Baldur’s Gate 3 Walkthrough: The Complete Guide to Every Act, Quest & Choice

Quick answer: A Baldur’s Gate 3 walkthrough is a guide that shows you what to do in each act, in what order, and which choices matter. The short version is this: escape the ship, build your party in Act 1, cross the cursed lands in Act 2, finish in Baldur’s Gate in Act 3, and save before every big decision.

Larian Studios released the game on August 3, 2023, and it won Game of the Year at The Game Awards that year. It has three acts, a party of up to four, and a level cap of 12. Most players spend about 70 to 100 hours on the main story, and far more if they chase every side quest.

This guide goes act by act. It also covers quest order, companions, choices, loot, combat, endings, and checklists. Here is the key point, and I repeat it because it’s true: there is no single correct route. Two players can finish the same act with different allies, different loot, and different endings, and both did it “right.”

Spoiler warning: This guide names places, quests, and people. The endings section touches the finale, though I keep the big twists vague. Read only as far as you need. If you’re new, stop after “Before You Begin” and the act you’re playing.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Walkthrough: Before You Begin

Quick answer: Pick a difficulty, choose your character, and save often. You can change most settings later, so no early choice locks you in.

Which difficulty should you choose? 

The game offers Explorer, Balanced, and Tactician. Balanced fits most first-timers. Explorer suits players who want the story with lighter fights. Tactician is for people who already know the rules.

Should you play an origin character or a custom one? 

Origin characters, like Astarion, Shadowheart, or Gale, bring their own quests and story. A custom hero gives you more freedom to shape your own tale. The Dark Urge is a special origin with a darker theme, so pick it on purpose.

What if you pick the wrong class? 

You can fix it. Withers, who appears at your camp early on, resets your build for a small gold fee, typically 100 gold. So try a class and switch if it feels dull.

What rules should you know? 

Combat follows Dungeons & Dragons fifth edition. On each turn, you get an action, a bonus action, a reaction, and movement. Many new players forget the bonus action, and it’s free value.

When should you save? 

Save every important talk and every big fight. The game rewards curiosity, and a saved file lets you test a choice without fear. Since there is no single correct route, a spare save is the cheapest way to see another one.

Prologue Walkthrough: Escape the Nautiloid

Quick answer: In the Prologue, you break out of a pod on a mind flayer ship, meet your first allies, and reach the helm to survive the crash.

The game opens on the nautiloid. A tadpole sits in your head, and it will turn you into a mind flayer if nothing stops it. Your first goal is simple: get off the ship alive.

1. Break free. Leave your pod and grab basic gear from the first rooms.
2. Meet your first allies. Lae’zel and Shadowheart join early, and both carry tadpoles too.
3. Fight your way forward. You’ll face thralls and intellect devourers. Use these early fights to learn the controls.
4. Reach the helm. The ship flies through a battle, and you need to survive the crash.
5. Wake on the beach. The real game starts here.

What should you do in the Prologue? Loot every room, test your spells, and talk to your allies when the game lets you. Their first reactions to you often shape how they treat you later. Within the first hours, you’ll also meet Astarion and Gale.

Act 1 Walkthrough: Wilderness, Emerald Grove & Beyond

Quick answer: In Act 1, you explore the wilderness, gather allies, deal with the Grove and goblin conflict, and search for a way to stop the tadpole. You can do most of it in any order.

Act 1 is wide open. That is where the “no single correct route” idea hits hardest. Some players storm the Goblin Camp first. Others spend hours in the Grove before they leave.

Main areas in Act 1

• The Ravaged Beach: Your first stop after the crash.
• Emerald Grove: A druid grove that shelters tiefling refugees.
• The Blighted Village: A ruined village with strong side quests.
• The Goblin Camp: A large enemy base with a major choice at the center.
• The Underdark and Grymforge: A deep zone with its own quests and a smith’s forge.
• The Mountain Pass and Githyanki Creche: A path that leads to a major faction.

What order works best?

