Whether to free Orpheus in Baldur’s Gate 3 is an important decision. We reveal what is at stake – and what changes.
In Baldur’s Gate 3, you will constantly face difficult or complex decisions. One of the biggest decisions arises in Act 3 when it comes to rescuing a prisoner. However, whether you should free the legendary Orpheus or not is not so easy to answer.
We will reveal all the consequences of this decision so that you can weigh whether to free Orpheus in Baldur’s Gate 3 or not.
An important tip for Baldur’s Gate 3 is to reduce your carrying weight:
Who is Orpheus? Orpheus is the prince of the Githyanki and the rightful leader of his people. In the story, however, he is depicted as a traitor who is said to have opposed the current queen, Vlaakith. This is not the case. Even during the first two acts, you can uncover the true story through various books and lore items.
Orpheus possesses powerful abilities and is trapped in the relic known as the Shadowheart, which he carries at the beginning of the story. Orpheus’s power is why your guardian can protect you and why you do not immediately succumb to the power of the Absolute.
During Act 3, a difficult decision arises: Should you free Orpheus from his prison in the hope that he will then support the group? Or do you listen to the Emperor, leave Orpheus imprisoned, and absorb his powers?
What happens if you rescue Orpheus? If you rescue Orpheus, the Emperor (your guardian) will be deeply disappointed in you. He will turn away from you and end the collaboration. Since you have ruined his only purpose in life, he will join the Elder Brain and will fight on its side in the future. In the final battle, he will then be an additional enemy who makes the fight more difficult for you.
Although Orpheus is not directly grateful to you, he will still help you after his rescue. He protects you from the effects of the Elder Brain and fights alongside you.
If no one in your group decides to become a mind flayer, then Orpheus will take that fate upon himself and demand that you kill him after the job is done, as he does not want to face his people like this.
What happens if you do not rescue Orpheus? If you do not rescue Orpheus, then either you or the Emperor must devour his brain, thus killing Orpheus to obtain his power. This allows you to defend yourself against the Elder Brain and lead the final battle.
In this decision, the Emperor (your guardian) will continue to stand by your side and support you in the final hours. He will not be an enemy, but a powerful ally. This makes the final battle a little bit easier.
Note that you should not have Lae’zel in your active group during this decision. If she is present when Orpheus is killed, you will need to pass a tough roll; otherwise, she will turn against you and must be killed.
How to free Orpheus in Baldur’s Gate 3?
To be able to free Orpheus at all, you need to have obtained the weapon “Orphic Hammer” during Act 3. Only with this can you smash the two large crystals that are keeping Orpheus trapped in his prison. You should always keep this hammer in your inventory after obtaining it, as you will not come back to your chest at camp before making the decision.
You have two options for obtaining the Orphic Hammer:
Option 1: You make a pact with the devil Raphael. This is possible relatively early in Act 3. When you travel to the city of Baldur’s Gate and cross the large bridge, there is a brothel called “Sharess’ Caress” on your right side. Go upstairs to the balcony to the various “theme rooms” – one of them contains Raphael. Start the dialogue and accept his offer. He will give you the orphic hammer in exchange for the crown of Karsus, which you must give to him after the battle against the Elder Brain.
Option 2: You travel to the House of Hope, the palace of Raphael, and steal the hammer from his possession. To do this, you need to go to the occult shop “Devil’s Price” and talk to Helsik. For the right price (or skilled pickpocketing), she will tell you the ritual to gain entry into the House of Hope. There you have the opportunity to steal the orphic hammer and extract many other coveted items from the devil.
You can also enter the House of Hope even if you have already made a pact with Raphael. In that case, you can take your contract with you and destroy it to be freed from the pact. However, Raphael will not be pleased about this, and you will have to defeat him in one of the tougher boss fights in the game.
Is it worth saving Orpheus in Baldur’s Gate 3?
In summary, one can say that the impact of freeing Orpheus is relatively minor, as only a few hours of gameplay are left afterwards. It only matters significantly if you want to get back at the Emperor and do not want to cooperate with him until the end, or alternatively, if the Githyanki or Lae’zel are particularly dear to you.
The ending remains largely the same, as Orpheus simply takes on the role of the Emperor – or vice versa. It is a clear matter of taste that adds an additional, personal touch to the story, but it does not significantly change the outcome of the plot.
How did you decide regarding Orpheus?
