What happens if I side with the goblins in Baldur's Gate 3?
Siding with the goblins in Baldur's Gate 3 is a significant story choice that can drastically alter the course of the game. This decision is part of the main questline and involves aligning yourself with the goblin leaders, who are antagonistic forces in the early stages of the game. Choosing to side with the goblins will lead to a series of events that impact your relationships with companions, the world around you, and the overall narrative. Here is a detailed explanation of how to achieve this, the mechanics involved, and the consequences of this choice.
To side with the goblins, you must first reach the Goblin Camp, which is located in the western part of the Wilderness map. The camp is heavily guarded, and gaining entry requires either combat or diplomacy. If you choose diplomacy, you can use skills like Deception, Persuasion, or Intimidation to convince the goblins to let you in. Once inside, you will encounter the three goblin leaders: Priestess Gut, Dror Ragzlin, and Minthara. Each of these leaders has their own agenda, and you will need to interact with them to progress the story.
The first step in siding with the goblins is to speak with Minthara, the drow paladin who is one of the leaders. She is located in the Shattered Sanctum, the central area of the Goblin Camp. Minthara will ask you to prove your loyalty by attacking the Druid Grove, a sanctuary for tieflings and druids. This is a critical decision, as it will lead to the destruction of the Grove and the death of many innocent characters. If you agree to help Minthara, she will give you a quest to infiltrate the Grove and open the gates for the goblin army.
Once you have accepted Minthara's quest, you will need to return to the Druid Grove. Here, you can either openly attack the defenders or use stealth and deception to achieve your goal. If you choose stealth, you can use skills like Stealth and Sleight of Hand to avoid detection and sabotage the defenses. Alternatively, you can use combat to eliminate the defenders and open the gates. Either way, the outcome will be the same: the goblins will invade the Grove, and the tieflings and druids will be slaughtered.
After the attack on the Grove, you will return to the Goblin Camp to report your success to Minthara. She will reward you and offer you a place in her army. This is a pivotal moment, as it solidifies your alliance with the goblins and sets you on a path of destruction and chaos. Your companions will react strongly to this decision, and some may leave your party if they disapprove of your actions. For example, Wyll and Karlach are likely to abandon you if you side with the goblins, as they have strong moral objections to such actions.
One important consideration when siding with the goblins is the impact on your relationships with your companions. Each companion has their own moral compass, and their approval or disapproval of your actions will affect their loyalty to you. If you want to maintain a positive relationship with certain companions, you may need to carefully manage your choices and dialogue options. For example, Astarion and Lae'zel are more likely to approve of ruthless and self-serving actions, while characters like Shadowheart and Gale may have mixed reactions depending on the context.
Another consideration is the long-term consequences of siding with the goblins. This choice will lock you into a darker path, and you will miss out on certain quests and storylines that are tied to the Druid Grove and the tieflings. For example, you will not be able to recruit certain companions or access certain areas that are only available if you side with the Grove. Additionally, the world will react to your actions, and you may find that certain NPCs are hostile or unwilling to help you.
In terms of combat tactics, siding with the goblins can make certain encounters easier, as you will have the support of the goblin army. However, it can also make other encounters more difficult, as you will face resistance from factions that oppose the goblins. It is important to carefully manage your resources and plan your battles to ensure success. For example, you may want to focus on building a party that is well-suited for combat, with a mix of melee and ranged fighters, as well as spellcasters who can provide support and crowd control.
In conclusion, siding with the goblins in Baldur's Gate 3 is a major story choice that has far-reaching consequences. It requires careful planning and consideration, as it will impact your relationships with companions, the world around you, and the overall narrative. By following the steps outlined above and considering the tips and strategies provided, you can successfully align yourself with the goblins and experience a darker, more chaotic path in the game.
To side with the goblins, you must first reach the Goblin Camp, which is located in the western part of the Wilderness map. The camp is heavily guarded, and gaining entry requires either combat or diplomacy. If you choose diplomacy, you can use skills like Deception, Persuasion, or Intimidation to convince the goblins to let you in. Once inside, you will encounter the three goblin leaders: Priestess Gut, Dror Ragzlin, and Minthara. Each of these leaders has their own agenda, and you will need to interact with them to progress the story.
The first step in siding with the goblins is to speak with Minthara, the drow paladin who is one of the leaders. She is located in the Shattered Sanctum, the central area of the Goblin Camp. Minthara will ask you to prove your loyalty by attacking the Druid Grove, a sanctuary for tieflings and druids. This is a critical decision, as it will lead to the destruction of the Grove and the death of many innocent characters. If you agree to help Minthara, she will give you a quest to infiltrate the Grove and open the gates for the goblin army.
Once you have accepted Minthara's quest, you will need to return to the Druid Grove. Here, you can either openly attack the defenders or use stealth and deception to achieve your goal. If you choose stealth, you can use skills like Stealth and Sleight of Hand to avoid detection and sabotage the defenses. Alternatively, you can use combat to eliminate the defenders and open the gates. Either way, the outcome will be the same: the goblins will invade the Grove, and the tieflings and druids will be slaughtered.
After the attack on the Grove, you will return to the Goblin Camp to report your success to Minthara. She will reward you and offer you a place in her army. This is a pivotal moment, as it solidifies your alliance with the goblins and sets you on a path of destruction and chaos. Your companions will react strongly to this decision, and some may leave your party if they disapprove of your actions. For example, Wyll and Karlach are likely to abandon you if you side with the goblins, as they have strong moral objections to such actions.
One important consideration when siding with the goblins is the impact on your relationships with your companions. Each companion has their own moral compass, and their approval or disapproval of your actions will affect their loyalty to you. If you want to maintain a positive relationship with certain companions, you may need to carefully manage your choices and dialogue options. For example, Astarion and Lae'zel are more likely to approve of ruthless and self-serving actions, while characters like Shadowheart and Gale may have mixed reactions depending on the context.
Another consideration is the long-term consequences of siding with the goblins. This choice will lock you into a darker path, and you will miss out on certain quests and storylines that are tied to the Druid Grove and the tieflings. For example, you will not be able to recruit certain companions or access certain areas that are only available if you side with the Grove. Additionally, the world will react to your actions, and you may find that certain NPCs are hostile or unwilling to help you.
In terms of combat tactics, siding with the goblins can make certain encounters easier, as you will have the support of the goblin army. However, it can also make other encounters more difficult, as you will face resistance from factions that oppose the goblins. It is important to carefully manage your resources and plan your battles to ensure success. For example, you may want to focus on building a party that is well-suited for combat, with a mix of melee and ranged fighters, as well as spellcasters who can provide support and crowd control.
In conclusion, siding with the goblins in Baldur's Gate 3 is a major story choice that has far-reaching consequences. It requires careful planning and consideration, as it will impact your relationships with companions, the world around you, and the overall narrative. By following the steps outlined above and considering the tips and strategies provided, you can successfully align yourself with the goblins and experience a darker, more chaotic path in the game.