Every Baldur's Gate 3 Ending Explained (& What Choices Change It)

As a massive RPG with an emphasis on player choice, can potentially end in a number of ways, depending on interactions with certain characters and the outcomes of major storylines. The allies that fight alongside the party during the final battle, the options that are available to deal with it, and the overall fate of the world of Faerûn are all things that can change drastically depending on both earlier decisions and choices made during the ending sequence. However, with being an especially long game, it can be hard for a single person to see every available ending across multiple playthroughs.

The endings of primarily revolve around dealing with the threat of the Absolute, a mind flayer Elder Brain enhanced by a magical artifact called the Crown of Karsus. To that end, most of the game's third act is spent gathering the Netherstones from Gortash and Orin to try and bring the Elder Brain under control, with options to forge temporary alliances with either antagonist in pursuit of the other. Additionally, choosing whether to free Orpheus from his imprisonment in the Astral Prism affects the final battle as well, as do player choices regarding certain factions and the outcomes of companion quests.

Baldur's Gate 3 is imposing in stature and its best moments are truly memorable, but some early issues with scale suggest an uneven experience.

Most of 's endings come after the conclusion of the battle with the Absolute, after Orin and Gortash have been dealt with, and all three Netherstones are in the party's possession. Certain earlier ending options do exist, but in practice, they're treated more like unique game-overs, as they cut the game drastically short and aren't proper payoffs to the story that the game has set up. As there are a number of different major decisions to make before heading to 's final battle, however, certain outcomes during the endings can be dramatically different across multiple playthroughs.

The most important third act decision regarding