Highlights

  • Choices made during Act Three of Baldur's Gate 3 can have a significant impact on the final ending and outcome of the game. These choices can range from saving prisoners to allowing a companion to ascend or not.
  • The decision to agree to a truce with Enver Gortash can provide the player with a temporary alliance and the freedom to explore Baldur's Gate without immediate consequences.
  • One of the most important choices at the start of Act Three is deciding whether to use or destroy the Astral-Touched Tadpole, which grants powerful abilities but permanently changes the character's appearance.

Baldur's Gate 3 is a role-playing game with plenty of choices for players to make through the three acts of the title. While some of these choices in Baldur's Gate 3 only make minor differences others can have detrimental changes to the player's adventure. With act three being the final act of the game, the choices made during this section of the game can make a big difference to the final ending the player receives.

Related
Baldur’s Gate 3: Choices To Avoid As Dark Urge

Playing as a Dark Urge character in Baldur's Gate 3 unlocks some unique choices with often dire consequences that players should avoid.

Many players may be surprised at how many more quests players have left to complete in Baldur's Gate 3. When they finally make it to Baldur's Gate. However, these are by far some of the most important choices players have left to make in the game.

Updated on March 22, 224, by Megan Smith: BG3 has many important choices for players to make, with many of the Act 3 decisions in Baldur's Gate 3 being some of the most important. By the third act of the RPG, players have likely made plenty of choices that have already shaped their story in a specific way, but there are still some important choices for players to make through this act. These Act 3 choices are likely to fully cement the ending for the player's current playthrough and, therefore, these are by far the most important choices a player is likely to make in Act 3.

Warning: There are major spoilers for Baldur's Gate 3 Act Three mentioned in this article.

11 Saving The Prisoners Within The Iron Throne

Being The Hero Means Being Attacked On Sight By The Steel Watch

The submarine that takes players to the Iron Throne in Baldur's Gate 3
  • Players will likely start this quest once they have encountered the Wave Mother in Act 3.
  • Agreeing to use the submarine will give players the option of saving the prisoners.

Enver Gortash – one of the three main baddies of Baldur's Gate 3 – has imprisoned both the player's friends and also the friends and families of the Gondians he has working on his Steel Watch. One of the many quests players are free to complete in Act Three involves finding where these people have been imprisoned and hopefully freeing them. While this may at first sound quite straightforward as some players may have already helped the Tieflings and Ironhand Gnomes in act two, this quest is far more of a challenge.

Besides the actual difficulty of the quest, freeing these people will cause the player to become an enemy of Enver Gortash. This will mean that his Steel Watch will attack the player on sight which can be quite a challenge when attempting to explore Baldur's Gate. If players choose to not free these people, then they are likely to be unbothered by Gortash for the majority of their exploration as long as they don't go near the Foundry.

10 Making Gale Apologize To Mystra

Encourage Gale To Move On From Godhood

Mystra from Baldur's Gate 3
  • After visiting Sorcerous Sundries, Elminster will approach Gale telling him that Mystra wants to talk, players can then take him to the temple and encourage his answer.

Throughout the three acts of Baldur's Gate 3, players will learn about how Gale caused violent netherese magic to be trapped inside him that threatens to explode. Learning about the crown that controls the Elder Brain, will give Gale a new goal of taking it for himself to free himself of the orb and potentially become a god himself.

However, many players may not like this typical hungry-for-power wizard behavior and get Gale to apologize to Mystra. This will potentially stop him from going after such power and instead do the arguably 'right' thing.

9 Allowing Astarion To Ascend Or Not

Astarion Can Become Just like His Master, Or Rise Above His Abuse As A Thrall

Astarion ascending in Baldur's Gate 3
  • Players will have the option to talk to Asatrion out of completing the ritual once they have gotten to the end of the quest within Cazador's Manor.

