A breakdown of all the main Act 1 areas in Baldur’s Gate 3 and what you can expect to find there.
Trying to find every area in Act 1 of Baldur’s Gate 3 can be a daunting task. There’s a lot to unpack in this first chunk of the RPG game, and each location has its own personality. Some are more interesting than others, though, and each comes from a different corner of the world. We’re here to break down every area in the game, from the depths of the earth to a lush grove full of children and families of faith.
From the sheer scale of Ath’Zeehn to the quiet countryside of the Sword Coast, each location in Faerun has its own story to tell. But that doesn’t mean they’re all worthwhile. Sometimes those stories are fantastic, filled with tension and intrigue, but the people who reside within the area are simply not worthwhile. Other times, the enemies that inhabit an area are a danger you aren’t quite ready for, and could spell the end of your playthrough.
Baldur’s Gate 3 already has over ten areas just in Act 1 alone, big and small to explore. Some are filled with enemies to destroy, others are quiet and free from danger, and still others are quite large and mysterious, full of quests and hidden secrets. Regardless, each has a story to tell, but sometimes those stories are better than others. Here’s a breakdown of all the main Act 1 areas in Baldur’s Gate 3 and what you can expect to find there.
Act 1 areas, ranked
Here are all the main Act 1 areas in BG3 in order of how much we enjoyed them, with some details on what they offer.
Shadowheart’s shipwreck
This is the first area you visit in Act 1, after meeting Shadowheart and learning about her past. It’s a small area, full of skeletons, and the only thing of note is a shipwreck. Inside you’ll find a Intellect Devourer, which is a rather tough monster, especially for this early in the game. They can be killed quite easily, but if they manage to get close enough to use their ‘Mental Drain’ attack, which drains your intelligence, you’ll be instantly killed. So, if you see one charging at you, make sure to use your Shove.
The Overgrown Ruins
This is a tiny little area, consisting of a few blood-stained dirt roads and little else. There are few to no enemies here. The main reason this location is on the list is because you can explore the shipwreck mentioned above and find Astarion, who is West of the shipwreck. You can also complete the quest ‘A Dark Offer’, which is just a short side quest. That’s about it.
The Worldtree
The Worldtree is a lush, green area, full of life. As the name suggests, it is also home to a magical tree, which the Black Raven is trying to get to. There’s also a small village nearby, and you can meet some friendly druids. This place has a lot going for it, but it’s also filled with enemies, most of which are rather tough for this point in the game.
As soon as you enter, you’ll be attacked by several Dire Wolves.
