The Essential Checklist for Conquering Baldur's Gate 3 Act 1

In the first act of Baldur's Gate 3, you have the opportunity to assemble a diverse team of companions, each bringing their unique skills and stories. You are limited to three active companions at a time, but all others will await your call at the camp. Initial companions include Lae'zel, a formidable fighter, and Shadowheart, a devoted cleric, both of whom join you early in your journey. You'll meet Astarion, the elven rogue with a vampiric twist, and Gale, the human wizard entangled in arcane troubles, soon after your adventure begins. Eventually, within the Emerald Grove, you'll come across Wyll, the warlock, and his nemesis, Karlach, who doubles as a barbarian you can persuade to join your cause. Lastly, Minthara, a paladin with questionable allegiances, is available to join, but at the high cost of losing other comrades.

Gather the Eclectic Withers to Your Camp

Character creation in Baldur's Gate 3 is an intricate affair, with a plethora of options that affect your gameplay experience. Thankfully, Withers provides the opportunity for a character reset. Found in the Dank Crypt, he offers services to revamp your class, skills, and abilities after you encounter him. Withers will also negotiate the services of mercenaries and resurrect fallen allies, making him an invaluable resource located early in your journey.

Locate the Elusive Cargo

The fascinating side quest "Find the Missing Shipment" is triggered by the discovery of a dead caravan agent and his associated note. Follow the trail of blood to a cave, where you'll encounter a magical chest guarded by knolls. This task is arduous but rewarding, presenting ample loot and an engaging narrative that represents the game's rich exploratory elements.

Liberate or Align With the Goblin Camp

Emerald Grove faces aggressive goblin invaders whose defeat promises a bounty of experience and progression. Aside from strategic insights, liberating characters such as Halsin, the Druid leader entwined with the central plot, is highly beneficial. On the flip side, allying with goblins alters the narrative's trajectory significantly, costing you the chance to have Wyll, Karlach, or Halsin accompanying your journey.

Cooperate with Blighted Village's Ogre Trio

The Blighted Village is the residence of a band of ogres amidst ruins, and how you interact with them can drastically affect your adventure. A brutal confrontation might ensue if you challenge them, potentially rewarding them with an artifact that enhances intelligence. Alternatively, by engaging in a dialogue, you can recruit their service for future battles — for a hefty fee, of course.

Confront the Deceptive Auntie Ethel

In a swampy area, you'll stumble upon Auntie Ethel inside the Riverside Teahouse, who's harboring a young woman named Mayrina while falsely portraying benevolence. Ethel's true nature is that of a heinous witch, and uncovering this requires a chase through the Teahouse, culminating in an intense confrontation with multiple strategic elements to navigate. Defeating Ethel opens up the exploration of her peculiar dwelling and the resolution of Mayrina's entangled fate.

Handle the Gur Hunter Encounter with Astarion

When the party comes across Gandrel, a hunter of ghoulish creatures stationed outside Auntie Ethel's abode, Astarion's secretive existence is put at risk. The Gur are actively hunting him, and upon this meeting, the group faces choices that could significantly shape Astarion's journey. Surrendering him to Gandrel is an option, but Astarion also has the chance to confront and defeat the hunter. Alternatively, the group could feign ignorance of Astarion's true nature, avoiding trouble for the moment.

Choosing not to engage Gandrel leads to a later reunion in Act 3, permitting Astarion a chance to demonstrate valor without previous bloodshed influencing the situation. A redemption-seeking Astarion will find an avenue to perform a noble deed for the Gur, enhancing his character journey, especially if Gandrel remains unharmed from their first interaction.

Befriend and Recruit Animal Allies

The heartwarming side adventures of Baldur's Gate 3 include rescuing and recruiting two animal companions: Scratch, a faithful dog mourning its owner just beyond the bridge leading to the Blighted Village, and an owlbear cub in a nearby cave under its mother's watchful eye. Persuading these creatures to join the camp necessitates letting them familiarize themselves with the hero's scent. Even if initial encounters with the adult owlbear become contentious, sparing her cub and engaging afterward provides a second recruitment chance. These endearing animals eventually form a kinship, and their interactions at the camp create delightful moments for players to savor.

In Pursuit of a Tadpole Antidote

The quest to resolve the tadpole affliction introduces players to an array of characters claiming to hold the cure, including the artistic Volo, the deceptive Auntie Ethel, Goblin Priestess Gut, Nettie the Druid, and Ghustil Stornugoss. While each offers unique perspectives and remedies, it becomes clear that these are extraordinary tadpoles resisted by no simple solution. Although the promise of cures tantalizes, the reality of severe consequences or lack of effectiveness leads players to embrace the tadpole and its mysterious powers. The game also provides opportunities to harness extraordinary abilities by consuming additional tadpoles discovered along the journey, offering a twist on traditional gameplay dynamics.

Craft the Masterwork Weapon

The adventure takes an industrious turn in the Blighted Village with the chance to craft a masterwork weapon at the abandoned smith's forge. After retrieving Highcliff's Blueprints and obtaining Sussur bark from the Underdark's elusive Sussur tree, players can forge a formidable Sussur Blade by combining the bark with a weapon of choice. This process empowers the weapon with silencing capabilities against spell-casters, giving combatants an edge in magical confrontations.

Utilize the Adamantine Forge

Deep within the Underdark, at Grymforge, lies the daunting Adamantine Forge, which adventurers can reach by leveraging a Potion of Feather Fall. This secluded smithy allows for the selection and creation of limited mithral equipment, which offers substantial defensive benefits. Accessing the forge awakens the formidable Grym, whom tactically minded players can lure into a deadly trap at the heart of the smelting operation to turn the tables.

Comprehensive Exploration of the Underdark and Mountain Pass

Within these expansive realms lies a wealth of places worthy of thorough investigation, from the Selunite Outpost and Myconid Minefield to Grymforge and the Astral Plane. Venturing into these areas, players can engage with the local inhabitants, uncover hidden treasures, and complete quests, all contributing to enriching the narrative before proceeding to Act 2. With tips of the hat indicating the thresholds of progression, adventurers should exhaust their options for exploration here to ensure no stone is left unturned and no opportunity is missed in their heroic saga.

By following this comprehensive guide, you'll ensure a thorough and enriching experience of Baldur's Gate 3's first act, setting you up for success in the adventures that follow.