Larian Studios’ magnum opus, Baldur’s Gate 3, features a variety of characters and NPCs set in the world of Dungeons and Dragons. The Guardian, in particular, is a character of great mystery who also has a major role to play in the game’s overarching story.
The mystery of the Guardian slowly unfolds as players progress through the story, and the reveal is surprising, to say the least, so there will be huge spoilers ahead.
1. What is a Guardian in Baldur’s Gate 3?
The Guardian is a mysterious, non-playable character that players can create in Baldur’s Gate 3. They don’t act as companions, but they do show up in some crucial cutscenes, and players can interact with them.
They first show up in the game after you use Illithid powers for the first time, and in your dreams, they’ll be labelled as the Dream Visitor. The more you use your Illithid abilities, the more you’ll see of your Guardian.
2. How to find the Guardian in Baldur’s Gate 3?
To find the Guardian, players need to use their abilities and then take a long rest at their camp to make them appear and speak to them. Players will be offered several dialogue options to interact with them.
The best place to use your abilities is at the Goblin Camp, West of Emerald Grove, as your abilities can control the majority of the Goblins there. You don’t need to keep using your abilities to speak with the Guardian after your first encounter.
3. Can you create your own Guardian in Baldur’s Gate 3?
Players can choose a Guardian and fully customize them, just as they did for their main character. The following categories of the Guardian can be customized:
- Race
- Subrace
- General
- Body Art
- Eyes
- Makeup
- Facial Hair
- Hair
You cannot select a Dragonborn race for your Guardian, but you’re free to choose from the other 10 and their corresponding subraces. Unlike your main character, a class cannot be selected for your Guardian.
4. Can you romance the Guardian in Baldur’s Gate 3?
Players can indeed romance their Guardian in the game. The more players progress through the game, more information about the Guardian is revealed, including its identity, and they’re open to romance after reaching Act 3.
They’re open to romance only if you’re ready to fully trust the Guardian, which may not seem like the right decision at first, so be sure to take your time. But if you’re eager to see how the romance with the Guardian unfolds, then go for it.
5. What is the purpose of the Guardian in Baldur’s Gate 3?
The Guardian’s purpose is to protect players from succumbing to the Mind Flayer parasite that’s infected the players’ main character. They’ll encourage players to master the Illithid abilities in order to not turn into a Mind Flayer.
In your first encounter, they’ll ask you not to remove the parasite but instead tell you to master the Illithid abilities in order to not turn into a Mind Flayer and also save Faerun in the process. They also claim to have protected you during the Nautiloid Crash, but whether you believe this story is totally up to you.
6. Is your Guardian the Emperor in Baldur’s Gate 3?
The Guardian is revealed to be Emperor, a Mind Flayer who now fights against the Absolute. This explosive revelation happens during Act 3 of the game, after which players can either trust him or reject his proposal.
Regardless of whatever assumptions you make after learning that he’s actually a Mind Flayer, it’s best to just hear them out and then make a decision. After all, their purpose is to protect you from the Mind Flayer infection inside your brain.
7. Who plays the Guardian in Baldur’s Gate 3?
The Guardian is voiced by Ethan Reid, who’s a BA Acting Graduate from RoseBruford. Other than the game, he’s also done radio voice acting, drama, commercials, narration, and audiobooks.
Among the star-studded cast of Baldur’s Gate 3, Ethan stands out as the voice of this mysterious NPC, and fans seem to love and appreciate the calmness and smoothness he brings to the Guardian’s voice.
8. Should you trust the Guardian in Baldur’s Gate 3?
Trusting the Guardian is a decision that players need to make for themselves. If players trust the Guardian, then they’ll get the chance to unlock 25 new abilities through an Illithid skill tree.
It’s worth noting that trusting the Guardian might affect your relationship with your companions, and your party’s perception of you will change as you use the abilities.
If you think the new abilities are worth the risk of trusting the Guardian, then there’s no problem in doing so, and even Baldur’s Gate 3 developers have encouraged players to try out these abilities.
9. About Baldur’s Gate 3
Baldur’s Gate III is a role-playing video game developed and published by Larian Studios. It is the third main game in the Baldur’s Gate series, based on the Dungeons & Dragons tabletop role-playing system.
A partial game version was released in early access format for Windows, macOS, and the Stadia streaming service on 6 October 2020., followed shortly by a release on the PlayStation 5 on 6 September 2023.
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