Baldur’s Gate 3is flush with amazing storytelling and hundreds of characters voiced and mocapped by talented actors. However, just as you are likely to permanently lose a character, these NPCs are just as likely to end up not surviving through to the final act, and sometimes even by your hand.
While a character’s death can be used to serve the story, or maybe they even deserved it, there are some that can make it to the end as long as you remain vigilant. These NPCs are ones that you’ll want to make sure to see another day either for their unique rewards or their role in the story.
This list contains minor spoilers for these characters' stories.
7Alfira
Alfira is a tiefling bard who is you first found in the Emerald Grove, struggling to hold a tune at the dismay of a couple of nearby squirrels. Throughout the course of the game, especially if you are playing as the Dark Urge origin character, Alfiracould end up slaughteredeither by your hand or that of shade monsters.
However, keeping her alive through to the city of Baldur’s Gate can reward you with a unique cutscene where she gains a new appreciation for her craft atop the Elfsong Tavern. For her best ending, make sure you also keep Lakrissa from perishing in the Moonrise prison so that they are able to develop a budding romance.
6Rolan
Also met near the entrance to the Emerald Grove, Rolan is a gifted sorcerer who tends to butt heads with his brother and sister. Although his bullish personality can make it seem like going out of your way to save him from rogue Shades in the Shadowlands isn’t worth it, his arc is worth the trouble.
Eventually making his way to Sorcerous Sundries, again you’re able to either convince Rolan to turn against Lorroakan or have him remain loyal, only to die by your party’s hands. If everything goes well, Rolan will humble himself and pledge loyalty to your cause, even helping the refugees.
5Kagha
Out of all the NPCs in the druid’s grove, Kagha is the most likely to end up on the wrong end of your blade after witnessing her nearly murder a child with the help of her fickle snake, Teela. However,after some light snoopingand a trip to the swamp, she reveals her intentions as fearful and ignorant rather than malicious.
By exposing the Shadow Druids as the root of Kagha’s misdeeds, you’re able to convince her to return to the side of the Emerald Grove and rebuke her traitorous allies. Rightfully, Halsin will put her in her place and return her status to that of an initiate, which Kagha gladly accepts, making her story that of redemption rather than simply death.
4Barcus Wroot
Probably one of the easiest NPCs to accidentally kill, and in one of the funniest cutscenes in the game, Barcus Wroot is a deep gnome first discovered strapped to a spinning windmill. Of the small handful of ways Barcus can perish before Act Three, one is pulling the wrong lever, sending him careening into the sky.
However, Barcus Wroot is one of the more influential characters in the story, particularly revolving around the Steel Watch and the Ironhand Gnomes, which require Barcus to be alive and vigilant to get the best ending. As well as providing a selection of deadly tools he offers you along the way.
3Auntie Ethel
Despite the very obvious decision of ridding Faerûn of an evil hag that steals and eats babies, there is a point in the story where it might be in your best interest to spare Auntie Ethel after a particularly tough fight inside her hut.
After your first fight, Ethel will attempt to surrender, offering you a permanent ability score boost. If you do decide to take this, you will get the opportunity to kill her again in Baldur’s Gate, this time for good, while also taking the gift she has to offer.
2Arabella
Arabella is a particularly tragic character who is first put under threat by Kagha and Teela, and her fate relies on a handful of dice rolls by you. Afterward she is more or less safe but the rewards for saving her are more than worth reloading until you succeed.
Although eventually you’ll have to break the news ofher parent’s death, Arabella’s journey into the realm of magic provides you with some of your own as she carries through until the end of the game, even becoming an ally in the final fight.
1Omeluum
Omeluum is an awakened Mind Flayer and one of the more fickle NPCs to save, even if it seems the story encourages the opposite, even at its own request. First met in the Underdark, Omeluum can be killed offscreen by a githyanki child if you choose to rescue an egg from Crèche Y’llek.
If you don’t take the egg, Omeluum will be captured and held on the Iron Throne, from where it encourages you to save everyone else, but even so you can save it along with everyone else with enough preparation. After all of that, Omeluum will reward you for your efforts, and the Society of Brilliance would be better for it.
