Baldur’s Gate 3 is no stranger to morally ambiguous characters, but none unsettle the player quite like the Emperor. At first, he appears as a mysterious benefactor — a figure in the Weave who offers guidance and protection from the dangers of the tadpole. Players may even find comfort in his presence, especially if they pursue a romance or lean on him for help during critical battles. But the illusion of benevolence begins to crack as Baldur’s Gate 3 heads into its final act, revealing layers of manipulation and control that redefine who, and what, the Emperor truly is.
His turning point is deliberately obscured, hidden beneath the choices players make and the level of trust they extend to him. Some may begin to question him during the dream sequences, while others only feel the weight of betrayal when they uncover his real identity or witness his willingness to turn them into a thrall. There is no single canon moment where the Emperor shows his true colors; rather, the game rewards players who dig into his past and motivations with the revelation that their so-called ally may be the biggest threat of all.
Baldur's Gate 3 Update 8 Patch Notes Are Nearly 50 Pages Long
Larian's Swen Vincke confirms that the patch notes for Baldur's Gate 3's upcoming Update 8 are nearly 50 pages long.
Baldur's Gate 3 Reveals Emperor’s Deceptions Gradually
The Emperor’s manipulation is most apparent in the contrast between his words and his actions. He constantly insists that he wishes to help the player be free of the tadpole, yet in reality, he pushes them toward deeper entanglement. When the time comes to make decisions about Orpheus, the githyanki prince, the Emperor advocates for absorbing Orpheus's power — a move that dooms the githyanki and binds the player even more tightly to the Mind Flayer’s influence.
This duplicity becomes even clearer if the player investigates his memories. One sequence in particular stands out: the memory of Duke Stelmane, a political leader he once manipulated and used for his own ends. By showcasing how he twisted her into a puppet to further his control, the game offers a stark warning of what he is capable of doing to the player. The message is subtle but unmistakable: the Emperor does not protect unless it serves his purpose.
These moments are not isolated. Whether it’s the disguised truth about the Dream Visitor, or the way the Emperor tries to guilt-trip the player for questioning him, Baldur’s Gate 3 slowly paints the picture of a being who sees others as tools. Those who resist his plans are treated as obstacles, not allies.
Baldur's Gate 3 Shifts Morality in Act 3
By Act 3, the Emperor’s façade is difficult to maintain. If the player chooses to align with Orpheus instead of submitting to the Emperor’s plan, the reaction is swift and brutal. He immediately brands the player a traitor, willing to turn against them and throw aside everything they’ve done together. What’s more, he appears to side with the Netherbrain, the same force he once vowed to help defeat, revealing how flexible his alliances truly are.
This moment is where many players identify the Emperor’s true turning point. It’s not just betrayal in narrative terms; it’s the culmination of a slow moral decay that’s been hinted at from the beginning. Whether or not the player views him as a villain depends on the path they’ve taken, but his willingness to sacrifice Orpheus, doom the githyanki, or enslave the player speaks volumes.
Romantic players might also feel this betrayal more keenly. The dream sequences create an illusion of intimacy, and many invest emotionally in the Dream Visitor only to discover they’ve been falling for a disguise. For those who custom-designed their Dream Visitor, the moment they realize it was the Emperor all along can feel especially personal, a manipulation not just of Tav, but of the player themselves.
Baldur's Gate 3 Links Emperor To Balduran
One of Baldur’s Gate 3’s most surprising late-game revelations comes from Ansur, who reveals that the Emperor is in fact Balduran, the legendary founder of the city itself. This twist recontextualizes the Emperor’s entire arc, connecting his hunger for control to a deep legacy. As Balduran, he was once a hero, now, as a Mind Flayer, he walks a blurred line between protector and tyrant.
This revelation also adds a thematic layer to Baldur’s Gate 3’s core story. The city of Baldur’s Gate becomes both a symbol of freedom and the site of control. Balduran’s transformation from founder to manipulator mirrors the corruption of power, and his desire to dominate the Netherbrain parallels the very oppression the game’s heroes seek to destroy.
His downfall, or continued influence, lies in the player’s hands. Choosing to side with him may lead to victory over the Netherbrain, but at what cost? Choosing to free Orpheus demands sacrifice, but also resists the Emperor’s dystopian vision of unity through control. It’s a choice that defines the end of the game, and cements the Emperor as one of its most compelling and divisive figures.
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
- Engine
- Divinity 4.0
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op, Local Co-Op
- Cross-Platform Play
- Full cross-platform play.
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- RPG
