Baldur's Gate 3 Update 5 Patch Marks the Game's Bittersweet Farewell

The new Honour Mode is featured on the main menu, offering a challenging permadeath experience for players. The latest patch also introduces Custom Mode, allowing players to fully customize their gameplay experience. Options in Custom Mode include the ability to hide required rolls and HP stats, simulate tabletop mechanics, enable full party healing during short rests, disable perception checks, and more.

Honour Mode is a one-shot, permadeath mode where players must complete the game without dying or start from the beginning. Bosses in this mode use new attacks and present additional obstacles, and those who succeed will receive a Golden D20 item as a reward.

Many performance improvements, particularly in Act III.

Added dynamic resolution for PS5.

While at camp, you can now access and manage the inventories of companions who aren't in your active party.

Added a brand new fight in Ramazith’s Tower if you betray Nightsong there.

Becoming half-illithid will now also have a visible impact on your eyes.

Basic Action variations (such as a free version of Dash that you can perform because of a class feature) that share a hotkey by default will now receive a hotkey based on a specific priority order.

Gave Jaheira her own scene with Danthelon if she approaches him alone.

Improved the physics of characters and walls to prevent NPCs being able to shoot through ceilings inside houses.

Improved companion reactivity when making the decision before the Netherbrain.

The loading screen art now unlocks gradually as you progress through the game.

Fixed the screen going black during Astarion's endgame romance scene.

Added some additional audio and cinematic work to the intimate scene with the drow in Sharess' Caress.

Fixed a texture-related crash and leak.

Fixed a crash and blocker when interacting with Auntie Ethel in Act III.

Fixed a possible crash related to dealing damage when the game can't detect a source for that damage.

Added fixes for certain random crashes.

Combat and Balance

Fixed the combat AI sometimes not checking if it can use items.

Fixed the hag sometimes skipping turns.

In Tactician Mode, the hag is now immune to being killed by being Shoved into chasms, as she has the ability to cast magic. Additionally, assassins now regain their Action at the start of combat with the Fixed Assassin's Alacrity.

Hope from the House of Hope now wields half-plate armor and a light crossbow, along with a stronger shield. The Battle Master maneuvers now accurately include your Proficiency Bonus in the Difficulty Class.

Gave Primal Stampede a Saving Throw to save against being Prone.

Casting Blade Barrier while under the effects of Sanctuary will cause Sanctuary to end.

No such thing as a free lunch. Consuming the noblestalk mushroom during combat now costs an Action.

Increased the rarity value of the Elixir of Cloud Giant Strength.

Dark Urge players should now always have the option to kill the Netherbrain in the game's final combat.

Gortash's Incineration Casters no longer display a danger area once they are destroyed.

Bernard's Static Discharge condition duration has been reduced to 2 turns from 3.

Grym's Reverberating condition now clears at the start of his turn instead of the end, which fixes the issue with the movement speed buff not working.

The use of bombs to force open the final door in the Gauntlet of Shar has been disabled. Additionally, some code has been revised to enhance and streamline the camera system.

Loading a game that was saved on the roll result screen will now keep the results of that roll.

Dousing a fire will now also extinguish that fire's ambient light.

- Fixed issue where combat UI would not automatically move to the next available party member after a controlled character dies.

- Players can no longer loot the entire inventory of unconscious traders; instead, they have access to a limited selection, similar to dead traders.

Enhanced the visuals for disposing of a deceased body from your inventory and for relocating living bodies out of Withers' Wardrobe.

When an avatar carrying the dead body of another avatar is dismissed to the Wardrobe, both will be correctly removed from the active party.

Characters' bodies no longer float in the middle of the Underdark entrance pit after being Shoved.

Bibberbangs now react to summons, only ignoring creatures with different weights compared to Air and Fire Elementals, Mage Hands, Shadows, etc.

Shar is now aware of Shadowheart's actions even if she is using Disguise Self.

Aspect of the Chimpanzee will now only blind the target on a failed Dexterity Saving Throw.

Jumping to view the character whose turn it is in combat no longer requires shared initiative.

