Every character inBaldur’s Gate 3has a unique name and story, but none are as intriguing or twisted as the Dark Urge. This background takes you down a winding path, much like your companions, but with a much higher risk of violence, bloodshed, and heartbreak.

Choosing to experience Baldur’s Gate 3 as the Dark Urge is not for the faint of heart, as there are difficult choices that must be made and many that will be out of your control. You’ll walk in constant torment, never being able to trust your instincts. Who is the Dark Urge and where did they come from?

The Dark Urge in Baldur’s Gate 3

Who Is The Dark Urge?

Every party memberhas a background and a questlineto go with it. The Dark Urge is no exception, but this time, you get tocreate your own custom characterto play the part.

When playing as the Dark Urge, there are someunique dialogue options if you play as a drow.

Minthara at a shrine of the Absolute in Baldur’s Gate 3

This makes siding with the Absolute andgetting past the goblinsearly in Act One much easier to do.

The default character for the Dark Urge is a male dragonborn, though this can be changed.

Alfira comes to camp in Baldur’s Gate 3

Spoilers ahead: Below are different actions that the Dark Urge can take and an explanation of whom the Dark Urge truly is. Proceed with caution.

Dark Urge Events In Act One

Throughout each Act, there areunique actions that you can take. These are only available for the Dark Urge, and they areusually quite gruesomeas you try todecipher your pastand who you were before being held hostage on the Nautiloid.

Taking Gale’s Hand

Upon leaving the crash site, you’llcome across Gale’s portal. He’s stuck inside and needs assistance. Unlike every other background you can choose from, the Dark Urge has an additional option:cutting off his hand.

You’ll get to keep Gale’s Hand as an item throughout the game.

Ketheric Thorm from Baldur’s Gate 3 sitting on throne

This is a precursor to events that take place in Act Three, and is a unique option saved for the Dark Urge. Party members, like Shadowheart, will poke fun at the horror of it, but it will put them on edge.

Betraying Minthara

If youromance Minthara, the drow paladin, you’ll have an opportunity toembrace your Dark Urgeafter your night together. While she rests alongside you, you cantake this opportunity to kill her.

You can only romance her aftersiding with the goblins in Act One, and you’ll only have this opportunity tokill her without starting a fightbefore moving to Act Two.

Isobel and the moon in Baldur’s Gate 3

If you follow through with this,you won’t beable to recruit Mintharaat Moonrise in Act Two. However, your party members won’t hold it against you.

Killing The Bard

The first real experience with your Dark Urge will be in Act One whena bard comes to your campseeking shelter. This can be either Alfira the tiefling or Quil, the dragonborn. You cansave Alfira from death, but Quil will take her place.

This will prompt yourfirst meeting with Sceleritas Fel, your personal vile butler, who willreward you with the Deathstalker Mantle. This unique cloak grants youtwo turns of Invisibility when you defeat an enemy.

The Dark Urge examining the Moonlantern in Baldur’s Gate 3

Dark Urge Events In Act Two

In Act Two, you move to the Shadow-Cursed Lands. Here is whereyour role as the Dark Urge expands, as you get closer to the Absolute. You’ll come face-to-face with someheavy choices that can derail your playthroughif you’re not careful.

Resisting your Dark Urge will be much harder, but worth the effort if you want to remain a hero. If you give in to your Dark Urge, you’ll enjoy several rewards, but risk safety in numbers.

The Dark Urge and the party overlooking Baldur’s Gate in Baldur’s Gate 3

Killing Isobel

Sceleritas Fel will task you withkilling Isobel in Act Two. He promises a reward for your efforts, and there are two ways you may accomplish this.

You can eitherkill Isobel at the Last Light Inn, or you cansacrifice the Nightsongby lettingShadowheart become a Dark Justiciar.

The Dark Urge before Bhaal in Baldur’s Gate 3

If you’ve already been to Last Light andIsobel was captured, you will have to face her and Ketheric together.

If you haven’t been there yet and youwant to avoid a fight, skip over the inn andhead straight to theThe Gauntlet of Shar.

Orin pointing a blade towards you in Baldur’s Gate 3

This will trigger a cutscene that showsthe fall of Last Light while Isobel is still there, which will kill her.

If you’re trying to be a hero, killing Isobel will make it difficult, if not impossible, torecruit Jaeira, the HarperandHalsin, the archdruid.

Dark Urge about to enter the Mind Flayer Colony in Baldur’s Gate 3

Killing Your Companion

If youfail to kill Isobelbefore completing the Gauntlet of Shar, Sceleritas Fel will express disappointment in you. He warns you after a long rest that you will kill one of your companions due to your insatiable bloodlust.

If you’ve begun a romance, the companion you are set to kill is your lover.

You canchoose not to attack them, but it will result in several rolls and Ability Checks toresist your Dark Urge. Otherwise, you will give in and kill them.

If you kill your companion, the rest of your party will turn against you in the morning. you’re able to deceive them bypassing a DC 30 Ability Check, but you’ll most likely fail. When you do, you’ll have tokill your party members to get away.

It’s likely that your party will kill you, resulting in game over, so it’s better to take a long rest when they’re low on HP, but not use any resources.

Crushing The Pixie

As the Dark Urge, you’ll have theopportunity to crush the pixieinside the Moonlantern, though it’s not recommended sinceyou need it toget through the Shadow-Cursed Lands.

Using the Moonlantern as a weapon will prevent you from freeing the pixie, as she’s killed in the process.

Dark Urge Events In Act Three

Once youreach the city of Baldur’s Gate, you’ll begin tolearn more about who you areand what happened before you were trapped on the Nautiloid. When youcross the drawbridgeand enter Wyrm’s Rock,the truth will be revealed.

Learning The Truth

After learning the truth upon entering Wyrm’s Rock, you willglean more information from Gortashat his coronation, and an interesting proposal:forming an alliancewith Gortash against Orin.

The Tribunal

At theMurder Tribunal in Act Three, you’ll have the opportunity toaccept or refuse Bhaal’s blessingsas an Unholy Assassin.

Facing off againstOrin is the final battle for your character’s personal arc, though you’ll still have to defeat the Netherbrain to complete the game. This battle will be difficult, and it is the precursor to your final choice, whether youembrace your destiny or reject it.

You canuse your Slayer form to gain the upper handin the battle since it will be aone-on-one duel.

How To Play The Dark Urge

The Dark Urge can beplayed as a tragic hero or a ruthless villain, and the choice is all yours.

While you have the opportunity to becomeone of the most merciless murdererson the Sword Coast, you can alsorise above your Dark Urgesto save Baldur’s Gate from ruin.

There is aunique ending to obtain as the Dark Urgeif you claim the seat of the Absolute for yourself, though it only changes one line of dialogue.