Each location in Faerun has its own personality. These areas in Baldur's Gate 3 come from the depths of the earth where evil lie dormant to a lush grove full of kids and families of faith. Each place has a story to tell, but sometimes those stories are better than others. Sometimes the people who reside within these areas can be worthwhile or a danger you aren't ready for.
Act 1 alone has over ten areas, big and small to explore. The game is large and full of different choices and hidden secrets. The basic locations you will find yourself walking through come in a variety of difficulty. Below is a list of the main Act 1 areas and what they have to offer.
Update on July 19, 2023, by Sharnelle Earle: As of writing, the game is still in Early Access. Information in this article is subject to change upon full release of Baldur's Gate 3. It can be hard to come by revive scrolls for companions and combat is based on luck, so it is best to know what you are walking yourself into when exploring Baldur's Gate 3. The scenery in the game is full of life, danger, and secrets.
7 Overgrown Ruins
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Suggested Level | 0-1 |
| Difficulty | Easy |
This is the beginning of the game where you are able to find Shadowheart after the initial introduction. While this is a beginner area, the Intellect Devourer's in the shipwreck have the ability to one-shot you.
You should be okay so long as you make sure to use your Shove when they get too close.
There isn't much to the Overgrown Ruins, but exploring the shipwreck is interesting and a way of finding yet another companion, Astarion, who is West of the shipwreck. There are few to no enemies in these areas.
6 The Risen Roads
| Risen Roads Overview | |
|---|---|
| Suggested Level | 3-4 |
| Difficulty | Easy to Moderate |
These blood-stained dirt roads are low on the list of areas because not much is going on aside from three or four quests. It is an interesting area because it has traps and bloodied paths everywhere.
There are multiple Perception checks in The Risen Road.
You can find companion Karlach here. While it is a small area, there are secrets to uncover if you look hard enough.
Make sure to explore every corner of these roads. The Zhentarim Hideout is within The Risen Roads.
5 Blighted Village
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Suggested Level | 3-4 |
| Difficulty | Easy to Moderate |
There are a lot of loot and interactions to be had inside the Blighted Village. The Blighted Village is West of Druid's Grove and full of goblins.
North of some broken houses, you can find some trolls having fun in a shed. Whether that is something you want to look for is up to you.
This is also where you can find trolls who have the potential to aid you in battle. South of the village, in a broken house, there are trolls talking amongst themselves.
If you play your cards right, they will agree to be summoned by you for an emergency. This is great for taking on big fights like taking over Goblin Camp.
4 Fetid Bog/Sunlit Wetlands
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Suggested Level | 3-4 |
| Difficulty | Easy OR Hard |
This is one of the most interesting areas in all of Act 1. When you stumble upon the Sunlit Wetlands you will find two brothers pestering an old lady about where their sister is. If you have excellent Perception among one of your group members, you may see what is beneath the surface here.
The old lady in question is really an old hag who is a possible boss fight. The Sunlit Wetlands are full of traps and deadly fruit, but you won't know unless you have good Perception to turn the wetlands into the Putrid Bog.
This area has a lot of purposes, from dealing with the hag to finding a secret note by a group of deadly enemies around a tree. Difficulty depends on what you see when you enter.
3 Goblin Camp
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Suggested Level | 4 |
| Difficulty | Moderate to Hard |
The Goblin Camp is one of the main focused areas for weighted decisions that will affect the world. The Druid Grove full of Tieflings is at war with the Goblins.
They don't have the manpower to take them on, but if you help them they will succeed. Plus, the Goblins are holding a healer captive who might be able to help you.
If you decide to aggro the entire camp, it will be very hard to get out unscathed. You may also choose to side with them instead.
The Goblin Camp has tons of choices and items within. You can even find a pet Owlbear here.
2 Druid Grove
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Suggested Level | 3 |
| Difficulty | Safe |
The Druid Grove is your first interaction with heavy decisions that impact what will happen in your playthrough. It is where you meet Wyll for the first time and where you may find Shadowheart if you did not recruit her at the beach.
At the grove, you can decide the fate of over 20 Tiefling lives as they struggle to defend themselves against Goblins. There are secrets and side quests within this area, and you can recuperate here in order to progress in quests or to trade wares.
1 The Underdark
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Suggested Level | 5 |
| Difficulty | Hard |
The Underdark is the hardest area in Act 1. It is full of strong enemies and bosses. You have to be well-prepared before entering.
You must be at least level five to be able to take the dangers down here. There are multiple ways to enter the Underdark, from a well in the Blighted Village to an elevator shaft in the Zhentarim Hideout.
Having an elf or gnome in your party while inside The Underdark is useful in these caves because they have Darkvision. There are various Sub Areas and merchants in The Underdark.
You will want to be well-rested from a Long Rest before entering, but when you do, it will be worth it.