Many players like this flow, though you can shuffle it:

1. Loot the beach and follow the roads to Emerald Grove.
2. Talk to the locals and take the Grove quests.
3. Explore the ruins and cliffs near the Grove.
4. Clear the Blighted Village.
5. Deal with the Goblin Camp.
6. Explore the Underdark and Grymforge once your party is stronger.
7. Visit the Mountain Pass and Creche near the end.

What should you finish before you leave Act 1?

• The Grove and goblin conflict. Settle it before you enter the Mountain Pass. Players report that some quests can fail if you rush ahead.
• Halsin’s rescue. The druid is held by the goblins. Freeing him opens more story later.
• The prisoners you find in the Underdark and along the roads.
• Your first companions. Karlach and Wyll both show up in Act 1, so watch the roads.

How do Act 1 and Act 2 connect?

The link is soft. Players commonly report that the regions overlap, so you can walk back and forth for a while. The game warns you to “tie up loose ends” before some areas, such as the Mountain Pass and Moonrise Towers. Entering the Shadow-Cursed Lands is what starts Act 2. Some quests may change or fail if you move too far, so save first.

Act 2 Walkthrough: Shadow-Cursed Lands

Quick answer: In Act 2, you cross the Shadow-Cursed Lands, face the villain of Moonrise Towers, and push several companion stories toward a peak. Enemies hit harder here, so level up first.

Act 2 is darker and tighter than Act 1. A magical curse hangs over the land, and it hurts anyone who wanders in unprepared.

Main areas in Act 2

• Last Light Inn: A safe base with useful people and quests.
• Reithwin Town: A cursed town full of quests and secrets.
• Moonrise Towers: The seat of a dangerous enemy.
• The Gauntlet of Shar: A tricky trial tied to Shadowheart’s story.
• The House of Healing: A grim place with its own dark tale.

What are your main goals?

1. Survive the curse. Learn how it works and find ways to resist it.
2. Reach Moonrise Towers. A powerful enemy waits there, and you’ll learn more about the forces behind the tadpoles.
3. Finish companion quests. Many personal arcs build toward their peak here.
4. Prepare for the end of the act. Near the finish, the game gives you a clear warning. After that point, you can’t go back.

Should you finish side quests first? 

Yes. Players report that a few Act 2 quests can’t be completed once the final assault starts. Check your journal, save, and clear what you can. Because there is no single correct route, you won’t be punished for wandering, but you will be locked out of anything you leave behind.

Act 3 Walkthrough: Rivington & Baldur’s Gate

Quick answer: In Act 3, you enter the city of Baldur’s Gate, track down the final threats, wrap up companion arcs, and make the choice that decides your ending.

Act 3 is the busiest. The city is large, and your old choices start to pay off or come back to bite you.

Main areas in Act 3

• Rivington: The outskirts, where you arrive first.
• The Lower City: A busy district full of quests.
• The Upper City: A richer zone with its own leaders and shops.
• Wyrm’s Rock: A key story site.
• The Steel Watch Foundry: A place tied to a major subplot.
• The Temple of Bhaal: A dark site linked to a main threat.

What are your main goals?

1. Find the source of the tadpole threat.
2. Stop the three main enemies.
3. Finish your companions’ personal quests.
4. Gear up for the finale.

How do you handle a city this big? 

Pick one district, finish what you can, and then move on. Don’t try to clear the whole city at once. Most players find this act easier when they follow one quest thread until it ends.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Main Quest Order

Quick answer: The main quest runs in four stages: Prologue, Act 1, Act 2, and Act 3. Do side quests between them to stay strong enough for the next stage.

What if a fight feels too hard? 

You’re likely under-leveled. On average, a few side quests fix that faster than retrying the same fight. Even the main path has no single correct route, since you can gain levels from many places.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Companion Walkthroughs

Quick answer: You can recruit six core companions, plus later allies. Talk to them often, finish their personal quests, and watch how your choices affect them.

Core companions:

• Astarion: A sly rogue with a hidden past.
• Shadowheart: A cleric tied to a secret faith.
• Gale: A wizard with a dangerous problem.
• Lae’zel: A fierce fighter from a proud warrior people.
• Wyll: A warlock with a heroic name and a heavy debt.
• Karlach: A barbarian with a burning need.

