Baldur's Gate News, Tips, Tricks & Ideas

has no shortage of equipment options for every member of the party to choose from. While some pieces are certainly better than others due to the stats and bonus effects they have, they don't look the same. Since each piece of gear has a unique look, certain combinations of pieces can give the party both power and style.

Throughout , cutscenes are used to further the story, allowing the plot to be conveyed clearly in beautiful cinematic scenes. Playing out like a movie, these scenes will deliver important information, move questlines along, and sometimes lead to romance. While these cutscenes can take place in many different locations, some of the most important will happen back at the party’s camp as the team beds down for the night.

One of the more unique puzzles called "" in requires you to figure out who can be trusted by a group of ghosts instead of interacting with the word. This puzzle will test your ability to read other people and find out who is trustworthy. You will need to search for clues and use wise judgment to determine which ghost is the «enemy of the city.»

The 2023 RPG hit took some liberties with the fifth edition system it adapted, but some of its strangest elements come directly from the official rules of the tabletop RPG, highlighting some truly questionable design choices. Many RPG fans have become acclimated to the 5e system for nearly a decade, so the more baffling decisions have become familiar, but presents them in a new context. It is common knowledge that magic items are poorly balanced among the overly broad rarity tiers defined in the, but the presence of stat-replacing items stands out as an archaic throwback.

The wildly successful RPG Baldur's Gate 3 is getting a big new update next week, with Larian Studios teasing fans about what they can expect from it. Baldur's Gate 3 was one of 2023's biggest games. Not only was it a huge sales success, but the game also took home a dizzying number of awards, including the coveted Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2023. Baldur's Gate 3 was such a hit at launch that Larian could have left it be, but it has instead released multiple updates focused on improving the game and sometimes even adding new content.

Astarion's nature as a vampire spawn makes him one of the most interesting companions, but it also leads to a difficult choice when he asks to drink the protagonist's blood. No matter how fascinating this high elf rogue can be, turning over one's blood to a third party is never a comfortable prospect. This choice can have both upsides and downsides in, and it's best to have a thorough understanding of both of these possibilities before making a final decision.

Solving the Legend of Ansur book’s puzzle in can be quite complicated, especially if you do not know where to look or are having a hard time connecting the dots left by the clues in the manuscript. Like most parts of the game, the Legend of Ansur book does not explicitly tell you where to go and what to do but leaves behind some hints that can eventually grant you special items. By following this optional side-quest, you can grab the Legendary Helm of Balduran, considered one of the best helmets in .

If you're wondering how you can Respec and change your class in , there is a way to do that. The game doesn't tell you outright how to do it, but you can do it for a small fee. Picking your character's class is the first important decision you will take. However, there might be a point where you might want to switch things for a different experience.

allows you to multiclass from different archetypes as you level up, which can help create extremely powerful builds for a Rogue character. One specific path players have discovered combines all the traits of two classes to form a terrifying set of strengths. Combining the stealth features of the Rogue with the combat prowess of the Ranger gives your character a strong sense of synergy.

Amassing an interesting library of weapons is one of the most exciting parts of progression in , but one sword that could be the crown jewel of any collection remains unfortunately off-limits. For martial classes, weapons with unique attributes help add flavor to combat, especially for those who lack any access to spells that can often make higher-level play especially fun. The amount of freedom that offers generally provides avenues to acquire and use anything that seems like it could be in reach, but sometimes it’s the rare exclusions that sting the most.

Balthazar, a dark priest, is one of the tougher bosses in that you can beat at two different points in the story. Balthazar can summon undead and use powerful spells that can be very dangerous for your party. However, if you decide to take the boss down, you must have a party that complements each other with the right spells and attacks.

In Act 2 of your party of misfit adventurers enters the Shadow-Cursed Lands, a small but dense region home to many of the game’s most important quests and secrets. However, the land is cursed with lingering darkness, making exploring rather challenging. This list should help you keep track of everything you need to do before rejoining the road to Baldur’s Gate and Act 3.

Honour Mode can make into a complete nightmare, but there's one method that can surprisingly circumvent its most challenging limitation. Originally implemented as a feature in the games from developer Larian Studios, Honour Mode ramps up the difficulty of a campaign by turning it into an Ironman run, where a total party kill means game over. It also tweaks the challenge in a variety of subtler ways, like giving bosses Legendary Actions inspired by tabletop that let them interrupt the turn order for extra maneuvers.

