Should I Help He Who Was in Baldur’s Gate 3?

When It Makes Sense

• Good fit: You are doing a thorough playthrough and want the experience points, loot, and story context that side quests typically provide. He Who Was appears in the Shadow-Cursed Lands and offers a compact investigative thread that can enrich your understanding of the region.
• Good fit: Your character or party values compassion, justice, or uncovering the truth. Helping the spirit fits a heroic or neutral-good playstyle and may earn approval from companions who favor kindness or resolving past wrongs.

When You Should Avoid It

• Warning sign: You are on a speedrun, minimal-completion run, or a playthrough where you are skipping optional content to focus on the critical path. The quest takes time and may pull you away from main-story priorities.
• Warning sign: You are roleplaying an evil, selfish, or pragmatic character who would ignore a spirit’s plea. Some companions may disapprove of helping, so consider your party dynamics before committing.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Side quests in BG3 generally reward experience points, possible loot, and additional lore that can deepen your playthrough and make later story beats more meaningful.
• Helping can align with your character’s values and improve companion approval for party members who favor compassionate or justice-oriented choices.

Cons

• The quest takes time and may require backtracking, dialogue, and minor combat or investigation, which can slow a focused or time-limited playthrough.
• Some character builds or roleplay paths gain little from the rewards, and certain companions may react negatively if helping conflicts with their worldview.

Decision Checklist

• Does helping He Who Was fit my current character’s morality and roleplay goals?
• Will my active companions approve or disapprove of this choice, and do I care about their reactions?
• Am I willing to invest the time for a side quest, or should I mark the location and return later?

Alternatives to Consider

If you are unsure, you can leave the quest unfinished and return after leveling up or recruiting different companions. You can also skip it entirely on this playthrough and experience it on a second run with a different character build or alignment. For players who want the rewards without the mystery, community wikis and guides can summarize outcomes so you can decide whether the payoff matches your goals.

Final Recommendation

Help He Who Was if you enjoy exploring side stories, earning extra experience, and playing a compassionate or justice-seeking character. Delay or skip it if you are focused on the main quest, short on time, or running a character who would leave the spirit to its fate. Because Baldur’s Gate 3 is a roleplaying game with many valid paths, the “right” answer depends on your build, party, and narrative preferences rather than a single universal rule.

FAQ

Should I help He Who Was in Baldur's Gate 3?

Help if you want side-quest rewards, extra story context, and a choice that fits a compassionate or justice-oriented character. Skip or delay if you are focused on the main story, short on time, or roleplaying a character who would ignore the spirit.

What should I consider before I help He Who Was?

Consider whether the quest aligns with your character's values, how your active companions will react, and whether you have time for optional content. You can always return later if you are unsure.