Baldur’s Gate 3: 10 Side Quests Beginners NEED to Do on Their First Playthrough
🗺️ Ready to make your first Baldur’s Gate 3 playthrough unforgettable? Some side quests are essential for beginners—trust me, you don’t want to miss these! 😎

These quests will not only level up your character but also unlock hidden lore and rewards you didn’t know you needed. Want to make your adventure even better? These 10 side quests will set you up for success. 🔑

Larian Studios’ Baldur’s Gate 3 is still going incredibly strong in 2025, with the recent and final major patch giving players a slew of new subclasses to tailor their characters. This makes the critically acclaimed CRPG an even stronger starting point for new players to experience its plethora of questlines. The game excels in presenting everything from its epic main storyline to its side quests in an organic manner, letting players unravel them simply by exploring their environment.

Baldur’s Gate 3 certainly has plenty of the latter to flesh out the lands of Faerûn that players will immerse themselves in across the game’s three Acts. Some of these side quests are more contained in their respective Acts. Meanwhile, others become sprawling sagas that bleed into later Acts. But regardless of whether players look into the mysterious Raphael or embark on a puzzle-themed quest for an elite weapon, there are plenty of terrific side quests players should look out for on their initial playthrough.

Look Into the Seemingly Innocent Auntie Ethel

Ethel Leads to a Hag-Themed Quest Resolving in BG3 Act 3

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Act I of Baldur’s Gate 3 is filled to the brim with main and side quest content. However, easily one of the most memorable is the seemingly sweet Auntie Ethel, whom the player’s party will find when attempting to find a cure for their Mind Flayer tadpole. In place of a proper cure, it eventually leads to players trying to save a young woman from a conniving Hag who profits and preys on many victims.

Players will meet one of Baldur’s Gate 3‘s most engaging side villains by sparking their encounter with Ethel in the Druid’s Grove in Act I. However, the party will gradually find out how deep and wide the Hag’s network reaches, uncovering the full scope of the conflict in Act III. It’s a grim story that will engage fans of warped fairy tales, and will also reward players with some useful gear, namely in the third act quest.

Raphael Will Tempt Baldur’s Gate Players With an Offer

BG3’s Cambion Will Follow the Player’s Trail Throughout the Game

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The side questline that begins with Raphael’s introduction paves the way for not only one of the game’s best supporting villains but arguably the best villain in Baldur’s Gate 3 overall. Players can also spark this quest in Act I, not long after escaping the Mind Flayer’s ship and exploring the wilds around them. The party will meet a smooth-talking human before he transports the group to the House of Hope and reveals himself to be a Cambion — and he knows far more than the main cast would expect.

Raphael wants their souls in exchange for curing them of their Mind Flayer infection. One of the most impressive things about Raphael’s Baldur’s Gate 3 side quest is how deeply it’s woven into various storylines (including the main quest) throughout Act II and III. Players will uncover more tantalizing lore and some of the game’s best dungeons in part thanks to the silver-tongued villain’s influence, which leads to Baldur’s Gate itself.

The Adamantine Forge Expands the Player’s Arsenal

Players Can Craft Powerful BG3 Weapons By Completing the Quest

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Later in Act I, players can learn about a legendary forge found somewhere in the Underdark that can be used to their benefit. The party will likely learn that the duergar and a group of drow are hunting the Adamantine Forge as they venture deeper into the main quest. Piecing together the location of the Adamantine Forge found within the Grymforge is a puzzle in itself, but it’s well worth the side quest’s rewards.

After deciphering its location, gathering at least one piece of Mithral Ore, and a mould to create the weapon, the party will find the Forge Protector standing in their way. New players should be warned that this behemoth is easily one of the toughest side quest bosses in Baldur’s Gate 3. Even so, the various Adamantine weapons and armor that can be crafted are a massive boon for players in the early game. Only two pieces of Adamantine gear can be crafted since only two Mithral Ores exist in Baldur’s Gate 3​​.

The Blood of Lathander Leads to Another Top-Tier Weapon

This Titular Weapon Can Help Carry BG3 Players Through the Early Game

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The Adamantine Weapons crafted after overcoming the quest’s fearsome boss are certainly worth the effort. But for players looking to effectively arm their party, “Find the Blood of Lathander” is one of the best Baldur’s Gate 3 side quests in the early-game portion. This quest is started by breaking into the Rosymorn Monastery and defeating a group of drunken Kobolds. Curiously, one of the Kobolds is holding a Ceremonial Mace, formally kick-starting “Find the Blood of Lathander.”

This is certainly one of the more puzzle-oriented Baldur’s Gate 3 side quests. Still, persistent new players will be greatly rewarded with the Blood of Lathander mace by the end. It’s one of Baldur’s Gate 3‘s strongest weapons — and a Legendary one at that — and provides a massive power spike for players in just Act I. This mace gives one free casting of the 6th-level Sunbeam spell once per Long Rest, and a blessing that heals its wielder for 2d6 HP if they hit 0 HP. Likewise, this will also heal allies within range for 1d6 HP.

Lift the Shadow Curse to Continue Halsin’s Story

This Act II Side Quest is the Core of the BG3 Druid’s Arc

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Players will meet the recruitable party member Halsin during Act I of Baldur’s Gate 3. However, the Druid’s arc doesn’t fully come into its own until the group ventures into the Shadow-Cursed Lands in Act II. Players will find out about a member of the Flaming First who’s been mysteriously plunged into unconsciousness.