Unlocking Balduran’s Giantslayer in can be a tough task, as it is not only in an optional portion of Act 3 but also locked behind a difficult boss battle. Balduran’s Giantslayer is a powerful greatsword that can be obtained in the later portions of the game and, because of its innate weapon skill and the abilities it unlocks when you are proficient with it, it is one of the best Legendary Weapons in . Due to its weapon category, Balduran’s Giantslayer is one of the best pieces of gear for certain classes.

includes a lot of information hidden in notes or behind specific dialogue options. As for Origin characters, playing through with them instead of a custom Tav fills in their stories and triggers cutscenes and dialogues that wouldn't be available otherwise. However, there's one Origin character that requires more work to fill in their background thanks to a case of amnesia – the Dark Urge.

As such a massive game, it’s no surprise thatholds a lot of secrets. Although many unfold over the course of the game, there is one hiding in plain sight during every playthrough. While many will already be suspicious that there is more to their camp’s resident undead, Withers, than meets the eye, few will realize just how strange he truly is.

Baldur's Gate 3 released a new PS5 update that aims to fix Error 544, which prevented PS5 players from saving their progress. Baldur's Gate 3 explained why the issue was occurring and how to prevent it from happening again.

To progress Gale’s companion quest in , players have to find the Annals of Karsus: a tome containing forbidden magical lore. However, although Gale believes it can be bought from Sorcerous Sundries, Baldur’s Gate’s premier shopping destination for magical items, it’s much trickier. The Annals of Karsus is sealed away in the vault, and the party has to break in to get it.

has a strong assortment of great Origin characters that can be chosen as the playable protagonist, but picking a favorite in order to spend as much time with the character as possible might actually be a mistake. The game offers the choice between selecting from the Origin characters and creating a custom character like in tabletop, both of which can be viable options. If the personality of one Origin character is especially appealing, however, deciding not to choose them can be the best move after all.

One particular item in Baldur's Gate 3 can prove to be very useful when playing through Tactician or Honour Mode, and it took five hundred hours for a player to come across it for the first time. It's no secret that Larian's latest release has seen a surge in popularity after winning Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2023, as the player count for Baldur's Gate 3 on Steam is still going strong. While the branching narrative and diverse class options can inspire fans to try a new playthrough of Baldur's Gate 3, the community's latest obsession has undoubtedly been Honour Mode.

Romance is a big part of , but love scenes can actually be revealing in more ways than one. The ability to romance various characters in contributes greatly to the game's charm. It endears players to their companions, raises the stakes when the party's in danger, and ensures there's always something new to explore on repeat playthroughs. Comparing romantic routes, swapping stories of love or disaster, and picking favorites has been a beloved pastime of players since it was still in early access.

One of the most powerful Staffs for spell-casters is the Markoheshkir Legendary staff in . This staff gives the carrier a strong enchantment bonus that is perfect for companions like Gale or your Wizard character. However, to get this stuff, one of your party members needs to have the ability to see through invisibility.

cutscenes don’t always play out in ways that are necessarily ideal, but there’s one easy technique that can help make characters look more presentable at virtually any point in the game. Unlike the first two games in the series and many similar RPG competitors, features extensive voice acting and motion capture to bring conversations to life. This can provide enormous benefits to overall immersion, but it also provides plenty of opportunities for minor things to become distracting.

is full of every type of weapon an adventuring party could ever need, and one particular type is light, which allows characters to dual-wield a weapon. This is ideal for rogues, fighters, and rangers, along with any other classes or subclasses that use the Two-Weapon Fighting Style.

Unlocking the secret weapon Mourning Frost in can be daunting, as the game does not provide many hints as to how you can get it. Mourning Frost is a two-handed Quarterstaff that is categorized as Very Rare. This item is one of the many well-hidden secrets in Act 1 of , which also includes a mysterious tome called The Necromancy of Thay and access to a hidden underground area in the Blighted Village.

There's a lot players can do in , but one key action is sorely overlooked. It's not exactly a sandbox game, but the freedom of movement and action provided really does make it feel that way sometimes. Most actions can be undertaken at any time, with any character as their target, allowing players to experiment and discover new ways forward. And even in the most unlikely circumstances, it's near-impossible to break .

One of the biggest quests in Act 3 of is finding all of Dribbles the Clown’s body parts. The hapless jester was brutally murdered and dismembered by an evil doppelganger, scattering his body parts all across Baldur’s Gate. Players can volunteer to gather seven body parts to reassemble his corpse, and receive a reward from the ringmaster Lucretious.

