Baldur's Gate 3 Beginner Guide: Everything You Need to Know Before Playing

Quick Start: Your First 10 Minutes in BG3

You’ve just launched Baldur’s Gate 3. The character creator appears. Don’t panic — here’s your 10-minute quick start:

Step 1: Choose an Origin (30 seconds)

Select “Custom” character (not an Origin character). Origin characters have pre-written backstories that are better experienced by meeting them as companions during your playthrough.

Step 2: Pick Your Race (1 minute)

For your first playthrough, pick based on what looks cool. But if you want mechanical advice:

• Half-Elf (Wood) — Bonus movement speed, darkvision, shield proficiency. The safest all-rounder.
• Human — +1 to all abilities, extra skill proficiency. Simple and effective.
• Dwarf (Gold) — Bonus HP every level. Very forgiving for mistakes.

Step 3: Pick Your Class (3 minutes)

This is your most important decision. For a first playthrough:

Our recommendation for absolute beginners: Fighter (Battle Master subclass at level 3). You wear the heaviest armor, attack multiple times per turn, and Battle Master maneuvers add tactical depth without overwhelming complexity.

Step 4: Set Ability Scores (2 minutes)

Your abilities determine everything. Here’s the quick guide:

• Strength (STR) — Melee weapon damage, carrying capacity, shoving
• Dexterity (DEX) — Ranged/finesse weapon damage, armor class, initiative
• Constitution (CON) — Hit points. Never dump this below 12.
• Intelligence (INT) — Wizards only. Everyone else can dump to 8.
• Wisdom (WIS) — Important saving throw against mind control and fear. Keep at 10 minimum.
• Charisma (CHA) — Conversation checks, trading prices. Paladins/Bards/Warlocks need this.

Fighter recommended stats: STR 17, DEX 12, CON 15, INT 8, WIS 10, CHA 10

Step 5: Skills & Background (2 minutes)

Pick Soldier or Folk Hero background for a Fighter. Prioritize these skills:

• Athletics — Most common physical check; shoving enemies off cliffs
• Perception — Spotting traps and hidden treasures
• Persuasion or Intimidation — Conversation options

Step 6: Appearance & Name (1 minute)

Go wild. Name your character. You’re ready.

Your First Hour: The Nautiloid Tutorial

The game opens on a mind flayer ship. This is your tutorial:

What to Do on the Nautiloid

1. Free Shadowheart — In the room to your right after the starting pod. Use the console or interact with her pod. She’s a Cleric and your most valuable early companion (healing!).

2. Grab Us — On the operating table in the next room. You can recruit this… brain creature. He’s a quirky companion.

3. Fight the Imps — Your first combat. Basic attack with your weapon. Shadowheart heals you. Easy.

4. The Helm Fight — The big tutorial battle against Commander Zhalk. Do not try to kill him. Run to the transponder at the front of the helm. Your goal is to reach it and activate it. Use the “Dash” action (bonus action) to cover more ground.

5. Connect the Transponder — This triggers the cutscene and ends the tutorial. You crash land on the beach.

The Beach and Your First Companions

After the crash, you wake up on a beach. Here’s the optimal early route:

1. Recruit Shadowheart (Immediately)

She’s unconscious on the beach to your left. Wake her up. She’s now a permanent companion.

2. Recruit Astarion (5 minutes)

Head west from the crash site. You’ll find Astarion (rogue vampire spawn) near the wreckage. He’s excellent for lockpicking and trap disarming.

3. Recruit Gale (5 minutes)

Continue west to the Roadside Cliffs waypoint. Gale (wizard) emerges from a malfunctioning waypoint. He’s your magic expert.

4. Recruit Lae’zel (5 minutes)

Further west, you’ll find Lae’zel (githyanki fighter) trapped in a cage by tieflings. Free her — she’s a powerhouse in combat.

5. The Emerald Grove (Major Hub)

This is your first major location. Here you’ll find:

• Wyll (warlock companion) — Fighting goblins at the gate
• Merchants — Arron sells +1 weapons and healing potions
• Druids — Ongoing conflict with tiefling refugees (this is a major quest line)
• Withers — Found in the Dank Crypt (east of the grove). He resurrects dead companions and lets you respec.

