Summary
- The Underdark in Baldur's Gate 3 doesn't live up to its reputation as a dangerous and deadly area, lacking in challenging enemies and unexpected encounters.
- Adding more enemies like Gelatinous Cubes, Purple Worms, Oblexes, Flameskulls, and Kruthik would increase the challenge and danger of the Underdark.
- The Underdark would benefit from the inclusion of boss-level encounters, such as Shadow Dragons, a powerful Drow leader, and alternate Illithid creatures, to create memorable and tricky battles.
One of the many locations Baldur's Gate 3 players can visit is the Underdark, a series of caverns and tunnels beneath the Sword Coast. While it is a fascinating area filled with intelligent Myconids, confrontational Duergar, and fanatical Kua-Toa, it does fall short in one area. Many characters repeatedly reference how dangerous and deadly the Underdark is, but Baldur's Gate 3's representation of the area is relatively middling danger-wise and does not live up to the terror the Underdark supposedly inspires.
The Underdark Needs More Enemies
Like every area in the game, Baldur's Gate 3's Underdark contains groups of random enemies that players can encounter. Wandering underground foes primarily consist of Minotaurs and Hook Horrors, with groups such as the Duergar and Myconids able to be fought should players choose. However, there are many Dungeons and Dragons enemies that could easily be added to the Underdark for extra challenge and danger. These include:
- Gelatinous Cubes - blobs that can trap passing adventurers
- Purple Worms - enormous burrowing worms with far too many teeth
- Oblexe - oozes capable of devouring memories
- Flameskulls - flying, animated skulls with few weaknesses
- Kruthik - insectoids that travel in packs
More Encounters Should Be Unexpected And Terrifying
Two encounters in the Underdark of Baldur's Gate 3 effectively portray the tension and danger adventurers should expect when traveling through these areas. One is a Spectator Beholder, an iconic DnD monster that can unexpectedly ambush players and even de-petrify its former victims and set them against the player. The other is the Bulette, a massive creature that travels underground and causes massive tremors whenever it moves.
These boss-level encounters are effective and satisfying, but having only two in the entire Underdark can feel like a bit of a disappointment. There are several Dungeons and Dragons monsters and figures who could make for memorable and tricky Underdark bosses.
Shadow Dragon Or Other Dragon Types
Baldur's Gate 3 needs more dragon fights and, although the Underdark may not initially seem like the perfect place to put them, it's actually an ideal choice. Several types of dragons like to nest underground, most notably Shadow Dragons, who originate from the Shadowfell and prefer dark, isolated places. Plus, putting a dragon in the Underdark could be a fun nod to the memorable underground dragon battle in the film Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.
A Drow Leader, Possibly A Matron Mother
While there are several Drow characters in Baldur's Gate 3, such as potential party member Minthara and blood merchant Araj Oblodra, the Underdark is surprisingly lacking in Drow despite being their traditional home. The only Drow met in the Underdark are True Soul Nere and the Beholder's victims. This is a waste, as the Underdark would be a perfect setting for an epic battle against a powerful Drow leader, such as one of the Matron Mothers empowered by Lolth, the spider queen.
Alternate Illithids
Mind Flayers are a huge part of Baldur's Gate 3, as the main party has been infected by "tadpole" parasites and must seek out a cure before they transform into Mind Flayers themselves. While Mind Flayers and intellect devourers are both fought, the game does not take advantage of the many other creatures who can undergo Illithid transformations. The Underdark could easily play host to a mindwitness (an Illithid Beholder), a Mozgriken (an Illithid deep gnome), or even a deadly Brainstealer Dragon (an Illithid dragon).
It is possible that future expansions or DLC for Baldur's Gate 3 will feature the Underdark, especially as one player choice may lead to thousands of vampire spawn making the cavern system their new home. If the Underdark reappears and is expanded on, it will hopefully have more monsters and tricky boss fights to truly reflect the danger lurking beneath the ground.
Baldur's Gate 3
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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
- Franchise
- Baldur's Gate
- Number of Players
- 1-4
- Split Screen Orientation
- Vertical Only
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, macOS
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- How Long To Beat
- 100+ Hours
- Metascore
- 96
