Should I Kill Balthazar Immediately?

When It Makes Sense

• Good fit: You are playing an evil or aggressive run and want to eliminate a major threat in Moonrise Towers before he can act against you. Removing Balthazar early prevents him from using powerful necromantic spells in later confrontations and simplifies certain combat encounters.
• Good fit: You have already completed the content tied to him, rescued or failed to rescue the Nightsong, and simply want to clear the tower or settle a grudge. At that point, immediate combat has fewer story consequences because the related questlines are already resolved.

When You Should Avoid It

• Warning sign: You are still exploring the Nightsong questline or want to rescue Dame Aylin. Killing Balthazar too early can block quest steps, dialogue options, and the full story payoff tied to that arc, including important character reactions from companions.
• Warning sign: Your party is underleveled, low on resources, or unprepared for a full tower alert. Balthazar is not alone, and attacking him can draw nearby zealots and minions into the fight, turning a single encounter into a prolonged battle.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• You remove a dangerous necromancer from the board and prevent him from complicating future encounters in the Shadow-Cursed Lands.
• Immediate combat can yield loot and experience now rather than later, and it satisfies players who want a direct, no-deal solution to a clearly hostile faction.

Cons

• You may lose access to quests, cutscenes, and alternate resolutions that depend on interacting with Balthazar and the cult leadership first.
• Some companions approve or disapprove based on how you handle Balthazar, and killing him too quickly can damage relationships or lock away companion-specific content.

Decision Checklist

• Have you already resolved or advanced the Nightsong questline so that killing Balthazar will not cut off important story content?
• Is your party rested, stocked, and positioned to survive a multi-enemy fight if the tower turns hostile?
• Are you willing to accept the companion approval changes and missed dialogue that come with an early kill?

Alternatives to Consider

Instead of attacking on sight, you can speak with Balthazar to learn more about the cult’s plans and unlock related quest steps. You can also cooperate temporarily, complete the Moonrise Towers objectives, then turn on him once the story benefits are secured. Stealth, persuasion, or simply leaving him alone until later are all viable depending on your playstyle. If you want the safest route, clear side quests in the Shadow-Cursed Lands and return when you are stronger and better informed.

Final Recommendation

For most playthroughs, the better path is to engage Balthazar through dialogue and quests first, then decide whether to kill him after you understand the story consequences. Immediate combat is best reserved for aggressive runs or for players who have already experienced the related content. Because this is a video-game choice, there is no real-world harm in either path, so pick the one that matches your roleplay goals.