Summary
ThroughoutBaldur’s Gate 3’s varied and expansive locations: a forested area off the Sword Coast, Moonrise Towers, and the city of Baldur’s Gate itself, players have the chance to meet, interact, and ultimately destroy or save various factions. Some have crucial roles in each of the three acts; some are less crucial and a little less interesting.
As players trek their way across a slice of Western Faerun, they will come across these factions and havevarious choicesregarding what to do about them. This topic hopes to nail down the more interesting and consequential of these groups to help players deal with them the way they wish to.
8Clan Ironhand
Down On Their Luck
Clan Ironhand is down on their luck when the player interacts with them inAct 1. Exiled from Baldur’s Gate, many of them are now enslaved and can be foundin the Underdarkunder the grasp of a True Soul.
A good and noble people that are known for their ability to produce the Runepowder that only their leader knows how to produce,Clan Ironhandcan be helped by players or betrayed in favor of some far more powerful allies. Interactions with the group are limited at best but do make something of an impact.
7Anti-Hag Support Group
Survivors Vengeance
One of the more unusual groups that players will come across inBaldur’s Gate 3, the Anti-Hag Support Group is, as the name would suggest, a group of people who have survived attacks fromHags. Although there aren’t many related quests, they are an interesting group with ties to the player’s previous actions in Act 1.
As normal, the player is free to help or hinder but it is nice to interact with a group that has a goal that is not concerned with saving or cleansing the entire world.
6Emerald Grove Circle
The Rite Of Thorns
The Emerald Grove Circle is a druidic circle can that be found by players early inAct 1. In the absence of their normal Archdruid, they are led by a wood elf calledKagha.The player finds that they have come into difficulty with a group of wandering refugees.
The player has direct control over the destiny of the grove and the position they ultimately end up in. The central debate of whether the grove should help or abandon the refugees is an interesting one for the player to resolve. This, alongside the setting and variety of characters in the group, makes them a great faction to have in the game.
5Tieflings
Refugees Exiled From Their Homes
Thegroup of TieflingRefugees can be encountered in all three major acts and serve as a constant presence in the players' adventure. After being blamed for the descent of the city of Elturel into the first layer of hellAvernus, the Tieflings attempted to make their way to Baldur’s Gate.
They have to face numerous challenges along the way and the player can help or hinder this mission. The former is preferred and players are rewarded with memorable characters such as the bardAlfira. The number of memorable characters and the diversity of options available leave this faction as one of the most important in the game.
4Cult Of Bhaal
The God Of Murder
A well-established group found in the underbelly of Baldur’s Gate, theCult of Bhaalplays an important role in Act 3. Bhaal, the God Of Murder, is worshipped by a fanatical group that the player can come to define as friend or foe.
A mysterious but well-known group, they are feared by many in and around Baldur’s Gate as they have been established for many years. Players can uncover the mystery behind the cult and find out who sits on itsMurder Tribunal. This questline is among the most exciting in the game and this is in large part due to the Cult itself.
3The Flaming Fist
Find The Duke
A mercenary company by function,Baldur’s Gate 3shows theFlaming Fiststo care somewhat about the realm’s safety. Despite this, throughout the game, their ranks are infected with those who don’t have such good intentions. This makes them a high-ranking faction as players are not sure of their motives.
Although their everyday function is to act as city guards, players will find that a group of them tackling a fire while looking for a very important missing person in the wilderness of theSword Coast. Players are tasked withchoosing how to dealwith this flawed but mostly good-natured group.
2Cult Of The Absolute
Beware The True Souls
Serving as the main antagonists inBaldur’s Gate 3, the Cult of the Absolute is encountered throughout all three of the game’s acts. Its followers include the group known asTrue Souls. The True Souls are characters that have been infected withan Illithid tadpolethat grants them special powers.
For reasons that won’t be spoiled here, the player has a connection to the True Souls and the Absolute. This creates a very interesting dynamic as players uncover the truth behind this unnerving, brutal, and secretive faction. The Cult of the Absolute is an excellent antagonist and deserves a place at the top of the list.
1The Harpers
Symbol Of Good
The Harpers are the ultimate bastions of good within Faerun. They serve to combat evil wherever they see it often without promise of glory or coin. Although there are a variety of ways to encounter them in Act 2, eventually players will meet the High Harper herself,Jaheira. A legendaryhigh half-elffrom Baldur’s Gate, she will ask the player to help the Harpers in their mission to destroy the Cult of the Absolute.
The extent to which this is accomplished is up to the player but the Harpers' values and integrity are never in doubt. This makes them a more unusual faction to deal with in a world full of corruption. The antithesis of the Cult of the Absolute, the Harpers deserve their place at the top considering they serve as a gateway to one of the best characters inBaldur’s Gate 3.