Later allies: Halsin, Minthara, Jaheira, and Minsc can join you too. Some depend on your earlier choices.

How do you get the most from companions?

1. Visit camp after big events. New talks appear as the story moves.
2. Answer honestly. Companions react to what you say and do.
3. Finish their quests. Their arcs peak in Act 2 and Act 3.
4. Watch approval. It rises or falls with your actions and can change what they do.

Can you miss a companion? Yes. You can lose one by killing them, skipping their recruitment window, or pushing them away. That’s why a Baldur’s Gate 3 walkthrough helps: it shows what to check before you move on.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Choices & Consequences

Quick answer: The biggest choices are who you side with in Act 1, how you treat your companions, who you save, what deals you make, and your final decision in Act 3.

The game tracks what you do. It remembers who you spared, who you trusted, and who you left behind.

Which choices matter most?

• The Grove or the goblins. This choice shapes Act 1 and echoes later.
• Companion trust. Approval can change what allies do.
• Rescues. Saving someone can open new quests, while ignoring them can close doors.
• Deals with dangerous powers. Some offers look good but carry a cost.
• The final choice. It decides your ending.

How should you choose? 

Play your hero. Ask what your character would do, not what the “best” result might be. Read each option closely, and save before big talks. Since there is no single correct route, a choice that hurts a little often makes the best story.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Side Quest Guide

Quick answer: Side quests give XP, loot, and story. Finish them near your level, check your journal, and watch for timers.

What kinds of side quests exist?

• Rescue quests: Save a person or group.
• Investigation quests: Follow clues and read notes.
• Companion quests: Personal goals for your allies.
• Hidden quests: Found by exploring, reading, or talking to odd characters.

How do you handle them well?

• Check your journal. It lists active quests with short hints.
• Explore small rooms. Good rewards often hide off the main road.
• Watch for timers. Some quests can fail if you rush the story. If the game warns you, listen.
• Match quests to your level. A quest that is too hard now may be easy later.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Combat & Exploration Tips

Quick answer: Use high ground, use every action, and use the world. Combat rewards smart moves more than raw strength.

Combat tips:

• Take the high ground. Fighting from above gives you an edge.
• Use your bonus action. It’s free value most turns.
• Shove and throw. You can push enemies off ledges and throw items.
• Use surfaces. Fire, water, oil, and ice can change a fight fast.
• Sneak first. A hidden attacker often lands a strong first hit, especially with a rogue.
• Guard your casters. Keep fragile allies out of melee.
• Rest smart. Short Rests restore some abilities. Long Rests use camp supplies and move the story.

How do you explore well?

• Look up and down, since chests and paths sit on many levels.
• Check for traps with skills and spells.
• Read books and notes, since they often start quests.
• Visit merchants each act, since their stock improves.

Best Loot, Weapons & Equipment to Find

Quick answer: Focus on gear that fits your class. Check merchants, boss drops, and hidden rooms, and try the Adamantine Forge in Grymforge.

Good gear matters, but you don’t need every rare item.

Where should you look?

• Merchants: They often sell strong gear and potions.
• Boss fights: Tough enemies drop rare loot.
• Hidden rooms: Search walls, chests, and secret doors.
• The Adamantine Forge: In Act 1, the forge in Grymforge lets you craft strong gear with the right help.

What should you prioritize?

1. Armor for your front-line fighter.
2. Weapons that match your class.
3. Rings, amulets, and boots for small boosts that add up.
4. Healing potions and useful scrolls for tight moments.

Don’t hoard forever. Use your items so they can help you win.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Endings Explained

Quick answer: Your ending depends on your final choice and the path that led there. Your companions’ fates depend on whether you finished their quests and kept their trust.

Spoiler note: I keep details light here.

In the last stretch, you face the main threats and decide how to deal with the power behind the tadpoles. Some choices free you, some tie you to that power, and some change the world around you.

