Saying that Baldur's Gate 3 is a large open world CRPG with massive narrative depth would be an understatement. From the onset of escaping the Nautiloid ship and landing in the Forgotten Realms, you're free to explore the vast landscape, discover its many secrets, and pick up any quests along the way. However, given how interdependent certain quests can be in the game, approaching them in particular order ensures that you're getting the most out of your Baldur's Gate 3 experience.
Outlined below is the best quest order for act 1 in Baldur's Gate 3, which takes every important area and NPC into account, ensuring that you don't miss out on anything important on the road to Baldur's Gate.
Given that Baldur's Gate 3 offers incredible player freedom and agency, you're free to explore the world on your terms. However, if you find this level of freedom overwhelming, dividing the Forgotten Realms into explorable sections should help provide some direction.
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Updated on December 29, 2025, by Nahda Nabiilah: There is not really a correct order to explore any acts in BG3. Players can simply wander around and complete main and side quests randomly to progress further. However, having an idea of where you are heading and being prepared for battle will make things easier, especially in act 1 where you are at a low level.
Recruit Your Companions & Withers
The road ahead is treacherous, full of mysteries and peril, but with helpful companions by your side, you can overcome every odd. You begin with the main quest of finding a cure for your condition and, as you progress through the act, the main quest branches out into several sub-quests. So, before you do anything, start by recruiting the following companions:
- Shadowheart: Shadowheart is really hard to miss, as she can be found unconscious just a few steps north.
- Astarion: You can find Astarion to the south of the crashed Nautiloid ship.
- Gale: Gale reveals himself when you approach the waypoint to the north of the crashed Nautiloid ship.
- Lae'zel: Captured by a few Tieflings, Lae'zel can be rescued and added to your party.
Associated Quests:
- Free Lae'zel
- Find the cure (progress across multiple locations and acts)
Explore The Nearby Ruins To Get Withers
Next to where Lae'zel was captured, players can find old ruins filled with enemies. Speak with them to make them run away or fight your way inside. Once inside, there are even more enemies trying to delve deeper into the crypt, but not succeeding. Take care of them and pull the lever in the room full of books to open the door. Get the key from the room filled with traps to open the other door. Defeat the skeletons and wake Withers so he can join the camp.
Associated Quests:
You can search the skeletons' bodies and take their weapons to make them significantly weaker.
Explore The Druid Grove
Right after you've gathered the crew, make your way to the Druid Grove, which can be found north of the crashed Nautiloid ship. As you approach the grove, you'll immediately find yourself involved in a battle between the residents of the grove and the goblins chasing them.
Defeating the goblins gains you entry to the grove. Take your time to explore the grove and interact with the various NPCs inhabiting it, with many of them offering side quests and progressing the main story. The following is a list of important quests you should pick up while in the grove and their recommended order of progression:
-
Investigate the Beach (Preparing a
Silence
spell or scroll makes the fight easier as the Harpies won't be able to sing)
- Save Arabella
- Return the Locket (Barth & Meli)
- Find the Nightsong (progressed in other locations and acts)
- Defeat the Goblins (progressed in other locations in act 1)
- Save the First Druid (progressed in the Goblin's Camp in act 1)
You should also consider recruiting Wyll while you're in the Grove.
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Free The Goblin Sazza
In the cells near Dammon's forge, the goblin Sazza's fate lies in your hands. You can let the Tiefling kill her, or free her to gain easy access to the Goblin's Camp. Sneak her out of the nearby Underground Passage, where some goblins are trying to sneak inside. Defeat them and get her out and she will wait for you in front of the camp's entrance.
Associated Quests:
Travel The Risen Road
The information you gain at the grove will direct you to the Goblin's Camp, located all the way to the west of the Wilderness. The Druid's Grove and the Goblin's Camp are connected via the Risen Road and the Blighted Village. Here are the quests and the order in which you should pick them up while on the Risen Road:
- Our Fiery Friend
- Hunt the Devil
Karlach is another companion who can be recruited to your party. However, the "Hunt the Devil" quest can also let you kill her, so be careful if you wish to recruit her.
Recruit Karlach Without Wyll Becoming A Devil
Recruiting Karlach comes with the consequences of Wyll becoming a devil and players losing a decent armor so early on in the game, the 
Infernal Robe. If players wish to get Karlach, keep Wyll a human, and get the armor, there is a certain set of steps they need to complete.
