Strategy Guide for Xbox remaster version of Baldur’s Gate

Baldur's Gate

Baldur’s Gate I Main Walkthrough

Prologue: Candlekeep

You begin in Candlekeep, your childhood home. Before leaving, explore the keep, talk to tutors, complete simple errands, and buy basic equipment from Winthrop. This is your safe tutorial area, and it is worth taking your time.

What to do:

  • Talk to the tutors to learn basic mechanics.
  • Complete the small chores around Candlekeep.
  • Defeat Shank and Carbos when they attack.
  • Buy weapons, armor, arrows, bolts, or sling bullets.
  • Speak to Gorion when you are ready to leave.

Leaving Candlekeep begins the real adventure. Gorion is killed in an ambush, and your character is forced into the wider world.

Achievements to watch for:

  • Back to Basics – Speak to the Candlekeep tutors.
  • Safe For Now – Defeat Carbos and Shank.
  • Completionist – Finish your chores before leaving Candlekeep.
  • On My Own – Leave Candlekeep.

Chapter 1: The Friendly Arm Inn

After Gorion’s death, Imoen joins you. Your first major destination is the Friendly Arm Inn, where Gorion told you to meet Khalid and Jaheira.

What to do:

  • Search Gorion’s body at the ambush site.
  • Travel to the Friendly Arm Inn.
  • Be ready for the mage Tarnesh near the entrance.
  • Meet Khalid and Jaheira inside the inn.
  • Begin moving south toward Beregost and Nashkel.

This chapter teaches one of the most important Baldur’s Gate lessons: travel is dangerous. Save often, rest when needed, and do not be afraid to retreat.

Achievements to watch for:

  • Friendly Faces at the Friendly Arm – Speak to Khalid and Jaheira.
  • Foreshadowing? – Bring Firebead a copy of The Fateful Coin.
  • He Started It or Use Your Words – Resolve Marl’s situation in Beregost one way or the other.

Chapter 2: The Nashkel Mines

The iron crisis leads you to Nashkel. Speak to the mayor and investigate the nearby mines.

What to do:

  • Visit Nashkel and speak with Mayor Berrun Ghastkill.
  • Travel southeast to the Nashkel Mines.
  • Enter the mines after speaking with Emerson.
  • Use a thief to detect and disarm traps.
  • Reach the fourth level of the mines.
  • Defeat Mulahey.
  • Search his room and take the letters that point toward the bandit threat.

The Nashkel Mines are the first major dungeon of the game. Move carefully, rest when needed, and let your thief scout for traps.

Achievements to watch for:

  • The Stone Cleric – Restore the petrified woman at the Nashkel Carnival.
  • Save the Cow! – Save Hulrik’s cow.
  • Witch Slayer or Witch Savior – Decide Dynaheir’s fate.
  • Only Mostly Dead – Return Drienne’s cat.
  • Victory Is Mine – Defeat Mulahey and end the Nashkel mine threat.

Chapter 3: The Bandits

After the mines, the trail leads to the bandits causing chaos across the Sword Coast.

What to do:

  • Return to Nashkel for your reward.
  • Go to Beregost and confront Tranzig at Feldepost’s Inn.
  • Learn the location of the bandit camp.
  • Enter the Larswood or Peldvale areas.
  • Infiltrate or fight your way into the Bandit Camp.
  • Enter Tazok’s tent.
  • Defeat the enemies inside.
  • Speak with Endar Sai.
  • Search the chest for letters pointing toward Cloakwood.

This is a good chapter to explore more of the map, level your party, and complete side quests before heading into the tougher Cloakwood areas.

Achievements to watch for:

  • Hero – Reach heroic reputation.
  • This Belongs in a Museum – Help Charlston Nib at the archaeological dig.
  • Gallor’s Plot – Help Gallor at the archaeological dig.
  • Faerûnian Idol – Find and keep the artifact at the archaeological dig.
  • Judge, Jury, Executioner or Second Chance – Resolve Captain Brage’s story.
  • A Work of Art – Protect Prism until he finishes his masterpiece.
  • Bandits Banished – End the bandit threat.

Chapter 4: Cloakwood Forest

Cloakwood is more dangerous than earlier wilderness areas. Expect spiders, traps, poison, and tough enemy parties.

