Welcome back to the GamesRadar+ RPG Club! This third meeting takes place in the earliest reaches of Act 3, with my Baldur’s Gate 3 no weapons run getting deadly serious now that I’m in the biggest section of the game. As a result, I’ve been forced to confront more than just Ketheric Thorm and the Avatar of Myrkul – who was easily dispatched after I freed Aylin on my first turn by Misty Stepping over to her cage. My biggest question now is how my current party will survive one of Act 3’s most punishing coded events.
Join the GamesRadar+ RPG Club: Every month we pick a new RPG to play together. In August we are diving back into Baldur’s Gate 3. So gather your party, stock up on supplies, and get ready to share your stories around the RPG Club campfire
Looking between Lae’zel, Halsin, and Gale, I feel a stone in my gut. My party has grown strong, even with my no weapons run barring us from using anything handheld. I was loath to part ways with any of them, but I know that the Murder God’s favorite is about to infiltrate my camp and kidnap someone.
As soon as I claim victory over Myrkul’s Chosen – here’s how Act 2 went for me – I start planning. That means guessing s who might be on Orin’s chopping block and preparing my party accordingly. It’s time for a strategic break, so consider this my once-per-act respec being used in one go.
Quest Log
1. Weapons-Free
No melee or ranged weapons. If you can hold it in your hand and hurt someone with it, it’s a no.
2. Lighten Up
Torches may be used, but only to light dark areas or combat shadow curse.
3. Be Kind
Sometimes you need to respec your character – we all make mistakes. But only once per Act.
4. Safety First
Shields can be equipped but only to buff armor class, not as secret melee weapons.
Sneak attacked
The start of Act 3 was a nasty shock during my first playthrough, where I’d finished up at Moonrise Towers at a paltry level six. I’m feeling much better about my chances as a level eight sorcerer now. Which is why I’m almost relishing taking my first Long Rest in Rivington and being interrupted by a Githyanki ambush.
I prepare by going around the camp and reshuffling my active party members. I opt for an even split between spellcasters and unarmed melee specialists: Lae’zel, my open-hand monk, pairs nicely with Karlach the barbarian, and I’ll need Shadowheart on hand to dole out the heals. It’s a particularly mean fight, albeit one that puts my challenge to the test by reflecting it back at me. All of the Gith are monks, just like Lae’zel, and it’s nowhere near as much fun being on the receiving end of a resonating Ki blast.
My first attempt is a write off; my party accidentally jumps into the battle ground one by one instead of all together, leaving Karlach and Lae’zel out of the initiative roll entirely while Shadowheart and I get absolutely bodied. The Emperor is little help, and before long, I’m reloading my save to coordinate entry to the battle properly.
I put a focus on Karlach and Lae’zel reaching higher ground as soon as possible, throwing the Gith across the astral prism while Shadowheart casts Sanctuary on herself and buffs the party from a safe distance. Meanwhile, I’m all about the massive AOE spells. Say hello to my little Fireball, everyone!
But the ambush is only the start of my troubles. As soon as we arrive in Rivington, I do my usual rounds of the lively crossing town – and run into Bhaal’s Chosen, Orin, twice. First, masquerading as a snooping journalist, and secondly, as the shopkeeper of an armory. She laughs in my face, waves off my victory against Ketheric by saying something mean and cryptic, before vanishing into a puddle of viscera.
Orin is one of my favorite villains in video game history. She’s also the most annoying. As Enver Gortash – the Chosen of Bane, God of Tyranny – later informs me after I bear witness to his grand coronation, Orin has already kidnapped one of my companions and is masquerading as them back at my camp.
Truthfully, I am miffed. I’d forgotten that this happens so early on in Act 3’s proceedings, and it sends my nerves into overdrive. Immediately, I pray Orin hasn’t taken Lae’zel.
My Gith monk just started getting good after our party leveled up following the astral prism attack. Perhaps Orin, in her infinite magnanimity, might’ve gone for Halsin instead? Or maybe even Yenna, the orphan child who invited herself to our camp during our second Long Rest in Rivington and now cannot stop going on about having brought her own paring knife (who gave the child a knife? Why are we okay with this?).
Tanked it
I managed to avoid dealing with my little Orin problem until two or three long rests later. Pursuing a maligned quest involving a necromancer mummy, whose goodies I had designs on for Gale, I headed into Baldur’s Gate’s sewers without thinking twice. Big mistake. “Lae’zel” came hobbling out of a fetid underground tunnel and soon shapeshifted back into Orin the Red.
Well, damn. I don’t think I’ve ever triggered the imposter reveal this early on in any of my Baldur’s Gate 3 playthroughs, and now I’m down the most powerful tank in my party. It’s especially miserable, since I don’t tend to rescue Orin’s captive until I’m starting to wrap up my time in the game. If I’m to make it through all that Act 3 has to offer without Lae’zel at my side, it’s time to respec my party accordingly.
Instead of fashioning myself another monk – that just feels like cheating, okay? – I leverage some newfound assets. Jaheira is a druid, much like Halsin, and I want to keep her as such for narrative reasons. That said, I respec her subclass into Circle of Spores to complement Gale’s own necromantic flair.
Between them, they now can spawn near endless zombies and ghouls anytime I choose. It’s also time to make Shadowheart a Light Domain cleric now that she’s turned her back on Shar’s trickery, while Astarion gets a few warlock levels to beef the bard up a bit with some eldritch blasts for good measure.
With Karlach now my one and only melee tank, it’s time to bid farewell to the ways of the Berserker and respec her back to the Giant subclass. I need to prioritize high DPS to compensate for the loss of Lae’zel’s fists of fury, so I make sure to stack her strength score up to 20 at a base level and make use of her collection of Cloud Giant Strength potions, which take her up to 27. Then, I turn to my own character – sweet little Zeraphina, the draconic sorcerer who could. And still can. For her, no changes – only vengeance for the loss of Lae’zel.
I really did squander Lae’zel when I had her, and I can’t lie and say that she was a staple in my party throughout the journey so far – that honor goes to Karlach, Gale, and Shadowheart for the most part.
But much as her absence is felt, leaning into magical combat has been eye-opening. It’s certainly helpful when my whole party can misty step anywhere they like whenever I please, not to mention how keeping my party far from foes means I have no real need for a melee tank anyway. Paired with some fancy new Spore Druid armor for Jaheira and the Robes of the Weave for Gale, I’m cleaning up Act 3 like the most dedicated barmaid at the Elfsong Tavern. A dedicated barmaid with a penchant for summoning zombies, of course.
And yet, there’s more to come. Slowly but surely, I’m rebuilding my party for the final battle brick by brick. Hopefully next time I check in with you, I’ll have bested that brain for good – with or without Lae’zel.