Help Rugan And Olly
While in the Risen Road, defeat the gnolls to their ears and craft Potion of Speed. By exploring further, Tav will find Rugan and Olly inside a cave trying to fend off the enemies. Help them if you want to get a password for the secret Zhentarim hideout. Addiotnally, you can persuade them or steal the shipment to get the Iron Flask.
Related Quests:
- Find the Missing Shipment (progressed in act 3)
Venture Into The Blighted Village
To the south of the Risen Road is the Blighted Village, inhabited by the goblins. The village provides direct access to the Goblin's Camp, an important location to progress several quests in the first act. There are several goblin NPCs you should consider interacting with to obtain side quests. However, the following are the quests you shouldn't miss picking up in the Blighted Village:
- Rescue the Gnome
- Search the Cellar (progressed in act 3)
- Finish the Masterwork Weapon
Explore The Uninviting Putrid Bog
To the south of the Blighted Village is a large, hostile bog with an equally mysterious NPC living in it. This NPC is associated with a potential lead in finding a cure to the parasite in your head. Additionally, the bog also holds a secret that uncovers Kagha's plot to turn over the grove to the Shadow Druids. If you are playing as a Druid and confront Kagha then persuade her to join your side, players will gain the 
Pale Oak as a reward.
While the Putrid Grove is large in scale, it's bleak in terms of quests, offering only one new quest and progressing two. Here's the order in which you should consider progressing these quests:
- Save the Refugees
- Save Mayrina
- Investigate Kagha
You can skip Auntie Ethel's fight and complete it later once you level up more if you feel like it's too difficult. Additionally, Auntie Ethel sells 
Elixir of Hill Giant Strength every long rest and Tav can take advantage of that by purchasing as many as they need before killing her.
Infiltrate The Goblin's Camp
To the east of the Blighted Village is the Goblin's Camp, comparable to the Druid's Grove in size. It's recommended to explore the camp in search of valuable gear and to discover the secrets hidden underneath. One of the sub-quests to find the cure for your condition offers you the option to speak to a True Soul known as Priestess Gut.
The Goblin's Camp also provides one of the accesses to the underground region called the Underdark. It's worth discovering the entry to the Underdark for easy access later. The following is a list of quests and their suggested progression order in the Goblin's Camp:
- Rescue Volo
- Save the Goblin Sazza (applicable if you release her from the prison in the Druid's Grove)
- Find the Nightsong (progress the quest by discovering the entrance to the Underdark)
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Steady Karlach's Heart
After raiding the Goblin Camp and going through Dror Ragzlin's stash, Tav will find an Infernal Iron. Return to Dammon and give it to him so he can insert it in Karlach's engine. It's still dangerous to touch her, but you can solve this issue in the later act.
Related Quests:
- Forging a Heart (Progressed in act 2 and act 3)
You can also find an Infernal Iron in the forge's basement in the Blighted Village.
Steal The Sacred Idol
Once you have information on Kagha, return to the Emerald Grove and confront her, which leads to a fight. After that, some of the druids outside will be less on edge, and stealing the Idol for Mol will be easier. There are many methods to do so, such as using 
Darkness or 
Fog Cloud near the Idol; casting a Mage Hand; going invisible using spells, 
Potion of Invisibility or 
Scroll of Invisibility; and so on. Make sure to teleport to camp immediately after stealing the Sacred Idol. Giving to Mol rewards one of the best rings in BG3, 
Ring of Protection.
Related Quests:
You can steal the Sacred Idol from Mol immediately afterward. Keep the Sacred Idol with you to get Proficiency in Nature and Animal Handling.
Witness Waukeen's Rest In Shambles
Having explored the Putrid Bog, Goblin's Camp, and the Emerald Grove, you can make your way east along the Rising Road to discover Waukeen's Rest. Now a scorched inn, at Waukeen's Rest, you can encounter the forces of the Flaming Fist and pick up the following quests:
- Rescue the Trapped Man
- Rescue the Grand Duke (progressed in act 3)
Explore Zhentarim Hideout
After taking care of the victims trapped in burning buildings, turn left to find a room where its door is blocked by boxes. Head inside to find one of the Zhentarim threatening you to explode the barrels. Either tell him the password if you saved Rugan and Olly or persuade him to stop. Enter the hatch behind him and go through the secret door to arrive at the Zhentarim hideout.
