Baldur's Gate 3 is a masterpiece of CRPGs by Larian Studios, built on Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition rules. This guide brings together everything a new player needs: class tier rankings, the main quest path, Act 1 side quests, and the Duke rescue gear rewards — a complete roadmap from your first awakening to a smooth early game.
1. Class Tier List
Choosing the right class is the first big decision. Here's the community's consensus ranking:
Best all-rounders — healing, buffs, and utility that keep any party alive.
Strong damage and control — excellent but need a bit more positioning.
Solid and reliable — shine with the right build or party synergy.
Underwhelming in base form — the community's least-favored class.
Recommended Balanced Party
A proven 4-man team: Eldritch Knight + Dual-wield Rogue + Warlock + Barbarian — covers damage, control, tanking, and survivability.
2. Essential Controls & Combat Tips
- Save frequently — before investigating, talking, or fighting
- Right-click enemies to inspect stats and pick the right tactic
- High ground boosts accuracy for ranged characters
- Stealth melee to close distance for a surprise attack
- Push enemies off cliffs — instant kills, exploit terrain
- Press Alt to highlight all interactable objects (corpses, bags)
- In turn-based combat: green border = ally, red = enemy
3. Main Quest Walkthrough (Early Game)
4. Act 1 Side Quests (22 Tasks)
The first act is packed with optional content. Here are the key side quests to watch for:
Key loot note: the Adamantine Ore in the Underdark's Ancient Forge crafts the Adamantine Scale Mail — a strong early armor piece.
5. Duke Rescue — Gear Reward Selection
After completing the Rescue the Grand Duke quest, you get a one-of-three reward. Choosing wrong wastes the reward — here's the correct pick per class:
Lightning staff with electric spell boost. Combo with the Wet condition to double damage — turns Gale into a "human generator".
Bow with AOE lightning chain on basic attacks. Trash-mob clearing efficiency +200%.
Polearm with piercing + lightning proc. An endgame-grade melee weapon.
Pick by class: Mage → Spellsparkler · Archer → Lightning Striker · Melee → Lightning Trident. Never pick the wrong one for your role.
Quick roadmap: pick your class from the tier list → form a balanced party → follow the main quest to the Dark Crypt → clear Act 1 side quests → grab your Duke rescue gear. Your adventure is just beginning.