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Baldur’s Gate 3: 15 Evil Choices for a Successful Early-Game Playthrough

Baldur’s Gate 3: 15 Evil Choices for a Successful Early-Game Playthrough

Baldur’s Gate 3 offers players an array of morally ambiguous decisions, particularly for those pursuing a nefarious path in their gameplay. Making treacherous choices not only reshapes the environment surrounding your character, but it also showcases the unique reactions of allies and adversaries alike. While certain companions may express discontent or even abandon your party as a result of these actions, players won’t face penalties beyond narrative consequences. This allows for the creation of unforgettable moments that reflect evil intent.

Note: Spoilers ahead for Baldur’s Gate 3, Act 1.

There are numerous morally dubious choices available from the onset, setting the stage for a darkly compelling playthrough. Decisions can range from aiding sinister foes to cold-blooded murder—actions that are often tightly interlinked in a web of consequences. Embracing an evil playstyle grants players a distinctive viewpoint of the world, allowing them to observe how their decisions impact character interactions and plot developments.

An evil campaign can significantly influence the game’s ending, altering the focal points and possible outcomes to favor one of several “dark”conclusions. This aspect can serve as a solid motivator for a second playthrough, especially if the initial experience was played with virtuous intent.

15 Gift the Githyanki Egg to Lady Esther

The Consequences Are Severe

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Retrieving the Gith Egg from the Githyanki Crèche early in the game and presenting it to Lady Esther may seem like an altruistic act, but the reality is far more sinister. While players remain unaware of the full repercussions at the time, this decision can lead to catastrophic outcomes later in the game. Not only does this seemingly charitable act devastate the lives of several characters, but it also opens up a ripple effect impacting individuals yet to be encountered.

Even for those familiar with the repercussions from previous playthroughs, choosing to give the Githyanki Egg to Esther again can further showcase their descent into darkness. Alternatively, players can maintain their evil reputation while opting for a more lawful deception by presenting Esther with an owlbear egg instead.

14 Break Your Oath (Paladin Only)

Betray Your Principles for Malevolence

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Paladin players have a clear path to evil by breaking their oath as soon as they can. The specifics depend on the subclass selected, but any choice that undermines their morals—such as killing innocents or siding with malevolent characters—facilitates this transformation. The Oath of Devotion subclass is particularly straightforward in this respect, as a single act of aggression against someone deemed weaker can instantly sever the bond to their oath.

Upon breaking the oath, players will encounter an Oathbreaker Knight offering the chance to embrace this new path, which allows access to powerful dark magic and necromancy abilities—ideal for those pursuing villainous agendas.

13 Pursue Karlach

Rewards for Depravity

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Once players meet Wyll, he reveals he is searching for a hellion resembling Karlach. A truly villainous choice is to heed Wyll’s advice and target Karlach without affording her the slightest chance of reprieve. Notably, regardless of romantic choices, Karlach is among the most compassionate characters in the game, making this decision all the more detestable.

While such actions hinder the opportunity to recruit her as a valuable ally, the reality is that her strong moral compass likely would have led her to exit your party eventually. For those aiming for the utmost in villainy, striking her down without hesitation embodies their dark nature fully—culminating in an act where players can further prove their depravity by beheading her as a trophy and handing it to Wyll for a reward. Such actions, albeit grim, bear their own forms of benefit.

12 Ally with the Goblins & Attack the Emerald Grove

Target the Peaceful Druids

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One of the clearest manifestations of treachery in Baldur’s Gate 3 is aligning with Minthara and the goblins to assault the Emerald Grove, home to countless druids and innocent refugees. This heinous action not only directly endangers lives but also embodies a profound moral failure, as players have a choice between right and wrong.

Choosing this path can lead to disapproval from several Origin companions, though there is the possibility of later romancing Minthara, who is defined by her violent loyalty to the Absolute and her willingness to commit atrocious acts in its name. Such romantic entanglements add an intriguing layer to an evil campaign.

Moreover, crafty players can exploit the tensions between the druids and refugees, instigating chaos and carnage. For example, the theft of Silvanus’ Idol can incite an internal conflict that results in a massacre—an act that might diminish certain subplots for later playthroughs, demonstrating the inherent sacrifices involved in pursuing evil.

11 “Accidentally” Cause Barcus’ Death

Opps, My Mistake

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One of the early NPCs encountered in Act 1 is Barcus, a deep gnome trapped by goblins within a moving windmill. Many players instinctively rescue him; however, those on an evil path may prefer to orchestrate a far darker fate instead.

To liberate Barcus, one simply pulls the lever marked “Brake, ”but lurking there is a more conniving lever labeled “Release Brake.”Pulling the latter will accelerate the windmill, ultimately flinging Barcus to his demise—a darkly humorous yet cruel outcome for the character.

This moment encapsulates absurdity mixed with evil and creates an opportunity for players to revel in their villainous influences on the world around them.

10 Assist Tieflings in Killing Lae’Zel

Earn Trust at a High Price

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In Act 1, players encounter a pair of tieflings with Lae’Zel captured, putting players in a precarious moral position. One can opt to kill Lae’Zel, a decision that earns the favor of the tieflings but ultimately turns against the mission’s objectives.

While fulfilling this task bolsters trust with the misled tieflings, it eliminates a crucial character critical to central plotlines, and thus leads to a more challenging playthrough overall. Moreover, the decision is a gateway to enmity with the Githyanki, creating potential conflict as the story unfolds.

