I escaped the Nautiloid and washed up on the Ravaged Beach. From there you can get a clear, practical path through Act 1 of Baldur’s Gate 3. I’ll tell you what I do, why it works, and where to be careful — in my experience this saves reloading and bad surprises.
Updated 2025-11-25. Quick heads-up: some NPC choices change later chapters. There are exceptions, so think twice before you lock something in.
Where to go first
Head north from the beach. You’ll usually meet Shadowheart there if you didn’t free her on the ship. The Overgrown Ruins right after make a tidy tutorial: traps, simple puzzles, a few fights. Explore every nook. You find supplies and practice mechanics that matter later.
Want a safe hub next? Move northwest to the Druid Grove. Vendors, rest options, and the main Act 1 threads are there (it’s the easiest place to regroup). I’ve noticed players who ignore the Grove regret it later.
Early priorities (short)
- Loot basic gear.
- Recruit or talk to key NPCs.
- Learn to use the environment in fights.
Combat routes and why they help
Clear the goblin ambush outside the Grove first. You’ll learn positioning and high-ground advantage quickly. Why? Because early fights teach resource management: spells, limited heals, and crowd control — those won’t work the way you expect if you’re careless.
| Zone | Difficulty | Levels | Loot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goblin Ambush | Easy | 1–2 | weapons, gold |
| Blighted Village | Medium | 2–3 | magic items, scrolls |
| Goblin Camp (exterior) | Hard | 3–4 | rare gear, XP |
Clear the Blighted Village after that if you want steady XP. You can approach with stealth, diplomacy, or full assault. Each yields different rewards and learning. Surprisingly, talking can give as much benefit as killing — and sometimes more loot.
Story-first tracks
If you care about narrative, Auntie Ethel’s teahouse (southwest of the village) is essential. It’s weird, unsettling, and full of moral choices. Do the quests there carefully. Choices ripple into Act 2. Watch this: some dialogue options close off items or allies forever.
“Play the dialogue. You’ll learn faster than by fighting everything.” — me
Rhetorical question: want more story or more loot? Decide early. Your answer changes who trusts you.
Where to find good gear
Search the Overgrown Ruins chapel thoroughly — secret doors and hidden chests exist (look for pressure plates and levers). The Blighted Village has a blacksmith, an apothecary, and a windmill cellar worth checking. Be mindful of traps; Perception checks matter.
Quick tip: sell junk but keep oddly keyed items. They often open quests later. This is counterintuitive: I’ve seen players sell the one item they needed for a major quest. Don’t do that. (Ask me how I learned.)
Class-specific advice — and why it helps
Different builds benefit from different routes because of what they need most early on.
- Martials: hit the Blighted Village for weapons and armor.
- Divine casters: spend time in the Grove for scrolls and rituals.
- Arcane casters: Overgrown Ruins for scrolls and practice with spell traps.
- Rogues/rangers: forest paths for stealth XP and pickpocket practice.
Why? Because early gear shapes your playstyle. A wizard without scrolls feels weak; a rogue without stealth chances misses critical XP. I’ve noticed that early choices often define your next 10 levels.
Fast level-up route (practical)
Goal: hit level 3 fast. Level 3 unlocks subclasses and big power jumps. Efficient path I use:
- Finish beach fights (Level 1→2).
- Clear Grove entrance combats.
- Explore Overgrown Ruins fully.
- Systematically clear Blighted Village (Level 2→3).
Optional: Owlbear Cave gives a nice bonus, if you’re careful. This route works because it combines combat XP with exploration XP from secrets and dialogue. Don’t spam rests; that can stall progress (depends on your style).
Controversial takes
Some players swear resting constantly is smart. I disagree — over-resting trivializes tension and can ruin resource management learning. Also, multiclassing early is often a waste for new players; it spreads your power thin. Fight me? Fine, but try it on an ironman run!
Practical tools
Here’s a tiny snippet you can paste into notes to keep your route clear:
{
"start":"Ravaged Beach",
"first":"Overgrown Ruins",
"hub":"Druid Grove",
"farm":"Blighted Village",
"optional":"Owlbear Cave"
}Also, use the Alt/Interact key to highlight objects. I repeat: use it. It saves time and reveals hidden containers you’d miss otherwise.
Final, short checklist
- Explore the beach fully.
- Visit Overgrown Ruins next.
- Use the Druid Grove as your base.
- Farm Blighted Village for XP.
- Be careful with story-locked choices.
One last thing: roleplay a little. Try different approaches. You’ll see new content and learn what your party really needs. To be fair, some runs will fail—embrace it. May your dice roll high and your campfires be safe!
