Baldur's Gate 3 Endings Explained: Good, Evil, and Divine Ambition

There is no "season" system in Baldur's Gate 3. However, several large patches have been distributed since its release. Notably, "Patch 5" added a new epilogue depicting the post-adventure lives of companions, and "Patch 7" and "Patch 8" expanded ending content, primarily adding new cinematics for evil role-play routes. This article is based on information as of June 9, 2026.

At the end of Baldur's Gate 3's epic journey awaits the ending. It's not just the conclusion of a story, but the culmination of countless choices made by the player. Will you save Faerûn as a hero, or reign as the Absolute? This article thoroughly explains the main ending branches, delves into the meaning of each outcome, and explores what constitutes the "best" story for you.

Main Ending Branches: Destruction or Domination?

The ultimate choice presented at the climax of the story. It is whether to destroy the Netherbrain, the source of the world's threat, or to seize its power and dominate it yourself. These two choices largely divide the story's conclusion into good and evil, light and darkness.

Destroying the Netherbrain: A Hero's Tale

This is the standard good ending that most players will likely aim for first. You transform the bonds with your companions into strength, defeat the Netherbrain, and become a hero who saves Baldur's Gate and the Sword Coast. The true value of this path is revealed in the post-adventure epilogue added in "Patch 5." It details what lives the companions you adventured with lead after the battle, allowing you to witness how the many choices you made throughout your journey impacted their futures. This can be described as a touching finale that celebrates the end of your travels.
This outcome affirms the core themes of the game: "cooperation" and "free will." Liberation from the Mind Flayers' mental domination not only saves the city but also carries the profound meaning of rescuing individual trapped souls. This path, where you win the future alongside companions and citizens, is a complete classic heroic saga.

Dominating the Netherbrain: The Birth of a New Absolute

The other path is a purely evil ending where you seize the Netherbrain's power and reign as the new "Absolute." Initially, this outcome was relatively short, but updates since "Patch 7" added 13 new cinematics, more vividly depicting the loneliness and terror of a ruler, and the world bowing before them.
This choice is deeply connected to the history of D&D, especially the themes of Baldur's Gate 1 & 2 (Previous Games). The protagonist of the previous games was also a Bhaalspawn, a child of the god of murder, and was constantly questioned about how to use the immense power within them. Choosing to dominate the Netherbrain is nothing less than providing the ultimate answer to that question: "rule the world with power." Reading in-game books like "Under Bhaal's Name" will make you realize the horror of embodying the chaos and domination that your divine father likely desired.

Character-Specific Endings That Shape Destiny

The diversity of endings isn't limited to main story branches. Specific Origin Characters, especially the Dark Urge (Origin Character) and Gale, have significant unique endings that can overturn the entire narrative due to their origins and fate.

The Dark Urge (Origin Character): Confronting a Bloody Destiny

The Dark Urge (Origin Character), who awakens with lost memories, carries the harsh destiny of being a Bhaalspawn, a child of the god of murder, and constantly fighting against an inner urge to kill.
If you resist the urge and choose the path of good, the story becomes one of redemption, overcoming your abominable origin. By ultimately rejecting Bhaal's curse, you can be recognized as a hero with your companions and achieve true freedom. This ending, triumphing over a bloody fate, will provide a stronger catharsis than any other character's.
On the other hand, embracing the urge leads to a unique evil ending for the Dark Urge. You are recognized by your father, Bhaal, and, as his "favored child," you plunge the world into terror and slaughter. This differs from merely dominating the Netherbrain; it is a more fundamental and personal form of evil, unleashing and affirming the instinct of "slaughter." This ending might be described as the most abhorrent outcome, marking a new dark age in the history of Baldur's Gate.

Gale: Ambition and Love for Divinity

Gale, the great wizard of Waterdeep. Within his chest lies a "Netherese Orb" implanted due to the wrath of the goddess Mystra, and the story's conclusion hinges on how you deal with the legendary artifact, the "Crown of Karsus," obtained in the final battle.
One path is to deliver the crown to Mystra, his lover and mentor, gaining her forgiveness and returning to being a mere wizard. This is a humble ending where Gale acknowledges his mistakes and chooses love and loyalty. If you have deepened your romance with him, you can build a quiet and happy future together.
The other path is to claim the crown's immense power for himself and achieve divinity as a "God of Ambition." This means treading the same path as Karsus, the archmage who once nearly killed the goddess of magic. This choice, which confronts the player with the gravity of becoming a "god" in the D&D world, is an embodiment of Gale's boundless ambition and curiosity, and perhaps the ultimate self-realization for him.

Special Early Ending: Gale's Sacrifice

If Gale is in your party, just before the final battle, an option appears to detonate the Netherese Orb in his chest, taking the Netherbrain with him. This is a special ending that concludes the story early, but at the cost of Gale himself and the entire party dying. While it can be seen as the ultimate self-sacrifice in a desperate situation, it is a tragic conclusion that leaves many mysteries unsolved.

Key Choices That Shape the Outcome

Beyond the main branches, important choices await players that subtly alter the appearance of the ending.

Who Becomes a Mind Flayer?

To use the Netherstones, which are necessary to counter the Netherbrain, someone must transform into a Mind Flayer (Illithid). Will the protagonist take on this role, entrust it to Karlach, destined to burn in the fires of Avernus, hand it over to the Githyanki Prince Orpheus, or leave it to the Emperor, your ally throughout the story? This choice significantly impacts the ending's atmosphere, companions' reactions, and the epilogue. For instance, if Karlach transforms, she will be freed from Avernus's flames but will continue to live as a soulless being, forcing a difficult decision upon the player.

The Future of the Sword Coast and its Factions

Your choices also determine the future of various factions in Faerûn. The decision to free the Githyanki Prince Orpheus or to side with the Emperor dictates the fate of the entire Githyanki race, suffering under Queen Vlaakith's tyranny. Saving Orpheus offers them hope for a new future, while not doing so could sow the seeds of civil war. Similarly, your interactions with Shadowheart's faith, the Harpers, and the Zhentarim will bring about changes in the post-war global situation, with their consequences revealed in the epilogue.

Conclusion: What is the "Best" Ending for You?

The 17,000 ending variations cited by Larian Studios are born from the accumulation of these myriad choices, big and small. Generally, the "best" ending is considered to be the "Destroying the Netherbrain" path, where you achieve freedom with your companions and they each live their lives in a peaceful world afterwards. It is the most moving conclusion, affirming the journey of adventure.
However, the true charm of Baldur's Gate 3 lies in the player's ability to define the "best" ending according to their own role-play. The Dark Urge (Origin Character) embodying ultimate evil, Gale striving for divinity, a hero making ruthless choices to save companions – all of these are your own stories, permitted in this grand TRPG world. Please try various choices and discover your "best" ending.