Baldur's Gate 3 player lost 70-hour playthrough to a single dialogue choice

The hardest part of beating Honour Mode in Baldur's Gate 3 would seem to be the bosses. But experienced players know that some battles can be avoided through clever dialogue choices. The problem is, this strategy can backfire catastrophically if you pick the wrong line.

"Just lost my Honor Run to a dialogue choice," wrote TheBoldShagger in a Reddit post.

The player had sided with Gortash and defeated Orin, setting up Gale to nuke himself at the stem. Returning to Gortash and handing over the netherstone, they faced an unexpected twist – Gortash decided it was too easy, refused the partnership, and attacked.

The player wasn't expecting a fight, so they hadn't rested or restocked supplies. The ensuing battle meant the end of their 70-hour playthrough.

So what went wrong? An alliance with Gortash that lets you skip his boss fight is absolutely possible – you just need to play your cards right. After getting Orin's netherstone, bring it to Gortash but refuse to hand it over, keeping it as insurance. Turns out, asking you to hand over the stone was a test to see if you're smart enough as an ally. Handing it over signals you're not, triggering the boss fight.

As other community members noted – if you're attempting Honour Mode, don't experiment. Plan your path and stick to it. In a game as complex as Baldur's Gate 3, one risky action can trigger an avalanche of consequences.