This leads to a mission to find Halsin’s unaging childhood friend and nature spirit Thaniel, who is wrapped up in the curse and is the key to lifting it from the region. It’s one of the most winding Baldur’s Gate 3 side quests in Act II, as it pushes players to uncover various corners of this grim landscape. The most exciting point is what players must do to wake the Flaming Fist’s ailing member in the first place. It takes the party to the macabre House of Healing, where the undead Malus Thorm and his Shar followers conduct gruesome surgeries on their victims.

Punish the Wicked is as Compelling as it is Harrowing

Fans of Supernatural Horror Are Sure to Enjoy This BG3 Side Quest

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“Punish the Wicked” is one of the bleakest side quests players will find in Act II. While exploring the Shadow-Cursed Lands, the party can trigger this quest by finding a grim-looking Shadar-Kai and an accompanying raven in the Ruined Battlefield. He claims to be seeking justice against a dead dwarf woman named Madeline, whom he alleges was a murderer in life. It’s one of the game’s best examples of self-contained side quests that still contribute to its worldbuilding.

The Shadar-Kai, enigmatically dubbed “He Who Was,” wants the player to return a ledger of the people he claims Madeline betrayed to the goddess Shar’s evil Dark Justiciars. As with many of Baldur’s Gate 3‘s excellent main and side quests, the story becomes far more nuanced than it initially appears and lets players resolve it with He Who Was in different ways. This side quest will also likely and cleverly lead the party to cross paths with Thisobald Thorm, the undead villain who mans the Waning Moon bar that Madeline worked at when she was alive.

Solve the Open Hand Temple Murders for Some Sleuthing

Gruesome Killings Compel the BG3 Player’s Party to Be Fantasy Detectives

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Act III of Baldur’s Gate 3 is a dense final stretch for the RPG when it comes to story content. Even when largely limited to the eponymous city’s Lower City section, there are a slew of thrilling side quests to follow. One such mission is the gruesome “Solve the Open Hand Temple Murders” side quest. Baldur’s Gate 3 players can start this side quest by speaking with Sister Yannis in the temple, where they will find her speaking to Valeria, a Hollyphant and investigator in the city.

While the whimsical flying elephant thinks the case is open and shut, ready to be pinned on an innocent Baldur’s Gate refugee, the party can embark on a grisly investigation to find the true culprit. This is another gripping side quest, and one that will excite players by shifting to a fantasy-themed detective premise. Solving this murder case once again encourages players to explore the nooks and crannies of its dense environments. It’ll lead to shocking revelations while still relating to the main story’s overarching conflict and unearthing some fascinating supernatural lore.

Aid the Underduke for a Classic Baldur’s Gate Companion

Gain a Powerful Party Member in BG3 That Calls Back to the Original Games

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Baldur’s Gate 3 has an exceptionally well-rounded main cast of party members. Regardless, Larian’s RPG spoils players with even more choices later in the game. Act III opens the door for a seedier side quest in the form of “Aid the Underduke” that can culminate in making a powerful and delightful new ally. This quest is triggered by speaking to Farlin, a member of the city’s Guild, or by listening to some interesting rumors being discussed in Sharess’ Caress.

The criminal Guild’s leader, Nine-Fingers Keene, is seeing her territory threatened by the ominous Stone Lord. However, it’s revealed that the Stone Lord is Minsc under the influence of a Mind Flayer tadpole. Minsc is a classic hero from the first two Baldur’s Gate games, and having Jaheira in the party from Act II, another returning character, is key to recruiting him. On top of being a strong combative asset, Minsc and his hilarious “miniature giant space hamster” are also simply fun members for the Baldur’s Gate 3 crew.

Find Mystic Carrion’s Servant for More Occult-Themed Adventures

Mystic Carrion Has a Shady Role as a Trader in the City of Baldur’s Gate

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Brutal killings and cultish threats aren’t the only creepy, supernatural happenings new Baldur’s Gate 3 players can find in Act III. If the party finds their way deep into Philgrave’s Mansion, they’ll come across a ghastly scene of mindless ghouls controlled by an undead mummy lord. Known as Mystic Carrion, this unsettling figure works as a spirit medium and trader who deals with the elites of the Upper City who can afford his morbid services.

Offering to help the necromancer will begin the “Find Mystic Carrion’s Servant” side quest to track down Thrumbo. This Baldur’s Gate 3 side quest takes the player and their party across the city’s streets to find leads to the Mystic’s lost servant. But as players might surmise from the objective, there are different ways — and sides to take — to resolve this quest. Whichever side the player chooses to take, this is a great side quest storytelling-wise as well as for spellcasting characters looking for gear focused on the undead and necromancy.

Experience the Core Party’s Arcs Through Companion Quests

BG3’s Origin Characters Each Have Unique, Satisfying Side Quests

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Larian Studios succeeds in crafting an epic overarching storyline that taps into some of the best Forgotten Realms lore from the traditional Dungeons & Dragons tabletop RPG. But as great as it is, the road to resolving the life-or-death Mind Flayer conflict is fleshed out and personalized by experiencing the main party’s Companion Quests and how the player character interacts with them.

For many returning and even new Baldur’s Gate 3 players, these will likely be the most important side quests in this sprawling RPG. Minsc, Halsin, and Minthara are exceptions to these Baldur’s Gate 3 Companion Quests, as their arcs are baked into other side quests. Nonetheless, the stories of Shadowheart, Lae’zel, Astarion, Karlach, Gale, Wyll, and even the later addition of Jaheira are all engrossing and intimate in their own ways, rewarding players with more top-notch storytelling (and worthwhile gear).