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No one can decide anything in Baldur’s Gate 3 (BG3) without your help. At least, that’s how it seems. There are several times when your influence and choices will determine if someone is saved, killed, or worse. This goes for Orpheus, the Githyanki Prince. It’s a late Act 3 decision, but what you do early on in the game can determine the outcome and what consequences you may face. If you have yet to learn, we’ll show you how you can free Orpheus in Baldur’s Gate 3 and whether or not this is even a good thing to do.
Rescuing Orpheus in Baldur’s Gate 3
Captured by the Emporer and held in the Astral Prism, Orpheus is being used to suppress the power of the Absolute. If you have Lae’Zel in your party, she’s reminded you of the importance of saving him a few times by now. You receive the mission directly in Act 3, but it’s not until you near the end that you may free Orpheus in Baldur’s Gate 3.
Before you reach that point, you must follow the main storyline and gather the three Netherstones. From there, you can venture into the Morphic Pool to find and free Orpheus in BG3. Just know that this is the point of no return. So, make sure everything is in order before you do so.
Now, you can deal with the Orpheus situation in two ways, and only one gives you the option to save him. It all depends on whether you received the Orphic Hammer.
Freeing Orpheus with the Orphic Hammer
The Orphic Hammer is a Legendary Weapon in Baldur’s Gate 3 that you can use to break the chains that hold Orpheus. It’s the one path where you won’t have to sacrifice your character or one of your companions. The weapon, however, belongs to Raphael, the Cambion devil. You can get it in two ways:
- Make a deal with Raphael
- Defeat Raphael and steal it
If you have no qualms about making a deal with the devil, then do so. Raphael honors his contracts, so he’ll freely hand over the Orphic Hammer for you to free Orpheus in Baldur’s Gate 3. You’re just roped into the contract. Otherwise, you can steal the Orphic Hammer from his lair, leading to a brutal boss battle. We do have a guide for that if you think you can handle it.
Regardless of how you get it, you can equip the Legendary Weapon when you reach Orpheus. From there, use it to destroy the crystals containing him, and he will be free. If you or Karlach have already turned into a Mind Flayer, Orpheus will remain a Githyanki and help you. Otherwise, he will become a Mind Flayer and act much like the Emporer if he joins you as an ally instead.
Killing Orpheus in Baldur’s Gate 3
If you don’t have the Orphic Hammer, there’s no way to free Orpheus in BG3. You can’t break his prison when you reach the point in the game. Instead, you can give the Netherstones to the Emporer, who will then consume Orpheus’s brain and become your ally. Otherwise, Karlach (if she’s in your party) will suggest becoming a Mind Flayer herself, as she’s dying anyway. However, if you agree, she will consume his brain, thus killing him.
Another way to fail at freeing Orpheus in Baldur’s Gate 3 is to become a Mind Flayer yourself. You’ll be forced to conclude your character’s story before the end of the game, come up with a new build, and still kill Orpheus. The Emporer will lie and say you can do this without harming the Prince, but again, it’s a lie. He’ll trick you into consuming the brain anyway.
Plus, there’s a strong chance you’ll lose Lae’Zel as a companion. If you suggest that the Prince should die, she’ll become upset, and you must pass a Persuasion check. This way, you won’t fight her. Otherwise, she’ll attack the group in a rage, and you’re forced to kill her.
So, even if you free Orpheus in BG3, there’s a chance the Prince will never be the same. Either Orpheus gets a bad ending to his story, or you or Karlach gets a bad ending. No matter what, things will change as you’re propelled into the endgame of Baldur’s Gate 3. Choose wisely.
Baldur’s Gate 3 is available on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox.
