Baldur’s Gate 3is an example of an in-depth RPG with many different branches in dialogue, exploration, and even who you decide to spare, which can have huge consequences on the story. One way to explore this further is by playing one of the eight different origin characters.
While you’re able to still experience their stories as an outsider, making choices as that character creates a different experience that feels intensely more personal. For each origin character, there is a moment that defines their character and is worth achieving every playthrough.
8Tav
Defeating The Netherbrain
The best part of playing as a custom origin character is being able to dive into the stories of your companions while keeping yours open-ended enough to really tell it through gameplay and dialogue. While this gives you a vague past at best, it serves to make a truly custom character.
By the end of Act Three, when you and your allies defeat the Netherbrain and either seize control or destroy it forever, you get the most heartbreaking and amazing moments between you and your companions. Here you finally breathe a sigh of relief and wish you could continue the adventure for another eight acts.
7Shadowheart
Saving Or Sacrificing Her Parents
After enteringthe House of Griefand defeating the cloister of Sharrans led by Mother Superior, if you chose the path of Selûne for Shadowheart, she must face the most difficult decision in the game. This is either to sacrifice her parents to break Shar’s control, or save them while still being a slave to a goddess.
While her parents help you decide by asking you to sacrifice them, it is still an incredibly emotional scene, especially playing as origin Shadowheart. Although, whatever you choose, Shadowheart becomes forever changed past this moment.
6Wyll
Breaking The Pact
Although origin Wyll has a couple of different moments that make him worth playing, the most satisfying is finally being able to break his pact with Mizora. Even though she attempts to lie, cheat, and steal to keep Wyll chained, you can still free him while playing by her infernal rules.
You can also achieve the extraordinarily difficulttask of rescuing his father, which is a close second, as this is the first time you meet him while free of control from the Netherbrain. This is just another thing to shove in Mizora’s face as she attempts to bargain his life away.
5Gale
Meeting Mystra
While a sad, lonely Gale in the throes of an intense breakup with a goddess is great material for memes, playing as the Wizard of Waterdeep gives a new meaning to the Mystra scene in Baldur’s Gate when you play as origin Gale. This is especially due to the choices you can make afterward.
This scene is the ultimate exercise of trust and ego and really challenges you to make choices no one would ever have to make in the real world. Grappling with godhood and understanding Mystra in your conversation with her is what makes Gale an excellent choice for an origin character.
4Astarion
Defeating Cazador Szarr
One of the more emotional moments in any of the origin playthroughs, finally destroying the source of Astarion’s anxiety and fear is one of the best parts of Baldur’s Gate 3, period. Following this is one of the hardest choices Astarion ever had to make.
Whether or not to become ascended is a hot topic with fans, but the undeniable weight of the decision and grappling with what is best for Astarion versus what he truly wants makes for a great moment in gaming. Either way, Cazador loses his power and can’t hurt anyone anymore.
3Lae’zel
Saving Orpheus
One of the more complex themes in Lae’zel’s story is grappling with escaping dogma and challenging your every belief. While Lae’zel can slowly begin to understand what lies she has been told, acting on her new goals is utterly freeing.
Although freeing the true heir of the githyanki requires making a villain of The Emperor, it’s worth it to have Lae’zel achieve a goal she made for herself and her people. Freeing Orpheus from his chains, while risky, is so important for understanding Lae’zel as a dynamic character and allowing her to grow.
2Karlach
Defeating Gortash
Next to Astarion, Karlach has some of the most emotional and heartbreaking scenes in the game, and probably the most recognized by fans is the moment after defeating Gortash. Finally, using her rage to get revenge on her greatest betrayal, Karlach is left with just fear.
Her fear of death is undeniably relatable and is equally difficult to watch and impossible to ignore. What makes this moment so worth it is hearing from your companions and letting them comfort Karlach in her darkest moment.
1Dark Urge
Resisting The Urge
In what feels like the intended custom character experience for Baldur’s Gate 3, the Dark Urge is a challenging yet rewarding playthrough everyone should try at least once. The climatic moment being making the choice of giving in to the urge or resisting it forever.
While this decision has pretty serious consequences overall, resisting the urge feels like the more powerful and rewarding choice, despite immediately dying afterward. The emotional relief ofdefying a godand protecting your ideals is the best moment as the Dark Urge.