What to do:

  • Travel through the Cloakwood areas.
  • Prepare antidotes or poison cures.
  • Reach the Cloakwood Mine.
  • Defeat Drasus and his party outside the mine.
  • Enter the mine.
  • Help the slaves if you choose.
  • Reach Davaeorn on the lower level.
  • Defeat Davaeorn.
  • Take his key and letters.
  • Flood the mine to shut down the Iron Throne operation.

Davaeorn can be a tough fight because he is a powerful mage. Buff your party, use ranged attacks, and interrupt his spellcasting whenever possible.

Achievements to watch for:

  • Noble Assistant or Forest Friend – Choose a side in the Cloakwood conflict.
  • Water, Water Everywhere – Kill Davaeorn and shut down the mine.
  • Murder Incarnate – Kill 1,000 creatures on one save file. This is cumulative, but the active party matters, so avoid constantly swapping companions if you are chasing it.

Chapter 5: Baldur’s Gate

After Cloakwood, the city of Baldur’s Gate finally opens. This is one of the largest and most open sections of the game.

What to do:

  • Travel to Baldur’s Gate.
  • Speak with Scar and complete his investigations, or move toward Duke Eltan’s request.
  • Investigate the Iron Throne building.
  • Gather evidence about Rieltar and the Iron Throne leadership.
  • Report back to Duke Eltan.
  • Prepare to return to Candlekeep.

This chapter is packed with side quests, shops, secrets, and achievement opportunities. Take your time before pushing the main story forward.

Achievements to watch for:

  • Fishermen’s Friend or Fishermen’s Foe – Resolve the fishermen quest.
  • Best Day Ever – Have Bless, Chant, and Luck active at the same time.
  • Worst Day Ever – Have Disease, Fatigue, and Poison active at the same time.
  • Damsel Out of Distress – Help Abela the nymph escape.
  • Master Thief – Steal a telescope from the Hall of Wonders.
  • Reunion – Bring Casson’s body to Tremain.
  • On the Trail – Report Rieltar’s activities to Duke Eltan.

Chapter 6: Return to Candlekeep

The story brings you back to where everything began. Return to Candlekeep using the book Duke Eltan gives you.

What to do:

  • Enter Candlekeep.
  • Explore the library.
  • Learn more about your character’s heritage.
  • Avoid unnecessary violence inside Candlekeep.
  • Escape through the catacombs.
  • Watch for traps and doppelgangers.
  • Defeat Prat and his party.
  • Exit the catacombs.

This chapter is more linear than the city section, but it is story-heavy and important. Make sure you are stocked with healing, antidotes, and trap support before entering the catacombs.

Achievements to watch for:

  • On My Own… Again – Escape through the catacombs beneath Candlekeep.

Optional: Tales of the Sword Coast Content

The Enhanced Edition includes content connected to the original Tales of the Sword Coast expansion. This content is optional and does not directly change the main story, but it adds major areas and difficult encounters. One source describes this expansion content as adding optional areas that are separate from the core storyline.

Good optional areas to consider before the final battle include:

  • Durlag’s Tower
  • Ulgoth’s Beard
  • Werewolf Island
  • The cult connected to Aec’Letec

These areas can be difficult, especially Durlag’s Tower. Bring a thief, save often, and expect traps.

Achievements to watch for:

  • The Legend of Durlag’s Tower – Explore Durlag’s Tower and defeat the evil within.
  • An Ancient Evil – Destroy Aec’Letec.

Chapter 7: The Final Confrontation

The final chapter sends you back to Baldur’s Gate, where Sarevok’s plan is moving toward its end.

What to do:

  • Return to Baldur’s Gate.
  • Investigate the Iron Throne again.
  • Rescue Duke Eltan.
  • Find Sarevok’s diary and evidence.
  • Defeat Slythe and Krystin in the Undercellar.
  • Enter the Ducal Palace with the invitation.
  • Protect the dukes during the doppelganger attack.
  • Follow Sarevok into the maze and Undercity.
  • Prepare for the final battle.
  • Defeat Sarevok.

The final fight can be brutal. Summons, buffs, ranged attacks, traps, and careful positioning all help. Do not rush into the room blindly.

Achievements to watch for:

  • Lover’s Sacrifice – Send Tamoko to the afterlife.
  • Lover’s Redemption – Convince Tamoko to aid you.
  • Hero of Baldur’s Gate – Defeat Sarevok.
  • Leave No Friend Behind – Complete the game with a full party without anyone dying.
  • Sacrifices Must Be Made – Finish the game with a full party of dead allies.
  • Lord of Murder – Complete the game on Legacy of Bhaal difficulty.