be trying to find places or figure out what to do with the things you find in those places. Baldur's Gate must make a killing on encylopedia and map sales.
Baldur's Gate 3 Underdark entrances: Here's how you can enter the mysterious and deadly Underdark.
Baldur's Gate 3 stolen belongings: A group of young tieflings are up to no good, so here's where to find their hideout.
Baldur's Gate 3 strange ox: Something is off about this ox in the Emerald Grove who really wants to get to Baldur's Gate.
Baldur's Gate 3 Akabi's Wheel of Wonders: Win big at the Circus of the Last Days in Rivington.
Baldur's Gate 3 find Dribbles the Clown's lost limbs: Help put Dribbles back together again.
Baldur's Gate 3 Mirror of Loss: Decipher the House of Grief's memory mirror in the Lower City.
Baldur's Gate 3 Candulhallow's Tombstones: Find the Bhaalist crypt and investigate the murder tribunal
Companions
meet the cast
There's a whole lot of potential allies out there, of all stripes and types. It's easy to miss some, especially the more side characters, so don't miss out.
Baldur's Gate 3 companions: Here's everything you need to know about your party members.
Who is the Baldur's Gate 3 'guardian' you design in character creation?: A little about the mysterious figure you create at the start of Baldur's Gate 3.
find love
It's not all about the adventure, sometimes you need a bit of romance in between the death-defying battles and brain parasites. We've got some tips for the up-and-coming lover types.
All the romance options: Here's everyone you can pursue intimate relations with.
How to romance Karlach: How to get yourself a hot tiefling girlfriend.
How to romance Gale: Make magic with your wizard boyfriend.
make friends
Like anyone else, your allies and companions will need a little help from time to time. Sometimes before you even know them. Fortunately for them, we've all been there, so we've got some advice to share.
Baldur's Gate 3 find Halsin: The First Druid is missing and he's difficult to find, so here's what you need to know.
Baldur's Gate 3 rescue Shadowheart: Shadowheart is also trapped aboard the Mindflayer ship, so here's how to rescue her and have her join your party.
Baldur's Gate 3 Nightsong: There's a difficult boss battle and decision to be made that will affect Shadowheart.
Baldur's Gate 3 save or kill brain: Would you like to make friends with a brain with legs?
Baldur's Gate 3 save Volo: This lyrical bard can be found in the grove, or trapped in a camp. Either way, here's how to rescue him.
Baldur's Gate 3 infernal iron locations: The red-hot lady needs Infernal Iron as part of her companion quest, so here's where to get it.
Baldur's Gate 3 save Gandrel: You can spare both him and Astarion.
Baldur's Gate 3 owlbear cub: Rescue this baby from the goblins.
Items
great gear
There are all kinds of powerful bits of gear out there to find, but some of it is better hidden than others. We've got a treasure map leading to some of the choicest bits of equipment in Faerun.
Baldur's Gate 3 Legendary items: Loot the best weapons in the game.
Baldur's Gate 3 Soul Coins locations: Soul Coins contain actual souls and can be used in infernal engines—including Karlach's—so here's what to do with them.
How to speak to the dead: Want an easy way to communicate with the dearly departed no matter your class? Here's how.
Baldurs Gate 3 Sussur Bark location: There's a blueprint to be found that leads to you forging a cool weapon, so here's what you need to do.
Baldur's Gate 3 scuffed rock: There's some treasure hidden in a chest under a rock, but where is it?
Baldur's Gate 3 Everburn Blade Location: Here's how to get your hands on Commander Zhalk's fiery greatsword.
Baldur's Gate 3 Blood of Lathander puzzle: Deactivate the defenses to claim this legendary weapon.
quest items
Weird and powerful objects are a dime a dozen, so how can you tell which ones will let you into that ancient tomb—or curse you—without a little help? We've investigated curios far and wide, and these are a few that commonly stumped us.
Baldur's Gate 3 Necromancy of Thay: Here's where to find the key to this dark tome of Necromancy, and whether you should read it.
Baldur's Gate 3 Ethel's eye choice: Giving a hag one of your eyes as part of a deal? What could possibly go wrong?
Baldur's Gate 3 Flower Key: Figure out where to take this weird key to.
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Lauren Aitken
Guides Editor
The first three games Lauren played on PC were Star Wars: X-Wing, Zoo Tycoon and Barbie Fashion Designer, which explains her love of all things space, strategy and aesthetically pleasing. Lauren recently took over as PC Gamer's Guides Editor after three years of writing many dozens of Destiny 2 guides at VG247, as well as casually trying to shoehorn in The Witcher 3 articles wherever possible. When she's not trying to force everyone to play as a Warlock in Destiny 2, Lauren is either mastering her SEO abilities to help smash the competition, or patting one of her red sons.
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