Highlights

  • Sarevok Anchev, the iconic antagonist from the original Baldur's Gate games, makes an appearance in Baldur's Gate 3 as a fully evil character loyal to Bhaal and leading the Murder Tribunal.
  • In the expansion Throne of Bhaal, Sarevok had the opportunity for redemption and could shift to a Chaotic Good alignment, but this change does not stick in Baldur's Gate 3.
  • The decision to portray Sarevok as irredeemably evil in Baldur's Gate 3 may have been made by Wizards of the Coast, the owner of the Dungeons and Dragons IP, rather than the game's developer, Larian Studios.

Fans of the original Baldur's Gate games might not be surprised to discover that iconic series antagonist Sarevok Anchev makes an appearance in Baldur's Gate 3. However, the direction Larian Studios takes with this character is interesting. Previously, the once-evil Sarevok had an opportunity for redemption and could put his Bhaalspawn nature aside. However, in Baldur's Gate 3, Sarevok has returned to being a fully evil character who loyally serves Bhaal and even heads up his Murder Tribunal.

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Sarevok Was Once Bhaal's Most Vicious Spawn

Sarevok Anchev in Baldur’s Gate 3

In the original Baldur's Gate, Sarevok Anchev is a cruel figure who kicks off the game's conflict by murdering Gorion, the protagonist's father figure. He then goes on to seize power and sow chaos throughout the Sword Coast, masterminding a plot that includes poisoning the iron supply, controlling both merchant guilds and bandit crews and ultimately naming himself a Duke of Baldur's Gate. During the game's conclusion, Sarevok attempts to claim Bhaal's power for himself and rise as a new Lord of Murder but is stopped by the player character defeating him in battle.

Throne of Bhaal Offered Sarevok A Path To Redemption

Sarevok refuses to pass on, and, in Throne of Bhaal, an expansion to Baldur's Gate 2, he can be reincarnated and recruited as a party member. This version of Sarevok is mortal and no longer considered a Bhaalspawn. He is initially recruited with the Chaotic Evil alignment, but, depending on dialogue choices made by the player character, he could abandon his murdering, power-hungry ways and shift to Chaotic Good. A Chaotic Good Sarevok grows to believe that there is a life for him outside his role as Bhaal's son, and no longer wishes to become a tyrant or the new Lord of Murder.

Baldur's Gate 3 Sees Sarevok Turn From Redemption

How to Defeat Sarevok Anchev in Baldur’s Gate 3

Unfortunately, any change Sarevok may have made at the end of Throne of Bhaal does not stick. In Baldur's Gate 3, he is firmly devoted to Bhaal, serving as the head of the Murder Tribunal alongside the echoes of other Bhaalspawn and Bhaal's former high priestess Amelyssan. His return to Bhaal apparently happened a long time before the events of Baldur's Gate 3, as he has both a daughter, Helena, and a daughter-granddaughter (sired by him and his daughter), the new Chosen of Bhaal Orin the Red.

Sarevok's portrayal in Baldur's Gate 3 shows him as fully evil, with no sign of the kinder man who gradually emerged throughout Throne of Bhaal. His sole interest is murder, and he praises the Dark Urge origin character should they accept their Bhaalspawn heritage. Despite supposedly caring for Orin, he is immediately willing to turn on her in favor of supporting the Dark Urge as Bhaal's new Chosen. Baldur's Gate 3's Sarevok also holds great resentment towards Jaheira and Minsc, despite having been their temporary ally in Throne of Bhaal, and can attempt to order the player character to kill them as a sacrifice.

Sarevok reclaimed his soul, once - and he still traded it back to his father for a pat on the head. - Jaheira

Jaheira and Minsc's dialogue in Baldur's Gate 3 when brought before Bhaal's Murder Tribunal indicates that Sarevok's redemption in Throne of Bhaal did occur, but did not stick. Jaheira in particular says that Sarevok "traded his soul" back to Bhaal, meaning that he deliberately turned away from the opportunity of living a better life and willingly chose to return to Bhaal's service, rather than being coerced.

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This Retcon May Not Have Been Larian Studios' Choice

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In a game that offers many characters—including origin characters such as Shadowheart, Lae'zel, and Astarion—the opportunity to choose good over evil and follow a nobler path, it is disappointing to see Sarevok irredeemably returned to the darkness of Bhaal. However, this decision may have been made by Dungeons and Dragons IP owner Wizards of the Coast, rather than Baldur's Gate 3 developer Larian Studios.

Sarevok's post-Throne of Bhaal fate is discussed in Minsc and Boo's Journal of Villainy, a 5th Edition Dungeons and Dragons book which includes many of the characters from the original Baldur's Gate games. Sarevok appears in this book as a Henchman-class villain, and his return to Bhaal's service is explained. According to the book, he became an adventurer but found that none of his accomplishments brought him joy. He was eventually reduced to a beggar and was found by Bhaal, who recruited him as the high priest of his new clergy. Presumably, the Lord of Murder restored Sarevok's lost Bhaalspawn essence, as he was able to sire Bhaalspawn of his own in the form of Baldur's Gate's Helena and Orin.

The appearance of a non-redeemed Sarevok as the head of Bhaal's Murder Tribunal is consistent with Minsc and Boo's Journal of Villainy, and that book may be the reason a good-aligned Sarevok could not appear in Baldur's Gate 3. Notably, one other Baldur's Gate party member who was portrayed as returning to their dark roots in the Journal of Villainy, the drow Viconia deVir, also appears as an antagonist in Baldur's Gate 3.

She is shown as having returned to her worship of Shar and is confronted during Shadowheart's character quest. However, it should be noted that Baldur's Gate 3 seems to contradict the Journal of Villainy in other areas, such as portraying the wizard Lorroakan as still being alive rather than slain by Edwin Odesseiron, unless the fan theory that Lorroakan is Edwin in disguise is true.

While many fans are disappointed that a more heroic Sarevok did not appear in Baldur's Gate 3, others are happy that arguably the series' most iconic villain did get to show up in some small way. Seeing Sarevok so broken down and thoroughly owned by Bhaal is tragic, though, especially for those who played Throne of Bhaal and witnessed his triumphant redemption. The Dark Urge can resist Bhaal's influence and become their own being in the end, and many feel that Sarevok should have been granted the same chance. He did, however, have to wait until the final game in the original Baldur's Gate saga to earn his redemption, so perhaps a better ending for Sarevok is upcoming in a future Baldur's Gate 3 DLC or sequel.