Baldur's Gate 3: Evil Playthrough Tips for Maximum Carnage
Embarking on an evil playthrough in Baldur's Gate 3 offers a uniquely dark and twisted gaming experience. This guide provides essential tips to maximize your villainous fun, ensuring a truly devastating and unforgettable journey through Faerûn.
While playing as the noble hero has its merits, there's an undeniable allure to embracing the chaotic freedom of an evil playthrough in Baldur's Gate 3. It's an opportunity to explore the game's darker side and witness the consequences of your morally questionable decisions. Are you ready to embrace the darkness?
1. Strategic Companion Selection for Your Evil Playthrough
One of the first crucial steps in planning your evil playthrough is considering which companions will align with your dark ambitions. Not all companions will tolerate your descent into villainy; some may even abandon you. Therefore, selecting companions who are either morally flexible or your twisted ideals is essential.
Characters like Astarion and Lae'zel are generally more accepting of morally ambiguous choices, while others, such as Gale or Shadowheart, might require persuasion or manipulation to remain loyal. Planning your companion roster ensures party cohesion and minimizes potential conflicts arising from your evil actions.
Remember that a perfectly balanced party isn't strictly necessary. If you're building a tanky character, you might not need Karlach. And if needed, Withers can always provide hirelings.
2. The Indispensable Minthara: A Key to a Truly Evil BG3 Experience
If you're serious about your evil playthrough, recruiting Minthara is an absolute must. Originally conceived as the embodiment of evil within the companion options, Minthara offers a unique perspective shaped by her drow heritage. How will you secure her allegiance?
You can recruit Minthara by either raiding the Emerald Grove in Act 1 or by knocking her out and rescuing her from Moonrise Towers in Act 2. Her approval hinges on choices that grant you power and a blunt approach to interactions. Furthermore, her potent spells and abilities, such as Misty Step and Divine Smite, make her a formidable asset in combat.
Consider how her unique dialogue options and questlines will contribute to your overall evil strategy. Her presence alone significantly enhances the depth and impact of your villainous actions.
3. Embracing the Power of Auntie Ethel in Your BG3 Evil Playthrough
Auntie Ethel, initially appearing as a harmless old woman, harbors a dark secret: she's a powerful hag. Siding with Ethel opens up a plethora of opportunities for despicable acts throughout the game. Will you succumb to her twisted bargains?
There are three types of hags in the world of the Forgotten Realms: sea hags, night hags, and green hags. Judging by her use of disguises, it’s safe to assume Ethel is a green hag. Even if you clash with her in Act 1, she might offer a deal, granting you Auntie Ethel's Hair, permanently increasing an ability score. In Act 3, recruiting her as an ally by eliminating Lora provides the ability to make five creatures invisible during the final battle.
By exploiting her vulnerabilities and leveraging her power, you can solidify your position as a formidable force of evil within Baldur's Gate 3.
4. Become an Unholy Assassin
Sometimes, being evil is about sowing chaos, and sometimes you can do so for practical reasons. When tracking down Orin, you'll come face to face with her grandfather and returning Baldur's Gate character Sarevok at the Murder Tribunal. He'll ask if you want to become an Unholy Assassin for Bhaal, and if you want access to some fantastic gear, your answer should be yes .
To become an Unholy Assassin, you'll first have to kill the annoying Investigator Valeria, who is chained down in a side room. You'll then have to kill both Minsc and Jaheira , which will obviously cause other companions to disapprove. However, by becoming an Unholy Assassin, you'll gain access to Echo of Abazigal, a secret BG3 merchant who sells some fantastic gear, such as the rare Bhaalist Armour and the Dread Iron Dagger .
5. Corrupt and Betray Your Companions for Maximum Impact
No evil playthrough is complete without a healthy dose of corruption and betrayal, and your companions make the perfect targets. There are plenty of opportunities to really hurt those around you , from twisting them into the worst version of themselves to outright treachery. If you put your mind to it, there is a way to hurt almost every companion, ensuring they get the worst possible endings after the final battle.
A good example of this is helping free Shadowheart from Shar’s influence and to embrace Selune, only to then turn her over to Viconia in Act 3 to have her memories wiped. Another example is encouraging Astarion to complete Cazador’s ritual and become an Ascended Vampire to continue the cycle of abuse. For some extra evil bonus points, after completing the ritual, you could then help the Gur kill the newly Ascended Astarion.
Mastering Your Evil Playthrough in Baldur's Gate 3
By carefully planning your choices, strategically selecting companions, and embracing the darker aspects of the game, you can craft a truly memorable and devastating evil playthrough in Baldur's Gate 3. Remember, the path to villainy is paved with calculated decisions and a willingness to embrace the consequences of your actions. Now go forth and unleash your inner darkness upon Faerûn!