Despite its 2023 release, Baldur's Gate 3 continues to attract newcomers thanks to its popularity and the depth with which it introduces the Dungeons & Dragons setting of Faerun. Set in the beginning stages of a full-blown Mindflayer invasion, Baldur's Gate 3 players are tasked with solving the mystery behind the Illithid parasite inserted into their bodies, along with whether to use their newfound psionic powers for the good of the realm or to dominate it completely.
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As new players might soon realize, the choice to either save or doom Faerun isn't as simple as flipping a coin. Beneath the game's straightforward premise lies a deep three-arc narrative with many choices, Skill Checks, and encounters that will take players on a ride. On top of these are potential romances and world-changing character arcs, all of which can make every Baldur's Gate 3 playthrough quite exciting. However, for newcomers, just the depth of choices available can make the game rather overwhelming, leaving them susceptible to making mistakes that can potentially ruin their experience.
Using Mods Immediately
Going Full Mod Can Ruin Perception Towards The Game
Mods have always been a Baldur’s Gate 3 staple since its debut, with Larian Studios having counted 3,800+ in 2025 alone (and evidently more to come). Consequently, some BG3 newcomers might be tempted to install a visual mod here or an overhaul there to tailor their first foray into Faerun to their preferences. However, relying too much on Mods at the onset can ruin the initial experience, especially since the game itself can offer a lot of things on its own.
Something to consider is that most mods disable achievements (usually circumvented by the Achievement Grabber), so there may be a need to play through things again for Achievement Hunters. The crazy number of interactions in the game might also make it difficult for players to determine which aspects of their modded BG3 is the “authentic” experience or one modified by players for a specific playing style.
Avoiding Long Rests
Skipping Long Rests Can Affect Timed Events
Long Rests have been a staple component of the D&D experience, symbolizing the need for an equivalent of an idle title to refresh and recharge for the tough challenges to come. In Baldur’s Gate 3, this is the Camp where they can converse privately with Companions, trade equipment across other characters via the stash, and even do vital actions with NPCs such as Withers, who can respec and resurrect characters. Most importantly, it’s through Camp that players can take Long Rests, effectively taking them to the next day, with resources recharged and ready to be used in tougher encounters.
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However, players might make the mistake of not using their Long Rests at all. The game doesn’t properly explain what Long Rests do, in that avoiding them too much can be too dangerous, as the party loses resources in important fights. Long Rests also become the trigger of some encounters, as scripts get activated when players get Rested. Doing too many or too few Long Rests can disable these interactions, potentially affecting the outcome of some quests.
Going Solo In An Unknown Location
Getting Jumped Is An Easy Way To Miss Out
Players might want to challenge themselves with runs that involve playing the least number of characters possible. Baldur’s Gate 3 is no exception, as you have the option of not bringing Companions into their adventures. While it’s theoretically possible to build characters specifically designed to handle mobs and even bosses solo, the dilemma arises when there’s a desire to follow a character’s arc.
For first-timers, it’s best to follow the game with a full team of Companions they like, as major decisions in the game are tied to characters doing or not doing something related to their questline. When left alone, unresolved character quests may force them to leave the party entirely, resulting in often unfavorable results by the time players reach Act 3. Not only that, encounters in the game are often designed to outnumber players, making most of them challenging to do on a solo run.
Find all 10 pairs
Find all 10 pairs
Forgetting About Opportunity Attacks
Opportunity Attacks Can Kill Characters Quickly
Players coming to Baldur’s Gate 3 from other RPGs might see it as another game that, despite following a unique ruleset, is still a “standard” turn-based isometric RPG. That is, until D&D’s more precise mechanics come into the mix, especially Opportunity Attacks that are absent in most other RPGs except those related to the tabletop game. At its core, this rule states that anyone can attack any threat that moves within five meters of them. While it’s a simple enough rule to understand, newcomers who forget this can find themselves on the losing side of an encounter.
Since most BG3 encounters involve enemies that outnumber the Companions, many of them often default to surrounding them, especially melee combatants who want to get an attack in. Anyone with a poor Armor Class who ends up surrounded by enemies will have a hard time getting out and securing a counterattack, especially when the only way out is to Disengage, effectively a move that doesn’t trigger Opportunity Attacks in exchange for doing nothing but move that turn.
Skipping Parts Of The Map
Not Completing The Map Means Missing Some Highlights
Baldur’s Gate 3 isn’t an open-world RPG, but it does feature a sprawling map in each of its three Acts that players inevitably tour as they complete major arcs associated with them. Players may perfectly breeze through areas as soon as they’re done with them, so they can get to the next area or part of the story faster. However, it’s highly recommended to make sure that everywhere that can be jumped on is reached and anywhere with a fog of war is revealed.
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This is because a lot of BG3’s special encounters and even unique rewards are tucked away in parts of the map that players may unexpectedly overlook. Since discovering new areas grants some XP, exploration can give players a much-needed boost in earlier Acts. This is especially helpful, considering how difficulty can spike in Acts 2 and 3. If a new area proves to be difficult to explore, players can just get back to it later. Surprisingly enough, even players who are already adept explorers may still end up missing a detail or two in intense playthroughs, so players need to stay sharp, especially newcomers.
Failing To Romance The Preferred Partner In Act 1
Secure The Relationship In Act 1 For A Guaranteed Romance
Romance and relationships in Baldur’s Gate 3 are considered among the most fleshed out in RPG history, especially since the Companions’ relationships with each other — and especially Tav — determine a lot of the game’s most vital moments. Thankfully, a lot of the Companions are often already on their way to being attracted to the players, so that’s a step closer to anyone’s preferred ship. However, some players might still be surprised to encounter their ship not working the way they intended.
If another Companion ended up being the player’s go-to partner, then something may have happened as early as Act One’s Camp Party. This is the moment players are presented with the Companions they were the closest to, of which one will likely be interested in going to bed with them. This is a culmination of choices before this moment, which means players should pay attention to which cutscenes they have already unlocked by then. Not to mention, players aren’t advised to be polyamorous unless their Companion partner states they are open to the idea; if not, this might cause them to split with the player.
Forgetting That Same Initiative Provides Flexible Turns
Shared Initiative Can Change The Outcome Of Fights
As with other turn-based RPGs, Baldur’s Gate 3 follows an initiative tracker so both players and enemies take their turn in the proper order. When used properly, players can use characters to set up combos for others, but only when they follow precise positioning and sometimes even orders of attack. Newcomers might feel this is a bit clunky, as some good combos may seem locked behind proper positioning, the right order, or even enemies getting in the way of the initiative. However, players should always remember this tip from the tutorial: characters sharing initiative can act in any order.
This has bigger implications than players may initially think. A character in a shared initiative doesn’t have to spend one full turn before the other can make their move. As long as one character can do something else, players can cancel the “End Turn” and continue moving. Astarion may move at half his speed, then switch to Gale to cast Fireball in an area. Players then switch back to Astarion to do a Sneak Attack to finish off anyone who’s weakened and spend the rest of his movement to walk away. Wasting this freedom means skipping turns that could've ended encounters when used correctly.
