Alright, so I finally decided to tackle that massive Undercity area in Baldur’s Gate 3. You know, that whole spooky place rumored to be under the actual city? Heard stories, saw snippets online, decided it was time to map it out myself. This ain’t some polished walkthrough, just me smacking my head against walls and figuring stuff out step-by-step.
The First Step: Actually Getting Down There
First hurdle: how the heck do I even get inside? Sounds dumb, right? Well, the game doesn’t exactly hand you a neon sign saying “Down Here! Free Monster Hugs!”. I wandered around the main city like a lost puppy for ages. Checked sewers near that big Basilisk Gate place – nope, just rats and disappointment. Peeked behind temples – nada. Finally, completely by accident, I stumbled across it near that big Circus of the Last Days place. Look for a hidden passage tucked away like it doesn’t want to be found. It involved shoving some crates aside (always shove crates!) and finding a weird hole in the wall. Classic.
Inside: Welcome to Pitch-Black Chaos
Okay, popped in. Immediate thoughts: “Why is it so damn DARK?” Seriously, bring torches. Lots. Or magic light. Otherwise, you’re just stumbling around in the gloom waiting for something to nibble your toes. The place is like a giant, crumbling maze made of old sewer pipes, forgotten temples, and who knows what else. Feeling completely turned around is basically step one.
My approach was simple but messy:
- Just Picked a Direction: Seriously. Started going left. Why left? Why not.
- Smashed Every Barrel & Crate: Found rope? Sweet. Found rotten food? Gross, but hey, maybe poison for later? Gotta loot everything.
- Kept My Fingers on ALT: Constantly pressed that ALT key like my life depended on it (because it kinda did). Highlights stuff you can click on. Found so many hidden buttons and levers that way. Sometimes it was just junk, sometimes it opened a secret path.
The Real Headaches: Walls That Aren’t Walls
The thing that messed with me the most? Fake walls. SO MANY fake walls. You think you’re stuck? Nope, you probably just haven’t walked THROUGH that perfectly solid-looking wall yet. Just walk into any suspicious-looking surface. Seriously. It feels stupid, but half the map only opens up if you phase through bricks like a ghost.
Combat down here is its own special kind of awful. Tight spaces, corners everywhere, enemies popping out of pipes. Got ambushed more times than I care to admit by those creepy fish-people (Grimghasts?) and exploding mushroom jerks. Wasted so many spell slots healing because I got mobbed in a hallway.
The “Treasure”… Mostly Junk
Was it worth it? Meh. Kinda? Found some nice vendor trash gear to sell later. Maybe a couple of slightly less terrible weapons. The real prize, honestly? Getting that damn place mapped out in my journal so I wouldn’t get lost next time. Felt like finally solving a giant, dangerous puzzle. More bragging rights than epic loot this time. The atmosphere? Creepy cool. The rewards? Manage your expectations.
Final Thoughts: Pack a Lunch & Maybe a Backup Character
Look, exploring the Undercity feels like navigating the inside of a messed-up clock covered in slime. Its chaotic, confusing, dark, and packed with nasties hiding in the shadows. My “guide” boils down to this:
- Light Up Everything. Seriously. You’re blind without it.
- Save Constantly. Found a safe spot? Save. Beat a tough fight? Save. Looked at a weird mushroom? Save. You WILL mess up.
- Walk Through Every Suspicious Wall. Yeah, it looks solid. Try it anyway.
- Mash ALT. Non-stop. See that hidden lever you missed.
- Don’t Expect a Haul. It’s more about the creepy journey than the loot.
Did I die? Yep. Did I get hopelessly lost? Absolutely. Did I eventually wander out, covered in metaphorical sewer muck, feeling vaguely triumphant? You bet. Just getting the darn thing explored felt like a win.