Should you go through the mountain pass or the underdark in BG3?

Act 1 of Baldur’s Gate 3 is full to the brim with choices, but there is one junction point that happens on a uniquely large scale. After finishing the party’s business in the Emerald Grove and nearby goblin camp, the time eventually comes to move on to a new area, and two paths offer divergent methods of kicking off the journey to the city of Baldur’s Gate. The Mountain Pass and the Underdark both sound threatening in their own ways, but both The hazards and rewards of taking each approach are ultimately radically different.

The mountain pass, true to its name, is an overland approach that brings the party through winding hills that can be found to the east of the goblin camp. The Underdark, on the other hand, plunges the journey into a dangerous subterranean environment that can be accessed through the Goblin Camp’s Defiled Temple or several other entry points. While there is nothing wrong with simply choosing whichever path is most convenient, careful consideration can reveal much more about the nature of the decision.

The benefits of taking the mountain pass in Balaldur’s Gate 3

The quick and easy way, comparatively

The number one reason to consider taking the mountain pass comes from what it adds to the story of Lae’zel, the irritable Githianki companion who can be rescued from militant tieflings and recruited to the party. Lae’zel spends a good chunk of time in Act 1 talking about how the solution to the parasite problem may be found in a nearby Gitianki creek, and as it turns out, the base of operations is located along the Mt. Pass. Getting rid of the illithid worms finally is not so simple, however The crèche is a key place for her personal story.

Even if the party doesn’t have a sword in hand, The Mountain Pass still plays host to some interesting areas and useful loot. The abandoned Rosymorn Monastery found along the way contains some mighty weapons, most notably the The blood of Latander

Which improves its wild with some holy powers and the level six spell sunshine

. Although getting the Blood of Latander isn’t a quick process, it should be fun for those who enjoy solving puzzles.

The Mountain Pass is a good option for those who don’t want more trouble than necessaryAs it is ultimately a more minor affair than the Underdark. Overland dangers don’t quite match the troubles of the deep, and it’s easier to make it through the area with minimal confrontation, even if avoiding too much combat could come back to bite the party later.

The benefits of walking through the underdark in BG3

Underdark civilizations have serious problems

The journey through the Underdark isn’t as directly related to any one party member as the Mountain Pass is to Lae’zel’s story, but it offers a lot of story material in a more general sense. It is the bigger of the two options in terms of contentAnd deciding to permanently skip it could make the party miss some of the most interesting parts of Baldur’s Gate 3 Act 1. Like the Mountain pass, it also offers a clear opportunity to solve the parasite problem, although things are again not as simple as they might seem.

The Underdark contains significant quest lines relating to both a colony of fungal myconid creatures and a facility called Grymforge that is currently controlled by the forces of the Absolute. Taking a side in a Myconid squabble offers worthwhile rewards regardless of the choice, and Grymforge contains the Adamantine ForgeA place that allows the party to craft some of the best early-game weapons and armor if they defeat a challenging boss.

Grymforge also houses a number of captive deep gnomes, and choosing to rescue them or side with their duergar overlords could have implications for side content in the rest of the game. Any fans of the hapless elf Barcus Wroot should make sure to help the gnomes, as skipping this content will spell the end of his involvement in the story. Aside from the primary destinations, there’s also a defense-laden Arcane Tower that contains some spoils for parties intrepid enough to brave it.

You should go through the Underdark first in BG3

The longer way is the more important

luckily, Took one way to Act 2 of Baldur’s Gate 3 Does not actually exclude the other. It’s possible to double back before reaching the end of each route or simply revisit the areas after entering Act 2, and anyone looking for a reasonably complete experience would do best to beat both options. Act 2 has a separate point of no return that can close the content of the first act, but it is not something to worry about immediately after entering the area.

finally, The most important area for any campaign not centered around Lae’zel is the Underdark, and it’s best to tackle it first overall. After traveling through the Underdark, it’s easy to enter Act 2 through the Underdark, find where the Mountain Pass crosses into the lands of Act 2, and enter from that exit point. As a smaller area without the same scale of progression, going the wrong way in the Mountain Pass works just fine. It is also possible to stop short of the Underdark’s ending and cover the Mountain Pass before entering Act 2.

Doing things in the other order is also acceptable, especially for those who are not quite ready for the Underdark’s challenge, but visiting the Underdark after reaching Act 2 will feel more like doubling back. For anyone who doesn’t want to cover both areas, it’s better to stick with the Underdark and skip the Mountain Pass.. The sacrifice to Lae’zel’s story is significant, but the overall amount of gameplay garbage doesn’t match how much was lost by avoiding the Underdark in Baldur’s Gate 3.