9 Slay the Owlbear Cub

Commit Atrocities Against the Innocent

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As players explore the Blighted Village, they may stumble upon an encounter involving an owlbear defending its cub. Instead of walking away from this confrontation, players have the option to engage in a gruesome attack. Despite the fact that the mother owlbear is fated to die eventually by other means, electing to eliminate her or her cub reflects a dire choice.

Slaughtering the helpless owlbear cub—particularly after witnessing its mother’s death—stands as one of the most callous actions within the game. Although it offers slight in-game experience rewards, this brutal act underlines the darker themes of evil playthroughs.

8 Assist Auntie Ethel

Aiding a True Hag

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Initially portrayed as a benevolent figure, Auntie Ethel’s true nature is revealed when players encounter her during their exploration of the bog. What first appears as a straightforward assistance turns into something far more sinister as players discover her penchant for malevolence and manipulation.

When players delve into her lair, they uncover just how wicked she truly is—engaging in all manners of deception and sadism against those who seek her help, promoting chaos through her machinations. Players can choose the route of villainy by aiding Ethel in her cruel schemes, which can reverberate throughout the remainder of their journey.

7 Allow Nere to Live

Support a Captor

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In the depths of the Underdark, players can encounter Nere, a malevolent character steeped in racial supremacy and slavery. Resisting the urge to eliminate him represents a significant moral quandary. While benevolence may steer many to ensure justice by defeating him, siding with Nere allows players to explore corruptive narratives.

Though this act can potentially yield strategic benefits later, players are reminded that assisting such a villain simply leads to more bloodshed and moral decline—making this a pivotal choice for those venturing down a dark path.

6 Aid Sovereign Glut in Killing Spaw

Subvert a Harmonious Society

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Within the Underdark, players find themselves embroiled in a conflict involving Sovereign Glut. This character seeks revenge against the kind-hearted Sovereign Spaw, aimed at establishing himself as ruler through violent means. Assisting Glut represents not just betrayal to an ally but also a descent into treachery against a peaceful community.

Choosing to comply with Glut’s ambitions stands as a dark testament to the character’s resolve to embrace villainy, as this path interferes with the natural order of an unblemished society—all in the name of avarice.

5 Extort Payment from Baelen

Squeeze the Last Coins from a Struggling Business

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One major deed of cruelty occurs when players help Baelen traverse a hazardous area filled with explosive Bibberbang fungus. A typical party might refuse to charge him for assistance, focusing instead on the plight of small businesses. However, those committing to an evil path will seize the opportunity to extort payment from Baelen, exploiting the couple’s vulnerability.

This choice embodies pure malice, reflecting the player’s nature while offering minimal long-term effects, asserting that sometimes, the most mediocre acts can reveal the darkest sides of a character.

4 Permit Kagha’s Snake to Slay Arabella

Stand Idly by During a Child’s Tragic Death

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Another moment of severe moral failing arises when players opt not to intervene as Kagha threatens Arabella with a venomous snake. Rather than interfering with the violent act, remaining passive enables Kagha’s cruel punishment to carry through and results in the child meeting her tragic end.

This choice poignantly encapsulates the suffering that can arise from moral indifference and demonstrates the depth of Doler’s wickedness. Allowing this tragedy to unfold can resonate throughout the narrative, reinforcing the dark theme within a player’s journey.

3 Sever Gale’s Hand (Dark Urge)

An Instantaneous and Grim Decision

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Players experiencing the Dark Urge will face a captivating yet gruesome decision when encountering Gale. Those made aware of his dire situation may feel inclined to lend assistance; however, succumbing to darker instincts can lead to shocking developments. Upon first meeting Gale, a decision to indulge in bloodlust results in players actively severing Gale’s hand—an action steeped in cruelty.

This gruesome scenario sets a grim tone within Baldur’s Gate 3, asserting how a careless choice can result in catastrophic consequences for a crucial character, representing one of the game’s most explicit displays of unnecessary violence.

2 Torture Liam (Dark Urge)

Unleash Suffering for Personal Gain

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Within the Shattered Sanctum, a particularly cruel choice manifests for Dark Urge characters—torturing Liam, a captive adventurer. This moment is indicative of malicious intent, as players actively engage in inflicting pain on an already beleaguered individual to extract intelligence.

This action underscores a critical theme of Baldur’s Gate 3: the moral implications of such choices, painting a dark portrait of those embracing the evil narrative. Though it adds to the character’s growing reputation for villainy, it relentlessly drives home the idea that actions like these incur irreversible harm upon innocent lives.

1 Slay Alfira (Dark Urge)

Silence the Bard’s Melody

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Killing Alfira is perhaps one of the most heinous acts available to players, especially those engulfed in the Dark Urge narrative. This tiefling bard, who bears a history of suffering and channels her pain through music, becomes a victim of the player’s impulse to seize control. Regardless of player input, the narrative forces players into her tragic fate.

Even if players try to stave off her demise, a relentless streak of violence ultimately leads to her death—symbolizing the tragic and uncontrollable nature of Dark Urge. The impact of this action is profound, as her exquisite melodies fade and leave behind a tangible sense of loss, further enhancing the dark undertones of evil playthroughs in Baldur’s Gate 3.

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