Gortash is, first and foremost, a politician in Baldur’s Gate 3. When you find him at the Wyrm’s Rock Fortress, he has a deal for you: work with him to acquire the Netherstone from Orin and control the Elderbrain together.
You’ll have the chance to assist the man during this encounter. Alternatively, you can make it harder for yourself and refuse his deal, ensuring you are on the opposite of the conflict. The choice is yours. Should you make a deal with Gortash in Baldur’s Gate 3?
What Happens When You Accept Gortash’s Deal in Baldur’s Gate 3
If you accept to make a deal with Gortash, he will make a pact with you that he, or any of his people, will not harm you. Doing so could make your stay in the city of Baldur’s Gate much easier, especially if you only have to deal with Orin.
Now, the deal is that you’ll be focusing entirely on her, and once you have her Netherstone, you can bring it to him and reign the Elderbrain under your control. Although the consequences of the deal are pretty negative, you’ll suffer the consequences when you initiate the ending sequence.
However, Karlach, a vital party member in Baldur’s Gate 3, won’t find Gortash’s deal appealing and will encourage you to decline it. She’s not going to want to go with it whatsoever, especially since Gortash is the one who sold her to the devils 10 years ago. This might not be the best route if you want to appease her. I also found that making a deal with Gortash prevents you from completing specific objectives in Baldur’s Gate, such as freeing Wyll’s father, Saving the Gondians, thus saving all the prisoners in the Iron Throne, Gortash’s prison.
What Happens When You Don’t Make the Deal with Gortash in Baldur’s Gate 3
When you don’t accept Gortash’s deal during the ceremony of his becoming Archduke, he forces you and your Baldur’s Gate 3 party to stand there and watch it happen. You can choose to fight him, but engaging in a battle at this time is not advised. It is possible to defeat him here, but the many Steel Guards and guards he has working to protect him are all weighing in his favor. There are also dozens of traps in this location, and he’ll use those to his advantage to defeat your party.
It’s better to go after him later in your Baldur’s Gate 3 playthrough. You’ll need to find a way to get him alone, away from prying eyes, and eliminate him. However, this location, in the audience chamber, is also full of traps. Karlach will also want to bring him down, so that’s always good if you wish to remain on her positive side.
Is it Better to Make the Deal with Gortash in Baldur’s Gate 3?
Ultimately, it seems that regardless of whether you make a deal with Gortash when the two of you attempt to tackle the Elderbrain, it kills him during this engagement. If you instead choose that you don’t want to work with Gortash, taking him out in your Baldur’s Gate 3 campaign seems like the better choice, especially if the other option does not hold too much weight to the finale of the game, and you’re trying to get on Karlach’s good side. Karlach has a deep hatred; eliminating him would be a good way to get on her positive side.
For my playthrough, I did decide not to take Gortash up to his offer and eventually found a way to eliminate him and acquire his Netherstone. I didn’t trust him from the start, and for my Baldur’s Gate 3 playthrough, it felt like the best approach to the situation. Plus, there were a lot of quest objectives I would have missed out on if I took this deal and worked with him rather than defeating him and Orin.
Refusing Gortash’s deal in Baldur’s Gate 3 may seem appealing, but it prevents you from completing several side quests. These quests often involve characters like Wyll, his father, and Karlach, who is determined to defeat Gortash. If she succeeds, it concludes her companion story, which can be quite emotional for fans of Karlach who are rooting for her escape from Avernus. If you’re a player who enjoys tackling as many side quests as possible in major RPGs, be aware that accepting Gortash’s or Orin’s deal will effectively prevent you from experiencing all that Baldur’s Gate 3 has to offer.
How to Find Gortash in BG3
Gortash is located in the Wyrm Rock Fortress during Act 3. Access to the fortress is through the Basilisk gate on the eastern side of the Lower City map. It’s easy to accidentally skip his coronation if you just cross the bridge and move straight into the lower city. If you’ve seen Mizora, you’ve gone too far.
Who is Gortash (BG3)?
Gortash, also known as Enver Gortash, is one of the main antagonists of Act 3 of Baldur’s Gate 3. Once you finally get to the city, he offers a pact of non-aggression to the player, influencing the game’s storyline. Gortash is a human who thinks he is more clever than he actually is. However, he is clever enough to be significantly dangerous.
