Join Karlach in Avernus

In Baldur’s Gate 3, players are often faced with morally complex choices that shape their companions’ fates. One of the most emotionally impactful moments comes late in the game with Karlach, the fierce and lovable tiefling barbarian. When presented with the option to join Karlach in Avernus, players must decide whether to stand beside her through hell itself or let her face her destiny alone. This decision isn’t just about narrative closure it also reflects the deep bonds players may have formed throughout the game. Exploring what it means to join Karlach in Avernus reveals powerful themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and character development.

Who Is Karlach?

Background and Personality

Karlach is a tiefling warrior who was once enslaved and forced to fight in the infernal battles of Avernus, the first layer of the Nine Hells. Escaping to the Material Plane, she becomes a key companion in Baldur’s Gate 3, known for her warm heart, explosive rage, and unshakable sense of justice. Despite her hellish origins, Karlach often radiates joy and optimism, creating a stark contrast with the darkness of her past.

Her storyline is particularly tragic because she carries an infernal engine in her chest a device that keeps her alive but is slowly burning her from within. This mechanical heart cannot survive for long on the Material Plane, which forces a devastating truth: Karlach may eventually have no choice but to return to Avernus, even if it means going back to the place where she suffered most.

Understanding the Decision

The Final Choice

Late in the game, players will confront a heart-wrenching dilemma. Karlach’s engine begins to fail, and it becomes clear that her time is running out. The player can choose to:

• Let Karlach go to Avernus alone
• Convince her to stay and face the consequences
• Join Karlach in Avernus, choosing a new life of eternal battle by her side

Choosing to join Karlach in Avernus is not a decision made lightly. It means leaving behind the Material Plane, potentially forsaking friends, responsibilities, and everything the player has built up to that point. But it also represents the highest form of loyalty and compassion, especially for players who have grown close to Karlach or pursued a romantic relationship with her.

Emotional Impact

Joining Karlach in Avernus is often considered one of the most bittersweet endings in the game. While tragic, it also offers a sense of poetic beauty two warriors choosing to fight together in the darkest of places, rather than letting fate tear them apart. For players who value narrative richness and emotional resonance, this path can be deeply rewarding.

Life in Avernus

What Does It Mean to Go to Avernus?

Avernus is the first layer of the Nine Hells in the Dungeons & Dragons universe. It is a war-torn battlefield where devils and demons constantly wage war. It’s a land of fire, smoke, and desolation. By joining Karlach in Avernus, the player character chooses to enter this harsh realm willingly, committing to a life of endless combat and danger.

Though this fate sounds grim, it aligns perfectly with Karlach’s spirit. She is a fighter to the core, and in Avernus, she would rather fight eternally than die passively. If the player joins her, they embrace that same warrior ethos, showing that their connection transcends worlds and mortal limits.

Narrative Themes Explored

Loyalty and Sacrifice

This decision represents one of the purest forms of loyalty. Sacrificing one’s freedom, safety, and future for the sake of a friend or loved one is a powerful storytelling device, and it’s executed with nuance in Baldur’s Gate 3. Joining Karlach is not about achieving victory it’s about standing by someone no matter the cost.

Acceptance of Fate

Karlach’s story is, at its core, about confronting an unavoidable fate. Her infernal engine is a ticking clock, and the journey toward the end is filled with hope and dread. Choosing to follow her into Avernus symbolizes acceptance not just of her destiny, but of one’s own. It’s a moment of surrender that somehow feels defiant and empowering at the same time.

Romantic Fulfillment

For players who have romanced Karlach throughout the game, joining her in Avernus is the ultimate act of devotion. It fulfills the emotional arc of the relationship, bringing closure in the most intense and dramatic way possible. It tells a love story not bound by the typical happy ending, but forged in battle and sealed in fire.

Gameplay Implications

Endgame Variations

Mechanically, choosing to join Karlach in Avernus marks the end of the player’s journey. There are no post-game consequences or missions this is a final decision. However, it serves as a powerful closing moment that defines the legacy of your character. It is often seen as one of the most memorable and talked-about endings in the game.

No Turning Back

Importantly, once the choice is made, it is permanent. There’s no return from Avernus, no undoing the sacrifice. This makes it crucial for players to think carefully about their decision and understand what it means within the context of both narrative and gameplay. But for many, the emotional payoff far outweighs the loss of continued play.

Why Players Choose This Ending

Character Bonding

Throughout the game, Karlach is portrayed as a deeply human character despite her infernal origin. Her laugh, her kindness, and her resilience make her one of the most beloved companions. By the end of the game, many players feel a genuine bond with her, making the idea of letting her go unbearable.

Unique Roleplaying Opportunity

Joining Karlach in Avernus offers a unique roleplaying angle. It allows players to make a selfless decision driven by emotion rather than gain. This kind of choice is rare in many RPGs, making it stand out as one of Baldur’s Gate 3’s most artistically ambitious narrative branches.

Tips for Making the Most of the Experience

• Spend time deepening your relationship with Karlach during the midgame. Engage in dialogue and support her quests.
• Ensure you complete her personal storyline to its fullest before the final act.
• Make decisions that reflect your commitment to her path, even before the ending is in sight.
• Save your game before the final choice if you want to experience different outcomes later.

Joining Karlach in Avernus in Baldur’s Gate 3 is one of the most emotionally resonant decisions players can make. It reflects themes of love, loyalty, sacrifice, and courage, providing a bold alternative to traditional hero narratives. Whether you view it as a tragic ending or a triumph of the human (and tiefling) spirit, it leaves a lasting impression that elevates the storytelling of the game. For players who choose to walk into hell with Karlach, the fire isn’t an end it’s a new beginning forged in devotion and bravery.