Baldur's Gate 3 — Complete Act 1 Walkthrough

Act 1 takes place in the Wilderness and the Underdark. It's the largest act in terms of optional content and companion recruitment. This guide covers all major quests in recommended order.

Starting Area: Nautiloid Crash Site

After the prologue, you wake on the beach. Complete the tutorial fight and loot the Zhentarim Hideout chest before leaving the beach.

Don't miss: Astarion is to the northwest of the crash site. Gale and Shadowheart are on the beach. Lae'zel is in a cage nearby.

Main Quest: Find a Cure

The tadpole in your head is the central mystery of the game. Act 1 gives you several options to investigate:

Route 1: Druid Grove

1. Head north from the beach to find the Druid Grove under siege.
2. Help drive back the goblins to enter.
3. Speak to Zevlor and Kagha.
4. Complete Save the Refugees for maximum approval from most companions.

Route 2: Goblin Camp

1. The goblin camp is northwest, past the Blighted Village.
2. You can infiltrate or fight your way through.
3. The three leaders (Priestess Gut, Dror Ragzlin, Minthara) must be dealt with for the Druid Grove to be saved.
4. Warning: Siding with Minthara locks you out of most companion approval and some companions leave.

Key Companions

Companion	Location	Notes
Shadowheart	Beach / Ravaged Beach	Starts in the prologue
Astarion	Northwest of crash	Look for his distress signal
Gale	Roadside portal, south of Grove	Free him from the arcane portal
Lae'zel	Trap cage near crash	Persuade or fight her captors
Wyll	Druid Grove	Joins during goblin attack
Karlach	North of Emerald Grove	Complete the paladin quest
Halsin	Goblin Camp prisoner	Rescue from warg pen

The Underdark

The Underdark is optional but highly recommended. Access via:

• The well in the Blighted Village
• The Whispering Depths (spider area)
• Priestess Gut's sanctum

The Underdark contains the Arcane Tower, Grymforge, and leads to Act 2 via the Mountain Pass or the Underdark route.

Act 1 Checklist

• Rescue all companions
• Resolve the Druid Grove crisis
• Explore the Underdark
• Find the githyanki patrol (Lae'zel quest)
• Defeat Auntie Ethel (Hag)
• Investigate Moonrise Towers clue
• Find Nettie and learn about the tadpole

Tips

• Long Rest frequently to see companion cutscenes and approval dialogues.
• The Owlbear Cub can be adopted — visit the den before clearing the goblin camp.
• Many Act 1 quests have timer elements — don't short rest indefinitely in certain areas.