DippIng weapons in toxin puddles makes attacks toxic for 10 turns rather than until Long Rest.

Fixed Heat Metal expiring too early.

Applying Chilled or Wet to a character will no longer cause them to freeze without warning. Very seasonal.

Removed a persistent overhead exclamation mark from Wyll.

Fixed companions losing their custom positions at camp after loading a savegame.

The issue of the lift in the House of Healing looping between floors indefinitely when exiting Turn-Based Mode has been resolved. Additionally, a rare bug where Halsin would transform into a bear when approached at camp in the Shadow-Cursed Lands has been fixed.

Quartermaster Talli will no longer provide extra supply packs to a character pretending to be someone else.

The creatures summoned by the Conjure Woodland Being spell, such as the Dryad and Wood Woad, can now jump.

Outlanders will no longer be rewarded with an Inspiration point for giving Thulla a noblestalk if they choose to give her an antitoxin. Additionally, she will not retain the potion that is given to her. The Sharrans' Shadow Ambush ability will now only be activated when a Weapon Attack is used.

Nightsinger's Favour no longer replaces conditions applied by elixirs.

Effects that cure poison will now also remove Drow Poison and Crawler Mucus.

The hidden button behind the still life painting in Candulhallow's Tombstones can no longer be interacted with until the painting is moved.

Resolved a problem that was preventing valid spellcasting positions from being allowed during spellcasting.

The hag no longer has her passives while disguised as Mayrina.

Starting combat by spending resources while in Turn-Based Mode will now properly subtract the resources, like in real-time.

Flow and Scripting

Resolved the issue of the Resonance Stone losing its aura after performing a Long Rest with it in your inventory.

Act-Agnostic

Flow and Scripting

Act-Agnostic

Mizora's appearance for her judgment of Wyll will only occur once Karlach is actually deceased. (Resurrecting her will nullify the moment.)

Fixed companions sometimes confusing you for the Dark Urge or Gale.

Fixed the romance scene with Astarion triggering two Long Rests in a row in certain conditions.

Corrected prioritization of speakers in the Magic Mirror and Underdark raft dialogues.

Choosing to help Yurgir in Act II eliminates the need to persuade him to assist in the fight against Raphael in the House of Hope.

Locke no longer blames Zevlor for his death if Zevlor died in Act I.

If you are romancing Lae'zel or are in good standing with her, she'll be less abrasive if you suggest she hang out at camp.

Karlach will now approve of the player resurrecting a companion with Withers' assistance. Additionally, Karlach's camp reflection will also be triggered as the player transitions from Act II to Act III.

Bug fixed: Previously, knocking out Crusher during the 'fist fight' caused his friends to treat him as dead and resulted in the loss of his dialogue until a Long Rest was taken. Additionally, knocking out one of Crusher's friends was counted as killing them and permanently caused them to lose their dialogue. These issues have now been resolved.

Baelen can no longer sprint away and disappear when attacked in the bibberbang field.

Eliminated some lines from Maggran that lacked lip sync in bear form - who needs to chat when you can roar?

Resolved the problem at Moonrise Towers docks where even with permission, guards would repeatedly stop you. Additionally, ensured that the Moonrise Towers waypoint is unlocked upon entering the main floor.

Those who arrive late to the Ketheric showdown fight will have their summons and followers teleported into the boss room, whether they are battling on the rooftop or in the mind flayer colony.

Players who come to the Ketheric showdown shape-shifted will have to confront him directly, rather than in their alternate forms.

Warlocks can now tell Yurgir to kill himself to be freed from his contract. Diabolical.

You should no longer be able to refer to Nightsong when talking to Gale as if you haven't yet met her.

If Nightsong is defeated when the Apostle of Myrkul is defeated, she will have time to get up and participate in the following cinematic. Minthara can no longer be stuck as just a 'follower' at Moonrise Towers, instead she can now be recruited as a companion.

Act III

Players will no longer be able to join an active game where the characters have reached the Morphic Pool or beyond.

Fixed Ravengard repeatedly asking you to help free Florrick.

