Simple Baldur’s Gate 3 mistake makes Act 3 completely fall apart
Larian StudiosDepending on your playthrough, you can make several harmful decisions in Baldur’s Gate 3, some of which can make you regret your choices. However, if you are in a “good” playthrough, be careful as one mistake might mess up your Act 3 experience.
Reddit user ‘SufficientMixture614’ pointed out that killing Gortash during his coronation ceremony in Act 3 can have dire consequences. Of course, players might feel like agreeing with Karlach and killing Gortash right there, but make sure you know what you are signing up for.
To begin with, the Steel Watch questline is lost and The Foundry is completely destroyed, killing all the Gondians in it. Similarly, the entire Iron Throne mission is also over, meaning that a massive chunk of Act 3 is just lost already.
Additionally, Duke Ravengard dies on the Iron Throne, as it’s most likely destroyed in Gortash’s absence. Wyll‘s new mission will be to resurrect the Duke somehow, and Mizora’s romance scene will be locked out in the process, according to the OP.
Other major changes include Volo being tied to the cart for no reason, and Wyrm’s Rock Bridge being completely closed off on the crossing side, forcing you to find another path to the Lower City.
Gortash is a vessel of Bane, and Karlach would love to kill him right before he is crowned as the new ruler of Baldur’s Gate. However, keeping your cool and accepting his temporary alliance should be the right call here as it not only grants you access to every point in the city but also keeps you safe from the Steel Watch.
Almost every incident in Act 3 is related to Gortash and that’s why there are so many consequences for killing him before the final showdown. He controls the Steel Watch and Iron Throne directly so it’s natural that his absence will dismantle them completely, destroying The Foundry too.
On the other hand, Wyrm’s Rock is closed off due to his death and the Netherbrain will have an easier time gaining control over the rest of the city. But Volo’s case is most likely a bug, as there doesn’t seem to be an explanation for why he is tied up on the cart.
Many advised that players should “plan” their entire Act 3 run to prevent such mishaps. Traveling in the city of Baldur’s Gate will require you to be aware of the environment and know which mission to do next to have a smooth experience.
However, some players feel that they are “pushed to do things in a certain order” to save their runs despite playing an open-world title. Although most consequences make complete sense, some feel they should have more control over their playthroughs.