How do I get the Sword of Justice in Baldur's Gate 3?

The Sword of Justice is a powerful two-handed greatsword in Baldur's Gate 3 that can be obtained through a specific quest involving the paladin Anders. This weapon is highly sought after due to its unique abilities and stat boosts, making it a valuable addition to any melee-focused character's arsenal. To acquire the Sword of Justice, you will need to navigate a series of story choices and combat encounters, so careful planning and strategy are essential.

The quest to obtain the Sword of Justice begins in the Druid Grove, where you will encounter a group of tieflings and druids. Among them is a tiefling named Zevlor, who will inform you about a paladin named Anders who is hunting a devil named Karlach. This sets the stage for the quest "Hunt the Devil," which is crucial for obtaining the Sword of Justice. To start this quest, you need to speak with Anders, who is located in the Risen Road area. He will ask you to hunt down Karlach and bring her to justice.

When you find Karlach, you will have a choice to make. You can either side with Anders and kill Karlach, or you can side with Karlach and turn against Anders. If you choose to side with Anders and kill Karlach, you will be rewarded with the Sword of Justice. However, if you side with Karlach, you will have to fight Anders and his companions, and you can loot the Sword of Justice from his corpse after defeating him. Both paths lead to obtaining the sword, but the choice you make will have different consequences for the story and your relationships with other characters.

One important tip is to ensure your party is well-prepared for the combat encounters involved in this quest. Anders and his companions are formidable opponents, especially if you choose to side with Karlach. Make sure your party members are equipped with appropriate gear and have their abilities and spells ready. If you are playing a melee-focused character, having a tank to absorb damage and a healer to keep your party alive is crucial. Additionally, using crowd control spells and abilities can help you manage the fight more effectively.

A common mistake to avoid is underestimating the difficulty of the combat encounters. Anders and his companions are paladins, which means they have access to powerful smite abilities that can deal significant damage. Make sure to focus your attacks on one enemy at a time to reduce the number of threats quickly. Also, be mindful of your positioning to avoid being surrounded and overwhelmed.

Advanced techniques for optimizing your chances of success include using environmental advantages and exploiting enemy weaknesses. For example, you can use high ground to gain an advantage in ranged attacks or push enemies off cliffs to deal instant damage. Additionally, using spells like Hold Person or Sleep can incapacitate key enemies, giving you a significant advantage in combat.

In terms of D&D rules and mechanics, the Sword of Justice is a +1 greatsword that deals additional radiant damage to fiends and undead. This makes it particularly effective against certain types of enemies you will encounter in the game. The sword also has a unique ability called "Brand the Weak," which allows you to mark a target and deal additional damage to them. This ability synergizes well with characters who have high strength and proficiency in greatswords, such as fighters, paladins, and barbarians.

Specific examples and scenarios include using the Sword of Justice in combination with a paladin's Divine Smite ability to deal massive damage to a single target. Another scenario is using the sword's radiant damage bonus to quickly dispatch fiends and undead in areas like the Underdark or the Shadow-Cursed Lands. The sword's unique abilities make it a versatile weapon that can be adapted to various combat situations.

In conclusion, obtaining the Sword of Justice in Baldur's Gate 3 involves navigating a complex quest with significant story choices and challenging combat encounters. By carefully preparing your party, making strategic decisions, and utilizing advanced techniques, you can successfully acquire this powerful weapon and enhance your character's effectiveness in combat. Whether you choose to side with Anders or Karlach, the Sword of Justice is a valuable addition to your arsenal that can help you tackle the game's toughest challenges.