The essential guide to Baldur's Gate 3
Looking for a guide to Baldur’s Gate 3? We have the definitive guide to everything you need to know in this massive role-playing game. There’s so much to learn coming into the third game in the series, so we have a crash course in classes and D&D 5E to help you get set up to play. We also have tips for getting started in the Forgotten Realms, how to set up camp, swap party members, revive characters, and much more.
Baldur’s Gate 3 tips and tricks
While the main story quests are important, you don’t want to miss out on the many small tips and tricks dotted around the city and in the wilds of Faerûn. To save you from going through the same intro sequence over and over and losing your valuable items to a bug, we have guides for getting off to a good start, recruiting hirelings, finding scrolls, learning new spells, and much more.
How to set up camp
Camping can be done at any time by opening the map and selecting the Camp button, which brings up the camp menu. Here, you can rest to gain your health and mana back, and you can also use your campfires to cook food, which will replenish your party’s health.
The camp menu also has options to swap your party members and change your formation. You can also save and revive characters here, which is very important if your party is injured and you don’t have access to a cleric or druid.
How to disable the launcher
If the Baldur’s Gate 3 launcher is causing you issues, you can disable it by right-clicking the game in your Steam library and selecting ‘Properties’. From there, click the ‘betas’ tab and select the ‘alpha’ option from the drop-down menu. Restart the game and the launcher should be gone.
How to recruit hirelings
Hirelings can be found near the southern gate of Baldur’s Gate. They all have their own perks, but you can only have one active at a time. Here are the ones we recommend:
How to find scrolls
While most D&D games will have merchants selling a variety of weapons and armour, Baldur’s Gate 3 has a different system. You can find scrolls such as Magic Missile and Sleep in certain areas, which are vital to helping you level up quickly.
How to learn new spells
You can also find spell scrolls in Baldur’s Gate 3, and the game makes it very easy to learn new spells. After finding a spell scroll, head to the Magic section of your inventory and right-click on the scroll. You’ll be prompted to learn the spell, which will take up a spell slot in your inventory.
How to find your way around Baldur’s Gate
The city of Baldur’s Gate is massive, and finding your way around can be tough at first. Thankfully, we have a guide to all of the city’s districts and how to navigate the streets. We also have guides for the most important locations, including the Candlekeep Library and the Underdark.
How to solve puzzles
Baldur’s Gate 3 is full of hidden areas and valuable loot, but you’ll have to solve puzzles to gain access. For example, you may come across a locked treasure chest which you can solve by smashing a nearby statue. We have guides for all of the puzzles in the game, including how to access the hidden Gnome Alley in the city and a secret door in the Underdark.
How to save trapped characters
Baldur’s Gate 3 is full of traps, and you’ll often find yourself saving characters who are stuck between giant blades or are about to be squashed by a giant hammer. Thankfully, this is a relatively simple task. Just make sure you have a cleric or druid in your party and use the ‘Use Item’ command to free the character.
How to save Shadowheart and Vollo
Baldur’s Gate 3 is filled with dangerous enemies, and there are times when you’ll need to fight your way out of a tricky situation. Don’t worry if your party is getting beaten, as there are a couple of ways to save your characters. The first is to simply run away, but this is only an option if you have a rogue or monk in your party. If that isn’t an option, you can use a resurrection scroll to bring your characters back to life.
How to enter the Underdark
The Underdark is a dangerous place, but it’s also a crucial location on your journey. You’ll need to find a way to access the Underdark fairly early on in the campaign, as you’ll need to find some keys to unlock a door. Our guide to the Underdark will give you all the information you need to tackle this tricky location, including locations of important items and a boss fight against a giant brain with legs.
How to befriend Shadowheart and Vollo
Two characters you’ll need to find in Baldur’s Gate 3 are Shadowheart and Vollo, but you won’t be able to recruit them until you’ve completed a few tasks. First, you’ll need to find their stolen belongings and retrieve the Infernal Iron, which you’ll use to open the Necromancy of Thay. Once you’ve completed that quest, they’ll be available to join your party.
How to romance in Baldur’s Gate 3
There are a few romance options in Baldur’s Gate 3, and while you can flirt with characters, it’s not always clear how to progress the relationship. The best way to progress your relationship with a character is to initiate a romance conversation.
