Baldur's Gate 3: Complete Guide - All Quests & Achievements (Act 1)

Baldur's Gate 3 Complete Guided Walkthrough of all Quests, NPCs, and other missable content, in order. The Best and Most Complete Baldur's Gate 3 Guide, great for both experienced and beginner players that don't want to miss anything. In Part 1, we do everything important in Act 1 (Nautiloid Crash Region, The Underdark, Grymforge, and Mountain Pass)

Timestamps:
0:00 - Intro and overview
0:57 - Character Creation
3:12 - Nautiloid Walkthrough & Basic Mechanics
7:30 - Saving Shadowheart & Brain Jars
8:46 - How to get "Devil's in the Details" Achievement / Trophy
12:45 - Recruiting Companions (Shadowheart, Astarion, Gale, Lae'zel)
16:18 - Approval System Explained
23:52 - Long Rest 1
25:26 - Chapel Ruins (Soul Coins & Withers NPC)
30:42 - Long Rest 2, How to Change Class with Withers
33:19 - Save All Tieflings at the Druid Grove (Part 1) & Level 3
36:40 - How to Get Unique Equipment from Merchants
39:38 - How to get OP (Auntie Ethel / Elixir of Hill Giant Strength)
40:38 - Saving Tieflings & Recruiting Wyll Companion
44:58 - Companion Romance Explained
46:37 - Kagha Quest, Alfira Lute / Instrument Proficiency Training for "Busker" Achievement
49:34 - Saving Remaining Tieflings at Druid Grove
52:47 - Saving Sazza at Druid Grove "She Cannot Be Caged" Achievement / Trophy
55:33 - Silver Pendant & Raphael NPC
57:30 - Long Rest 3
59:27 - How to Recruit Owlbear Cub (Step 1)
1:02:03 - Shadowheart Quest / Story
1:04:50 - How to Recruit Scratch the Dog to Camp
1:05:27 - Recruiting Karlach Companion and Making OP Monk Build
1:08:29 - Blighted Village Walkthrough (Achievements / Trophies)
1:18:06 - Shortcut to Underdark and Walkthrough
1:25:55 - Finishing Blighted Village (Infernal Iron, Barcus Wroot Quest)
1:28:59 - Level 4 (Best Feats)
1:30:59 - Karlach Quest (Repair Infernal Engine) & Gale Quest
1:35:32 - Missing Shipment / Gnoll Encounter
1:38:06 - Waukeen's Rest & Zhentarim Hideout Walkthrough
1:46:08 - Karlach Quest (False Paladins of Tyr)
1:48:36 - Long Rest 4 (Wyll Confronts Karlach)
1:50:30 - Early Legendary Greatsword (Silver Sword of the Astral Plane)
1:57:19 - Auntie Ethel Quest Start & Investigate Kagha Quest
2:03:11 - How to get Faithwarden Title, Pale Oak Staff, and Broodmother's Revenge Necklace
2:05:18 - Goblin Camp Walkthrough (Saving Owlbear Cub)
2:10:45 - Shattered Sanctum Walkthrough (Saving Sazza, Volo, and Halsin)
2:16:06 - Level 5
2:16:54 - Auntie Ethel / Mayrina Quest
2:19:38 - How to get Hag / Auntie Ethel Hair and Defeat / Kill Hag
2:24:48 - Volo's Ersatz Eye and Long Rest 5
2:26:20 - Important Companion Romance Choices
2:27:27 - Remaining Long Rests before Defending Druid Grove
2:29:19 - How to Romance 2 Companions (besides Wyll and one other)
2:30:23 - How to get "Fetch Quest" Achievement (Possibly Delayed)
2:30:48 - Defend the Druid Grove (& Keep All Tieflings alive)
2:34:07 - How to Get All Act 1 Companion Romance at Tiefling Part (Can only pick one + Wyll)
2:37:10 - Remaining Act 1 Long Rests (Owlbear Cub Achievement / Trophy)
2:39:08 - Myconid Colony Quests (Omeluum, Sovereign Glut, and Derryth)
2:40:17 - Rescue Baelen and Noblestalk Mushroom Location
2:42:06 - Filro the Forgotten (Ice Crystal), Sussar Tree Bark, and Duergar Invaders
2:44:31 - Arcane Tower Walkthrough
2:50:41 - Spectator and Dhourn (Icy Helve)
2:52:07 - Completing the Masterwork Weapon (Sussar Tree Bark) & Easter Egg (Place Autumncrocus at Myrna Tombstone)
2:53:27 - Completing Quests at Myconid Colony (Sovereign Spaw, Omeluum, Derryth)
2:55:15 - How to give Noblestalk to BOTH Shadowheart AND Derryth
2:57:34 - Icy Metal Location & How to get to Grymforge Location
2:58:42 - Grymforge Walkthrough (Magic Equipment & Idol of Shar Locations)
3:02:27 - How to get ENTIRE Runepowder Barrel from Philomeen NPC
3:04:07 - True Soul Nere Encounter (Rescue Deep Gnomes)
3:07:35 - Adamantine Forge Walkthrough (Shield and Splint Moulds)
3:08:42 - Mithral Vein/Ore & Sentient Amulet Locations, Level 6
3:11:47 - How to get "A Grym Fate" Achievement / Trophy
3:15:38 - Finishing Quests & Secret Location (The Festering Cove)
3:17:51 - Mountain Pass, Lady Esther and Owlbear Egg Interaction
3:19:26 - Path to the Rosymorn Monastery
3:20:40 - Ceremonial Weapons / Dawnmaster's Crest Puzzle Walkthrough
3:25:17 - Creche Y'llek Walkthrough (Shop/Vendor, Classroom, Hatchery)
3:27:30 - Zaith'isk Walkthrough (Awakened Feature & Consequences)
3:30:03 - Githyanki Inquisitor, Vlaakith, Astral Prism, Level 7, and Loot
3:34:29 - How to get Legendary Blood of Lathander "Taking Blood" Achievement / Trophy
3:36:35 - Remaining Unique Equipment in Creche Y'llek
3:37:53 - "The Lich-Queen's Wrath" Achievement / Trophy
3:38:50 - Preview of Act 2 / Outro