There are many interesting interactions to do here, not to mention another entrance to the Underdark. Here are some quests you can progress or pick up from the hideout:
- Free the Artist (progressed in act 3)
- Travel through the Underdark
Rescue Halsin From Goblin Camp
After exploring the Goblin Camp thoroughly and finishing up most interactions in the first map of the Wilderness, it's safe to rescue Halsin by killing all leaders and helping him escape his cell. Make sure to do this after confronting Kagha, as the quest ends when Halsin returns to the Grove. Also, completing all the previous quests will ensure players have enough approval from most of their companions so they can start romancing them at the Tiefling party.
Related Quests:
- Save the Refugees (progress the quest to rescue Halsin)
- Killing the Goblin leaders (progress the quest to rescue Halsin)
Descend Into The Underdark
The Underdark is a dark, mysterious, and large location in the Wilderness. There are several ways to access the Underdark, with one of the ways being through Selune's temple in the Goblin's Camp. The Underdark is a dangerous cavern inhabited by unique NPCs, enemies, and quests.
Defeat The Spectator
If players arrive in the Underdark from the Selunite Outpost, they will find some petrified Drows near one of the broken windows. Approaching them will reveal a Spectator, a powerful enemy that can one-shot players if not careful. Defeating it rewards 
The Spectator Eyes necklace.
Head Towards The Myconid Colony
Exploring the Underdark eventually leads to the Myconid Colony, where Tav can trigger a lot of quests.
- Defeat the Duergar Intruders
- Cure the Poisoned Gnome
- Avenge Glut's Circle
- Find the Mushroom Picker
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Explore The Arcane Tower
While in the Myconid Colony, talk with Blurg, who summons Omeluum. Speak with the Mind Flayer about finding a cure, and he sends you to the Arcane Tower to get some materials. The tower is a dangerous place filled with traps that can be disarmed after activating the tower with a Sussur Flower. Get the Timmask Spores and Tongues of Madness for Omeluum and read some discs about Orpheus.
Related Quests:
- Help Omeluum investigate the parasite
- Discover the History of Prince Orpheus
Kuo-Toa In The Festering Cove
Near the Arcane Tower, is a jagged rock that leads down to the Festering Cove. There, players will find many Kuo-Toa worshiping their deity, BOOOAL. Interact with them to reveal the false god and become MAHKLOOMPAH or gain BOOOAL's favor and become his chosen.
The Grymforge
After talking to the Duergar on the beach or defeating them, use the ship to reach the Grymforge. There are many quests to complete there, so make sure to complete them:
- The Adamantine Forge
- Save the Grymforge Gnomes
- Find the Missing Boots
- Find Explosives
- Free True Soul Nere
- Help the Spirit of the Amulet
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Accompany Lae'zel To The Githyanki Creche
Traveling northwest along the Risen Road leads you over the Mountain Pass, through the Rosymorn Monastery, and to the Githyanki Crèche. The Crèche progresses Lae'zel's story and provides insights into the artifact held by Shadowheart. The following is a list of all important quests found in the Crèche and their order of acquisition:
- Find the Githyanki Creche
- Find the Blood of Lathander
- The Githyanki Warrior (progressed in other locations and acts)
- Discover the History of Prince Orpheus (progressed in other locations and acts)
- Steal a Githyanki Egg (progressed in other locations and acts)
- Discover the Artefact's Secret (progressed in other locations and acts)
Onwards To Moonrise Towers
The first act of Baldur's Gate 3 concludes with the party sorting out the situation in the Druid's Grove, rescuing Halsin, and learning about the importance of Moonrise Towers to progress the story. You have two ways to reach Moonrise Towers and, depending on which option you choose, you can follow either of the two quests:
- Travel through the Mountain Pass
- Travel through the Underdark
It's worth mentioning that up until the point of no return in act 2, you can still return to act 1 and tie up any loose ends.
Baldur's Gate 3
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 96 /100 Critics Rec: 97%
- Released
- August 3, 2023
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Larian Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Larian Studios
WHERE TO PLAY
- Engine
- Divinity 4.0
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op, Local Co-Op
- Cross-Platform Play
- Full cross-platform play.
- Cross Save
- Full cross-platform progression.
- Franchise
- Baldur's Gate
- Number of Players
- 1-4
- Split Screen Orientation
- Vertical Only
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Verified
- PC Release Date
- August 3, 2023
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- December 7, 2023
- PS5 Release Date
- September 6, 2023
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, macOS
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- How Long To Beat
- 100+ Hours
- X|S Optimized
- yes
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- Local Co-Op Support
- 1-2 Players
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
