Quest: Confront the Absolute (Finale)
The finale of Baldur's Gate 3 involves confronting the Absolute, which culminates in a choice between controlling or destroying the Elder Brain. This path is reached after dealing with the Absolute cult leaders and securing Gortash's Netherstone. Your journey to this point will have involved significant decisions, including how you handled encounters like the convoy to Moonrise Towers.
The quest begins with the objective to Confront the Elder Brain. This main questline presents two primary resolutions:
- Control the Elder Brain
- Destroy the Elder Brain
Before reaching the Elder Brain, you must first Get Gortash's Netherstone. This is a critical step in the main campaign.
Earlier in your journey, if you followed Kar’niss and the convoy of Absolute followers to Moonrise Towers, you would have faced an ambush by Harpers. You had the opportunity to betray Kar’niss, assist the Harpers, and acquire the Moonlantern. Helping the Harpers is recommended for an easier experience, as they will guide you to the Last Light Inn. Alternatively, continuing with Kar’niss requires successful roll checks and potentially a more challenging fight against the Harpers.
If you proceeded to Moonrise Towers with Kar’niss, you would have received the Capture Isobel the Selunite Cleric quest. This also leads to the Last Light Inn, but under different circumstances. Abducting Isobel results in the Last Light Inn losing its protection from the Shadow Curse, causing many inhabitants to perish. This option is not recommended for players aiming for a "good" character playthrough.
A personal quest involving the mysterious artefact carried by Shadowheart will likely begin when attempting to enter the Goblin Camp. While you won't learn much from Shadowheart initially, you will discover others are seeking the artefact as you progress through the region.
In Act 3, before the final confrontation, you should focus on dealing with the Absolute cult leaders. This includes finding and defeating Orin. To do this, complete the Investigate the Murders quest, which points to Orin’s hideout in the Undercity Ruins. The Murder Tribunal questline can also reveal the location of the Bhaalist Hideout. Both questlines lead to the same location, hidden within the Gravestone building.
If you choose to spare the Elder Brain, it will direct you to the helm. You will have dialogue options, but the outcome is that you proceed to where the brain intends. If you choose to help the brain, it will become a follower. Allies may temporarily join you, and you can control their movement and actions via their character portraits.