Baldur’s Gate 3: Pros and Cons to Playing as the Dark Urge

The Dark Urge is perhaps the most unique Origin option in Larian’s CRPG set in the world of DnD 5e. On top of that, it comes with extra content to set it apart. However, it won’t fit with every playthrough. Depending on what you’re looking to get out of your run and how you want to approach it, this Origin could be devilishly fun or completely game-breaking. Here are the pros and cons to playing as the Dark Urge in Baldur’s Gate 3.

Pros and Cons to Playing as the Dark Urge in Baldur’s Gate 3

1. Pro: Unique Cutscenes

The first pro to playing as the Dark Urge is that the background makes you more connected to the game’s world of Faerûn and the characters around you. That comes with the bonus of unique cutscenes and interactions tailored to the specific history of the Dark Urge.

While that can make the Dark Urge too violent for some players, you don’t have to play the Dark Urge as an evil character. Instead, you have the choice to resist the violent desires for a story of redemption.

This distinctive quality that exists outside of all other BG3 origins extends to dialogue options as well. The Dark Urge gets unique options and choices, and at times, advantage on Skill Checks due to their history and background. You’ll see most of them in Act 3, but some are scattered in Act 1 and Act 2.

2. Con: Set Background

And that brings us to the associated con: the background is set. With a Custom Origin, you get to select a background. However, the Dark Urge has the Haunted One background by default, and depending on the class you choose, that might not come with beneficial proficiencies. Additionally, the Dark Urge’s history is, well, on the darker, more nefarious side, so that can be a deterrent for players who want to have a more noble or prestigious history for their character.

3. Pro: Unique Items

With the personal quests for the Dark Urge, you get unique rewards that aren’t available otherwise. That includes the Deathstalker’s Mantle, which turns you invisible if you land the killing blow on an enemy. Depending on your options, you can get other rewards, too. However, I’ll only tease those here since this aspect of the Dark Urge is full of spoilers, which would ruin a run with this Origin before it even began.

4. Con: Violent Tendencies

Depending on your choices and rolls, you might end up killing characters you didn’t want to. This can be perfect for an evil playthrough but distressing during a redemption run. Most deaths in BG3 are avoidable, but at least one can’t be prevented. You can change the target, but your character will kill a character at that point in the game no matter what. It’s key to your personal story as the Dark Urge. Remember: this isn’t a noble character, especially not before you have the chance to choose redemption.

5. Pro: Extra Ending Cutscene

There are a few crucial choices in Act 3 that result in extra cutscenes at the end, for better or worse. It hints at a continuation of the Dark Urge’s character after the adventure comes to a close. However, not all choices lead to this outcome for the Dark Urge. At the very least, you see a cutscene at the end of your personal quest during Act 3. And that’s true for embracing the urges and rejecting them both; just the scene for each one is different.

Those are the pros and cons for playing the Dark Urge in Baldur’s Gate 3. It’s a balance between Custom Origin and pre-made Origin that lets you have some control over your character, but also connects you more to the game’s world. While it won’t be a fit for every playthrough, it’s worth trying at least once. From here, check our BG3 guide hub for topics like should you let Yenna stay at your camp and what the best Astarion builds are.