The Flaming Fist will appear at the wine festival crime scene if Cora and Roger were killed during a Long Rest.

The mind flayer at the Wyrm's Crossing windmill will now take the body you offer it.

Victoria's dialogue with the dead in Cazador's Palace has been removed because it did not align with the story reflected in various diaries found within the palace.

A bug has been fixed where the ghost of the murder victim in the Murder Tribunal would not fade out and join combat if the trial was rushed through.

Astarion's decision to remain a vampire spawn will not be discussed further if Cazador's ritual was disrupted before he could make a choice. Once players discover the murderer's dagger and room key beneath the Open Hand Temple, they can begin the quest to Solve the Open Hand Temple Murders.

After coercing or persuading Nubaldin, the dialogue will now allow you to select from the initial question list.

Resolved an issue where the Chamber of Insight trial could result in both success and failure.

Minthara no longer repeats herself in support of Astarion becoming a Vampire Ascendant.

Sarevok calling you an interloper no longer causes all your allies to attack you.

Apprentice Laridda will no longer presume that you are the one delivering the bad news of a break-up if you don't have the break-up message for her.

Ravengard must now use the appropriate pronouns when speaking to you during the ceremony at Wyrm's Rock.

If Honk appeared during the date with Karlach in Baldur's Gate, he will appear at the tavern the day after.

The vampire spawn Yousen's dialogue should now trigger correctly.

Added more communication between Mystic Carrion and his clients, providing you with extra chances to discover the method of accessing his mansion.

Journal

Learning about the true nature of Astarion in Crèche Y'llek or the Shadow-Cursed Lands now leads to a journal entry.

Performance and Optimization

Addressed a memory leak that occurs when unloading a visual during facial animation, such as exiting a game region.

Enhanced performance when opening a radial menu while casting a spell.

Improved backend protocols to prevent frame spikes during Act III teleportation.

Included lower triangle-count versions of hierarchical detail levels, visible when selecting Low Model Quality settings.

Improved the performance of water physics.

Improved system memory function by removing unused fallback fonts.

UI

Numerous improvements have been made to address leaks, reduce RAM/VRAM usage, and optimize performance.

UI

Implemented a profanity filter for custom map markers. Players will need to come up with more inventive labels for the kennel master.

Improved the connection between combat log messages about you losing stealth and the reason for losing it.

You can now sell and barter items inside containers when trading.

Fixed some issues with loot containers not closing when you take all the items.

Fixed the active spell sometimes not glowing on the hotbar.

Withers' Wardrobe of Wayward Friends now has a map icon.

Fixed broken mouseover text warning you that you can't use Sneak Attack again until your next turn.

Tooltips, Icons and Portraits

The tooltip text for alchemical ingredients will no longer get cropped.

Fixed the text on some tooltips being cut off.

Fixed the Action Resource tooltip clipping in French.

Fixed several pairs of gloves displaying the wrong name and icon.

Fixed the Steam icons that appear in the Reactions UI and Multiplayer Settings being zoomed in.

The combat log will now name wall-based spells in the mouse-over tooltip, as with other spells.

Updated the Character Creation camera control icon on controller.

Controller and Split-Screen

Prevented the controller's right stick from navigating radial menus.

Updated the visuals of the sliders in the Gamma and HDR Calibration settings on controller.

Fixed missing audio feedback in various UIs, along with spamming sounds using shortcuts on controller.

Fixed UI clipping issues on the Examine panel.

Removed an element from the controller Options menu that only works on PC.

Added a 'Group All' button for the party on controller.

Made grouping and ungrouping summoned creatures a toggle.

Level Design

Fixed some navigation issues in The Glitter Gala and The Chromatic Scale in the Lower City.

Increased the navigation space in the Mausoleum doorways behind the mural.

Planks and rubble have been placed in a specific location in Waukeen's Rest to indicate that jumping is necessary to move from one point to another. In Heapside Prison, the crumbling wall can now be targeted regardless of the status of the adjacent door.

Improved Cazador's home security by locking a chest and a door.

Fixed and decorated some pressure plates in Cazador's Palace.

