Baldur's Gate 3: Surprising Twists That Will Blow Your Mind!

Highlights

Making the choice to let Astarion, the vampire, feed on the player character actually leads to beneficial outcomes such as increased approval and special abilities in combat.

If Volo is allowed to perform brain surgery on the player character in Baldur's Gate 3, they may lose an eye. However, as compensation, they will receive a prosthetic eye that grants the ability to see invisible enemies and uncover hidden secrets throughout the game.

By enduring three agonizing floggings from Abdirak, a devoted follower of the Goddess of Pain, players will gain a permanent status effect. This effect provides a significant boost to their attacks and saving throws when their health is at a critical level. It is highly recommended to have companions such as Shadowheart and Astarion in the party who support this decision.

Taking inspiration from its Dungeons and Dragons origins, Baldur's Gate 3, a role-playing game, offers players a wide array of choices. These choices can range from traditionally heroic to cunningly villainous or even just plain bad ideas. However, the game often cleverly conceals the consequences of these choices. In some instances, opting for something that appears to cause immediate hardship for the player can actually lead to unexpected benefits for their character.

Throughout the game, players and their companions journey through the Sword Coast, venture into the depths of Baldur's Gate 3's Underdark, and make their way to the eponymous city in search of a cure for Illithid parasites infecting their minds. While several characters claim to possess a cure, many of them prove to be ineffective and bring about considerable pain. Additionally, each companion harbors secrets of their own, and numerous characters encountered along the journey have their own self-serving motives or a morbid fascination with suffering. With all these factors at play, there are plenty of options that result in pain, but only a handful of them actually lead to a favorable outcome.

Getting Bitten By A Vampire

Astarion the rogue is more than meets the eye. This enigmatic and pale elf is a vampire spawn with a centuries-old existence that relies on blood for sustenance. At the beginning of the game, he will attempt to feed on the player character, giving them the choice to either accept or refuse. Although being bitten by a vampire is undoubtedly a painful experience, it is actually the right decision to make.

Opting to embrace his vampiric nature and becoming Astarion's source of nourishment increases his favorability. This is crucial for players who desire to pursue a romantic connection with the sarcastic vampire. However, even for those who prefer a different romantic path, allowing Astarion to feed is highly recommended. This will bestow upon him the "Happy" status, granting a +1 bonus to attack rolls, saving throws, and skill checks until his next rest. Additionally, he will acquire an additional "Vampire Bite" attack that can be utilized as a Bonus Action during combat. Players who are bitten will receive the negative "Bloodless" status, but this can be remedied through spells like Lesser Restoration or the Paladin's Lay On Hands ability.

Letting Volo Perform Surgery

Returning from previous Baldur's Gate titles, Volo is a versatile NPC with one notable exception - he is not skilled in surgery. Should players opt to rescue Volo from goblin captivity, he will appear in the camp and propose a solution to eliminate their Illithid parasite once and for all. However, Volo's unconventional approach involves a needle and an ice pick for brain surgery.

Regrettably, Volo's "surgery" proves unsuccessful in removing the mindflayer parasite. Additionally, it permanently damages one of the player character's eyes. Nonetheless, Volo compensates by providing a prosthetic eye that permanently bestows the "See Invisibility" ability. This allows players to discern hidden enemies and uncover secrets in the vast world of Baldur's Gate 3. It is important to note that certain companions, including Shadowheart and Lae'zel, will view the player's decision to allow Volo's operation unfavorably, leading to a slight decrease in their approval ratings.

Paying Respects To The Goddess Of Pain

In the world of Faerun, countless gods and goddesses exist, each with their loyal followers. Surprisingly, even Loviatar, the Goddess of Pain, has a devoted following despite her unusual realm. Among these followers is a priest named Abdirak, whom players may encounter when infiltrating a Goblin Camp to rescue the druid Halsin or potentially siding with the goblins to destroy the druids' sanctuary.

Abdirak is fascinated by the player character and is curious to witness their response to pain. Players are given the option to allow Abdirak to whip them up to three times, with each lash reducing their HP. If players endure the excruciating sessions without requesting Abdirak to stop, they will receive the "Loviatar's Love" status effect as a permanent reward. This effect grants players a +2 bonus to attacks and saving throws when their health is at 30% or lower. Additionally, two companions, Shadowheart and Astarion, will approve of witnessing the player's torment. Therefore, it is advisable to have one or both of them in the party while submitting to Abdirak's unforgiving tests.

Receiving The Brand Of The Absolute

In the Shattered Sanctum, players will encounter True Soul Gut, a priestess who carries a mindflayer parasite. Gut offers to mark one character with a painful, burning brand, signifying them as a follower of the Absolute, a powerful new god. While the experience is uncomfortable for the chosen character, the Brand offers numerous benefits.

The Branded party member can convince NPCs that they belong to the Cult of the Absolute, allowing them to avoid certain combative encounters. Additionally, there are various armor and weapons (usually obtained from cult members) that provide extra effects for a Branded character. Only one character can bear the Brand per playthrough, so players should carefully consider who to bestow this "honor" upon. Furthermore, if the player chooses to take the Brand themselves, certain companions like Shadowheart (who disapproves of Absolute worship) and Astarion (who was previously branded) will express their disapproval if they are in the party.

Getting Frisky With An Incubus

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Dealing with the devil Raphael in Baldur's Gate 3 can be quite frustrating. He always seems to be one step ahead of the party, and his intentions are often unclear. However, players can gain an advantage over this cunning creature when they explore Raphael's home in Act 3. By agreeing to "spend some time" with Haarlep, an incubus held captive by Raphael, players can obtain crucial information that enables them to confront Raphael, who is known for being difficult to defeat. Although being intimate with an incubus may not be pleasant for the player, the rewards in terms of gathering valuable information outweigh any discomfort they may endure.

Baldur's Gate 3 is currently available for PC, with a PlayStation 5 version available on September 6. An Xbox Series X/S release is planned for late 2023.