How do I unlock the secret ending with Lae'zel in Baldur's Gate 3?

To unlock the secret ending with Lae'zel in Baldur's Gate 3, you need to carefully navigate her personal storyline, make specific choices that align with her goals, and build a strong relationship with her throughout the game. Lae'zel is a Githyanki warrior with a strong connection to her people and their mission to destroy the Mind Flayers. Her story is deeply tied to the Githyanki culture, their queen Vlaakith, and the conflict between the Githyanki and the Mind Flayers. To achieve her secret ending, you must guide her through a series of critical decisions that ultimately lead her to question her loyalty to Vlaakith and embrace a new path.

The first step in unlocking Lae'zel's secret ending is to build a strong relationship with her. This involves gaining her approval through dialogue choices and actions that align with her values. Lae'zel respects strength, decisiveness, and a no-nonsense attitude. She disapproves of cowardice, indecision, and actions that prioritize others over the mission. To gain her approval, you should make choices that reflect a strong, determined character. For example, during the early stages of the game, when you encounter the Tieflings holding Lae'zel in a cage, choosing to free her immediately and siding with her in the confrontation will earn her approval. Similarly, in combat, taking decisive actions and prioritizing the destruction of enemies will also please her.

As you progress through the game, Lae'zel's personal quest, "The Githyanki Warrior," will become a central focus. This quest involves finding a Githyanki creche to remove the Mind Flayer tadpole from your brain. The creche is located in the Mountain Pass area, and reaching it requires you to navigate through challenging encounters and make critical decisions. When you arrive at the creche, you will meet the Githyanki Inquisitor, who will test Lae'zel's loyalty to Vlaakith. This is a pivotal moment in her storyline. To unlock the secret ending, you must encourage Lae'zel to question Vlaakith's motives and the true nature of the Githyanki's mission. This involves passing persuasion checks and presenting evidence that Vlaakith may not have the best interests of the Githyanki at heart.

One of the key moments in Lae'zel's storyline occurs when you discover the truth about Vlaakith's intentions. Vlaakith is using the Githyanki as pawns in her quest for immortality, and she sees Lae'zel as a threat to her power. When Lae'zel confronts Vlaakith in the Astral Plane, you must support her in standing up to the queen. This requires passing high-difficulty persuasion or intimidation checks, depending on your character's abilities. Successfully convincing Lae'zel to defy Vlaakith will set her on a path of independence and self-discovery, which is essential for unlocking her secret ending.

Throughout the game, it is important to maintain a strong bond with Lae'zel. This means consistently choosing dialogue options that align with her values and supporting her in her quest to free herself from Vlaakith's influence. Romance can also play a role in deepening your relationship with Lae'zel, but it is not strictly necessary to unlock her secret ending. However, a romantic relationship can provide additional opportunities to influence her decisions and strengthen her resolve to break free from Vlaakith's control.

One common mistake to avoid is blindly following Vlaakith's orders without questioning her motives. If you encourage Lae'zel to remain loyal to Vlaakith, she will not achieve the independence necessary for the secret ending. Additionally, failing to build a strong relationship with Lae'zel can result in her leaving the party or making choices that do not align with the secret ending. It is also important to avoid actions that undermine her trust, such as siding with the Mind Flayers or making decisions that prioritize other companions over her.

Advanced techniques for unlocking Lae'zel's secret ending include optimizing your character's persuasion and intimidation skills. Investing in abilities like Charisma and proficiency in Persuasion or Intimidation can make it easier to pass the critical checks required to influence Lae'zel's decisions. Additionally, using spells or abilities that enhance your social skills, such as Enhance Ability or Guidance, can provide a significant advantage in key moments.

In terms of D&D 5E rules, the mechanics of persuasion and intimidation checks are central to influencing Lae'zel's decisions. These checks are based on your character's Charisma modifier and proficiency bonus, so building a character with high Charisma and relevant skill proficiencies is essential. The difficulty of these checks can vary depending on the situation, but they are often high, requiring careful preparation and optimization.

Specific examples of scenarios where these mechanics come into play include the confrontation with the Githyanki Inquisitor and the final confrontation with Vlaakith. In both cases, passing the necessary checks will allow you to guide Lae'zel toward the secret ending. For example, during the confrontation with Vlaakith, you may need to pass a DC 20 Persuasion check to convince Lae'zel to defy the queen. Successfully passing this check will result in Lae'zel rejecting Vlaakith's authority and embracing a new path, leading to the secret ending.

In conclusion, unlocking the secret ending with Lae'zel in Baldur's Gate 3 requires careful navigation of her personal storyline, building a strong relationship with her, and making specific choices that encourage her to question Vlaakith's motives. By optimizing your character's social skills, avoiding common mistakes, and using advanced techniques, you can guide Lae'zel toward independence and self-discovery, resulting in a unique and rewarding ending to her story.