Mastering the Adventure: Unleashing the Top 10 Gameplay Challenges in Baldur's Gate 3

Highlights

Hardcore gamers can test their tactical skills in Baldur's Gate 3 with challenge runs like killing everyone they meet or relying solely on improvised weapons.

Players have the option to engage in the "Stealing Is Healthy" challenge, wherein they must steal money and items from non-player characters through pickpocketing. Alternatively, they can take on the "Exclusively Magic" challenge, requiring them to solely rely on spells during combat. Additional challenges involve utilizing stealth-based attacks, exclusively utilizing ranged weapons, or embarking on a solitary adventure through the "Lone Wolf Play" challenge.

Hardcore gamers are familiar with challenge runs in their favorite games, especially in titles like Baldur's Gate 3. This game features a robust system that allows for incredibly difficult encounters and unique ways to overcome them. As an adaptation of the D&D 5e ruleset, Baldur's Gate 3 stands out from typical RPGs with its strict mechanics that have been expanded by Larian Studios to cater to tactical finesse.

Larian Studios, known for their highly adaptable combat system in Divinity: Original Sin 2, has provided Baldur's Gate 3 players with the option to bypass the game's main storyline and focus solely on its engaging combat. However, gamers may wonder what challenges they can undertake in their Baldur's Gate 3 playthroughs to truly test their tactical skills.

10 Kill Everyone

Infamous players in D&D are those who delight in murder-hoboing or the act of killing any person they encounter in order to plunder their belongings. Dungeon Masters often penalize these players for their recklessness; however, Baldur's Gate 3 gameplay incorporates a distinct evil path that aligns with these inclinations. If players are strong enough, they can choose to embark on a truly evil journey by attempting to eliminate every character they come across.

This challenge is especially suitable for the Dark Urge Origin, as this Custom Origin allows players to uncover the reasons behind their insatiable appetite for murder and violence. Regardless of the chosen character build, players are encouraged to attempt to slay every individual they encounter, sparing only those who aid them in progressing through the Main Story.

9 Stealing Is Healthy

Pickpocketing is a highly profitable method of earning money in games like Baldur's Gate 3, especially considering the steep prices of Magic Items. By incapacitating non-playable characters (NPCs) using Sleep spells, players can effortlessly steal valuable items and convert them into cash for their own use.

In the game mode called "Stealing Is Healthy," players are only permitted to acquire items through theft. Whether they require basic necessities or Potions of Health, this challenge obligates players to rely on their thieving skills to escape poverty. Aggressively provoking NPCs during theft attempts adds an additional layer of complexity to the challenge.

8 Improvised Weapons Only

Characters in Dungeons & Dragons don't always have the luxury of wielding a complete set of weapons. That's where Improvised Weapons come in. In Baldur's Gate 3, the game adopts the concept of Improvised Weapon Attack, which encourages characters to search for a random item they can wield as a weapon. While these weapons may cause less damage, skilled players can still execute impressive moves.

Enter the Improvised Weapons Only challenge. True to its name, this challenge restricts players to using only Improvised Weapons in combat. Players have the choice of allowing spells or having their characters solely rely on Improvised Weapons, which includes throwing items as part of their repertoire.

7 Stealth Is Wealth

It is probable that Astarion would be the first character in Baldur's Gate 3 that players encounter, fitting the stealth archetype, particularly if they choose the Rogue preference. Astarion is capable of dealing significant damage to enemies through Sneak Attack, but this is only possible if he has the Advantage over them, showcasing the importance of surprise with this Rogue Feature.

The Stealth is Wealth challenge revolves around this strategy, as it necessitates all characters to rely on stealth-oriented attacks in order to secure kills. Players can choose to play as Rogues or utilize spellcasters who have the ability to consistently blind or impede an opponent's vision.

6 Exclusively Magic

Spellcasters in Baldur’s Gate 3 possess immense power, thanks to their ability to utilize devastating D&D spells. In addition to their inherent abilities, characters can acquire spells through classes, scrolls, and magic items.

