Summary
- Players can exploit a glitch in Baldur's Gate 3 to beat a late-game boss in Act One with little risk to the party, granting them a major advantage early in the game.
- To beat Raphael, players need to progress to a certain point in the game and position their party strategically. By attacking Raphael during a dialogue scene, he becomes frozen and can be easily defeated without fighting back.
- While defeating Raphael in Act One is not a permanent solution (he reappears later in the game) it provides a significant amount of XP to level up the party.
Believe it or not, one of the hardest bosses in Baldur's Gate 3 can be beaten in Act One at almost no risk to the party. There are many difficult bosses throughout the game, but sometimes, it's possible for the party to avoid fighting them entirely. The more players explore, the more options for bizarre and broken exploits they find. Whether it's by successful dialogue checks, a hidden trick within a boss battle, or a perfectly tweaked OP Baldur's Gate 3 build, there are many ways to make difficult situations much simpler to resolve.
Raphael is a minor antagonist who can become a major problem. He's a cambion, which means he's effectively half-devil, and he repeatedly tries to strike deals with various members of the party. What he wants is manifold: the death of his old assistant Yurgir, the Crown of Karsus that sits atop the Elder Brain, and absolute, unwavering power over all the Forgotten Realms, in that order. In return, he offers a cure for Tav's Illithid parasite, as well as some answers about Astarion's past. Whether they sign Raphael's contract or turn him down is another matter, but either way, there are many opportunities to fight him.
Raphael Doesn't Put Up A Fight In Act One Of Baldur's Gate 3
Due to a glitch or a possible oversight in programming, it's possible to beat Raphael in Act One of Baldur's Gate 3. Unfortunately, this exploit doesn't get rid of Raphael permanently, as it requires non-lethal damage, but it can give the party a major advantage in the early chapters of the game. When they first encounter Raphael, the party is made to discuss the possibility of a deal with the devil. Raphael will help the party get rid of their parasites in exchange for the Crown of Karsus. Players can choose either to accept this, reject it, or put off their answer; Raphael will give them another opportunity later.
But more importantly, while Raphael is otherwise engaged, it's possible to launch an attack on him. Because he's not programmed to fight back at this point, or because of a glitch that occurs when a player character attacks first, Raphael may be trapped in his introductory dialogue scene while the party wails on him with impunity. Again, this isn't a permanent solution to the Raphael problem, but it can get the party a hefty dose of XP in the early game.
How To Beat Raphael In Act One Of Baldur's Gate 3
In order to beat Raphael in Act One, players will have to progress through Baldur's Gate 3 to the point that they've arrived at the Emerald Grove and dealt with Nettie, the druid healer who purports to have a remedy for their tadpole infestation. At this point, they should return to camp, and put at least one player who's handy with a long-range weapon, like a bow or crossbow, into the party. Astarion and Karlach are as good as anyone else here. They should then ensure that every single member of the party has non-lethal damage turned on, under the Passives section of the action menu.
When entering the Grove through the main gate, there should be a small, somewhat hidden slope just to the left of the main central idol. Players should save here, then ungroup their least stealthy character (not the bow-wielder) from the rest of the party. The remainder of the party should stand beneath the archway to the slope, exiting the main area of the Grove without going too far down. This is because crossing a certain invisible line will cause Raphael to spawn, and anyone nearby will be drawn into his dialogue immediately. However, attacking Raphael within the Grove's limits may draw unwanted attention from the druids.
Once everyone's in position there, the ungrouped character can take over, waltzing directly down the slope and into Raphael's cutscene. Then, another character can take over and shoot Raphael with a ranged weapon. This immediately ends the scene and causes Raphael to freeze up, at which point melee attackers can also rush in to strike him. It may take a while to burn him down - Raphael has a very apt 666 HP - but he can't fight back, so the party can take as much time as they need to knock him out.
Once he's down to just one measly HP, Raphael will conk out. It's possible to then turn off non-lethal damage and reduce him to zero, but this still won't kill him for good. Note that this strategy can also be achieved on multiplayer by having one player walk into the dialogue scene while the others hang back. In fact, it may be even easier with a group of players, as long as everybody has a good rapport and understands the plan.
What Happens If You Beat Raphael In Act One Of Baldur's Gate 3?
As previously stated, knocking out Raphael in Act One isn't a permanent solution. He still returns repeatedly throughout the game, and doesn't seem to acknowledge his utter humiliation at Tav's hands when he pops up again later. It's still possible to side with Raphael in Baldur's Gate 3 by accepting his deal at the Last Light Inn. Others may choose to rebuke him, or turn on him by accepting his help, then destroying the contract in the House of Hope later.
The only thing the player misses out on by using this strategy is the initial scene with Raphael, in which he explains the most basic tenets of his contract. It's a great little set piece and the perfect introduction to the character, but it's by no means necessary, especially for repeat players.
More importantly, though, beating Raphael in Act One nets each member of the party 1,400 XP. At low levels, that's a huge amount, and can easily bring a level one party most of the way to level three. Level three is an important stage in Baldur's Gate 3 progression - that's when all classes are allowed to choose their specialization via subclass, and begin racking up unique moves that suit their particular build.
This isn't the easiest trick to pull off. There are lots of variables involved in beating Raphael in Act One, but with careful preparation, an appropriately timed save file, and a lot of patience, it's a rewarding strategy, even if it's only temporary. The high XP gain can give the party a great head start on their journey, and make the remainder of Act One significantly easier. And since there are few if any consequences, knocking out Raphael is worth a shot, especially considering the possibility it may be patched out of Baldur's Gate 3 in the near future.