For the many fans who have completed the game’s level cap is often a controversial element, but there is a simple way developer Larian Studios could increase the maximum level without significant changes to the game simply by leveraging the rules of 5e. The video game caps characters at level 12, while actual 5e extends to level 20. Players who stick mostly with the main questline may finish the game around level nine or 10, but many players hit the level cap early into the game’s third act. New equipment can still increase characters’ power, but gaining experience points is no longer relevant.

Unlocking some of the Adamantine Forge weapons and armor in is an excellent way of gearing your characters up with well-crafted items in the game's early stages. The Adamantine Forge is an important part of Act 1, though accessing it is completely optional. It is a part of the Underdark’s Grymforge region, where you have to deal with True Soul Nere. If you continue to explore Grymforge and delve deeper, you may encounter the Adamantine Forge, some scattered items, and the area’s special boss, Grym.

The best Backgrounds in will match your chosen character’s class, giving you a basic backstory and extra Proficiencies for passing skill checks. Picking a Background is just one of several important decisions you will need to make in the character creator. Without the best Background, your character may struggle with skill checks, leading to bad outcomes for everyone involved.

Being based on the fifth edition rules of, it's not surprising there is a fair amount of dice rolling in . Whether for skill checks, saving throws or attacking the enemy, success or failure can come down to the roll of a die. Baked into, and by extension,, however, are a number of ways to manipulate dice rolls. Luckily, the game is filled with some great buffs that can help tip the odds back in the party's favor.

The new Xbox firmware update has seemingly fixed the Baldur's Gate 3 save bug that was causing players to completely lose their characters. Xbox fans had to wait months to get their hands on the award-winning Baldur's Gate 3, and while many have been able to enjoy the massive adventure with no hiccups, some players have unfortunately lost their save progress due to a strange error that wiped their characters from existence.

In, the Camp is a place where you can rest after a hard day’s adventuring and gather around a roaring fire with your companions and camp followers. As you explore the Sword Coast with your band of misfit adventurers, you can expect many new characters to visit your camp, some of whom may even join your entourage permanently.

When fighting in movement plays a very important part. How much the party can move around the battlefield and how they choose to do that can make all the difference in difficult fights. While a character’s movement speed is often determined by their class and race, there are other ways the party can boost this to gain the advantage in battle.

Baldur's Gate 3 has released Hotfix 17 across all platforms, an update that fixes performance issues on the PS5, compresses save game file size, and improves on some of the game's narrative flow. As the best-selling game on Steam in 2023 and the recipient of many accolades – including Game of the Year 2023 at The Game Awards – it's safe to say that Larian built a worthy sequel to Baldur's Gate 2. Though the developers openly admitted that Baldur's Gate 3 greatly benefited from its three-year Early Access period, the level of detail and care that went into the game is still impressive.

The Sword of Chaos is a powerful greatsword that you can get in by defeating one of the strongest servants of Bhaal in the game. This Very Rare magic item can cleave through your enemies and recover some of your Hit Points when you hit hostile creatures. Although there are limitations to which characters can use this weapon, the Sword of Chaos is an excellent weapon.

doesn't give Tav's companions plot armor, and that means there are multiple ways to kill them throughout the game's three acts. However, killing companions isn't the only way to lose them. Certain choices made during main story quests or as part of their companions' quests can result in the companions leaving Tav of their own free will. And once they leave like that, they can't be brought back to the party.

A newly noticed hidden dialogue in helps players delve deeper into one of the main character’s daddy issues. The award-winning RPG by Larian Studios was critically acclaimed due to its depth, both in terms of gameplay mechanics but also its branching narrative and sense of freedom when making choices. Many of these important decisions in are directly connected to the companions that venture alongside the player’s custom character, should they have created their hero or villain instead of using an origin character. Creating a custom character is the best way of getting to know these companions, should the player’s decisions not drive them away.

allows Tav – the default name for a custom protagonist – and their companions to gear up and prepare for battle in a variety of different ways. Because is based on the systems in , it uses Armor Class as a way to decide if an attack hits the targeted character. As a result, having a higher AC means that fewer attacks will land, and careful character building can result in a near-invincible Tav.

There's no shortage of ways to get the edge in combat, but one of the easiest to use is also one of the easiest to forget about. With long lists of spells and items to wrangle, it doesn't take much for tools kept in the recess of an inventory to slip the mind. In more difficult encounters, however, wasting anything that could be used without repercussions can hand the victory to the enemy for no reason at all.

