Baldur's Gate 3: Patch 7 Evil Endings Guide
All New Evil Endings, Honour Mode Strategies, and the Darkest Paths Through Faerûn — Updated June 2026
Overview
Larian Studios' Patch 7 for Baldur's Gate 3 introduced multiple brand-new evil endings for characters who embrace their darkest impulses. This is Larian's final major content update before shifting focus to their next project, and they went all-out with cinematics, voice acting, and branching narrative paths. The update also added substantial changes to Honour Mode, including new Legendary Actions for several Act 3 bosses that only activate during evil playthroughs.
This guide covers every new evil ending, their precise trigger conditions, how character choices throughout the game lock you into specific paths, and detailed Honour Mode strategies for the new boss encounters you'll face on the dark side.
The 5 New Evil Endings — At a Glance
| Ending Name | Required Origin | Key Condition | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Absolute Ascendant | The Dark Urge | Accept Bhaal + dominate Netherbrain | Hard |
| Vlaakith's Champion | Lae'zel (Origin) | Betray Orpheus to Vlaakith, then ascend | Medium |
| Archdevil's Bargain | Wyll / Custom | Side with Raphael, kill Mizora, claim Crown for Hell | Very Hard |
| Lady of Loss | Shadowheart (Dark Justiciar) | Kill Nightsong, kill Viconia, claim Shar's ultimate boon | Medium |
| Mind Flayer Tyranny | Any (Emperor route) | Become full illithid, betray Emperor, enslave companions | Hard |
1. The Absolute Ascendant — Dark Urge's Crown
Trigger Conditions
Act 2: Kill Isobel at Last Light Inn → Receive Slayer Form
Act 3: Kill Orin in duel → Accept Bhaal's blessing (DO NOT reject)
Endgame: Dominate the Netherbrain → Choose "In Bhaal's Name" dialogue
What Happens: In the most elaborate of the new ending cinematics, the Dark Urge commands the Netherbrain to march on Baldur's Gate while the Absolute's army sweeps across Faerûn. A new 4-minute cutscene shows key NPCs — including Withers, Dame Aylin (if alive), and the surviving companions — reacting to the apocalypse. The final shot shows Bhaal personally manifesting above the city, proclaiming the Dark Urge as his foremost champion.
2. Vlaakith's Champion — The Lich Queen's Ascension
What's New in Patch 7
Previously, siding with Vlaakith in Lae'zel's personal quest resulted in a fairly anticlimactic ending — Vlaakith simply consumed your soul. Patch 7 completely rewrites this. If you play as Lae'zel (Origin run) or guide her down the Vlaakith path, you now have the option to betray Orpheus at the final moment and offer the Crown of Karsus directly to Vlaakith.
The new cinematic shows Vlaakith descending from the Astral Plane onto the Material Plane, absorbing Orpheus's power and the Crown's magic simultaneously. She becomes a deity-level entity and names you (or Lae'zel) her eternal champion. The final scene shows your character clad in silver dragon-scale armor, standing at the head of an infinite githyanki legion poised to conquer the multiverse.
3. Archdevil's Bargain — Raphael's Infernal Gambit
The New "True Evil" Path
This is arguably the most difficult evil ending to achieve — and the most rewarding in terms of narrative payoff. Instead of stealing the Orphic Hammer and breaking into the House of Hope, you must collaborate with Raphael from the beginning. The key triggers are:
- Accept Raphael's deal in Act 3 immediately — do not explore alternatives
- When confronting Cazador, let Astarion complete the ritual (7,000 souls sacrificed)
- Kill Mizora during the Iron Throne rescue — she must die permanently (use Souldbreaker arrows)
- At the final confrontation, give the Crown to Raphael, not Mystra or Gale
The ending cinematic lasts nearly 5 minutes. Raphael uses the Crown to challenge Asmodeus for the throne of the Nine Hells. Your party members (or what's left of them) are transformed into archdevils under Raphael's new infernal hierarchy. Faerûn falls under a permanent blood war as the Hells turn their attention to the Material Plane.
New Honour Mode Boss Strategies (Evil Path)
Patch 7 adds specific Legendary Actions that only trigger when you're on an evil playthrough in Honour Mode. Here are the most dangerous new encounters:
| Boss | New Legendary Action | Counterplay |
|---|---|---|
| Orin the Red | Bhaal's Gaze (3-stack instant kill) | Burst her within 3 turns. Use Hasted fighter + Paladin smites. Hold Monster works on her in Patch 7. |
| Raphael | Contract Breaker: If any party member leaves House of Hope, Raphael gains 100 temp HP and summons 4 additional Cambions | Never retreat. Lock the door with Arcane Lock. Bring Radiant damage and Globe of Invulnerability. |
| Viconia DeVir | Shar's Embrace: At 50% HP, Viconia casts a new AoE that deals 20d6 necrotic and silences for 2 rounds | Spread party members. Counterspell is mandatory. Daylight sphere nullifies half the damage. |
| Netherbrain | Dark Urge Only — Bhaal's Avatar spawns at 25% HP, a CR25 creature with 400 HP | Save all scrolls of Disintegrate. Hope's Divine Intervention if available. This is the hardest fight in the game. |
How Character Choices Lock You Into Evil Paths
| Decision Point | Choice | Endings Locked |
|---|---|---|
| Act 1: Goblin Camp | Side with Minthara, raid the Grove | Locks out all "good" companion endings; unlocks Minthara romance for Absolute Ascendant |
| Act 2: Aylin | Let Shadowheart kill the Nightsong | Locks in Dark Justiciar path; if Dark Urge, doubles Bhaal approval |
| Act 3: Astarion | Let him ascend as Vampire Ascendant | Required for Archdevil's Bargain; Astarion becomes a permanent ally in the final battle |
| Act 3: Emperor | Romance + trust the Emperor, then betray | Required for Mind Flayer Tyranny ending |
Evil Ending Scene Gallery
The Dark Urge accepts Bhaal's blessing and commands the Absolute army to conquer Baldur's Gate.
Source: Larian Studios / BG3 Patch 7 promotional materials
Vlaakith ascends to godhood after absorbing Orpheus's power and the Crown of Karsus.
Source: Larian Studios / BG3 Patch 7 promotional materials
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I see all 5 evil endings on one playthrough?
No. The endings are mutually exclusive due to origin character requirements. The Dark Urge must be a Dark Urge run. Vlaakith's Champion requires playing as Lae'zel. You'll need at least 3 separate playthroughs to see them all.
Q: Is Patch 7 REALLY the last major update?
Larian has stated that Patch 7 is the final major content update for BG3. Future patches will be limited to bug fixes and minor quality-of-life improvements. The team is now fully focused on their next untitled project.
Q: What's the hardest Honour Mode fight on an evil playthrough?
The Netherbrain + Bhaal's Avatar fight is definitively the hardest encounter in the game. You fight the Netherbrain, and at 25% HP, a CR25 Avatar of Bhaal spawns with 400 HP, legendary resistance, and a multiattack that can one-shot a 100+ HP character. Most Honour Mode evil runs end here.
Summary
Patch 7 is Larian's love letter to evil playthroughs. The five new endings represent some of the best writing and cinematic direction in the entire game, with the Absolute Ascendant and Archdevil's Bargain standing out as particular highlights. If you've only played BG3 as a hero, Patch 7 gives you compelling reasons to embrace your darker side — just be prepared for the Honour Mode challenges that come with it. The key takeaway: plan your character origin from the start, save before every major Act 3 decision, and bring Globe of Invulnerability for that final fight.