As you journey through the Forgotten Realms in Baldur’s Gate 3, you will inevitably find yourself at areas called Points of No Return. What are they?
Points of No Return mark the transition between the game’s three Acts, and crossing them can have massive ramifications for your playthrough. For that reason, it’s important to know where every point fo Now Return is, and what will happen once you pass through them. Here are all Points of No Return in Baldur’s Gate 3 for Acts 1, 2, and 3.
All Baldur’s Gate 3 Points of No Return for Acts 1, 2, and 3
Here are all points of no return in Baldur’s Gate 3 for Acts 1, 2, and 3:
- Act 1: Travel through the Mountain Pass or Underdark
- Act 2: Completing the Gauntlet of Shar quest
- Act 3: After beating Ketheric Thorm, the final boss of Act 2. You will then leave Moonrise Towers and travel the road to Baldur’s Gate
You shouldn’t worry too much about points of no return in BG3. The game goes out of its way to let you know when you have reached a point of no return, displaying a message that says: “You are about to progress your adventure. Make sure to tie up loose ends before advancing!”
Points of No Return mark the end of every Act in Baldur’s Gate 3, and the game will go out of its way to let you know when you’ve reached one. Crossing Points of No Return can prevent you from starting or completing quests, so you’ll want to ensure that you have everything sorted out in the Act you’re in before you transition into the next.
Act 1 Point of No Return in Baldur’s Gate 3
The first point of return happens when you travel through the Mountain Pass or Underdark to reach Act 2. While you can still travel back to areas found in Act 1, you won’t be able to complete many of the side quests here because the NPCs have either left or died, depending on your choices. The game will warn you when you reach this point, so ensure you have completed everything you want before going to Act 2.
Related: How to Toggle Great Weapon Master and Sharpshooter in Baldur’s Gate 3
Act 2 Point of No Return in Baldur’s Gate 3
The second Point of No Return happens after you complete the Gauntlet of Shar quest in Act 2. While this isn’t the end of Act 2, you won’t be able to travel to any location before the Shadow Lands. Again, the game will warn you when you reach this point, so ensure you have done everything you want to do in the Shadow Lands before proceeding.
Act 3 Point of No Return in Baldur’s Gate 3
The next Point of No Return happens after defeating Ketheric Thorm, the final boss in Act 2, when you leave the Moonrise Towers to travel to Baldur’s Gate in Act 3. This is your last chance to complete quests in the Shadow Lands area because once you leave for Baldur’s Gate, all content up to that point will be inaccessible. This includes the areas that comprise Act 1. Before reaching Baldur’s Gate, complete side quests and level up, as the journey will have surprises.
The final battle is the ultimate point of no return. You can defeat Orin and Gortash in your own time, but be aware that certain quests may become unavailable due to the progression of the plot. For instance, while you can initiate the Steel Watch quest, fully disabling it will prevent you from undertaking the “Rescue Prisoners at the Iron Throne” quest.
Author’s Note: I wrote this guide while playing Baldur’s Gate 3 on Steam Deck.