If the Wizard Gale has fallen in , there is a way to resurrect him by using a special item. This special item is the Scroll of True Resurrection; however, acquiring it is not as easy as it may seem. The Scroll has a magical security protocol to prevent misuse. Initially, a projection of Gale will rapidly list a lengthy set of instructions for using the Scroll, which can be hard to follow.

Multiclassing is one of the best ways to master magic as a Wizard in augmenting your formidable magical abilities with powerful features from other classes. Wizards specialize in different schools of magical thought, learning new spells through study and relying heavily on the Intelligence stat. The most powerful Wizard multiclass builds synergize with other caster classes, such as Sorcerer, to create the ultimate magic user.

has added Honor Mode for any Tav who wants to test their mettle against the threat of permanent death in the event of a total party kill and bosses with Legendary Actions. The risks of Honor Mode can also make parties reconsider courses of action that they maybe wouldn't give a second thought otherwise. However, that also means that there's the possibility that parties will make decisions that they end up regretting, especially if they result in a total party kill, or drain the group of a lot of resources that could've been saved for other encounters.

The Bhaalist Armor is a rare gear in , but only if your character follows a dark path. This magic Light Armor comes with two strong abilities that could be incredibly useful in tough battles throughout your journey. Not everyone can don this symbol of dedication to the god of murder if their faith in taboo deeds wavers even a little.

Many merchants in offer a wide selection of wares to support your adventure. Most of these merchants openly acknowledge their position as merchants and run shops in some of the big urban areas of the game. Others, however, do not come across as merchants upon first meeting or have more to offer than at first glance. While you can trade with most NPCs, they aren't necessarily merchants.

There's a lot of backstory behind some of the most obscure events in , but one NPC might have the weirdest lore of all. Taking place in the Forgotten Realms setting, which has spanned multiple editions of, there's a ton of arcane lore going to the very center of its story. The uninitiated might not know it, but characters like Volo, Gortash, and Elminster have long, detailed histories in the tabletop setting. Major events like the githyanki-illithid war are well documented, and each member of the Forgotten Realms pantheon has a defined dominion, and a devoted contingent of worshipers.

The Barbarian is a strong melee fighter in , and by introducing multiclassing, they gain a lot of versatility beyond just pure damage dealing. However, you want to be careful not to delay — or even fully miss out on — their key features.

With powerful spells for buffing their companions and debuffing their enemies, Bards have much power at their fingertips in , and multiclassing can make them even stronger. Faerun’s musical magicians are powerful, with a versatile set of subclasses and abilities that allow them to thrive in many different roles. However, a careful multiclass build can shore up weaknesses and make them even more formidable.

The smallest details can provide a wealth of context in , and sometimes, that context can be incredibly disturbing. It's a masterwork of environmental storytelling: there are little details scattered everywhere throughout the game, and they're not always obvious. From Easter eggs most players miss to hidden mechanics to secret ways to complete otherwise obvious quests, it keeps the player guessing throughout.

Dealing with Lorroakan's interest in Nightsong is a major piece of side content in Act 3 of , and choosing which party to ally with is a decision that can have unclear ramifications. This particular scenario is teased early on in, as the mercenary Aradin who can be found outside of the Druid Grove mentions the reward that a wizard called Lorroakan has offered for anyone who can find an artifact called the Nightsong. The tiefling Rolan also mentions the wizard, as he's particularly excited about an apprenticeship that Lorroakan has offered him.

You can rescue Zevlor in , provided you follow some conditions and make the right choices. You will encounter this Tiefling Prince near the end of Act 2. Depending on your choices earlier in the game, the quest involving Zevlor may not be available. However, to free Zevlor, you will need to fight some lethal enemies that can instantly kill you and your companions if you aren't careful.

To unlock Illithid Powers in , you will need to find Mind Flayer Parasites that can be found in various locations. While it might be natural for players to resist the parasite inside their characters, some might want to collect as many Mind Flayer Parasite Specimens as possible and unlock new powers.

Shadowheart, the half-elf cleric, is one of many romance options in . She worships Shar, a neutral evil goddess of the night and forgetfulness. Players can recruit Shadowheart to their party early in the game. She is an excellent companion but can also be a romantic partner if they play their cards right.

In order to get the Cruel Sting in , you will have to progress a fair amount into the game’s campaign and then accomplish a very specific task. Cruel Sting is categorized as a Rare Longsword in Larian Studios’ critically acclaimed turn-based RPG. The weapon does not only provide a fair amount of damage for its wielder (1d10 (1d8) Slashing) but can also inflict Psychic damage. It even has some very useful special abilities for increased damage output and even crowd control. Granted, Cruel Sting does not match the firepower of some Legendary weapons in , but it is a good option when first found.

