Larian Studios’ Baldur’s Gate 3 is a masterwork of storytelling, player choice, and Dungeons & Dragons-style freedom. Every quest offers moral decisions, companion reactions, and multiple outcomes. This complete walkthrough covers Act 1, Act 2, and Act 3, helping you make the best choices, survive deadly battles, and unlock all endings.
ACT 1 — The Road to the Druid Grove
1. The Nautiloid Crash: Escape from the Mind Flayer Ship
Your adventure begins aboard a Nautiloid ship invaded by devils and githyanki.
- Objective: Escape before it crashes.
- Key Actions: Free Shadowheart from her pod. Loot all weapons, scrolls, and healing potions. Use the Neural Apparatus to summon combat assistance. Avoid fighting Cambions directly — let the Mind Flayer and devils weaken each other.
When you reach the control room, interact with the Transponder to crash the ship into Faerûn.
2. Waking on the Beach
You awaken amidst wreckage. This is your opportunity to recruit your first companions:
- Shadowheart (Cleric)
- Astarion (Rogue)
- Gale (Wizard)
- Lae’zel (Fighter)
Check nearby ruins for loot and beware of Intellect Devourers — quick, deadly creatures that test your early combat skills.
3. Heading to the Druid Grove
Follow the road north. You’ll stumble upon a battle between tiefling refugees and goblins.
- Help the tieflings for positive approval with most companions.
- Proceed into Emerald Grove, the first major hub.
Inside, speak to:
- Kagha, the acting Archdruid.
- Wyll, a Warlock hero training children.
- Nettie, who offers you an antidote for your tadpole infection.
Explore the Owlbear Cave nearby — hidden loot, a cub companion, and high-value gear await.
4. Goblin Camp & Major Moral Choice
The Goblin Camp is your first large decision hub.
Inside are three leaders:
- Priestess Gut
- Dror Ragzlin
- Minthara
You can:
- Kill the goblin leaders to save the tieflings and druids.
- Side with Minthara to attack the Grove.
🗝️ Consequences:
- Helping the Grove wins approval from Karlach and Wyll.
- Supporting goblins aligns you with Minthara, unlocking her romance in later acts.
5. Defeating the Goblin Leaders
If you choose the hero route:
- Use Astarion’s stealth to poison food barrels.
- Defeat Dror Ragzlin in his throne room first.
- Eliminate Priestess Gut privately to avoid mass combat.
- Confront Minthara last.
Return to the Grove and enjoy the victory celebration — new companion dialogue and romances unlock here.
6. The Next Path: Underdark or Mountain Pass
After the Grove events, two routes open:
- The Underdark — full of Myconids, Duergar, and powerful loot.
- The Mountain Pass — leads to githyanki Creche Y’llek.
Recommendation: Explore Underdark first to level up and collect unique magical items before Act 2.
ACT 2 — The Shadow-Cursed Lands
This act introduces darkness, despair, and divine conflict. The Shadow Curse inflicts damage unless you’re protected by light.
1. Last Light Inn: Your Safe Haven
Upon entering the cursed lands, head to Last Light Inn, protected by Isobel, a Selûnite cleric.
- Meet Jaheira, a returning character from Baldur’s Gate II.
- Gain the Moonlantern — protection from the curse.
- Recruit new allies and trigger Shadowheart’s personal story.
⚠️ Important: Defend Isobel when attacked by Justiciars — if she dies, everyone at the Inn dies, changing Act 2 drastically.
2. Gauntlet of Shar & Shadowheart’s Trial
To reach the main antagonist, Ketheric Thorm, you must pass through the Gauntlet of Shar.
- Collect Umbral Gems to unlock each trial.
- Complete puzzles testing loyalty, stealth, and wisdom.
- Discover the Nightsong, a celestial being imprisoned by Thorm.
💔 Crucial Choice:
- Let Shadowheart kill the Nightsong → she becomes Shar’s Dark Justiciar.
- Save the Nightsong → she aids you against Ketheric.
3. Boss Fight: Ketheric Thorm
You’ll face Thorm twice:
- Phase 1: On Moonrise Tower’s rooftop — defeat his necrotic summons.
- Phase 2: Underground battle in the Mind Flayer colony.
Strategy Tips:
- Use Radiant damage (Cleric spells) to counter necromancy.
- Spread your party to avoid AOE decay attacks.
- If you saved the Nightsong, she aids you with radiant blasts.
After victory, a cutscene reveals your path to Baldur’s Gate — the heart of Act 3.
ACT 3 — Return to Baldur’s Gate
The final act unfolds in the bustling city — full of intrigue, betrayals, and final confrontations with the Absolute.
1. Arriving in the Lower City
You discover the Absolute’s power comes from the Netherbrain, a massive Illithid entity.
Your three main enemies:
- Gortash — Tyrant of Industry and Bane’s Chosen
- Orin the Red — Bhaalspawn assassin
- The Emperor — an Illithid ally with hidden motives
2. Iron Throne Prison — Timed Rescue Mission
A key mission involves rescuing Duke Ravengard, Wyll’s father, from an underwater prison.
- You have 8 turns before detonation.
- Use Misty Step, Dimension Door, and Dash to save prisoners efficiently.
Prioritize saving the Duke and Gnomes for best story outcomes.
3. Confronting Gortash
Gortash rules the city using his Steel Watch constructs.
To weaken him:
- Disable the Watch Foundry.
- Infiltrate Wyrm’s Rock Fortress.
Boss Tips:
- Dispel his Bane buffs early.
- Use crowd control to limit mechanical reinforcements.
After his defeat, collect his Infernal Contract, linked to Wyll’s storyline.
4. Facing Orin the Red
Orin captures one of your companions and challenges you to a duel beneath the city.
- Location: Temple of Bhaal.
- She transforms into a Slayer, immune to fear and poison.
Winning Strategy:
- Use radiant or thunder damage.
- Bring healing potions — Orin deals heavy bleeding damage.
5. Final Battle — The Netherbrain
The climax takes place above the city, against the Netherbrain controlling all Illithids.
- Choose to become a Mind Flayer or resist transformation.
- Allies and decisions from all acts affect your ending.
Endings:
- Hero Ending: Destroy the Netherbrain and save Baldur’s Gate.
- Illithid Ascension: Embrace transformation to control the brain.
- Dark Urge Ending: Kill your companions and rule under Bhaal’s power.
Companions, Approval & Romances
Each companion reacts dynamically to your choices:
- Shadowheart: Faith in Selûne or Shar defines her fate.
- Astarion: Free him from his vampire master.
- Karlach: Repair her infernal engine for a happy ending.
- Gale: Redeem his arcane power under Mystra.
Romance options unlock through camp interactions after major story milestones.
Advanced Tips for Completing the Main Story
- Save before dialogue checks — failure can alter storylines.
- Use Long Rest events — unlock hidden companion scenes.
- Loot everything — hidden crates often hold rare scrolls.
- Balance your party — melee + ranged + support for all situations.
- Experiment with dialogue — Persuasion and Deception checks unlock secret endings.
Final Thoughts — Master Every Choice in Faerûn
This complete Baldur’s Gate 3 walkthrough (Acts 1–3) helps you navigate every choice, boss fight, and ending.
Whether you side with the Druids, embrace the Dark Urge, or rise as a hero against the Netherbrain, every decision shapes your destiny.
By following this step-by-step BG3 main story guide, you’ll unlock all possible paths — perfect for completionists aiming for the best ending in Baldur’s Gate 3.
