Summary
Hardcore gamers are no strangers to challenge runs in their favorite titles, especially when it involves games likeBaldur’s Gate 3which boasts a robust system rife with opportunities to create crazily-difficult encounters with equally-bizarre ways of overcoming them. As an adaptation of theD&D5e ruleset,Baldur’s Gate 3sets itself apart from the typical RPG experience with stricter mechanics that Larian Studios expanded enough to accommodate tactical finesse.
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With Larian Studios notable forDivinity: Original Sin 2and its highly-adaptable combat system,Baldur’s Gate 3players know they have the option to skip the game’s overarching narrative and head straight to its engaging combat. However, what challenges can players do to theirBaldur’s Gaterun to test their tactical mettle?
10Kill Everyone
Infamous players inD&Dare the ones who love to murder-hobo or commit the act of killing everyone they meet for the purpose of looting them. Dungeon Masters often punish these players for their recklessness, butBaldur’s Gate 3gameplayhas an entire evil route that specifically ties into these tendencies. And players can pursue being truly evil by trying to murder everyone - provided they’re strong enough to pull it off.
This challenge is heavily suited for the Dark Urge Origin, as this Custom Origin is rediscovering exactly why they have an unreasonable craving for murder and violence. Regardless of the build of choice, players are encouraged to try and kill everyone they meet, sparing only the ones that help them make progress throughout the Main Story.
9Stealing Is Healthy
Pickpocketing becomes one of the most lucrative ways to earn money ina game likeBaldur’s Gate 3, especially when Magic Items that players can use tend to become extremely expensive. With the right play, a character can simply put an NPC to Sleep while they’re being pickpocketed, getting away with easy cash they can spend for valuable items.
InStealing Is Healthy, this behavior is the only way players are allowed to grab items. Regardless if they need basic supplies or Potions of Health, this challenge forces them to steal their way out of poverty. Provoking a hostile response out of this attempt is not allowed, just to add complexity to the challenge.
8Improvised Weapons Only
It’s not all the time thatcharacters inDungeons & Dragonshave the privilege of fighting with a full set of weapons, and this is where Improvised Weapons come into play. As adapted inBaldur’s Gate 3, the Improvised Weapon Attack encourages characters to find a random item they can grab and use as an offensive armament. While this may strike at less damage, players may be able to pull off miraculous plays when done right.
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This is where theImprovised Weapons Onlychallenge comes in. As the name implies, this challenge only allows players to use Improvised Weapons in combat. It’s up to players whether they will allow spells or have their characters stick solely to Improvised Weapons, with item throws being part of their options.
7Stealth Is Wealth
Astarion is likely thefirstBaldur’s Gate 3characterplayers would encounter that fits the stealth archetype, especially if they stick with his Rogue preference. Thanks to Sneak Attack, Astarion can dish out massive damage to enemies provided he has Advantage over them, emphasizing the value of surprise via this Rogue Feature.
As the name implies,Stealth is Wealthis a challenge that relies on this maneuver. This challenge requires all characters to rely on stealth-based attacks to secure their kills. Characters may opt to become Rogues or rely on spellcasters that can continuously blind or hinder a foe’s vision.
6Exclusively Magic
Spellcasters are some of themost powerful beings inBaldur’s Gate 3, with their access to some of the most devastatingD&Dspells making them especially potent damage dealers. In theBaldur’s Gatetitle, creatures have access to spells not just through their Classes but also through Scrolls and Magic Items.
In this regard, theExclusively Magicchallenge forces players to rely solely on spells to defeat opponents. This challenge becomes easier to bear with using an all-spellcaster troupe that has access to damaging Cantrips, as they don’t cost Spell Slots. With the right Magic Items that grant spells as well as Feats such as Magic Initiate, Exclusively Magic can make for quite the interesting challenge.
5Ranged Delight
Thanks to quick-swap options,Baldur’s Gate 3gameplaynow allows characters to alternate between melee and ranged weapons whenever the situation fits. This allows even melee specialists to try their hand at attacking from afar should enemies try to get away while still having Movement left to outmaneuver foes.
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Players looking for a challenge, however, may want to tryRanged Delight. This forces players to exclusively attack from ranged distances, regardless of their Class and if they’re using a spell. Players can mix things up by forcing all characters to use ranged weapons.
4Deadly Melee
Melee fighting forms a crucial part ofBaldur’s Gate 3combat, especially since all creatures are able to equip both long-ranged and close-ranged weapon options. This Proficiency is also why close-ranged specialists such as the Fighter and the Barbarian are must-haves as tanks, especially since they can pull off high-damage rolls with armaments likeVersatile Weapons.
TheDeadly Meleechallenge focuses on this specialization, as this forces players to only stick to attacks within melee range. Spells that buff or heal allies could be used from afar, but not for debuffs and status-granting effects. However, players can make the challenge more interesting if even allowable spells are also ones that only affect melee.
3The Lone Wolf Play
Players who enjoyed Larian Studios’ previous workDivinity: Original Sin 2would remember the “Lone Wolf” Talent, essentially a perk that boosts a character’s stats provided they play solo or have at most one companion. This encourages extreme tactical prowess on a player’s part, especially since they get easily outnumbered in most of the game’s encounters. Such is the case of theLone Wolf Playin a player’sBaldur’s Gate 3playthrough.
Serving as a similar take on the “Lone Wolf,” this challenge encourages players to rely on their character’s individual prowess to take on most of the game’s encounters alone. This can get difficult rather quickly, especially since players are almost always outnumbered at the onset. Players can tackle this challenge through hyper-optimized builds with a lot of crowd control opportunities or through strategic hits-and-runs.
2Unknown Hirelings
When players unlock Withers intheirBaldur’s Gate 3playthrough, they get the option to respec their characters, revive dead Companions, and even recruit Hirelings. Instead of experimenting with Companions who have their own stories and themes, players can experiment builds with Hirelings they can hire at a cheaper rate.
One challenge players can do involving Hirelings would be an entire playthrough running just Hirelings. A setup for this challenge could involve players getting their first Companions and not progressing through the main story until they unlock Withers, earn enough gold, and fill their party with Hirelings. With the number of side quests and areas to explore in Act 1, players may have a fully-kitted Hireling party to resume the rest of the playthrough.
1No Offense
Unlike other RPGs, players can enjoyBaldur’s Gate 3with a Face Character designed specifically for entertainment. InD&Dand other TTRPGs, a Face Character is built to serve as the spokesperson of the party, packing enough Charisma and points in conversational Skills (Deception, Intimidation, Persuasion, Performance) to talk their way out of (or into) trouble.
In theNo Offensechallenge, players are encouraged to build a character designed to get their way out of troublesome situations as much as possible.
While there are conversations that result in nothing but combat, players aware that a dialogue that can lead to non-combat should be pursued all the time. In this challenge, players are allowed to reload saves as often as possible to choose the least-violent option, testing whether there’s truly a way to avoid having to kill their way to remove the Illithid parasites in their heads.
Baldur’s Gate 3is currently available on PC and is slated for a July 30, 2025 release for PlayStation 5.
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