Baldur's Gate 3 Act 1 Guide — Choices and Missable Content

Act 1 is the most densely packed part of Baldur's Gate 3 and the easiest to lock yourself out of. The map is divided into regions, and reaching the game's major transition points can permanently cut off quests you have not finished — so the golden rule is to explore thoroughly before taking any route that looks like a one-way trip. If a path is described as leading somewhere far away, treat it as the end of the act and clear your quest log first.

At the centre of the act is the conflict between the tiefling refugees and the druid grove, and almost every quest in the region connects back to it. The choices here determine whether several characters survive, whether you can recruit certain companions, and what the next act looks like. You do not need to be a completionist, but you should understand that this is a genuine branching point rather than a series of independent side jobs — deciding who to side with early and acting consistently gives the cleanest outcome.

Beyond the main path, several optional areas are worth the detour: the Zhentarim hideout hidden behind a trapdoor along the Risen Road, the hag's swamp with its bargain, and the vast Underdark, which offers an entire alternate route to the next act as well as some of the act's best loot. Recruit companions as early as you can — every companion has a personal questline that runs through the whole game, and a companion you never meet is a story you never see.