12 Ideas to Make Your Next Baldur’s Gate 3 Run Totally Different

Baldur’s Gate 3 is the ultimate sword and sorcery RPG experience. Fans and critics are obsessed with the game’s massive depth and breadth. The enormous map, hordes of side quests, and thousands of dialogue options and outcomes lead to a world full of secrets that you can only uncover through multiple playthroughs. Whether you’re aiming to be the baddest baddie in Faerun, the savior of Baldur’s Gate, or the most absurd or amorous character you can think of, I have several suggestions to give your next adventure a fresh feel that unlocks new secrets and fun.

Warning: The following contains spoilers for Baldur’s Gate 3.

1. Dark Urge Run

If you’ve never played as the Dark Urge, you’re in for the biggest twist in the game. You’ll find this option in the origin character options. Select Dark Urge and build a character of your choosing. You’ll wake up with the usual parasite, but there seems to be another strange feature. You have no memory of who you were when waking on the mindflayer ship, and you have a compulsion… to kill. Indulge that urge for a truly brutal and evil Baldur’s Gate experience.

The Dark Urge; image credit: Larian Studios

2. Charismatic Romancer

One of the most beloved aspects of Baldur’s Gate 3 is its romance storylines. Why not try a run where you hook up with as many characters as possible, Geralt of Rivia style? While some characters are happy to share you with companions, others want a commitment, and trying to juggle these expectations can lead to some fun chaos in camp. Halsin celebrates polyamory, while other characters will get jealous if you don’t pledge loyalty to them. See which new scenes you unlock, and try certain races and classes like Bards, Archfey, and Draconics for cheeky dialogue options.

Halsin; image credit: Larian Studios

3. Maxed Out Bruiser

If you love to be the tank, this run is for you. Build the heaviest-hitting character you can. The best classes for this type of run are Barbarians, Monks, and Fighters. Pick sturdy races for even more tank power, like Half-Orcs and Draconics. Personally, I’d build a Half-Orc or Githyanki Open Hand Monk with the Tavern Brawler background, but a Berserker Barbarian or Battle Master Fighter can also wreak havoc. If you want your beefy hero to use magic too, build a Paladin.

Selecting Paladin from the Class menu; image credit: Larian Studios

4. Try Not to Die

Baldur’s Gate 3 is based on the tabletop RPG, Dungeons & Dragons (D&D). In most D&D games, once you die, that’s it. You’ll have to create a new character. Applying these same stakes to Baldur’s Gate can certainly add to the challenge. If you die, your journey is over. You might even experience some extra drama.

D&D game in progress; image credit: Dwarven Forge, License CC BY-SA 3.0

5. Let’s Go Solo

While companions are a delightful part of Baldur’s Gate 3, journeying alone will give you a new experience. It will challenge your fighting and tactical skills and set you on a path for more of a speed run without the companion cutscenes and side quests slowing you down. If you want to go solo, simply tell your would-be companions to keep walking when they offer to join you.

Shadowheart running solo; image credit: Larian Studios

6. Be the Parasite

As you play through the game, you’ll be tempted with several opportunities to consume an illithid parasite in exchange for special powers. The catch? If you’ve taken too many parasites, you’re on the path to becoming a mind flayer or hybrid, and there’s no turning back. A lot of people shy away from losing their meticulously designed character in favor of a dead-eyed, dark-veined mind flayer, but eating as many parasites as you can gives you some awesome powers and unlocks new options in the game.

A Mind Flayer (Illithid); image credit: Larian Studios

7. Resist the Urge

The Dark Urge run is rife with possibilities. It’s such a fascinating story that it’s worth playing twice. Make sure that, on one of these runs, you resist the call of the Dark Urge. Doing so will add a heroic twist to a brutal storyline. Romance Astarion in this playthrough to add an extra layer of depth. As a spawn resisting Cazador’s will, he’ll relate to what you’re going through.

Astarion; image credit: Larian Studios

8. Make Your Own Moonmaiden

You’ll come across several references and characters related to the moon goddess, Selune. Create your own Moonmaiden servant by playing as a Cleric of Light or Light, both of which serve Selune. You’ll be directly opposed to your companion Shadowheart, a devotee of Shar, the Lady of Darkness. You and Shadowheart will spend the game pushing one another to embrace your beliefs, and if you try to romance Shadowheart? All the better. It’s time for an enemies-to-lovers arc.

Shadowheart; image credit: Larian Studios

9. Master of Sneak Thievery

There are plenty of goodies to swipe and dungeons to crawl throughout Faerun. Create a thief character, and try lying, cheating, and stealing your way through the game. There are a few options that will aid your thieving, sneaking, and deception. Obviously, any subclass of Rogue will get the job done, but you could also play a Way of the Shadow Monk, a Cleric from the Trickery Domain, or a Wizard from the School of Illusion.

Selecting Wizard from the Class menu; image credit: Larian Studios

10. Band of Heroes

This is a great option for people who love creating silly characters and playing absurd games. Choose a Bard class and then… promptly reclass all your companions as Bards as well. You’ll be a charismatic party full of unique dialogue options, chances for fun, and ready to embrace the chaos. You’ll have a totally unbalanced party come fight time, but it’s a lot of challenging fun.

Selecting Bard from the Class menu; image credit: Larian Studios

11. Pack of Animals

Instead of a band, maybe you’d like to journey through Faerun as a pack of wild animals. Choose a Beastmaster Ranger or a Druid, then reclass everyone in your party as something that can summon or transform into animals. Ideally, you’ll journey with Minsc, Jaheira, and Halsin, but you can easily reclass all the other companions if you prefer.

Wolf is a Wild Shape form available to Druids; image credit: Larian Studios

12. Your Favorite Origin Character

If you’ve never played through the game as an origin character, don’t pass up the chance. After all these runs, you’ll definitely have a preferred companion who stands out as a favorite. You’ll gain a new appreciation for their backstory and choices once they’re in your hands. My favorites to play as are Astarion, Shadowheart, and Lae’zel.

Lae’zel; image credit: Larian Studios

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12 Ideas to Make Your Next Baldur’s Gate 3 Run Feel Totally Different Than the Last