In Baldur’s Gate 3, Avernus is one of the most intriguing and dangerous places you can visit. Known as the first layer of the Nine Hells, Avernus is a fiery wasteland filled with infernal creatures, intense battles, and critical lore. Deciding when to go to Avernus can make a huge difference in how your journey unfolds. Whether you’re chasing powerful loot, unraveling character quests, or facing a pivotal narrative moment, understanding the best time to explore Avernus is key to a successful and enjoyable playthrough. Timing your entry can affect combat readiness, story outcomes, and even your party’s survival.
What Is Avernus in BG3?
Avernus is not just a location it’s a battlefield of gods and devils. In the Dungeons & Dragons universe, it’s a place of eternal war between devils and demons known as the Blood War. In BG3, Avernus appears in specific storylines, especially involving characters with infernal backgrounds. It is not a free-roam zone but is accessed through specific quests or story events. Your party will be temporarily transported to Avernus depending on narrative triggers, and the setting usually introduces high-stakes decisions and challenging encounters.
How Do You Access Avernus?
Reaching Avernus typically involves progressing through certain companion quests or reaching a major decision point in the main story. One notable example is through Karlach’s questline. Karlach, a tiefling Barbarian with an infernal engine, is directly tied to Avernus, and exploring her past leads the party to the infernal plane. However, players do not go there randomly there’s a build-up through dialogue, interactions, and major plot progress.
Common Triggers That Lead to Avernus:
- Completing Karlach’s companion arc
- Engaging with infernal contracts or infernal artifacts
- High-level narrative decisions tied to infernal forces
- Specific Act III developments involving hellish enemies
Recommended Level for Visiting Avernus
Because Avernus hosts tough enemies and critical boss fights, you should not attempt to enter it underleveled. A good rule of thumb is to wait until your party reaches at least level 10 before triggering any Avernus-related quests. This allows you to have a full range of powerful spells, upgraded gear, and tactical flexibility.
Minimum Level Requirements:
- Level 10: Adequate for most fights, but may struggle without strong gear or optimized builds.
- Level 11-12: Ideal range. Provides stronger spell slots, extra attacks, and survivability.
Attempting to enter Avernus before level 10 is not recommended unless you’re looking for a significant challenge and are highly familiar with the mechanics.
What to Prepare Before Going to Avernus
Going to Avernus is not a decision you should take lightly. Preparation is crucial to surviving the infernal chaos. You’ll need a balanced party, items that counter fire damage, and the ability to resist or remove status effects like fear, charm, or hellfire burns.
Essential Preparation Tips:
- Fire Resistance: Equip rings, potions, or spells that reduce fire damage. Avernus is filled with fire-based enemies.
- Rest Before Entering: Ensure your party is fully healed with all spells and abilities available.
- Stock Up: Bring extra potions, scrolls, and revival items. You might not have many chances to rest once inside.
- Party Composition: Include characters who can buff, heal, and crowd-control enemies. Having both ranged and melee options is beneficial.
Why Go to Avernus?
Aside from being a visually stunning and narratively rich environment, Avernus offers key rewards and character development. For players invested in Karlach’s storyline, Avernus plays a pivotal role in her personal arc. It also introduces high-value loot, including infernal weapons and armor. Some decisions made here may also influence the ending of your game or affect how certain factions view your party.
Major Reasons to Visit Avernus:
- Resolve Karlach’s Story: One of the most emotionally charged arcs in the game reaches its climax in Avernus.
- Endgame Loot: Obtain rare items and gear that aren’t available elsewhere in Faerûn.
- Moral Choices: Make impactful decisions that define your character’s legacy.
- Infernal Lore: Learn more about devils, the Blood War, and the consequences of infernal bargains.
When Should You Avoid Going to Avernus?
Despite the many reasons to go, timing is critical. If you’re still completing major questlines in Baldur’s Gate or wrapping up companion arcs, it might be better to postpone your visit. A poorly timed trip can lock you out of content or rush you into the endgame.
Situations Where You Should Wait:
- You haven’t reached level 10 yet.
- Key companions still have unresolved storylines.
- You’re low on resources, gold, or healing supplies.
- You haven’t completed major side content in Act III.
Also consider saving your game beforehand. Avernus can include irreversible choices, so it’s wise to create a backup in case you want to revisit earlier paths.
Narrative Impact of Visiting Avernus
The decisions you make in Avernus don’t just affect the immediate scenario. Depending on your choices, you may influence the fate of certain characters or shift the balance of power between realms. Choosing to align with certain infernal figures or resist them can echo through the game’s final act and epilogue.
Choices and Consequences:
- Helping Karlach can have tragic or redemptive outcomes.
- Aligning with infernal forces may grant power at the cost of morality.
- Turning away from Avernus could lead to missed opportunities or narrative closure.
This makes the decision to visit Avernus not just about combat readiness, but also about roleplaying depth. Consider how your character views devils, morality, and sacrifice before proceeding.
the Right Time to Go
Visiting Avernus in Baldur’s Gate 3 is a memorable and meaningful chapter in the game. It’s not an area to rush into but one to plan for. Reaching at least level 10, fully resolving other party storylines, and preparing both tactically and emotionally will ensure you experience Avernus at its best. Whether you go for the story, the loot, or the thrill, going at the right time will make your trip to hell worth every step.
Choose your moment wisely, steel your resolve, and dive into the infernal flames only when you’re truly ready because Avernus waits for no one, and it does not forgive the unprepared.