Endings

Baldur's Gate 3 displays its "ending" through a number of possible sequences, that play out in different ways depending on choices the player made earlier in their adventure.

Game Over screens: It is sometimes possible for players to encounter a "Game Over" screen as the result of a conversation option or fail condition during a combat encounter. This wiki wants to treat an "Ending" as being a different concept.
"Early" endings: The majority of available "Endings" are only possible to encounter after completing Confront the Elder Brain Endings are possible to encounter prior to completing Confront the Elder Brain, and even prior to Act Three, depending on the player's choices.
Character deaths: Characters whose deaths occur due to player conversation choices, or who are killed after becoming permanently hostile, are not currently known to trigger scenes at the end of the game.

As some "ending outcomes" involve multiple characters in the same scene, this page will try to describe ending events depending on the rough "scene" rather than what happens to one specific character at a time.

Control the Brain

“	---together- -conquer-- ---rule---- -COMMAND---	„
	— The Netherbrain

Rule Together

The player has convinced the Emperor they should become the new Absolute together.

Cut to the Emperor seated on a throne atop the brain, with the party cheering. All are enthralled to the Emperor.

There are no further cutscenes or epilogue. ^{[Needs Verification]}

“	In my name.	„
	— The Emperor

Rule Alone

Cut to the player sitting down on a throne atop the brain, with the party cheering. All are enthralled to the player.

There are no further cutscenes or epilogue. ^{[Needs Verification]}

“	In my name.	„
	— The Player

“	In Bhaal's name.	„
	— Dark Urge

Destruction of the Brain

Combat with the Netherbrain over, the player has chosen to Destroy the Elder Brain. They dominated the brain and ordered it to self-destruct. The brain self-destructs, falling into the water (party along with it).

Narrator: *Hopes, nightmares, and the screams of legions upon legions of unborn illithids.*

(If the player is not half- or full-illithid)
- Narrator: *The pain rips through you, obliterating all thought, all feeling. Your tadpole burns in your brain.*
(If the player is half-illithid)
- Narrator: *The pain rips through you, obliterating all thought, all feeling. You can feel your tadpole burning, and the power it granted you starting to wane.*
(If the player is illithid)
- Narrator: *The pain rips through you, obliterating all thought, all feeling.*

(Dark Urge Origin who resisted Bhaal)
- Narrator: *Silence. Free of Urge and worm, your brain is battered and bruised, but it is yours. Yours at last.*
(Dark Urge Origin who accepted Bhaal)
- Narrator: *Silence. The overbearing quiet of your Father's disappointment before the rush of your tragic fall.*
(Not Dark Urge Origin)
- Narrator: *Silence. For the first time in a long time, your thoughts are entirely your own. And then - gravity.*
(End of dialogue)

On the Docks, soon after

The player on a dock in Baldur's Gate, silhouetted by sunset.

These scenes may trigger after the player fully resolves the quest Confront the Elder Brain, by choosing to Destroy the Elder Brain.

When the camera first opens on the Docks, it briefly shows the party presumably just after swimming to shore after the Elder Brain crashed into the water.

Depending on who is present, these lines may play.

Wyll makes a short remark to indicate that his powers are now draining, if the player managed to break his pact with Mizora.
If the player allied with The Emperor during the final fight, Lae'zel or Astarion have been observed to remark about this and express their thanks. The player will also be given the option to thank The Emperor, or select from two other possible response options.
Astarion has been observed to remark about the player choosing an outcome where none of the party members (besides The Emperor) had to newly become a mind flayer to reach the current game state.

The ending of this sequence is marked by the player being asked to input a conversation choice, but the exact choice that appears may vary depending on prior choices, and whatever prior lines were spoken by other characters.

Astarion's Sunlight Resolution

"What the-oh gods. Oh no."

"I honestly don't mind what we do, once we get - ow!"

Depending on how the player resolved The Pale Elf, Astarion may become vulnerable to sunlight again, now that the Tadpoles have been destroyed.

