Beloved Baldur's Gate 3 Companion Gets a Happier Canon Ending in New D&D Lore Book

GAMING NEWS

A newly published Dungeons & Dragons sourcebook has shed light on the ultimate fate of Karlach — the fan-favorite tiefling barbarian from Baldur’s Gate 3 — and it confirms a far more hopeful canon outcome than any of the endings players can achieve in the game.

Warning: Baldur’s Gate 3 spoilers below.

Throughout Baldur’s Gate 3, Karlach’s unstable infernal engine acts as a ticking time bomb. Without outside help, she may burn out in a tragic finale, or she can choose to sacrifice herself by embracing life as a Mind Flayer. Players can also convince her to return to Avernus in search of a real fix, though her long-term fate remains unresolved.

Thanks to the new D&D expansion Astarion’s Book of Hungers, fans now believe that mystery has finally been settled. The book confirms that Karlach appears in two additional D&D adventures set after the timeline of Baldur’s Gate 3 — meaning she canonically survives and eventually makes her way back to Faerûn.

As highlighted by social media user RenMasaoAnkoku, the official chronology places Baldur’s Gate 3 in 1492 DR, while both Forgotten Realms: Heroes of Faerûn and Adventures in Faerûn take place in 1501 DR — nine years later. Karlach is featured in both stories, confirming her continued life.

In Baldur’s Gate 3’s epilogue, Karlach mentions finding new schematics that might repair her failing engine. The updated canon strongly implies those designs succeeded, giving her the chance to survive, wander the world once more, and possibly reunite with her companions.

Although Larian Studios has concluded major updates for Baldur’s Gate 3, the team still releases occasional hotfixes as it shifts focus to future projects. Another studio is expected to handle Baldur’s Gate 4 — and now that Karlach’s survival is confirmed, fans hope to see her return in whatever comes next.

By Tom Phillips

2 min read · Nov 2025