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
Everything you need to know about classes in Baldur's Gate 3.
What you need to know about D&D5E to play Baldur's Gate 3
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.
Why stick with just one class when you could have, like, four?
Fraser has some excellent recommendations whether it's your first or fifth foray into the Forgotten Realms.
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.
Abilities, proficiency, and skills explained
Get to grips with all the numbers on your character sheet with our easy guide.
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.
Setting up camp is important to refill your spell slots and replenish your HP, so here's how.
Bored with your current companions? Here's how to swap out your party members.
Save often in Baldur's Gate 3, that's all I've got to say.
How to share 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.
If a party member dies, you can bring them back—at a cost, of course.
Here's how to respec your characters, including origin characters and other companions.
Stealth in Baldur's Gate 3 works 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.
If the Larian launcher is getting in your way, here's how to disable it.
Not content with your current companion choices? Then choose some muscle for hire.
Scrolls can grant you temporary powers or can be absorbed by wizards to learn new spells, so here's where to get them.
Spells, would you know, are very useful! So here's how to learn new ones.
9 things you should know about the city of Baldur's Gate before you start Baldur's Gate 3
The iconic city has a long history on the tabletop and in videogames, and it's full of secrets.
Turn your party into an actual party with this hand mod.
Where to find the Wilderness waypoints
You'll be fast traveling across the map in no time.
Main quest
Should you save or raid the Emerald Grove?
It's up to you to decide who lives or dies in the first of many big choices.
The First Druid is missing and he's difficult to find, so here's what you need to know.
Mind Flayer Parasite locations and how illithid powers work
Here's what you can do with those creepy little Mind Flayer parasites and where to find them.
Arcane Tower guide: how to unlock the elevator and find Omeelum's mushrooms
Here's how to progress the Remove the Parasite main quest as you traverse the Arcane Tower.
It's not really a happy ending.
Traverse the Shadow-Cursed Lands in peace.
How to avoid making some big mistakes in Act 2.
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.
How to get to the House of Hope
Steal the Orphic Hammer out from under Raphael's clutches.
Side quests
A young tiefling is in trouble, so here's how to get her out of it.
Where to find the Underdark entrances
Here's how you can enter the mysterious and deadly Underdark.
Where to find your stolen belongings in the Emerald Grove
A group of young tieflings are up to no good, so here's where to find their hideout.
How to open the cellar secret door and Ornate Mirror
Secret doors always have good loot behind them, right? Here's how to open the secret cellar door.
How to open the gilded chest in the Owlbear Nest
Apart from fighting the owlbear, you can solve this puzzle for some tasty loot.
How to solve the Defiled Moon Temple puzzle
This floor puzzle looks confusing but is relatively easy to solve, so here's how to do it.
Something is off about this ox who really wants to get to Baldur's Gate.
How to solve the Thorm Mausoleum puzzle
Push some buttons and gain entry to the Gauntlet of Shar.
Help this grieving widow escape the hag's clutches… or don't.
This smith has the key to unlocking Karlach's heart.
Cure this Tiefling of her unfortunate paralysis.
How to solve the Rosymorn Monastery puzzle
Get the Dawnmaster's Crest so you can steal the Blood of Lathander.
Locate this tricksy Tiefling after she goes missing from Last Light.
Open the sealed door in the Mind Flayer Colony.
Locate the missing Tiefling leader when he goes missing in Act 2.
How to win Akabi's Wheel of Wonders
Win big at the Circus of the Last Days in Rivington.
Where to find Dribbles the Clown's lost limbs
Help put Dribbles back together again.
Decipher the House of Grief's memory mirror in the Lower City.
Companions
Here's everything you need to know about your party members.
Shadowheart is also trapped aboard the Mindflayer ship, so here's how to rescue her and have her join your party.
How to save Shadowheart and the Nightsong in Baldur's Gate 3
There's a difficult boss battle and decision to be made.
Should you free or destroy the brain?
Would you like to make friends with a brain with legs?
Here's everyone you can pursue intimate relations with.
How to get yourself a hot tiefling girlfriend.
Make magic with your wizard boyfriend.
This lyrical bard can be found in the grove, or trapped in a camp. Either way, here's how to rescue him.
Where to find Infernal Iron for Karlach
The red-hot lady needs Infernal Iron as part of her companion quest, so here's where to get it.
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.
You can spare both him and Astarion.
Rescue this baby from the goblins.
Items
How to open the Necromancy of Thay
Here's where to find the key to this dark tome of Necromancy, and whether you should read it.
Legendary items and where to find them
Loot the best weapons in the game.
Giving a hag one of your eyes as part of a deal? What could possibly go wrong?
Soul Coins locations and how to use them
Soul Coins contain actual souls and can be used in infernal engines—including Karlach's—so here's what to do with them.
Want an easy way to communicate with the dearly departed no matter your class? Here's how.
How to find Sussur Bark and finish the Masterwork Weapon
There's a blueprint to be found that leads to you forging a cool weapon, so here's what you need to do.
Where to find the scuffed rock
There's some treasure hidden in a chest under a rock, but where is it?
Here's how to get your hands on Commander Zhalk's fiery greatsword.
How to get the Blood of Lathander mace
Deactivate the defenses to claim this legendary weapon.
