Karlach is one of the most compelling companions in Baldur’s Gate 3, with a storyline that blends tragedy, redemption, and personal strength. As a tiefling barbarian cursed with an infernal engine, her fate hangs in a delicate balance. One of the most emotionally charged decisions in the game revolves around whether to convince Karlach to go to Avernus, the first layer of the Nine Hells. This choice isn’t just about the fate of one character it also impacts the emotional tone and narrative resolution of your entire playthrough. Guiding Karlach toward Avernus requires a deep understanding of her past, her motivations, and the consequences of that decision.
Understanding Karlach’s Backstory
The Infernal Engine
Karlach’s story begins long before she joins your party. She was forcibly taken from her home and sold to the archdevil Zariel, who outfitted her with an infernal engine to serve as a weapon in the Blood War. This engine, while granting her strength, slowly burns her from the inside. Despite escaping to the Material Plane, the engine continues to overheat, threatening to kill her unless a solution is found.
Her Desire for Freedom
More than anything, Karlach wants to live. She cherishes the freedom she now has, even if it’s limited by the engine inside her. However, as she comes to terms with the idea that her body cannot be fixed by conventional means, she begins to consider more desperate solutions including returning to Avernus, a place she swore never to go back to.
The Moral Dilemma
A Question of Agency
Convincing Karlach to go to Avernus isn’t just about making a logical argument it’s about respecting her agency. She’s a deeply moral character who despises Zariel and what she represents. Asking her to return to that hellish world can feel like a betrayal. However, depending on how you approach the conversation, you can help her see this decision as one of strength rather than defeat.
What’s at Stake
There are several possible endings for Karlach. If her engine overheats without intervention, she dies in agony. With assistance from other characters, such as Withers or Dammon, temporary solutions can extend her life but do not resolve the underlying problem. Returning to Avernus offers a potential long-term solution though it means living once again in the realm that enslaved her.
Preparing for the Conversation
Build Trust Throughout the Game
If you plan to convince Karlach to go to Avernus, your relationship with her throughout the game matters. Gain her trust by:
- Supporting her in key dialogues
- Helping her confront and defeat Gortash
- Assisting her with upgrades to her engine via Dammon
- Choosing compassionate responses during party interactions
These moments build the emotional bond necessary to have influence over her final decision.
Gather Relevant Information
Before making the case for Avernus, be informed. Understanding Zariel’s hold on her, the risks of staying, and the consequences of returning to hell will allow you to approach the conversation with empathy and logic. Talk to characters who know about the Nine Hells, like Wyll or Raphael, to gather insight.
How to Convince Karlach to Go to Avernus
Timing the Decision
The opportunity to speak to Karlach about Avernus typically comes late in the game, often after the final battles or major turning points. When the moment arises, you’ll be given dialogue options that can steer her one way or another. Approach the conversation with care this is a culmination of her journey and your relationship with her.
Dialogue Options That Matter
When the time comes, you should focus on dialogue choices that emphasize:
- Her strength and bravery
- The opportunity to fight back against the injustices of Avernus
- Reclaiming her agency by choosing to return on her own terms
- Hope for finding others to help or liberate
For example, saying something like, You won’t be alone we’ll find a way together, gives her hope and companionship. Avoid lines that focus on fear or abandonment, as these may lead her to reject the idea.
Involve Other Companions
Depending on your party’s dynamics, other characters can influence her decision. Wyll, in particular, has connections to the infernal realms and may offer insight or support. If companions express their support or understanding, it can help tip the scales in your favor.
The Outcome of Convincing Her
A Return with Purpose
If Karlach agrees to return to Avernus, it is not a moment of despair it is a victory of self-determination. Rather than being dragged back in chains, she walks through the flames on her own terms. She chooses to survive, to fight, and to define her own destiny in a place that once defined her.
Potential for Future Redemption
While the game doesn’t detail what happens afterward, many players interpret her return as a chance for her to continue resisting Zariel or possibly helping others escape the Blood War. It becomes a story of sacrifice and strength, rather than one of surrender.
Alternative Endings to Consider
Letting Her Stay
If you choose not to convince her or fail in doing so Karlach may die, overwhelmed by the heat of her engine. This is an incredibly emotional ending, and one that’s powerful in its own right. It speaks to the tragedy of her condition and her refusal to return to her tormentors.
Using Temporary Fixes
With Dammon’s help, you can temporarily stabilize her engine. This allows her to live longer, perhaps indefinitely depending on narrative interpretation. However, it doesn’t give her a permanent resolution and may leave her in a state of limbo, always waiting for the engine to fail again.
Role-Playing and Narrative Impact
A Decision That Defines Your Character
Convincing Karlach to go to Avernus isn’t just about her it also defines your character’s morals, priorities, and emotional depth. Are you someone who prioritizes survival above all? Do you believe in taking control, even if it means embracing danger? Or do you respect her right to choose, even if it leads to her death?
Replayability and Emotional Depth
This decision is one of the many reasons Baldur’s Gate 3 offers strong replayability. On future playthroughs, you may make a different choice and explore the consequences. The weight of the decision, and its emotional impact, is felt deeply by many players regardless of outcome.
Convincing Karlach to go to Avernus is one of the most emotionally rich and complex choices in Baldur’s Gate 3. It blends themes of agency, redemption, sacrifice, and hope. While it’s not the only way to conclude her story, it can be one of the most empowering, especially when framed as a choice she makes with full knowledge and courage. By building trust, offering compassion, and presenting a clear vision of survival and strength, you can guide Karlach toward a path that honors her journey and her spirit. In a game full of darkness and uncertainty, helping her reclaim her fate is a moment of genuine light.