Hardest Fights In Act 1 Of Baldur's Gate 3

Larian Studios has really mastered its tactical RPG combat formula after the Divinity: Original Sin series, and it shows. Baldur’s Gate 3 has a really diverse menagerie of enemies, beautiful and complicated combat areas, and unique complications that make every fight fresh and interesting.

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By  Kristy Ambrose

Baldur's Gate 3 players often need to use tactical advantages and strategic thinking in (or even before) combat, especially on higher difficulties. Even so, certain fights can really push players to their limits, with enemies’ unexpected use of abilities, hidden resistances, or sheer numbers. A good rule of thumb is to engage enemies of the same level, as is often the case with Larian games. There is no shame in retreating and bulking up a bit before going back for sweet revenge.

Updated on February 12, 2024, by Ivan Abadier: Since the game’s release, the company has focused on various bug fixes and glitches, polishing the rougher edges. There is still quite a lot of content that the studio has promised, ranging from new races to new classes and subclasses for players to enjoy, as well as a new location DLC on the horizon. As players increase their hours in the game, there are more and more brave souls who dare to take on the harder difficulties and try to beat the game at its peak. To do that, players often need to plan a bit ahead and prepare themselves for the brutal encounters that will test their party composition and builds.

12 Gnoll Warlord Flind

Location - The Risen Road Cave

Flind is a powerful enemy all in her own right, but the encounter is even further complicated by the accompanying band of gnolls. Players do have the option of turning her against the rest of the pack, making the fight much easier.

Sneaking up on her is preferable, as it will give players the upper hand and the benefits of striking first. Otherwise, the players should be mindful of her paralysis and maddening attacks, as they can easily incapacitate and stun a member of the party.

11 Lump the Enlightened

Location - Blighted Village

Ogres have always been formidable enemies in the Dungeons and Dragons lore, especially on lower levels. The game is also no exception, and the encounter with the three ogres in the Blighted Village can leave a party absolutely squashed if they are not ready for the challenge.

Players can either deceive or even hire them, but should the negotiations fail, the following fight can be especially brutal due to the ogres’ strength and high hp. Luckily, they don’t have much going for them when it comes to range, and right above the room that players meet them in there are plenty of beams, allowing players to pellet the ogres from above.

10 Minthara

Location - Shattered Sanctum

Minthara is one of the three goblin camp bosses, and taking her down is essential to helping the Emerald Grove. Depending on how the players approach the questline, they might already have gone through a horde of goblins and their allies, using up a lot of resources along the way.

The fight itself is composed of Minthara, a group of goblins, and a Scrying Eye. There are many ways to approach the fight, but stealthily taking out the eye and the group will go a long way in this intimidating showdown. Should she be left alone, she is much easier to deal with but still packs a punch thanks to her massive sword and a couple of spells.

9 Addled Frog

Location - Sunlit Wetlands

Players are in for quite a shocking experience if they approach this seemingly harmless frog at the wrong time. Given her measly 12 HP, one wouldn’t think she could pose much of a challenge, but the devil lies in her 22 AC, making her incredibly difficult to even hit.

And even if a character does hit it in melee, they could succumb to her Toxic Secretions, which is an ability that could drive the attacker Mad for two turns, turning against their allies. On top of all of that, this enemy reflects projectiles back to its attacker. All in all, this cute little frog can quickly prove to be the end of an unprepared party.

8 Owlbear

Location - Owlbear Nest

While this beautiful creature has no incredible abilities or magic, it can appear quite early in the game before players get much of a chance to level up. Killing her is completely optional, and players can instead converse with her using Speak with Animals to negotiate a safe passage.

If players do find themselves in combat with her, her high HP, powerful claws, and great speed make her a dangerous mama bear indeed. She can easily down a character or two in a single turn and is capable of quickly closing the gap between her and squishy casters.

7 Bulette

Location - Underdark

The Bulette is a powerful underground dweller, burrowing its way through hard rocks and dirt, lying in wait before exploding onto unsuspecting travelers. Its thick outer shell provides a decent amount of protection, and its incredibly powerful claws can easily rip into armored adventurers.

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A unique ability of the Bulette in the game is to burrow and run away if the fight drags on for too long. Finding it again might prove a hassle, and the looming threat of the 500 kg monstrosity is no fun at all. Another fun trait of the Bulette is its ability to effortlessly fling characters, with suspicious accuracy, towards pits and cliffs.

6 Grym

Location - Grymforge

As the players progress through the game, they will almost inevitably acquire the quest to Forge an Adamantine weapon. At the end of the questline, players will end up in the Adamantine Forge itself, and to actually craft the legendary weapon they must first defeat the guardian - Grym.

Grym is an incredibly tough and vicious enemy, and players need to use the surroundings to their advantage. Grym can only be damaged while in lava, and players have limited space to work with. However, players can drop the anvil on Grym, severely damaging him and temporarily stunning the terrifying construct.

5 Spectator

Location - The Risen Road / Underdark

The Spectator is Beholder’s little sibling, but still presents tangible danger and can overwhelm the party with its many rays. There are several ways players can encounter this foe in the game, and depending on the version being fought, its abilities can vary. Specifically, if encountered in the Underdark, the Spectator will be able to summon additional Drow warriors to its aid.

The main danger with this monster is its ability to completely disable several characters at a time, using Fear and Paralyzing Rays respectively. It also has decent bite damage and enough HP to last a few rounds.

4 Githyanki Patrol

Location - Mountain Pass

The Githyanki are ferocious warriors, and players have a chance to have a taste of their might closer to the end of the first Act. As with many others, the fight is optional, and players have a chance to resolve the conflict without bloodshed.

But should players engage, the patrol can quickly overpower the group with a lot of CC abilities, powerful strikes, and an overall well-rounded team. The combat area has quite a few elevations to make use of, from the overhead bridge to a bunch of hills to the side. Taking out the mages earlier can prove to be easier since they are isolated from the rest.

3 Nere

Location - Grymforge

While Nere himself doesn’t present too much trouble aside from his mind-controlling spells, the encounter itself can be quite brutal, thanks to the many Duergar warriors on his side. There are many different ways to engage Nere, including outright letting him suffocate, but if players want to go for the “best” outcome, they should try to engage him before the trapped gnomes join him in his fate.

The interesting detail about the fight is that it is located right next to large pools of lava, allowing both the players and the enemies to try and chuck each other toward instant death.