In Baldur’s Gate 3, the journey can stretch into hundreds of hours. The real treasure lies in choices that aren’t obvious at first glance—diplomacy, spells, and skills shape the tale just as much as combat. Rushing through and wiping out every foe can cause players to miss a large chunk of quests. This guide offers ten practical tips to uncover hidden stories, access secret areas, and savor the adventure to the fullest.
The journey isn’t about ticking every box quickly. It’s about exploring paths that lead to surprising allies, unusual outcomes, and memorable moments that enrich the world of Faerûn.
Are you ready to explore the world of Baldur’s Gate 3?
Become a bard or turn a companion class into one
The bard in Baldur’s Gate 3 acts as a versatile contributor, blending spellcasting with melee prowess and ranged attacks. Yet what truly sets this class apart is its voice, wit, and the unique commentary that colors conversations. A bard in the party can steer conversations, often steering outcomes away from direct conflict and toward alternative solutions. In many quests, dialogue choices become the real unlocks, sometimes yielding gold and rare items as doorways open to unexpected discoveries.
Most quests and narratives hide within dialogue. The bard’s knack for navigating tests can open opportunities to avoid danger and uncover valuable rewards, sometimes transforming how a scene unfolds rather than simply ending a fight.
Don’t rush to punch your way through
Even without a bard, patience pays off. Try negotiating with potential foes first, rather than forcing conflict. For instance, rather than clearing a goblin camp solo, persuading guards that you belong can grant smooth camp access and unlock goblin quests. You might even witness humorous exchanges that reveal more about the green folk’s world.
Animals can be engaged with the right spell, and most quests yield living characters regardless of race or faction. Every active NPC is a potential source of experience and a story worth hearing.
Learn Animal Speak or carry the right potion
The smaller creatures often steer the most exciting mini quests. An ox may hint at hidden treasure, a rat can spur a bold raid on a warehouse, and a squirrel carries its own misadventures. The animal language approach requires hearing the message beyond human speech, and sometimes you must process sorrowful moments—for example, explaining to a faithful dog that its owner will not wake again. The animal talk spell is a powerful addition to any arsenal.
Learn to Speak with the Dead to help characters say goodbye
Speak with the Dead mirrors the necromancers you might encounter in Faerûn. In certain encounters, speaking to a departed character can reveal new details or consequences for the living. Some missions shift in unexpected ways when a corpse is consulted, and secrets may surface through these conversations. The dead’s truths cannot be hidden, so use this ability to uncover leads and unlock new pathways.
Learn to use the game environment
The world of Baldur’s Gate 3 rewards creative thinking. Any object on the stage can become a weapon or a catalyst for battle outcomes. Spot a foe standing in a puddle and freeze them. See spilled oil and light it. A chandelier can crash down on enemies. Spells interact with the world in dramatic ways—the terrain itself can turn the tide of battle. A well-timed kinetic spell on a fragile bridge may topple foes and reshape the battlefield.
Fire can spread, barrels and chests can be arranged into a tower, and a player can climb walls by clever staging. The environment offers hundreds of possibilities; mastering them often means experimenting and learning through trial and error.
Experiment with classes
The game invites experimentation. Camp can be a place to switch classes and test new builds, so players shouldn’t fear trying unusual combinations to maximize abilities and synergies. For example, a Bard with two-handed prowess and a sharp eye for precision can deal heavy damage, while multiclassing opens even more creative options. Think of combining roguish speed with magical disruption or blending monk, wizard, and rogue traits for surprising escapes and decisive strikes.
Adopt a bear cub
For those who crave a charming companion, a bear cub can be a delightful addition. It’s not easy to obtain and requires some challenges, including interactions with the mother and some careful saves. The payoff is a creature that adds warmth and occasional mischief to the camp, more endearing than a simple dog in many moments.
Even if the cub isn’t a full squad member, its presence in camp can brighten scenes and offer small, memorable interactions. This guide includes notes on how to obtain a teddy bear companion for players who want a softer touch to their adventure.
Save everyone you can reach
One recurring theme is to help as many characters as possible. It’s not only more interesting; it also pays off when survivors become quest givers or even potential teammates. Some characters, such as Laezelle, a githyanki warrior, may require rescue from captivity, while others provide comic relief when saved. The game rewards restraint, choosing to spare lives rather than instantly cutting through every obstacle.
Overall, wield your sword with restraint; the world of Faerûn is vivid enough to leave a lasting impression without needless bloodshed.
Do not restart at every failure
Failed attempts happen. Constant save-scumming can ruin the flow. The beauty of Baldur’s Gate 3 lies in learning from mistakes without relying on rewinds. The challenge is part of the experience—embrace it, and you’ll feel the world respond to your choices in surprising ways.
Don’t forget the game is rooted in D&D
Larian Studios captures the spirit of Dungeons & Dragons, inviting players into a world that echoes the tabletop experience. Fully appreciating the role-playing mechanics and consent to create a story that fits a party’s style becomes essential. An encounter can be solved in creative, noncombat ways, and sometimes surprising tactics lead to the most fond memories. The environment and opportunities invite players to think outside the box and enjoy the campaign to the fullest.
Players can approach bosses in clever ways, such as using invisibility to bypass danger, but the greatest rewards often come from the journey itself rather than the loot. The point is to craft scenes that surprise and delight, much like the best moments from Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. The emphasis remains on using imagination and the environment to shape your own epic tale in Baldur’s Gate 3.
What tips would you share with fellow adventurers? Share memorable stories, tricks, and humorous moments in the comments.
How do you get through Baldur’s Gate 3?
[VG Times]