The timing of this sequence trigger seems to vary, but always results in Astarion running off-screen. This sequence does not lock a romanced Astarion out of triggering a final conversation scene with the player, if applicable.

Gale's Crown Resolution

"The Crown - it's somewhere in the Chionthar. If I salvage the stones, I can reforge it. The power of Karsus would be in my hands... But what then? What would I do with it, once I have it?"

Players may be given one last opportunity to give input here about what Gale should do. These options may include, giving the crown to Mystra, having Gale wear the crown himself, and abandoning the salvage effort altogether (the reasoning for which is phrased in the dialogue choice as "Lest anyone should ever again be tempted by such power" -- but which "anyone" this is directed to is vague).

With Gale at an approval of 100, none of these conversation options are locked behind checks, even when Gale is not romanced.

Karlach's Engine Resolution

Karlach, as seen when this sequence opens.

"It's the one thing I can't beat, isn't it? I wanted to live. In my city. With my friends."

This scene triggers only if Karlach didn't undergo Ceremorphosis, since the process cures her.

Karlach's engine will begin to finally shut down, and the player must make a decision one way or another.

Generally available options seem to include, under the right conditions:

Let Karlach die, then and there.
Convince Karlach to return to Avernus, alone.
Convince Karlach to return to Avernus, with either Wyll, or both Wyll and the player-character.
Wyll only offers to come along if he has become the 'Blade of Avernus' by resolving his companion quest.

Wyll still provides this offer if his pact with Mizora was broken.
With Karlach at an approval of 100, none of these conversation options are locked behind checks, even when Karlach is not romanced.

If the player convinces Karlach to return to Avernus, a second scene will occur just before the End Credits roll.

Lae'zel's Ascension Resolution

Lae'zel, "ascending."

"The Netherbrain is dead. To slay a ghaik was my sworn duty. I must call out to Tu'narath - my ascension's at hand."

Lae'zel it will say that her Ascension is at hand, and unless convinced not to, will summon a red dragon, and depart upon its back to what the narrator describes as an "uncertain fate," but in spite of this Lae'zel will appear very happy to finally get 'her own' Dragon.

This option requires the player to ally with The Emperor during the Final Fight, and that Lae'zel did not agree to help Kith'rak Voss in his efforts to free Prince Orpheus -- the latter condition ensures that Lae'zel is still in favor of killing Orpheus to win the favor of Queen Vlaakith.
Players may be given one last opportunity to convince Lae'zel to stay instead of ascending. This option may be locked behind a Persuasion Check, the DC for which has been observed to be as high as DC 30. Other (earlier) decisions that have been observed to exist could plausibly lower it, and companion approval level may also be a factor.
This sequence always begins with seeing the other Red Dragons portaling away from Faerûn, and one of several characters then asking Lae'zel what she plans to do. Characters observed to speak up for this line include Astarion, and Jaheira, but may include others not listed here.

Lae'zel's Orpheus Resolution

Lae'zel, being asked by Orpheus to join him.

Orpheus: "Come, Lae'zel. We will free the githyanki and dismantle the empire. Let them be imprisoned no longer!"

This option requires the player to free Orpheus after attempting to control the Netherbrain for the first time, instead of allying with The Emperor.
If someone other than Orpheus 'became the mindflayer' for the final fight, then Orpheus will leave to fight against Vlaakith, asking Lae'zel to accompany him.
Players may be given one last opportunity to convince Lae'zel to stay instead of going to fight against Vlaakith. This option may be locked behind a Persuasion Check, the DC for which has been observed to be as high as DC 30. If the player underwent ceremorphosis, then Lae'zel will refuse to stay.

Orpheus's Mind Flayer Resolution

Orpheus: "I will not be ghaik!"

Orpheus: "I will not be ghaik! I did what I did to save my people."

If Orpheus underwent Ceremorphosis, his potential behavior in all ending scenes -- including Lae'zel's scenes -- changes drastically.

