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Screenshot via Dot Esports

Baldur’s Gate 3: Should you free Nere or take his head in BG3?

This decision will cause massive changes in the Underdark.

In Baldur’s Gate 3, you will be faced with plenty of difficult decisions that will have ripple effects across your entire playthrough. One such decision will come in the Underdark while questing through Grymforge and the Myconid Colony, as you will need to free or kill a character named Nere.

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Nere is a True Soul that is wanted for crimes against the Myconid Colony. After you locate Nere, he will give you an offer to betray your employers in the Myconid Colony and instead free him. Freeing Nere can be difficult in itself, but you may be stuck on whether or not you should even try. If you want to know the potential consequences of freeing or beheading this Baldur’s Gate 3 character before you make it, this is what you will need to know.

Should you free or kill Nere in Baldur’s Gate 3?

Freeing and taking Nere’s head both have massive implications for the Underdark. If you elect to kill Nere, you need to fight him and all Duergar soldiers who do not take arms in Elder Brithvar’s rebellion. This can be a challenging fight, but after you kill Nere, the slaves will be set free and your party will be rewarded with gold.

A close-up of Brithvar in Baldur's Gate 3
Killing Nere means siding with Brithvar, while freeing Nere means turning against the Elder | Screenshot via Dot Esports

Siding with Nere will consequently force you to fight Elder Brithvar and his rebels, making you loyal to the Duergar. You also won’t be able to return to the Myconid Colony with Nere’s head to complete the questline, and the colony likely won’t be too happy to see you.

Related: Baldur’s Gate 3: How to save Nere and leave the Underdark in BG3

While either choice will grant you a reward of some kind, I think the best choice is to kill Nere and take his head back to the Myconid Colony. In terms of the plot, Nere is a slaver and overall pretty bad guy, someone that any lawful or good character likely wouldn’t want hanging around. Practically, killing Nere gives you a more sizeable reward and allows you to complete the questline and clear out the Grymforge.

Of course, if you aren’t rolling a righteous Paladin like I am, you can always side with Nere for a chaotic or evil playthrough.

Others Asked

What are the consequences of killing the Nightsong in Baldur's Gate 3?

Killing the Nightsong results in Shadowheart receiving Shar's blessing and giving you Shar's Spear of Evening as a reward. However, Isobel, Jaheira, Dammon, and Art Cullagh will all die, and it also locks you out of a romance option with Shadowheart.

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What difficult decision must players make when they find the Nightsong in Baldur’s Gate 3?

Players must decide whether to tell Shadowheart to kill Dame Aylin to become a Dark Justiciar, or to persuade her to spare the Nightsong and save her.

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Why might a player choose to use Non-Lethal Attacks in Baldur's Gate 3?

A player might use Non-Lethal Attacks to loot necessary items without killing the creature holding them, particularly if the creature is innocent or a civilian.

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Author
Image of Blaine Polhamus
Blaine Polhamus
Staff Writer for Dot Esports. Avid gamer for two decades and gaming writer for three years. I'm a lover of anything Souls-like since 2011. I cover everything from single-player RPGs to MMOs.