Many of the companions' quest lines come to an end in Baldur's Gate, while many of them have quite straightforward choices for players to select or simply encourage their companion to decide. Astarion is a special case as he finally gets to meet his master once more and put an end to the fear. However, there is more to this choice than simply allowing Astarion to ascend as players must think about the moral dilemma as well as how Astarion will be after it. Players are essentially given two options at the end of their companion quest; they either allow him to ascend and become a new sort of vampire that can walk in the sun, or simply kill Cazador and remain a Vampire Spawn.

Related
Baldur’s Gate 3: Best Musical Instruments In The Game, Ranked

Iconic to the Bard Class, the musical instruments in Baldur’s Gate 3 provide a much-needed whimsical aspect to tense fights.

While becoming an Ascended Vampire does sound cool and comes with plenty of interesting abilities, Astarion is permanently changed, and players may not enjoy how he treats them. Meanwhile, remaining a Spawn saves lives while also saving Astarion's life too as he finally sees he doesn't need that power.

8 Agreeing To Truce Gortash

Avoid A Fight With One Of The Chosen Three

Baldur's Gate 3 Talking to Lord Enver Gortash
  • Gortash will give players the chance to side with him the second they attempt to enter Baldur's Gate.

Before the player can even go into Baldur's Gate while trying to cross the bridge to its entrance the player will be stopped and likely imprisoned. After this moment the next Steel Watch the player sees will tell them that Enver Gortash himself wishes to speak to the player. If the player agrees to go visit the Chosen of Bane, he will suggest that the player and himself form a truce.

Players may wish to take the high ground with this decision and simply attack Gortash although in this current situation, the player may be quite outnumbered plus Gortash has the support of his Steel Watch. The other option is agreeing to side with him, so they can freely explore Baldur's Gate with no issues. Players are still able to betray Gortash later, but at least they have more time to prepare.

7 Saving Shadowheart's Parents

Break Shadowheart Free From Shar, Or Free Her Parents

Shadowheart in Baldur's Gate 3
  • Once entering the House of Grief and dealing with the enemies within, players will need to help Shadowheart choose between freeing her parents or letting them go.

Throughout the entirety of Baldur's Gate 3, players discover the religious beliefs of Shadowheart and can help her move away from the pull of Shar. Players will discover that Shadowheart's parents are currently being held hostage by the Sharrans in Baldur's Gate.

Shadowheart wishes to release her parents from this torment, only to discover that only by killing her parents will she free herself from Shar. During this moment, players can leave Shadowheart to make the decision but are also able to help her make her choice.

6 Agreeing To Help Raphael

Avoid A Fight In The House Of Hope, But Make A Hard Bargain

Raphael from Baldur's Gate 3
  • Players have the chance to accept Raphael's deal when they finally meet him again in Sharess Caress.

Players may remember meeting Raphael for the first time during the first act of the game where he proposes a deal to the player. No matter how eager a player may be to agree to this deal already, they won't be able to make the choice until they have met him again during the final act of the game.

Related
Baldur’s Gate 3: Tips For A Solo Run

Attempting a solo run of Baldur's Gate 3 can be quite a challenge for unprepared players. Luckily, the following tips should help.

Here players may either agree to the devil's deal, instantly giving them the hammer to free Orpheus, or refuse Raphael's deal and need to complete more steps if they want the hammer.

5 Using The Astral-Touched Tadpole

Unlocking The Final Tier Of The Astral Powers, At The Cost Of Becoming More Illithid

A player that has used the Astral tadpole in Baldur's Gate 3
  • Players are given this option the second they enter Act 3, they can choose to use the Astral Tadpole whenever.

This is likely the most important choice players will get at the start of Act Three. After leaving the Shadow-Cursed Lands they will be put into camp for a long rest, during the night the player is attacked by Githyanki and must flee to the Astral Plane to help their Dream Guardian. Here the player discovers the true nature of their Dream Guardian whom they now know as The Emperor and after aiding them, the player is given the most powerful gift, which is an Astral-Touched Tadpole.

This Tadpole has the potential to unlock the final tiers of the Ilithid abilities a player can use. Players who have been avoiding using the Tadpoles may easily decide to persuade their Guardian that they don't wish to use it or simply destroy it. Meanwhile, those that have been using the Tadpoles may have a tougher time as consuming this does give them more power but also permanently makes the character covered in veins which isn't a look for some players.

