One of the big draws toBaldur’s Gate 3is thehuge amount of varied and individual NPCsthat players can meet and interact with. Many of these will be allies or indifferent, but plenty can become hostile to the party.
While all of them are able to hold up as significant and interesting threats, some are much more standout antagonists than others. Whether they are morally gray characters who believe the ends justify the means, or whether they are simply evil for the pure enjoyment of it, these are some of the topBaldur’s Gate 3antagonists who will haunt the players long after the credits roll.
10Angry Mar’hya
While there are plenty of characters who could take this spot, a special place had to be reserved for the character known as ‘Angry Mar’hya.’ Angry Mar’hya can be found in act three as the kennel master at the Baldur’s Gate couriers. How could such a simple character be so villainous?
Players soon learn that she bullies her young apprentice, forbids the dogs from receiving scratches or belly rubs, abuses them, and will kill them if players try to free them. Worse, she technically claims ownership of Scratch, a beloved player companion dog, and can demand he is returned to her. No dog lover can stand to let her actions go unpunished.
9Kagha
Players meet Kagha in act one, leading the Druid Grove in the absence of the true Archdruid, Halsin. Unlike Halsin, Kagha is a severe and oppressive leader. Highly intolerant towards the tiefling refugees who share the Grove, she seeks to drive them from its safety, performing a forbidden Rite Of Thorns.
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She can even go to the extent of murdering a tiefling child, and players can find evidence that she intends to pass control of the Grove over to the sinister Shadow Druids. A severe antagonist, players can have a meaningful conversation with her if theysway her views away from the Shadow Druidsor spare her from being murdered by Arabella’s mother if the girl is killed.
8The Elder Brain/Absolute
The Elder Brain may be the primary and final antagonist of the game, but many antagonists still leave a bigger impression overall. That being said, the oppressive regime of The Absolute is inescapable, and its presence is felt from beginning to end.
The fight against her is a fitting climax to the narrative, and her scheming machinations really suit the mythos of Elder Brains withinDungeons and Dragonslore. To top it all off, her design is perfectly disgusting too.
7Gortash
Gortash is undoubtedly a villain. He is a chosen of one of The Dead Three, Bane. He manipulates and oppresses the populace of Baldur’s Gate, and murders innocents in cold blood. He was also once a friend tothe companion character, Karlach,and betrayed her with grave consequences. But there is something very intriguing about Gortash.
Should players meet with him, he proposes a deal and truce with the party. He is sincere about it too, and can even act as an ally to the player until their meeting with The Elder Brain. Gortash challenges the morals of players. He has committed grievous crimes, but promises alliance with a wide smile, making players wonder if they really should be bringing him to justice after all.
6Ketheric Thorm
The primary antagonist of act two, Ketheric Thorm is responsible for the shadow curse that plagues the land. He is the chosen of Myrkul, and wields the power of necromancy, believing himself immortal. Of course, any party worth their salt is going to stress test that theory. Ketheric is an intimidating character, looking particularly to his introduction while infiltrating Moonrise Towers, and his monologue before the final confrontation with him.
But there is a lot more depth to Ketheric than meets the eye. Ketheric was once a follower of Selune, and was the father to a cleric of Selune, Isobel. When Isobel died, his worship turned to Selune’s dark sister, Shar, and then to Myrkul, who helped him raise Isobel from the dead. At the end of the day, Ketheric is just a grieving father.
5Malus Thorm
Ketheric isn’t the only notable Thorm villain.Most of the family, in fact, has become corrupted by the shadow curse. Players can meet Thisobald, Gerringothe, and, of course, Malus. While all the Thorms are intimidating antagonists, Malus makes a particular impact. He is the one that players are most likely to encounter, as they need to loot his body as part of the quest to end the shadow curse.
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But the meeting is bound to be memorable. The character design of Malus and his nurse assistants is downright terrifying, as is the score that plays during his battle. He is a tough opponent, but even dealing with him without combat is traumatic. Players can convince him to succumb to his own practices, to a chilling score and cacophony of gore.
4The Emperor
The Emperor is one of the most intriguing and impactful antagonists due to his connection to the players and the main storyline. At the beginning of act three, it is revealed that the person that has been visiting the main characters in their dreams is actually a mindflayer known as The Emperor. The Emperor was once the great adventurer and founder of Baldur’s Gate, Balduran.
He has been protecting the party from The Absolute’s influence, and does prove to be a strong ally (and even potential partner). But The Emperor is also deceitful and petulant. The main conflict between players and The Emperor revolves around the githyanki prince, Orpheus. Players who seek Orpheus’s freedom will find just how petty The Emperor can be.
3Orin The Red
Orin is the final member of The Dead Three’s chosen, a worshiper of Bhaal. She embodies his tenants perfectly. She is a brutal, sadistic assassin and murderer, relishing in killing. She is also a shapeshifter, sowing suspicion and isolating her prey before she goes in for the kill.
Her character designand voice acting are terrifying,as are the horrific transitions when she reveals herself after shapeshifting. She can permanently kill a party member or young girl, and feed a cat to the player character as soup. She is unhinged and dangerous, and easily one of the scariest antagonists in the game.
2Auntie Ethel
First met in act one, and rearing her ugly head again in act three, Auntie Ethel is a green hag who proves to be a serious thorn in the party’s side. She torments a young girl called Mayrina, and steals and eats a child in act three. She is a strong magic user and proves to be a deadly threat.
But the most stand out thing about Ethel is the way she walks a fine line between being terrifying and hilarious. Herlairs are filled with sinister remindersof those who have fallen victim to her twisted deals, but her voice acting, behaviors, and even some of her actions have strong overtones of dark fairytale humor. She is an unforgettable villain that players might find themselves starting to like even as they seek to defeat her.
1Raphael
From Mizora to Yurgir, devils can prove a recurring threat to the party. But, out of all the devils, Raphael really steals the show. He is another antagonist thatreally wants to make a dealwith the party and even acknowledges his own place within the narrative. He presents himself as a dangerous enemy and an even more dangerous friend.
Just how far can players trust Raphael? His machinations are unknowable but blatantly sinister, and all of his smiles are sickly sweet. He is a humorous and suave character, but the prospect of breaking into his house and battling him fills players with dread. He has all the flair (and singing voice) of a pantomime villain, but with an unspeakable terror and awe, and players are left fearing the moment that his claw finally falls.
Baldur’s Gate 3is available on PC and PlayStation 5. A version for Xbox Series X/S is currently in development.