Core Mechanics Every Beginner Must Understand

Action Economy

Each turn in combat, every character gets:

• 1 Action (green circle) — Attack, cast a spell, dash, or use an item
• 1 Bonus Action (orange triangle) — Off-hand attack, shove, jump, drink a potion
• Movement — Move up to your speed (usually 9m / 30ft)

The golden rule: Always use your Action AND Bonus Action every turn. Unused actions are wasted damage or utility.

Resting System

BG3 has two types of rest:

Critical beginner mistake: Many new players avoid long resting, thinking there’s a time penalty. There is no overall time limit. Long rest often — it triggers important companion story scenes at camp. Only a handful of quests have time pressure (and the game warns you clearly when that’s the case).

Advantage and Disadvantage

This is the most important mechanic to understand:

• Advantage = Roll two d20s, take the higher result. This is massively powerful.
• Disadvantage = Roll two d20s, take the lower result. This will make you miss constantly.

How to get Advantage easily:

• Attack from hiding (crouch behind an enemy)
• Attack an enemy that’s prone (shove them down first!)
• Attack an enemy that’s blinded (cast Blindness or throw a grease bottle)
• Have an ally within 1.5m of the target (enables sneak attack for rogues)

Surface Effects & Environmental Damage

BG3’s combat is built around surface interactions:

• Fire + Grease/Oil = Explosion and burning ground
• Water + Lightning = Electrified water (stuns enemies)
• Ice = Slippery surface (enemies fall prone)
• Acid = Reduces armor class

Always check what surfaces exist before positioning your characters.

Your First 5 Levels: A Roadmap

Level 1-2 (Nautiloid + Beach)

Get off the nautiloid, recruit companions, reach the Emerald Grove.

Level 2-3 (Emerald Grove Area)

• Investigate the Dank Crypt (east of the grove entrance)
• Talk to everyone in the grove (Nettie, Zevlor, Kagha, Dammon)
• Recruit Withers
• Fight the harpies by the beach (tough fight — use ranged attacks)

Level 3-4 (Blighted Village & Surroundings)

• Explore the Blighted Village (west of the grove)
• Find the Necromancy of Thay book (basement of the apothecary)
• Optional: Clear the Whispering Depths (spider cave under the village)
• Recruit Karlach (north of the village, across the river)

Level 4-5 (Goblin Camp / Underdark Entrance)

• At level 4: Take your first Feat or Ability Score Improvement (+2 STR or Great Weapon Master)
• Infiltrate the Goblin Camp to rescue Halsin
• Or: Find the Underdark entrance under the Blighted Village well

Essential Beginner Strategies

1. Positioning Wins Fights

High ground gives +2 attack bonus to ranged attacks. Always start fights by positioning your archers and spellcasters on elevated terrain.

2. Focus Fire

Kill one enemy at a time rather than spreading damage. A dead enemy deals 0 damage. An enemy at 1 HP deals full damage.

3. Shove Is Overpowered

Use your Bonus Action to shove enemies off cliffs, into fire, or away from your squishy casters. Strength characters excel at this.

4. Save Scum (It’s Okay)

Press F5 to quicksave, F8 to quickload. Use it liberally while learning. No one judges beginners for reloading a tough fight.

5. Talk to Animals and Dead Bodies

• Speak with Animals spell/potion lets you talk to every animal in the game. They often give hints, quest info, or just hilarious dialogue.
• Speak with Dead lets you question corpses (even ones you killed). They can reveal passwords, treasure locations, and quest clues.

Common Beginner Mistakes to Avoid

1. Ignoring Jump and Shove — These are free Bonus Actions. Use them every turn.
2. Not using consumables — Potions, scrolls, grenades, and poisons are abundant. Use them.
3. Resting too little — Long rest frequently. Companion story progression depends on camp scenes.
4. Selling magic items — Unique magic items might have quest uses. Keep one of everything in your camp chest.
5. Ignoring party composition — Have at least one character who can heal, one who can pick locks, and one who can talk (high Charisma).
6. Skipping dialogue — BG3’s writing is exceptional. Rushing through conversations means missing quests, romance options, and world-building.