Reaching Act 3 of Baldur's Gate 3 introduces adventuring parties to the sprawling urban landscapes of Rivington and the Lower City. Because this final act contains an overwhelming number of main narrative milestones and companion events, finding the right pathing is crucial to avoid locking yourself out of important stories. Implementing a strategic quest order ensures your party accumulates maximum experience points and high-tier gear before facing the final bosses.
Navigating the Suburbs of Rivington First
Your journey into the final chapter begins in the outer settlement of Rivington, which serves as a transitional zone before entering the city proper. It is highly recommended to resolve localized troubles here first, such as investigating the suspicious toys or helping the refugees at the local barn. Completing these minor encounters allows your characters to naturally hit maximum level milestones early without triggering massive political changes inside the city walls.
While exploring this outer region, you should also visit the Open Hand Temple to initiate the murder investigation storyline. This particular mission provides natural entry passes into Wyrm's Crossing and serves as a continuous narrative thread that connects to the grander political plots unfolding later. Taking care of these tasks early keeps your quest log organized and builds an optimal baseline of power for your companion characters.
Securing Footholds and Resolving Companion Quests in the Lower City
Once you gain access to the Lower City, your primary focus should shift toward exploring the busy streets and completing personal companion narratives. Tackling localized objectives like Shadowheart's House of Grief or Astarion's confrontation with Cazador allows you to secure powerful legendary gear that dramatically boosts your combat capabilities. These isolated encounters can be completed in any order, provided you do not advance the primary chosen storylines too quickly.
During this phase of exploration, it is also beneficial to investigate the mysterious sewer systems running beneath the city streets. Navigating these damp tunnels leads to essential encounters, including locating the missing Ranger Minsc and discovering hidden faction elements that can aid you in the endgame. Keeping your party focused on these structural milestones prevents accidental progression triggers that might alter the city landscape permanently.
Dismantling the Steel Watch Network
Before attempting to confront the main political leadership of Baldur's Gate, disabling the mechanized security force patrolling the streets should be your absolute priority. Visiting the Steel Watch Foundry allows you to plan a sabotage mission that permanently removes these dangerous mechanical guardians from the environment. This specific objective heavily intertwines with rescuing trapped gondolians and exploring the underwater Iron Throne prison.
Successfully completing this multi-stage operation requires careful coordination, but it significantly reduces the difficulty of all subsequent major confrontations. Navigating the foundry and the prison sections also unlocks unique crafting materials and deepens your understanding of the villainous motivations at play. Removing the mechanical threat ensures that your final infiltration attempts proceed smoothly without constant street harassment.
Confronting the Chosen for the Final Alliance
With the city neutralized and your companion quest lines secured, your party is finally ready to collect the remaining Netherstones from Orin and Gortash. It is generally recommended to deal with Orin inside the Temple of Bhaal first, as her assassination plot acts independently of the main city guard systems. Once she is defeated, you can turn your attention back to Wyrm's Rock Fortress to settle the score with Gortash in an unshielded environment.
Gathering these final relics officially sets the stage for the absolute climax of your campaign journey. By following this efficient progression path, you ensure that every narrative arc reaches a satisfying conclusion while maximizing your combat efficiency. Your fully upgraded party will stand optimally prepared to determine the ultimate fate of the Forgotten Realms.