LINKS TO SUPPORT ME AND MARSHMALLOW:

Have a great day, and as always, thanks for watching!

[ItsShatter]

Here is the Pinned Comment:
The full series is out now!

Info on what tricks/exploits are still working can be found below.

Update: knocking out vendors no longer gives ALL of there unique items (but it does give a few).

Update: Due to a balance change (or possibly bug) here is a new method to get "Pest Control" achievement.
1. Use Shovel in his Invisible form (or other invisible companions) to destroy the two clusters of eggs that are furthest from the Matriarch while outside of combat, BEFORE engaging the Phase Spider Matriarch Directly. This includes the cluster of eggs on the bottom level, as well as the cluster on the norther plateau, which can be reached by shovel by climbing down the vines to the south, then by moving them around the chasm to the north and climbing the cragged rock. The Matriarch and other spiders must be far enough away for Shovel to destroy the eggs without being detected.
The final cluster of eggs is more difficult to destroy without alerting the Matriarch. What I've found to work is use Karlach to gain surprise on the Matriarch with a flurry of blows. Then use her action to throw a Alchemist Fire on the final cluster of eggs. If any remain unbroken, another party member can use a firebolt, magic missile, or other ranged attack to destroy them. Sometimes the spider near the bottom cluster of eggs won't move away from them. In that case, you'll need to have another party member throw a second alchemist fire on that cluster while the Matriarch and other spiders are still surprised.
The Matriarch will no longer die from falling in the chasm. However, major damage can be dealt by shooting out the web bridges from beneath the Matriarch, which will cause it to take fall damage. You can also make use of Potions of speed on Karlach and Lae’zel to help them kill the Matriarch faster.

As of 04/06/24 (Patch 6) all of the following exploits/tricks still work:
- How to get Silver Sword of the Astral Plane early/in Act 1. (This still works to get the sword, but now seems to trigger an unavoidable combat.) I would send in just one character (the hireling) to get the sword to drop. I would then have a character with high initiative (alert feat, high dexterity, etc.) run and grab the sword, then run back/away and flee combat. The hostile Githyanki can be dealt with fairly easily upon reaching level 5 and it shouldn't negatively impact any questline. The game may determine that Voss holds a crossbow instead of his greatsword. If that happens, I do not currently know of any way to get the Silver Sword to drop and it may not be obtainable.

As of 04/06/24 (Patch 6) the following still work as shown in the video:
- How to get all rewards from Kagha Encounter (Broodmother’s Revenge, Pale Oak, and Faithwarden Title).
- How to get Auntie Ethel’s Hair & still defeat her/ save everyone that can be saved. (If you have to pick one, probably go with the Hair!)
- How to give Noblestalk Mushroom to BOTH Shadowheart AND Derryth. (If you have to pick one, Derryth provides more tangible/mechanical benefits, once you get to Act 3.)

[drunemeton]

I've been playing D&D since it was released, and video games since they became a thing, and this is hands down the best Tutorial / Walkthrough I've ever seen. If you're not already, you'd make a formidable DM!

Thank you for all your work in putting this Walkthrough together! I'm sure I'll be referencing it for a long time to come.

[adhiggs]

This guide is incredible. Wanted so badly to enjoy this game but was constantly overwhelmed by it. This is the only guide that doesn’t treat you like a D&D master to begin with, but instead takes everything one step at a time so that you’re a master by the end. Can’t endorse the effort and skills of this guy enough. He even answered my commented question from months later!

