Main Story Quests by Act
The main storyline in Baldur's Gate 3 follows your party's struggle to remove the mind flayer tadpole from your brain while uncovering a conspiracy that threatens the Sword Coast. Each act presents major story beats with multiple resolution paths.
| Act | Main Quest | Key Locations | Level Range |
|---|
| Act 1 | Find a Cure / Remove the Parasite | Wilderness, Underdark, Grymforge | 1-5 |
| Act 2 | Infiltrate Moonrise Towers / Defeat Ketheric Thorm | Shadow-Cursed Lands, Gauntlet of Shar | 5-8 |
| Act 3 | Confront the Elder Brain / Save Baldur's Gate | Baldur's Gate, Lower City, Astral Prism | 8-12 |
Act 1 Key Quests
Remove the Parasite
Main Quest | Act 1 | Multiple Solutions
Your primary objective throughout Act 1. The tadpole in your head is supposed to turn you into a mind flayer, but something is different. You investigate multiple potential cures:
- Githyanki Creche: Lae'zel believes the githyanki can purge the tadpole. The creche healer reveals the truth about your unique condition.
- Halsin's Ritual: The First Druid may know a natural remedy, but requires saving the grove first.
- Netherese Orb: Gale suggests his condition might offer insights, but this path is dangerous.
- Absolute Cult: The cult claims to control the tadpoles. Investigation reveals their true nature.
Tip: Do not rush to remove the parasite. Your tadpole powers (Illithid abilities) are incredibly powerful and unlock unique dialogue options.
Save the Refugees / Defeat the Goblins
Major Quest | Act 1 | Druid Grove
The Emerald Grove is under siege by goblins serving the Absolute. You can side with the druids and tieflings to defend the grove, or join the goblins and destroy it. This choice has massive consequences for later acts.
- Defend the Grove: Recruit Wyll and Halsin. Save tiefling refugees who appear in Acts 2 and 3. Gain access to Druid Grove merchants.
- Raid the Grove: Recruit Minthara. Lose Wyll and Karlach unless persuaded otherwise. Tiefling refugees die. Different rewards and story outcomes.
Warning: Siding with the goblins locks out several companion quests and causes unique NPC deaths that cannot be reversed.
The Adamantine Forge
Side Quest | Act 1 | Grymforge
Located in the Underdark's Grymforge area, the Adamantine Forge allows you to craft powerful armor and weapons from mithral ore and moulds found throughout the region.
- Requirements: Mithral Ore (found in Grymforge) + Weapon/Armor Mould
- Craftable Items: Adamantine Scale Mail, Adamantine Splint Armor, Adamantine Longsword, Adamantine Mace, Adamantine Shield
- Boss: Grym, a magma elemental guardian. Use the forge hammer to defeat it.
Tip: The Adamantine Splint Armor is arguably the best heavy armor in Act 1, granting damage reduction and resistance to critical hits.
Defeat Auntie Ethel
Side Quest | Act 1 | Sunlit Wetlands
Auntie Ethel appears as a kindly old woman but is actually a powerful green hag. She has kidnapped Mayrina and plans to use her in a dark ritual.
- Combat Route: Fight through her lair, destroy her phylacteries, and kill her. Rescue Mayrina.
- Deal Route: Accept her deal to remove your tadpole (she lies). Gain a powerful debuff or buff depending on choices.
- Reward: Staff of Crones, Hag's Mask, or permanent +1 to an ability score (if you eat the mushroom).
Act 2 Key Quests
Lift the Shadow Curse
Main Quest | Act 2 | Shadow-Cursed Lands
The Shadow-Cursed Lands are blighted by an unnatural darkness that drains life. To survive, you need a Moonlantern or the Pixie's blessing. The curse originates from Ketheric Thorm's connection to the Absolute.
- Moonlantern: Obtained from Kar'niss (drider) or by assembling one with a pixie.
- Pixie Blessing: Free the pixie Dolly Thrice from a Moonlantern for permanent protection.
- Resolution: Defeating Ketheric Thorm lifts the primary curse, though some areas remain dangerous.
The Gauntlet of Shar
Major Dungeon | Act 2 | Thorm Mausoleum
A massive dungeon dedicated to the goddess Shar. Required for Shadowheart's personal quest and to obtain the Umbral Gem needed to reach Moonrise Towers.
- Trials: Soft-Step Trial, Self-Same Trial, Faith-Leap Trial
- Boss: Balthazar (optional), Raphael's enemy
- Reward: Spear of Night, Moonlight Glaive, Dark Justiciar armor set
Tip: Bring Shadowheart for unique dialogue. The trials can be bypassed with clever use of Misty Step, Dimension Door, and invisibility.
Defeat Ketheric Thorm
Act Boss | Act 2 | Moonrise Towers
Ketheric Thorm is the Chosen of the Absolute and commander of the cult forces. He is functionally immortal due to his connection to the Elder Brain and the Netherstone.
- Phase 1: Fight Ketheric at Moonrise Towers. He flees when damaged enough.
- Phase 2: Pursue him to the Mind Flayer Colony beneath the towers.
- Phase 3: Destroy his immortality source, then finish him. Balthazar's necromancy plays a key role.
Warning: Ketheric can one-shot low-AC characters with his multiattack. Keep your tank in his face and spread out to avoid area damage.
Act 3 Key Quests
Confront the Elder Brain
Final Main Quest | Act 3 | Baldur's Gate
The culmination of the entire campaign. The Elder Brain has been manipulating events through the Absolute cult and now threatens to dominate the entire Sword Coast.
- Netherstones: Collect three Netherstones from Ketheric Thorm, Orin the Red, and Enver Gortash to control the brain.
- Allies: Gather allies through completed companion quests and faction alliances.
- Ending Choices: Destroy the brain, dominate it, become the Absolute, or ascend as a mind flayer.
Orin the Red's Serial Killings
Major Quest | Act 3 | Baldur's Gate
Orin, the Chosen of Bhaal, is murdering people throughout the city. Her questline intersects with multiple companion stories and provides one of the three Netherstones.
- Investigation: Follow clues at murder scenes. Potential victims include your companions.
- Temple of Bhaal: Confront Orin in her lair. She can shapeshift into party members.
- Reward: Netherstone, Bhaal's blessing, unique weapons
Gortash's Coronation
Major Quest | Act 3 | Wyrm's Rock Fortress
Enver Gortash, the Chosen of Bane, has seized control of Baldur's Gate and is preparing to be coronated as Archduke. His alliance with the Absolute makes him a primary target.
- Infiltration: Attend the coronation, sneak through the fortress, or assault directly.
- Steel Watch: Disable the mechanical guards by destroying the Steel Watch Foundry.
- Reward: Netherstone, legendaries from Gortash's corpse
Hidden Quests and Secrets
Baldur's Gate 3 is filled with hidden content that many players miss on their first playthrough. Here are some of the most significant secrets:
- The House of Hope: Visit Raphael's personal domain through a hidden portal. Contains some of the best equipment in the game, including the Helldusk Armor set.
- The Emperor's True Identity: The mind flayer in your camp has a hidden backstory that changes based on your choices.
- Secret Ending: Become the Absolute by dominating the Elder Brain and choosing the dark path.
- Underdark Duergar Trading: Hidden merchants in the Underdark sell unique items not found elsewhere.
- The Murder Tribunal: Join Bhaal's cult and gain access to unique assassination quests and rewards.
- Ansur the Dragon: A hidden dragon boss in Act 3 that requires solving riddles and navigating a trapped dungeon.
Tip: Use the "Speak with Animals" and "Speak with Dead" spells constantly. They unlock hidden quests, lore, and alternative solutions to problems.