Highlights

  • Honour Mode in Baldur's Gate 3 is incredibly challenging, but players can bypass the final boss by sacrificing Gale and detonating his Netherese Orb on the brain.
  • Detonating Gale's orb in Act 2 does not count as clearing Honour Mode, so players must do it in the final battle to earn the achievement and golden dice.
  • Persuasion is key when convincing Gale to sacrifice himself, and players should prepare with high charisma gear, buffs, a suitable background, the Lucky feat, and Inspiration Points. Alternatively, romancing Gale removes the need for persuasion but results in a tragic ending.

A late 2023 update to hit CRPG Baldur's Gate 3 introduced Honour Mode, a punishing difficulty that prevents players from reloading or save-scumming. A single failed dice roll could spell the end of an otherwise perfectly planned and executed Honour Mode run, something many Baldur's Gate 3 players have experienced in the months since the mode's debut. However, one handy trick might make Honour Mode slightly more survivable: using companion Gale's unique ability to bypass the game's final boss.

Baldur's Gate 3 Shadowheart toasting with wine cup while smiling screenshot
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Gale Can Eliminate The Netherbrain Immediately

Gale from Baldur's Gate 3 with his hand on his chest, clearly in pain. He is glowing purple

Baldur's Gate 3 is filled to the brim with tough battles, and the game's final confrontation is no exception. The party must confront an enormous Netherbrain as it flies through the sky above Baldur's Gate. While they try to reach its core and retrieve the Crown of Karsus controlling the brain, it retaliates with waves of brainwashed illithids, aggressive tentacles, and even a full-grown dragon. Several players have found themselves frustrated by completing most of the game in BG3's Honour Mode only to lose in the very final moments.

One party member, the wizard Gale, can eliminate the need to fight the final battle entirely. BG3's Gale has a deadly Netherese Orb lodged in his chest and can offer to sacrifice himself by detonating it while standing on top of the brain. Earlier in the game, he is commanded to do this by Mystra, the goddess he once served, but ultimately leaves the decision up to the player when the moment comes. Detonating the Orb does kill the brain, but unfortunately results in Gale's death as well. However, some players looking to complete the game in Honour Mode and earn the associated golden dice and achievement might find this a sacrifice they're willing to make.

Detonating Gale In Act 2 Doesn't Count

Gale actually has the option to detonate his Netherese Orb earlier in the game - at the end of Act 2, during the climactic battle against Ketheric Thorm at the top of Moonrise Towers. This also brings the game to an end, as it destroys the Cult of the Absolute (and, presumably, most of the Sword Coast in the process.) However, Baldur's Gate 3 players have reported that setting off Gale's orb here does not count as having cleared Honour Mode and does not award the achievement or golden dice.

Gale May Require Persuasion

Gale Baldurs Gate 3 magic

Players should keep in mind that, by this point in the game, Gale has generally changed his mind about his willingness to blow himself up, instead wishing to retrieve the Crown of Karsus and either give it to Mystra or ascend as a god. For this reason, players may be faced with a tough DC30 Persuasion Check to encourage Gale to go through with the sacrifice. Failing this check will mean facing the final boss as normal, and Honour Mode players cannot reroll unless they have Inspiration Points to spend. So, players should prepare for this tough check thoroughly by:

  • Wearing gear that boosts their Charisma stat as much as possible - such as the Birthright hat, purchased at Sorceorus Sundries.
  • Casting buffs on themselves, such as Shadowheart's Guidance or any Bard's Bardic Inspiration.
  • Choosing a Persuasion-boosting background in BG3 at the beginning of the game, such as Guild Artisan or Noble
  • Taking the feat Lucky, which allows checks to be re-rolled a limited number of times.
  • Saving up Baldur's Gate 3's Inspiration Points for this key moment.

Another option that removes the need for a Persuasion check entirely is having the player character romance Gale. A romanced Gale will offer to sacrifice himself rather than needing to be convinced. However, this will result in the character being separated eternally from their partner, as Gale will ensure they survive his sacrifice. It is a tragic ending, but one that may be worth the rewards completing Honour Mode provides.