[MartinRiber]

The strict structure and sheer amount of work in this series is simply outstanding. I cannot understand why your pieces are not favoured by the algorithm because, as I hope you are aware of, they stand head and shoulders above any other similar content for BG3. Your build tips alone are better, more relevant and more comprehensive than any other I've seen - and to be honest, I've seen quite a lot of them. For others new to the channel I most highly recommend the Elden Ring series, even if you have no intention of playing the game - it's that good. Looking forward with great anticipation for act 2, and finally: thank you very much for sharing your deep understanding of this genre-defining game.

[ferenc-xp]

He is basically a human version of a perfect instruction manual for the game. I also realized, that I missed at least 60% of the game in Act 1 alone.

[siripremfors]

I know some people really enjoy going blind into a videogame and im one of them, but after "finishing" act one completely on my own i really felt like i missed alot. So i paused my own playthrough and decided to follow along with a guide for a second playthrough and try and get "everything" and WOW, i am SO happy i found your guide! Its perfect and im lovin' it, and so completely different from the way i played through act one the first time. Thank you!

[mosleyaquatics]

Just wanted to say this guide has been a true life saver for me and my wife. This is the first video game she has taken a liking to ever and it’s my first turn based style so it’s quite a steep learning curve for me much less me trying to teach her. Absolutely appreciate the detail and please keep it going!

[Spencer-js]

3:38:03 If you don't get long rest triggered upon travelling to Grymforge. Take long rest whilst still in the Creche, once rested then fast travel to Grymforge and you should automatically trigger another long rest and the interaction with Kith'rak Voss.

[phenomeenah-yar]

Thanks! You're guide is really super good have a beer! Ive done it with a bard/lock🍻

[ultimatedilan]

Anyone who wants the early act 1 silver sword of astral plane after patch 5. See below for extra guidance:
1) Do the same invisibility/blessing etc. setup shown except I just went with the hireling and Karlach.
2) Have karlach hide a good distance away (on those big rock steps nearby is good) and then do the disarming attack on Voss with your hireling until he drops it.
3) At this point your hireling will just die from the fight so don’t worry.
4) Switch to karlach who shouldn’t have been noticed and sneak while they are not looking to steal the sword, as soon as you steal go turn based immediately and then dash to safety without triggering any fight.
4) Your dead hireling will be stuck in your party, to fix it at camp just have withers revive or entrust the body with him, then carry on.


Shatter happy new year and thanks for the guide i look forward to the next acts.

[damcrac]

Fantastic work!
Patch 6, Balanced difficulty has me at 34 hrs to complete.
Differences with current patch:
-Cant knock out vendors and steal all the things you sold them. So money will not be as abundant.
-Couldnt get Asterion to bite me like in the guide. Loaded save from day 3(after getting withers), hit long rest and got it. Thanks to another comment for that.
-Couldnt get Voss to visit at the end. Got it from another comment, long rest inside creche, exit creche via walking, then fast travel to grymforge and he showed up.
-for spider achievement, I had to use karlach and a ranged weapon to destroy eggs as sneaking wasn't working like your run.

Looking forward to completing the guide, supporting along the way. Hopefully patch 7 doesn't break anything.

[darkfire]

I appreciate what you have done with this series. I did a valor bard in my play through and did what you did with the party members

[Xalvador]

I had been looking for something exactly like this video and I never found anything remotely as helpful, I hate missing anything in a game as big as this and this video helped so much.

[garystringer]

This is the Baldur's Gate 3 of walkthrough guides. Outstanding. 👏

[rainiedash]

Your guide is amazing, thank you so much! It’s so impressively organized, thorough, and astoundingly spoiler-free. I’ve watched this series nonstop for the past month as I followed it through my first two playthroughs to get 53/54 achievements (ignore the fact that I can’t make it past the first encounter on honour mode). Keep up the great work!

[Noteworthy_]

Longrest 1, shadowheart comes first because Astarion will say to leave him alone otherwise

51:30 Join the task to steal the idol, once you've convinced Kagha to stop the ritual, stealing the idol doesn't lead to the tieflings being attacked. Though you still need to cast fog cloud or darkness on it. If caught, you can talk your way out. Giving the idol to Mol will give you the Ring of Protection which has +1AC

[yharnamiyhill]

Thanks! Wonderful and comprehensive guide!

[thomasbeasley]

Played through your Elden ring series twice and I was so happy to see you made a BG3 equivalent, it won’t be long before you completely blow up, incredible content 🐐

[ValeryValWho]

I love enjoying 100% of a game and thanks to you I got to experience everything that Act 1 of BG3 has to offer. Thank you so much!

[jeremiahmud]

Thx you for making this guide. I imagine it took a very long time. Your guide series on Elden Ring helped me tremendously