The Exclusively Magic challenge puts players in a situation where they must rely solely on spells to defeat their opponents. This task becomes more manageable when forming a troupe consisting solely of spellcasters who have access to damaging Cantrips that do not consume Spell Slots. By equipping appropriate magic items and utilizing feats like Magic Initiate, the Exclusively Magic challenge becomes a fascinating test of skill.

5 Ranged Delight

Baldur’s Gate 3 gameplay now offers the convenience of quick-swap options, allowing characters to effortlessly switch between melee and ranged weapons based on the situation at hand. This feature enables even melee specialists to experiment with long-range attacks, giving them the ability to fend off enemies attempting to escape while still maintaining their freedom to maneuver.

For those seeking a more demanding gameplay experience, Ranged Delight presents a challenge. In this mode, players are required to solely rely on ranged attacks, irrespective of their Class or spell usage. By compelling all characters to utilize ranged weapons, players can inject variety into their strategy.

4 Deadly Melee

Melee combat plays a vital role in the combat system of Baldur's Gate 3, as all creatures have the ability to use both long-range and close-range weapons. This proficiency is why close-range specialists like the Fighter and Barbarian are essential as tanks, as they can deliver powerful attacks with weapons like Versatile Weapons.

The Deadly Melee challenge focuses on this specialization by requiring players to only use attacks within melee range. Spells that enhance or heal allies can be used from a distance, but not for debuffs or status effects. However, players can make the challenge more interesting by also limiting allowable spells to those that only affect melee combat.

3 The Lone Wolf Play

Players who enjoyed Larian Studios' previous game, Divinity: Original Sin 2, will likely recall the "Lone Wolf" Talent, which provided a boost to a character's stats when playing solo or with just one companion. This Talent pushed players to rely heavily on their tactical skills, as they often found themselves outnumbered in encounters. A similar concept is present in Baldur's Gate 3, where players can choose to undertake the Lone Wolf Play challenge. This challenge requires players to depend on their character's individual skills to face most encounters solo. It is a demanding task, as players are consistently outnumbered from the beginning. To overcome this challenge, players can create hyper-optimized builds that excel in crowd control, or they can employ strategic hit-and-run tactics.

2 Unknown Hirelings

Upon unlocking Withers in their Baldur's Gate 3 playthrough, players are granted access to a range of options including the ability to respec their characters, revive deceased Companions, and recruit Hirelings. Rather than solely experimenting with Companions who possess their own individual stories and themes, players now have the opportunity to explore various builds with Hirelings, who can be hired at a more affordable rate.

One intriguing challenge that players can undertake involves completing an entire playthrough solely using Hirelings. To embark on this challenge, players could commence by acquiring their initial Companions and refrain from advancing through the main story until Withers is unlocked, sufficient gold has been accumulated, and their party has been filled exclusively with Hirelings. With an abundance of side quests and areas to explore in Act 1, players may amass a fully-equipped party of Hirelings to continue the remaining portion of their playthrough.

1 No Offense

Players can experience a unique aspect of Baldur's Gate 3 with a specially designed Face Character, distinguishing it from other RPGs. In games like D&D and other TTRPGs, a Face Character is specifically crafted to represent the entire party, equipped with high levels of Charisma and skill points in conversational abilities such as Deception, Intimidation, Persuasion, and Performance. This enables them to skillfully navigate and negotiate their way out of troubling predicaments.

In the No Offense challenge, players are encouraged to create a character that excels at resolving problematic situations through persuasive communication strategies.

Despite the existence of combative conversations, players understand the importance of actively seeking non-violent dialogues. To explore the possibility of eliminating the Illithid parasites without resorting to killing, players are encouraged to consistently reload their saves and select the least aggressive alternatives.

Baldur’s Gate 3 is currently accessible on PC and is expected to be released on September 6, 2023, for PlayStation 5.