Bosses

Bosses are a special type of NPCs in Baldur's Gate 3, describing unique, particularly strong enemies. The informal term Boss is used by the community to describe those NPCs, but is not mentioned in Quests or in the Journal.

Whether an NPC is a boss is ultimately subjective.

Boss Categories

Bosses in Baldur's Gate 3 can be divided in three categories, depending on their impact on the game:

Main Story Bosses

• These bosses are integral to the main storyline and are encountered at key points in the game's plot.
• Defeating them is often necessary to progress the story.

Example: Ketheric Thorm

Optional Bosses

• These are powerful enemies that players can choose to fight for additional rewards, lore, or challenges.
• They are not mandatory for completing the main story but often finish optional quest lines.

Example: Grym

Mini-Bosses

• These are stronger than regular enemies but not as formidable as main story bosses.
• They often serve as gatekeepers to important areas or significant loot.

Example: Bulette

Unique Characteristics of Bosses

Increased Difficulty

• Bosses have higher health, stronger attacks, and better defenses compared to regular enemies.
• They often have unique abilities or resistances that require strategic planning to overcome.

Example: Call of the Damned used by Apostle of Myrkul

Unique Rewards

• Defeating bosses typically yields rare or powerful loot, such as unique weapons, armor, or items.
• Some bosses drop key items necessary for quest and story progression.

Example: Ketheric's Netherstone

Environmental and Encounter Design

• Boss fights often take place in specially designed arenas that complement the boss’s abilities.
• The environment might provide hazards, cover, or interactive elements that influence the battle dynamics.

Example: Lava during the Grym fight

List of Bosses

Main article: List of Bosses

A list of all potential Bosses in Baldur's Gate 3. Depending on the party's choices, they might not have to actually engage some of these in combat.