Players ofBaldur’s Gate 3might notice that some of the game’s best features are locked behind level caps, with the game’sDungeons & Dragonssource material requiring players to unlock certain levels and attain specific requirements for their characters to possess some of the game’s best stats, combos, and spells. After all, spellcasters only unlock new spells at certain levels, classes get new features every few levels, and much-desired Feats and Ability Score Increases are only unlocked in special intervals.
In turn, players who want to speedrun their way to reach the game’s best offerings may wonder exactly how they can pull this process off, especially as the game features various main quests, side quests, and other secrets hidden in its Acts' many nooks and crannies. Fans ofBaldur’s Gate 3who want to speed up their leveling process to access the game’s best features may want to follow specific tips to fast-track their way to acquiring a lot of XP. However, just what aspects ofBaldur’s Gate 3will be affected in the process?
Updated on Jul 25, 2025 by Rhenn Taguiam:With Larian Studios teasing a new, darker ending for the Dark Urge, players of the acclaimedBaldur’s Gate 3might be eager to check just what is in store for them in this upcoming update. Fans eager to see what grisly surprises await them as the Dark Urge might be compelled to just speedrun their way to the new endings. However, the difficulty of some encounters might have players wondering if there’s some way to get their characters to level up fast enough without much challenges. Among must-try level-up tips include building towards an overpowered kit, thinking of the fastest ways of eliminating an opponent, and ensuring that killing an NPC won’t block a future questline.
Start in-game progression while building towards a powerful setup
Effect
This should help players kill opponents much faster and more efficiently
Thanks to the growing popularity ofBaldur’s Gate 3, newcomers and veterans to the game don’t necessarily have to trudge through countless rounds just to finish off opponents. With overpoweredBaldur’s Gate 3builds, players can technically bulldoze their way through even the most challenging encounters - at least, with the right setups.
When theybegin aBaldur’s Gate 3playthroughwith powerful builds in mind, they condition their characters and playstyles to accommodate heavy-hitting movesets and strategies. Knowing which combinations of Feats, Spells, and Actions work best with a setup can hyper-optimize a player’s time in combat. For instance, a Monk with Tavern Brawler gives them access to a more powerful Flurry of Blows, allowing them to deal more damage to opponents. Likewise, the right Multiclass combination can give players access to more Spells and Actions that allow them to deal more damage in combat.
Hit everyone as often as possible
Hitting everyone deals more damage in a single round, avoiding the need to target opponents individually
There’s a reason why Fireball is a popular “solution” inD&Dgameplay, and the same principle applies toBaldur’s Gate 3combat. If there’s a way to simultaneously eliminate enemies while using up the least amount of resources possible, it’s technically the most “convenient” way of approaching combat. When building characters, it’s ideal for players to choose Spells and Actions that let them target many opponents at a time, ensuring maximum coverage for every round.
Of course, AOEs aren’t necessarily the only ways to effectively kill an opponent much faster than anticipated. Should players have a Rogue with a potent enough Sneak Attack, they can theoretically one-turn-kill their way past bosses or tougher opponents. Then again, it’s not always that a Rogue can rush in for the kill - so it’s always helpful to have a backup caster with a nifty Fireball. This is made even more spectacular should players start Hasting their more powerful characters, allowing them to dish out more AOEs.
Check Hints During Dialogue If They Matter To The Plot
Procedure
Check dialogue whether an NPC has an important goal in a location players have yet to visit
While killing most NPCs nets XP, harming important ones can cause setbacks in the story
Dialogue is essential ina roleplaying game likeBaldur’s Gate 3- especially since they can dictate relationships between characters and decide how encounters begin and even skipped. And while it’s suggested that players kill NPCs to gather XP, this effort becomes futile when they realize that the NPC they just killed is important to a questline or, worse, a Companion. Before players decide whether a “random” NPC or quest giver is worth getting the axe, they should carefully analyze all text surrounding them: the quest log, their dialogue, and Companions' reactions to their events.
Save for their backstories, most talkative NPCs inBaldur’s Gate 3provide insights into their objectives throughout the player’s time with them. If an NPC expresses an interest in going to another location, it’s very likely a location players will eventually visit. It’s also important to check if a Companion has expressed an interest with the NPC’s welfare, as the death of said NPC can truly annoy a Companion enough into quitting the team. It helps to avoid killing NPCs of such importance, as it’s likely that their questline will extend across the latter Acts.
Click everything that can be clicked
Interacting with the right objects can start Side Quests that provide more XP
Unlike other RPGs,Baldur’s Gate 3gameplaydoesn’t necessarily include respawning enemies. This means all the enemies players will fight will be the only enemies that exist in the game world. Theoretically, this means there’s only a finite amount of combat-based XP that players can obtain at any given time in their campaign. However, another source of much-needed XP for leveling up includes quests - not just the Main Quest, but Companion Quests and even Side Quests that players discover.
A great way of securing Side Quests inBaldur’s Gate 3would be interacting with items that players see throughout their playthrough. Clicking the right scroll or reading the right tome can start a long Side Quest that provides XP across its chain - and these Side Quests most likely include elements in subsequent Acts, giving players more opportunities for interaction.
