Summary
Baldur’s Gate3has an ending so incredibly rare that it’s actually impossible to achieve under normal circumstances. This ending forBaldur’s Gate 3is only possible by playing Lae’zel as an origin character, making some incongruous decisions, and then manipulating the save file before the epilogue.
Earlier this month, Larian Studios released several statisticsas a celebration ofBaldur’s Gate 3passing its first anniversary. These statistics specifically recounted the actions taken by the millions of players across the year. One surprisingly low statistic was the rarest ending achieved, in which only 34 players, as Lae’zel, chose to kill themselves at the game’s conclusion upon being rejected by Vlaakith. The only way to achieve this is to be loyal to Vlaakith until the very end of the game, free Orpheus, undergo ceremorphosis to become a Mind Flayer, then betray Orpheus and request ascension from Vlaakith, upon which Lae’zel will receive no response and the optional ending will be presented. One particularBaldur’s Gate 3player sought to watch this ending play out, and in their search found an even rarer ending for Lae’zel within the game files.
A YouTuber called SlimX found an ending for Lae’zel that mimics the aforementioned ending, except Lae’zel is still Githyanki throughout the epilogue. All the other steps taken are the same — remain loyal to Vlaakith, free Orpheus, betray him, and request ascension only to be denied. The only difference is that Orpheus takes the guise of a Mind Flayer instead of Lae’zel. While this ending and sequence are present in the game files, there is no way to access them on a standard playthrough, as Mind Flayer Orpheus will always take his own life with an Origin Lae’zel, meaning Vlaakith is satisfied. Meanwhile, if players leave Orpheus alive as a Githyanki, the opportunity to ascend is skipped entirely, meaning this ending is impossible to achieve through normal means. Through manipulation of the game files, this ending can still be seen, and it’s a rather unceremoniousending for a character as complex as Lae’zel.
Baldur’s Gate 3 Has an Ending So Rare It’s Impossible to Achieve Under Normal Circumstances
The reason for this ending being so rare isn’t difficult to figure out, even before factoring in that it’s impossible without tinkering with the game itself. It’s only possible by playing Lae’zel as an origin character, and while exact statistics aren’t known about how many players did this, it is shown thatLae’zel is not the most popularBaldur’s Gate 3origin character. On top of this, players have to make the active decision to continuously side with Vlaakith, only to face-heel turn in the final act, either by becoming a Mind Flayer or refusing to kill Orpheus, and then still request ascension.
That this is an option at all speaks volumes to how prepared Larian Studios was for allowing player agency, but some things were evidently either reverted or missed entirely.With the upcoming Patch 7 forBaldur’s Gate 3adding new endings, Lae’zels unfortunate end may become less impossible soon.
Baldur’s Gate 3
WHERE TO PLAY
Abducted, infected, lost. You are turning into a monster, but as the corruption inside you grows, so does your power. Forge a tale of fellowship and betrayal, sacrifice and survival, and the lure of absolute power. Caught in a conflict between devils, deities, and sinister otherworldly forces, you and your party will determine the fate of the Forgotten Realms.THE ULTIMATE D&D EXPERIENCEChoose from a wide selection of D&D races and classes, or play as an origin character with a hand-crafted background. Adventure, loot, battle, and romance as you journey through the Forgotten Realms and beyond. Play alone or as a party of up to four in multiplayer – and select your companions carefully.A CINEMATIC STORYTELLING EPICForged with the new Divinity 4.0 engine, Baldur’s Gate 3 gives you unprecedented freedom to explore, experiment, and interact with a world that reacts to your choices. A grand, cinematic narrative brings you closer to your characters than ever before, as you venture through our biggest world yet. Romance, deceive, aid, obstruct, and grow alongside your friends thanks to Larian’s next-generation RPG engine.