After the final fight, the game shows an epilogue for each companion. A friend you ignored may get a sadder end than one you helped.

How do you reach a strong ending?

1. Finish companion quests.
2. Keep allies alive.
3. Save before the last choice, then pick the result that fits your hero.

Options can shift with your earlier choices and with patches, so small details may differ. No ending is the single correct route, and that is why many players replay the game.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Walkthrough Checklist

Use these lists as a quick check.

Prologue checklist

• Break out of your pod
• Meet your first companions
• Loot the ship
• Reach the helm and survive the crash

Act 1 checklist

• Explore the beach and nearby roads
• Visit Emerald Grove and take its quests
• Clear the Blighted Village
• Deal with the Goblin Camp
• Rescue Halsin
• Explore the Underdark and Grymforge
• Visit the Mountain Pass and Creche when ready

Act 2 checklist

• Reach Last Light Inn
• Explore Reithwin Town
• Finish side quests before the final push
• Complete key companion quests
• Save before the point of no return

Act 3 checklist

• Explore Rivington
• Work through the Lower City
• Work through the Upper City
• Finish companion arcs
• Gear up before the finale

Companion checklist

• Recruit every companion you can
• Talk to each one after major events
• Finish their personal quests
• Check approval and relationships

Major choice checklist

• Decide the Grove and goblin conflict
• Note who you save and who you leave
• Save before deals with dangerous powers
• Save before the final choice

Optional content checklist

• Read books and notes
• Search for hidden rooms
• Try the crafting forge
• Revisit merchants each act

Conclusion

This Baldur’s Gate 3 walkthrough gives you the map. The Prologue gets you off the ship, Act 1 builds your party, Act 2 tests you in the shadows, and Act 3 brings it all home. Your choices shape every step, and no single correct route exists.

Use the checklists when you feel lost. Save before big moments. A “wrong” choice is often just a different story. Start your journey, trust your instincts, and enjoy each twist.

FAQs

How long does Baldur’s Gate 3 take to complete?

On average, the main story takes about 70 to 100 hours. If you do most side quests, it often passes 150 hours. Full runs with every path can go much higher. Your pace, difficulty, and playstyle change the total.

What should I do first in Baldur’s Gate 3?

Create your character, then escape the nautiloid. After the crash, loot the beach, meet your allies, and head toward Emerald Grove. Talk to everyone you meet and set up camp early.

What is the best quest order in Act 1?

No fixed order exists, but a smooth flow is: beach and roads, Emerald Grove, nearby areas, the Blighted Village, the Goblin Camp, the Underdark, then the Mountain Pass. Settle the Grove and goblin conflict before you enter the pass.

Can you return to Act 1 after starting Act 2?

Often, yes. Many players report that Act 1 and early Act 2 regions overlap, so you can go back for a while. Some quests may change or fail as the story moves. The hard lock comes near the end of Act 2, and the game warns you first.

What quests should I complete before Act 2?

Finish the Grove and goblin conflict, rescue Halsin, clear the Blighted Village, and explore the Underdark if you can. Also finish any quest the game hints may close.

What is the point of no return in Baldur’s Gate 3?

The main point of no return sits near the end of Act 2, before you move on to Act 3 in Baldur’s Gate. The game shows a warning first. Once you cross it, you can’t go back, so save and finish your side quests before then.

Can you miss companions?

Yes. You can miss some by killing them, skipping their recruitment, or making choices that push them away. Talk to everyone you meet and check the companion section above.

Which choices have the biggest consequences?

The biggest ones are who you side with in Act 1, how you treat your companions, who you save, the deals you make with dangerous powers, and your final choice in Act 3.

Final Tips for Your Baldur’s Gate 3 Playthrough

• Save in more than one slot. A spare file can rescue a run.
• Rest with care. Camp events move the story, so rest when you’re ready.
• Try new builds. Respec if a class feels dull.
• Keep a light plan. Know your next goal, but leave room to wander.
• Expect patches. Larian keeps updating the game, so small details may change.
• Play for fun. The best run is the one you enjoy.