Choose responses that will get NPCs angry
Choosing an aggressive response will likely push NPCs to engage in combat
Being a dialogue-driven game, it’s no surprise thatmuch ofBaldur’s Gate 3playthroughs revolve heavily around the choices players makeduring conversations. While there are ways of resolving multiple story beats through conversations alone, fans who want “guaranteed” XP should probably consider choosing aggressive responses. Not only does this result in annoyingly hilarious reactions, but they give a “legitimate” reason for players to engage in combat without being an unhinged murderer.
However, players who want to get into regular fights with NPCs should remember that killing them will likely permanently close all Quests and Side Quests they’re involved in. In turn, it’s advisable for players to either save in advance before proceeding with a fight or simply finish the Quest before killing them.
Start killing the Goblin Camp leaders
This prompts a battle between the players and all Goblins inside and outside the Camp
Sinceplayers and their Companions are infected with Illithid Parasites, they become more than welcome in the Goblin Camp that is planning on attacking the Druid Grove as soon as they find it. Thankfully, by the players getting into Priestess Gut’s good graces and getting inside the Shattered Sanctum, it’s only a matter of time before they find the Archdruid Halsin and they’re given an extra Companion to help kill the Camp’s leaders.
As soon as players make any hostile moves in an open area in the Sanctum, all of its inhabitants become hostile to players. Surviving this assault is the last of the player’s concerns, as going outside will also result in a hostile Goblin Camp. Players should pursue this combat with two parties - one dedicated to the Sanctum and another in the Camp, as it’s going to be difficult doing both with just one squad. It’s advisable to set up traps or purchase everything available from vendors (Roah Moonglow) before fighting.
7Raze The Druid Grove
Tell Minthara about the Druid Grove’s location and open the gates
Fight a much weaker Druid Grove for faster XP, may lose some Companions (Wyll, Karlach, Halsin)
Players pursuing an evil campaign in theirBaldur’s Gate 3playthroughwill experience its repercussions firsthand as soon as they choose to side with Minthara and the Goblins. Doing so will force Wyll and Karlach to leave the party, removing any opportunities for players to pursue meaningful relationships with them. However, this does get players in the Absolute’s good graces, giving them an easier (albeit murder-laced) time across the other Acts.
This path towards more combat XP involves telling Minthara’s location and pretending to side with the Druid Grove upon the player’s return. The final act involves opening the gate for the Goblins, after which everyone becomes hostile against the player. Similar to the Goblin Camp, it’s advisable to set up traps or get the party away from the Tieflings to secure a safer battle.
Destroy The Goblin Camp After Telling On The Tieflings
Tell Minthara about the Goblin Camp, kill the other Camp leaders, side with the Goblins anyway
Get a chance to kill the Goblin Camp and the Grove, may lose some Companions (Wyll, Karlach, Halsin)
Players who want to pursue utter chaos in theirBaldur’s Gate 3playthroughshould consider a more “free-for-all” approach. In this suggestion, no one is safe from the wrath of the player. This pathway to quicker XP combines the previous two entries. First, players tell on the Tieflings, motivating Minthara to amass a force to fight the Druid Grove. After she disappears, players should kill everyone in the Goblin Camp anyway.
Once players survive that ordeal, the cutscene where Minthara still motivates players to open the Druid Grove’s gate will still occur. Players can still opt-in on this subplot, becoming a traitor to the Tieflings anyway. Theoretically, this should give players two massive fights (versus the Goblins, versus the Tieflings). A more chaotic version also involves committing friendly fire against the Goblins - because why not?
Explore areas as often as possible
Discovering an area grants XP
One of the easiest ways to earn XP inBaldur’s Gate 3gameplay is through basic exploration. Whenever players unlock new parts of the map, particularly close to Waypoints, they get a notification that they’ve earned XP after discovering the location. This unlocks the fog of war in the minimap, allowing them to explore these parts of the game much easier.
While unlocking new areas of the map grants fewer XP than usual, this is the most guaranteed way of acquiring XP without getting into battles or conversations. The likelihood of a new location being associated with an NPC,a side quest, or even an activity is high, which means players discovering new areas are usually also about to embark on an XP-earning activity.
The More Side Quests Completed, the More XP
When reaching populated areas, talk to people to accept as many side quests as possible
Exploring areas grants XP but also provides opportunities to finish side quests in quick succession
Given its nature as a freeform RPG, players enjoyingBaldur’s Gate 3 alongside the amazing cast of the gamecan technically skip side quests in favor of fast-tracking their way through relevant objectives. However, players who want to level up in the game quickly should consider acquiring and accepting as many side quests as possible through NPC dialogue. And then, it’s only after acquiring all possible side quests in an area that players should explore the current game world.
InBaldur’s Gate 3, it’s common for only a few areas within a map to have their fair share of interactive NPCs, leaving the rest of the game world for players to explore. However, the non-open world nature of each Act’s map means players will likely have side quest areas close to each other. To get XP more efficiently, players are advised to accept all side quests so they can tick them off during exploration.