To aid in the quest to save all of Faerûn from mind flayers, gives its players many powerful tools. Few are more potent than the vast array of spells available that cover all manner of situations, both in and out of combat. However, as the game progresses and the spells become more powerful, it becomes even more important to know which should be added to the party's arsenal.

As the party traverses the world in they are bound to pick up their fair share of loot in the form of powerful weapons, awesome looking armor and many, many spell scrolls. However, with all that gear crammed into their inventory, finding what is needed can get a little tricky. Luckily, there are some tips and tricks that can help even the biggest hoarders manage their supplies.

offers players tons of spells to choose from, ranging from cantrips all the way up to level six. However, for those new to the game, especially if they've never played, it can be a little overwhelming to be met with a list of magical options. While it's hard to go wrong with spell choices in, there are some early-game spells that it's best to keep an eye out for.

The enormous freedom offered in means that it's possible to kill just about anyone in the game, but there's a small selection of characters who aren't intended to be so easily offed. A high fantasy world naturally features some creatures and beings that are more powerful than others, and immortality or something close to it isn't always out of the question. Thanks to the complex array of systems in the game, however, even a couple of characters that shouldn't be able to bite the dust can be permanently eliminated with the right trick.

Customizing a character at the start of the game can be a daunting task, but this initial round is only the first foray into a world of rich choices and extensive freedom to tweak and retool. Some of the later ways to edit characters are obvious, like selecting new spells and feats when leveling up, but others can be a little easier to miss. Most importantly, it isn't only a custom Tav protagonist that can be the recipient of major overhauls, as offers opportunities to overhaul the whole party according to personal preferences.

Although is a game centered around a party of heroes, there are plenty of players who have taken up the challenge to complete the story solo. This can be done for a variety of reasons and provides an extra level of difficulty for a playthrough. Playing solo isn't for the faint of heart, and having the right character build is even more crucial without having a party for backup.

The Spellsparkler quarterstaff can be acquired early in 's Act 1, albeit it will require some exploring. The quarterstaff is a two-handed melee weapon meant as a gift for a cleric of Mystra. The Speellsparlet also gives d6 Bludgeoning damage with one hand and 1d8 Bludgeoning damage with two hands, making it an essential weapon to have for magic builds.

Although has now been fully released on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox, one major issue is causing some players to lose large amounts of progress on certain platforms. First released on PC in August 2023 after a lengthy early access period, faced some delays when being ported to consoles, especially regarding the Xbox version of the game, which didn't launch until December 7 the same year. And although is an especially large and ambitious RPG, the game still has a few major issues to iron out, especially for some console versions.

One of the many puzzles in can be solved in Act 1 of the story within the Emerald Grove, which involves four unique runes placed near a statue in Nettie's Library. Two hidden rewards can be obtained if you take the time to find a special key held by a specific NPC. Like many secrets in the game, you'll have to make a few decisions or talk to the right people to find what you're looking for.

Spiders can be summoned to fight for your party in as unexpected allies during a difficult fight. These friendly creatures only appear if you throw a specific item found in the forested areas of Act 1. Although these surprise companions are not permanent additions to your party, they could protect you from dangerous encounters found throughout your adventures.

has tons of amazing equipment for the party to hunt down to make sure they are at their very best when taking on mind flayers. However, that's not the only tool at their disposal, as among the other brilliant features of the game is the alchemy system, which allows all manner of potions to be crafted. From boosts in battle to an alternative to spells, there are some potions and elixirs in that every party should keep an eye out for.

takes place in a troubled world, and there's no shortage of dark implications and grim fates that the game can conjure up. The triggers for some are particularly obvious, as making a choice that sacrifices innocent lives or urging a companion to turn their back on redemption are unlikely to proceed without consequences. In other cases, though, minor instances of neglect or basic decisions about what company to keep can end up having unforeseen ramifications that may not even be discovered without a bit of investigation.

features a wide variety of magical abilities to use throughout an adventure, and this consequently means that not every supernatural effect or interaction works exactly as expected. Figuring out powerful combinations or unique exploits for spells and features is part of the fun for many, even if developer Larian Studios has taken care to patch a number of major issues to achieve a more proper ideal of balance. Some magical side effects offer no mechanical advantages at all, however, making their mark through the game's amusingly incorrect handling more than anything else.