Orpheus may ask Lae'zel, or the player, or both to take up 'his' fight against Vlaakith.
Orpheus then asks another character, including Lae'zel or the player, to kill him.
If no character honors Orpheus's request for death, Orpheus will discuss taking his own life, and unless convinced not to, will proceed with his attempt and succeed.
Other potential outcomes from this scene may exist.
Some conversation options require dice checks.

Party Planning

“	"I'm sure Mystra will summon me soon enough, but until then, I propose we celebrate our victory the mortal way - with a drink in our hands, and reckless abandon in our hearts."	„
	— Gale

Gale may end up closing out his Crown resolution sequence by suggesting that the group have a celebration.
Wyll has been observed to react to this suggestion and express agreement.
After some varied number of reaction lines occur, the player will be allowed to give input on what they think.
After the player gives input, other characters will chime in for various reasons expressing agreement or disagreement.
Astarion's Sunlight resolution and Karlach's multiple resolutions may be triggered afterwards.
This sequence may also trigger The Emperor's announcement that it will not be joining the party.

The Emperor's Departure

“	Now that you no longer live in each others minds, it's hard to tell if the mind flayer is being sincere. Though perhaps, no harder than it ever was.	„
	— The Narrator

If present, The Emperor may find an opportunity to disclose that it will not be joining the party. This sequence appears to potentially trigger for multiple reasons, including Gale's party suggestion.
At least one character will react to The Emperor's announcement. Characters observed to do this include Astarion and Minsc, but may include others not yet listed here.
After other characters react, The Emperor may even respond to the other character with "I will miss you too."
As The Emperor exits the scene, the narrator will speak up with a few lines.

Scenes that occur "after leaving" the Docks

Romantic Wrap-up (One Partner)

If the player-character is technically in a "monogamous" relationship with another character, a conversation scene will generally trigger between the player and their romance option.

This scene still happens if the player-character chose to undergo full Ceremorphosis before the final fight, but the outcome of this scene does generally seem to be affected by their choice to transform.
Characters that this is confirmed to happen for include: Astarion, Shadowheart

Romantic Wrap-up (Polyamory)

More testing is needed to determine what conversations appear in polyamorous situations.^{[Needs Verification]}

Players have observed the following combinations:

If the player first romances Halsin, then The Emperor, a scene with Halsin will trigger, but no scenes seem to trigger with the player's second partner.

'Daddy Halsin'

"At last count, there were nine whole wagons of children in tow. They are my duty now. 'Daddy Halsin', they call me. Who am I to tell them otherwise?"

Halsin will tell the player of his plans to return to Thaniel's now-curse-lifted lands, and create a home to welcome orphan children from the War of the Absolute.

Requires Destroy the Elder Brain to be completed, instead of a 'Control' option.
Requires Lift the Shadow Curse to be completed by the end of Act Two, with the Curse successfully lifted.
May require Halsin to be in the party during the final fight.
May require Halsin to be romanced, and/or to tell the player about what he plans to do after the Brain is felled.

Karlach goes to Avernus

"It worked. My engine's calmed down."

"Well, soldier. Here we are. It worked. My engine's calmed down."

The camera will open on an unspecified portion of Avernus, and display Karlach and whoever came with her appearing out of a Portal. Karlach's engine stabilizes, she whips out some cigars, and the present characters run forward into the horizon where impending battle awaits them.

To trigger this scene, the player must make specific choices during the earlier scene at the docks.
The player must select Conversation options that result in Karlach returning to Avernus with Wyll (allowed under certain conditions) and/or the player-character.
It is not known if completion of Karlach's engine-related quests influence the outcome of this scene.

Achievements

These achievements are possible to obtain in association with one or more of the endings on this page.

Absolute Power Corrupts
Reign with terror: take control of the Netherbrain and bend the world to your will.

All's Well That Ends Well
Finish the game (with a heartfelt 'thank you' from Larian Studios).

Ceremorphosis
Make the ultimate sacrifice: become a mind flayer to defeat the Netherbrain.

Hero of the Forgotten Realms
Save the day: kill the Netherbrain and destroy the Absolute tadpoles.

References

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