4 Becoming The Chosen Of Bhaal

Embrace The Dark Urge's Truth An Emerge With Power

A player that accepted Bhaal in Baldur's Gate 3
  • If the player is the Dark Urge, players are given this choice after defeating Orin.

This choice in the final act of Baldur's Gate will only apply to players who had decided to choose the Dark Urge Origin at the start of the game. Throughout the story of BG3 players were given chances to either resist or give in to the urge as they learn more about themselves. By the time the player has made it to the Third Act, they may have finally uncovered that their character is actually a Bhaalspawn; an offspring of Bhaal himself.

Once the player has defeated Orin, they are given the choice to either stay true to Bhaal and do his bidding or attempt to become their own person and refuse to be Bhaal's Chosen. Remaining true to Bhaal will allow the player to take on their Slayer form though they will never truly be free of him. Meanwhile, refusing to abide by his rules may see players explore an even more interesting story.

3 Destroying The Foundry

Decide Between The Steel Watch Or The Enslaved Gondions

Baldur's Gate 3, Blind Gondian Zanner Toobin
  • On the far west of the map the foundry can be found, players have the choice to enter the foundry and help the Gondions destroy it.

As mentioned earlier, the Foundry is the building where many of the Gondians are trapped by Gortash, here forcing them to create his Steel Watch, the giant automated suits of armor that are controlled by brains. The righteous thing to do is destroy the Foundry as this allows the player to not only stop the Steel Watch from patrolling the streets but also possibly free the Gondians that are being kept there against their will.

Related
Baldur’s Gate 3: Best Subclasses, Ranked

Every class in Baldur's Gate 3 has a variety of subclass choices, and these are the best options players can choose.

Meanwhile, ignoring the Foundry allows players to stay in Gortash's good books like ignoring the prisoners that are kept in the Iron Throne. Due to this being one of the main quests that involve the main three antagonists of the game, it's vital for a player to decide where their loyalties lie.

2 Freeing Or Leaving Orpheus

The Githyanki Prince Can Be a Friend Or Foe

Orpheus locked in the Astral Prism in Baldur's Gate 3
  • If the player has gained the Orphic Hammer they have the chance to free Orpheus during the end of the game.

Through the story of Baldur's Gate 3, players will discover that The Emperor is only able to protect them by using the power of Prince Orpheus, the son of Gith. Naturally, Lae'Zel is enraged to learn about this and tasks players with freeing Orpheus to either side with him or kill him depending on Lae'zel's loyalties.

In act three players are finally able to find a tool that will free Orpheus from his orb prison though this may not be as good of an idea as it may first appear. Freeing Orpheus may give players a new ally, but they also risk becoming Mindflayers as this is the only thing stopping them from changing. Meanwhile, leaving Orpheus be and therefore allowing The Emperor to eat his brain when the time comes allows the player and their companions to keep their bodies as they are.

1 Destroying Or Controlling The Netherbrain

Conquer Baldur's Gate, Or Become A Freeing Hero

A player that chose to control the Netherbrain in Baldur's Gate 3
  • Once players have completed the final fight of BG3 they will be given the chance to betray their allies and take the power for themselves.

The final choice any player will be able to make in Baldur's Gate 3 involves the Netherbrain. This is the true villain of the title with the Netherbrain hoping to begin the Grand Design of turning everyone into Mind Flayers. With all three stones together, it believes it can free itself from control, and therefore It's down to the player and their allies to take on the final fight before they can make this decision.

Once the brain is weakened it will begin to beg for its life. Here, players are given their final decision of the game, either allowing the Netherbrain to be destroyed or potentially betray their allies and take the brain – and its power – for themselves. With destroying the brain being the longer and arguably better ending, sometimes taking control can be fun too.

baldurs-gate-3-cover
Baldur's Gate 3

Platform(s)
PC , macOS , PS5 , Xbox Series X
Released
August 3, 2023
Developer(s)
Larian Studios
Genre(s)
RPG