Gab Hernandez 
Patch 7 adds so much to Baldur’s Gate 3, most notably a slew of new endings for evil players; here’s what happens for each of the origin characters and the meanings behind each ending.
Baldur’s Gate 3 quickly rose to the top of GOTY lists in 2023. The game offered so much depth and player agency, from gameplay to story, that it converted new fans to CRPGs in a way never seen before. The quality will come as no shock for fans of Larian Studios, given the team’s accolades in the RPG space.
However, one criticism thrown Baldur’s Gate 3’s way is the lack of “evil endings.” While evil endings did exist, many players felt they were lacking compared to the good and neutral endings. Larian listened to these complaints and added multiple endings to satisfy everyone’s darkest urges in Patch 7.
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How to get the evil endings in Baldur’s Gate 3
To get the evil endings in Baldur’s Gate 3, the player must defeat the Netherbrain and become the Absolute.
After defeating the Netherbrain, the player must bend the creature to their will and become the Absolute. From there, the world becomes the player’s plaything.
Depending on their chosen character and choices made during their arc, multiple evil endings are possible. Always pick the first option in the dialogue box when prompted on what to do with the Absolute’s power to get the unique evil endings. Otherwise, they can choose from generic evil endings.
Evil endings for every origin character in Baldur’s Gate 3, how to get them, and what they mean
Each origin character in Baldur’s Gate 3 has a unique evil ending. There are also generic evil endings that can cap the story of multiple origin characters or their own unique Tav.
These evil endings all require the player to make the same choices after the Netherbrain, but other choices made during the game may come into play. As fans likely hoped, these endings can also get extremely grim.
The Dark Urge
The Dark Urge massacres everyone and everything in the realm, in Bhaal’s name.
Baldur’s Gate 3 patch 7 was all about being evil, with the Dark Urge being of particular focus. They also get the darkest ending of all. To achieve this ending, the player must have stayed faithful to Bhaal, always following their darkest urges and murdering as much as possible.
In this ending, the Dark Urge kills everyone as soon as they land, including their lover, should the player choose. They also get a vision of the future, a sky bathed in red under a darkened sun. If players want to go full Berserk Eclipse, this is the ending to go for.
Shadowheart
Shadowheart becomes the leader of a new cult dedicated to her name.
In the evil ending, Shadowheart can finally carve her own path, removed from the two goddesses fighting for control over her. Shadowheart knows the Absolute’s war on the realm has significantly weakened her two goddesses.
Shadowheart uses the Absolute’s power to bend everyone to her will. Once, Shadowheart was the loneliest girl in the world. Now, she will never be alone, as countless mortals fall under her spell, eager to serve.
Astarion
Astarion becomes the “Sun King” and rules humanity as a vampiric overlord.
Astarion is the most “evil” origin character in Baldur’s Gate 3 beside the Dark Urge, and it’s not coincidence that he has one of the darkest endings. With no need to fear the sun and having murdered his former master, Astarion finally has the control he’s sought all his life. He bathes himself in a golden light, promising benevolence to his followers.
However, with light becomes shadow, and in a blink, Astarion reverts to his vampiric self, draining the first follower who touches his hand. There is no benevolence in Astarion’s reign. Only darkness, death, and debauchery
Gale
Gale wages war against the gods and turns the people of Baldur’s Gate into his army.
With the Absolute’s power, Gale has total control over his orb and thus no longer has to worry about exploding. With his godhood finally achieved, Gale turns his wrath not upon the people but on the gods.
With the Absolute’s power, he forces all mortals to defy their gods, desecrate statues, and murder any followers who still hold faith. Gale becomes the face of a revolution against the gods, bitterly seeking vengeance for all they have wrought on their followers.
Wyll
Wyll becomes a tyrannical dictator, with Mizora becoming his right hand as he conquers Faerun.
Wyll has led his entire life living under his father’s shadow, and half of it is in service to a devil of hell. With the Absolute’s power, he no longer has to live in anyone’s shadow.
With blade in hand, Wyll promises to bring peace to the realm. Unfortunately for the realm, peace in Wyll’s corrupted mind can only be achieved with blood. Before peace can come, the blade must fall on the heads of the guilty.
Lae’zel
Lae’zel names herself god-regent of the githyanki and wages war against Vlaakith in Tu’narath.
Throughout the entire game, Lae’zel has shown little interest in the Toril. On her most evil path, she realizes that those trapped in the physical realm are of no importance.
Instead, she uses her newfound power to wage war against Vlaakith and her followers. As the self-proclaimed god regent, Lae’zel returns to Tu’narath to crown herself as ruler of the githyanki. To do so, the throne must first run red with Vlaakith’s blood.
Karlach
Karlach burns down Baldur’s Gate with an army of devils from Avernus.
Even Baldur’s Gate 3‘s purest character gets an evil ending. Karlach, the same character who quits the party should the player do too many evil things, can become as much of a monster as the rest when controlled by the player.
With the Absolute’s power, Karlach lets her rage consume her and massacres everyone in Baldur’s Gate. With an army of devils by her side, she rips out her old heart and begins her cathartic revenge against the realms that rejected her.
The Emperor
The Emperor becomes the new Absolute, and the player stands by their side as a general (and possibly lover), or dies.
In this ending, the player must murder Prince Orpheus, and then side with the Emperor against the Netherbrain. During the conquest of Baldur’s Gate, the player can choose to betray the Emperor or become their general.
If they try to betray the Emperor after siding with them, the Emperor effortlessly kills the player. Should they decide to become a general, the Emperor happily lets the player rule by their side. Either way, the Emperor has become the new ruler of Toril.
Generic evil endings in Baldur’s Gate 3
In addition to the character-specific endings, players can become an Illithid, conquer the world, build monuments to their name, murder everyone, or let chaos reign.
Only the Illithid ending requires a dice roll, and the player must fail the Constitution check to achieve it. The Illithid ending sees the player become a mind flayer, then use their power to assimilate all of Toril into the Illithid hivemind. To conquer the world, the player starts his first army in Baldur’s Gate, then marches to war against those who resist.
The particularly egotistical can choose to build a statue of themselves in Baldur’s Gate, ruling over a tyrannical peace. If they choose to murder everyone, the player snaps the necks of everyone present and then lies in a bed of their corpses.
Finally, the chaos ending is essentially the purge, as the player revels in the destruction they’ve wrought on the realm.
These evil endings make a morally bankrupt playthrough even more satisfying and may encourage players to embrace their darkest urges. Even if they aren’t playing as the Dark Urge.