The Reithwin Tollhouse safe now has better loot.

Added more loot to the library in Rosymorn Monastery.

Fixed a chest in Cazador's Palace having two copies of 'Dawsen Kiltmaker's Confession' diary.

Improved the treasure available in Reithwin and the Silent Library.

A chest in Wyrm's Rock Prison now has improved loot.

The torturers in Moonrise Towers now have more loot.

The 'Sinister Door' in Cazador's Palace now locks and unlocks correctly.

Improved the quality of loot available in the Hidden Vault in the Emerald Grove.

An Eternal Debtor's hair no longer floats when the camera is zoomed out.

Fixed a spot in Bloomridge Park that allowed you to walk on water. Who do you think you are?

Heterochromatic eye colours can now be applied to the correct eyes for the preset elven character in Character Creation.

Improved the model for shirtless Cazador.

Updated Maghtew Budj's portrait.

Fixed an empty space in the Lower City vista.

Animation

Fixed cleric arms clipping through cloth when casting some spells. Holy smokes.

Polished animations on the Steel Watcher who invites you to Gortash's inauguration.

Corrected a level-of-detail problem that caused skeletons in the Dank Crypt to lose their robes and appear bare (well, bony) when zoomed out.

Resolved clipping around Doctor Moorcombe’s neck when he moves his head.

Polished the appearance of some robes when worn by male gnomes.

Improved the appearance of zombie clothes on male humans.

Characters no longer twitch slightly after picking up or dropping an item from their inventory.

Fixed a clipping issue in a custom animation of Astarion reading a book.

When dragging and dropping a dead character from an inventory, they'll no longer replay their death animation.

Lighting

Polished the lighting for the Netherbrain confrontation.

Sound

Improved the sound mixing for the Absolute speaking to you and Shadowheart for the first time.

Fixed a duplicated sound when interacting with goodberries.

Fixed the Magic Mirror background ambiance persisting after you exit the UI.

Added SFX to kissing Shadowheart in her default dialogue.

Learning a new alchemy recipe now triggers the correct audio feedback.

VFX

Spirit Guardians now correctly cast light in the direction they are travelling.

Fixed a candle in Moonrise Towers missing its flame.

The Silk Tomb condition and visual effects (as seen in the Phase Spider Matriarch fight) now apply correctly.

Named the tattoos in Character Creation.

Added an extra line for Halsin so he acknowledges an outcome where you resolved the grove situation but the goblin leaders weren't necessarily killed.

Divine Strike: Weapon now shows the correct damage in its tooltip description.

Fixed a missing subtitle for one of Ghustil Stornugoss' lines.

Added custom touches and polishes to many dialogues across the game.

Fixed some animation issues caused by dragonborn armour in dialogues with duergar.

Fixed the Dark Urge's jittery writhing animation while tied up by a companion.

Minthara's haughty stare will now correctly look at players she's talking to towards the end of the game.

Fixed a quirky stair-climbing animation during Dribbles' on-stage show.

Fixed Redhammer's hand clipping through his face.

Fixed Shadowheart not correctly looking at you when talking to her before the Upper City final battle. How rude.

Improved lip contact and mocap for large and tall players when smooching Wyll.

Fixed the visual effects in Lorroakan's Speak with Dead dialogue.

Companion interjections will now correctly play during the spider meat scene in the Gauntlet of Shar.

The pig's animation at the Wyrm's Crossing refugee camp no longer abruptly starts when he speaks a new line.

We resolved the issue of long, awkward pauses that occurred after each line spoken by one of the ghouls outside Moonrise Towers.

Fixed an animation looping issue that caused a pop on a dog's butt.

Improved camera angles after the combat with the bear and the goblins in the Goblin Camp.

Fixed some bugs when talking to Kled.

Fixed the camera clipping beneath the ground in the scene after defeating Cazador without Astarion there.

Resolved an issue where freed prisoners of Cazador were seen walking through a closed door in a cinematic.

Also fixed a rare occurrence where party members were mistakenly shown in cinematic cutscenes instead of the intended NPCs.