Should You Take Raphael's Deal or Not in Act 3 of BG3?

Decide whether to accept Raphael's deal in Baldur's Gate 3 Act 3. Explore the consequences of taking or refusing his offer regarding your tadpole and the Crown of Karsus.

Here’s a look at the possibilities and outcomes of all the Raphael deal choices in Baldur’s Gate 3.

When you approach Raphael, he offers to remove your tadpoles in exchange for the Crown of Karsus. Accepting this deal allows you to complete the Voss and Lae’zel storyline, free Orpheus from the Astral Prism, and potentially start a Githyanki revolution. However, giving Raphael the Crown of Karsus is dangerous, as he intends to use it to become a mighty archdemon and control the Hells. The Crown is also what keeps the Elder Brain under control by the Absolute, making its transfer highly consequential.

Your companions have varied reactions. Astarion approves, as it allows him to learn more about the writings on his back and confront Cazador. Lae’zel is also amenable, seeing it as a way to complete her storyline, though she’s also fine with stealing the hammer instead. Wyll and Karlach, having had negative experiences with demons, express concerns.

Importantly, you can change your mind about the deal. If you initially refuse, you can return to Raphael later to accept. If you accept the deal, you can still visit his establishment and steal items, though he will still expect the Crown after the main storyline concludes.

What happens if you don’t take Raphael’s Deal in BG3?

If you refuse the deal, you can instruct Lae’zel to stand down, as you intend to steal the item anyway without giving Raphael leverage. You still have options to acquire the hammer and other rewards yourself. If you previously encountered the fiend in the Gauntlet of Shar, you might already know how to enter Raphael’s House of Hope. If not, a building west of the Lower City graveyard contains a dwarf at a counter who can provide details on entering his home through Avernus. The Emperor advises against this, but it is a viable option at higher levels.

Refusing Raphael’s Deal can lead to slight variations in the game’s ending. If you enter his House of Hope, you can steal the Hammer and other valuable items, potentially facing combat and needing to explain your presence to Raphael. If you refuse the deal and do not enter the House of Hope, Raphael has no direct impact on the game’s ending. He will simply wait, plotting to regain the Crown through future contracts.

What happens if you take Raphael’s Deal in BG3?

Accepting the deal grants you the Hammer of Orthric, which you can use to free Orpheus when the opportunity arises, typically during the game’s final storyline. This becomes a key decision point in the endgame. If you choose to break the contract and steal Raphael’s possessions, you will trigger a boss fight.

Regarding the Crown and the tadpole cure: If you defeat the Elder Brain after taking the deal, there’s a potential bug where the intended Raphael ending may not trigger. Normally, Raphael appears after the Withers cutscene, commenting on the Crown and his future plans in Hell. If this ending does trigger, Raphael discusses finding the Crown’s inventor and mentions his forces attacking Zariel’s fortress in Avernus, potentially winning the Blood War and influencing other Hellish lords.

What happens if you ignore Raphael in Act 3?

If you choose to completely ignore Raphael and his deal, you can still…