Should I Kill Balthazar?

When It Makes Sense

• Good fit: You are playing a good-aligned or heroic party and want to stop Ketheric Thorm’s plans. Killing Balthazar removes a key ally from Ketheric’s forces and prevents Balthazar from completing the dark ritual involving the Nightsong.
• Good fit: You want to free Dame Aylin (the Nightsong). Balthazar intends to capture or bind her to sustain Ketheric’s immortality, so eliminating him is the most direct way to protect her and pursue the “save the Nightsong” storyline.

When You Should Avoid It

• Warning sign: You are interested in exploring the evil or morally ambiguous story path. Killing Balthazar locks you out of allying with him and seeing how his necromantic research advances Ketheric’s campaign.
• Warning sign: You want to maximize loot, experience, or alternative quest resolutions in a single playthrough. A fight with Balthazar can be challenging, and some players prefer to manipulate the situation for different rewards or narrative outcomes before committing.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Advances the heroic storyline by protecting the Nightsong and weakening Ketheric Thorm’s forces in Moonrise Towers.
• Opens companion approval for characters like Shadowheart, Gale, Wyll, and Karlach, who generally disapprove of necromancy and cruelty.

Cons

• Closes off the evil-aligned path where Balthazar helps Ketheric, potentially preventing access to certain spells, minions, or story scenes tied to his experiments.
• Can trigger a difficult combat encounter, especially if nearby Moonrise Tower factions turn hostile or if you are under-leveled for the fight.

Decision Checklist

• What is your party’s moral alignment, and how would your companions react to Balthazar’s death?
• Have you completed related quests in the Gauntlet of Shar and learned enough about the Nightsong to understand the consequences?
• Are you prepared for combat, including healing items, crowd-control spells, and positioning before attacking?

Alternatives to Consider

If you are unsure about killing Balthazar outright, you can temporarily go along with his request to locate the Nightsong and then turn against him once she is safe. Some playthroughs also allow you to deceive or manipulate Balthazar into a more favorable position before the final confrontation. Remember that Baldur’s Gate 3 is designed for multiple playthroughs, so choosing differently on a second run can reveal new scenes and outcomes.

Final Recommendation

For most heroic or first-time playthroughs, killing Balthazar is the safer and more satisfying choice because it frees the Nightsong and undermines Ketheric Thorm. For evil, manipulative, or completionist runs, keeping him alive longer may offer alternative rewards and story content. Ultimately, the best choice depends on your character’s values and the narrative experience you want. If you are concerned about missing content, consider saving your game before the encounter so you can explore both outcomes.