The companions of are among the most memorable aspects of the game, but one of the best characters to have around isn't even a companion in the traditional sense. Although the word «companion» can mean a lot of different things in real life, it specifically refers to potential party members in , who fill out an adventuring group in the same way that players would at the game table (or in a multiplayer campaign). It's consequently no surprise that companions tend to be some of the most interesting characters in the game.

doesn't include every race found in the Forgotten Realms as a playable option, but it still offers a bit of variety with the inclusion of non-human and -elf races like githyanki and dragonborn. While a lot of information about these races isn't included due to the limitations of the game's design and the abundance of other content it contains, there are fun hints about different races, their histories, and cultures that parties can find if they look deep enough. And what the party learns might leave them with a new view of romance and what love and relationships mean for different races.

Although nothing has been confirmed for a potential DLC, that has not stopped speculation about how the game could be expanded. While is on its own an epic game with plenty for people to sink their teeth into, a DLC would be a great way to add back some cut content or expand on what is already there. From new areas and quests to adding more playable races and subclasses, there are more than a few ways Larian Studios could add to its masterpiece.

might seem like the obvious choice for the best game of 2023 (and it was The Game Awards' GOTY), but claiming the throne of a major industry's yearly output is no simple feat. 2023 was full of excellent titles, with games like, and receiving glowing reviews from critics and fans alike. Taking a closer look at the situation helps clarify just how strong the argument for is and whether it can really comfortably rest at the top.

has a lot of content tucked away that the player might not run into during a first playthrough, or even their first several playthroughs. This could be from taking different routes through the first acts, or from focusing on the main quests without looking for all the side quests that are scattered throughout the game. However, that can result in small moments being missed, such as finding a home for a stray cat.

The vastly different personalities of companions are the perfect recipe for some serious tensions among party members, but it's possible to kindle romance between the most unlikely of characters despite their typical frostiness. The biggest divides between characters in the game tend to come as a result of disparate cultural values or outlooks on morality, building on the traditional races, backgrounds, and alignments of while allowing for some growth and flexibility. From Karlach's fundamental optimism to Astarion's penchant for flippant cruelty, the party has the perfect dose of dysfunction that seems to be a crucial adventuring recipe.

is a game all about choice and offers an immense amount of freedom when it comes to completing quests. However, not all those choices are good ones, and there are a surprising number that can lead to an instant game over for the party. From annoying would-be gods and desperate escapees to poor choices in the face of danger, there are a plethora of choices in that can result in instant death.

is based on 5e, but the game takes many liberties in adapting the tabletop game's rules. Some rules adaptations let players make use of existing options that are rarely utilized in normal 5e, such as jumping. Others, like bonus actions and reactions, are simply adapted to the digital interface to make using them more streamlined.

has more than its share of mysteries, but its most baffling by far is the identity of Tav. It's full of hidden endings, secret doors, obscure side quests, and head-scratching puzzles. Months after launch, players are still discovering new things to do as they journey through the Forgotten Realms. It's a truly massive game, and it seems like there are new oddities and Easter eggs being found and shared every day.

Forget the Dead Three and their humanoid thralls — the most evil character in is hiding just out of sight. There’s some variation in the characters everyone meets as they travel through the Forgotten Realms. Some of them are hidden behind an evil playthrough of , and only show themselves when certain unsavory choices are made. Others simply lurk in far-off places that most players won't visit unless they're looking for some specific kind of trouble. Still others, though, are truly hard to find. Players might only find them when making a particularly complicated, less obvious series of story decisions.

The Nine Hells are not a place you can travel to outside the prologue to , unless you try to reach the devil Raphael's House of Hope in Avernus. This dungeon and mansion holds many secrets, and is where Raphael has enslaved other creatures and kept many contracts of infernal dealings. Legendary items can be stolen here, but only if you are willing to face one of the hardest bosses in the game.

While exploring the Adamantine Forge in, players will need to beat the Lava Elemental: a fearsome creature made of molten lava that guards some useful loot. This fiery creature's abilities, including self-healing and devastating melee attacks, make it tough for any party to face. However, it's also the perfect opportunity to improve your strategic combat skills, taking advantage of the Lava Elemental's many weaknesses.

By poisoning the Goblin Camp, players can make one of the toughest main fights in Act One much easier. The goblins have set up camp at the Shattered Sanctum, using it as a base to menace the Sword Coast in the name of the Absolute. Poisoning their drinks cuts the Goblin Camp's numbers, allowing you to tip the odds back in your party's favor.