Baldur’s Gate 3: Can You Avoid Killing Buthir and Grukkoh in BG3?

Buthir and Grukkoh are one of the more intriguing loving couple you come across in Baldur's Gate 3 but let them alive is your decision.

By Ali Usama

During Act 1 of Baldur’s Gate 3 when wandering around the north part of the Blighted Village, you will come across a barn but you will notice that there’s something unusual going on inside. You will hear screams, and curiosity gets the better of you. After entering, you will meet Buthir and Bugbear NPC Grukkoh who are in some delicate situation spending their time alone. Most times, no matter how you try to chat your way out, these two end up coming at you. But there’s a way to avoid the fight and killing Grukkoh in BG3. This guide explains how you can get past this hilariously awkward encounter without turning it into a battleground.

How to Avoid Conflict with Buthir and Grukkoh in Baldur’s Gate 3

Baldur’s Gate 3 Buthir & Grukkoh Conflict

There are a couple of slick moves you can pull to keep everyone comfortable and avoid turning this into a combat. First, the simple strategy is to avoid the barn and don’t lockpick the barn door. In simple logic, if you never open that door, you never stumble into this awkward lovers’ quarrel akin to, “out of sight, out of mind.” Additionally, Shadowheart might give you a nod for leaving the game’s nature to do its thing.

But let’s say you’re curious and you do open the barn door. The conversation that kicks off with Grukkoh can be your best choice to keep the peace. If you’re playing a Bard class, you’ve got dialogue options that can eliminate the tense environment. You can choose this dialogue option, “Do carry on. There’s Bookshops in Baldur’s Gate that’d pay well for this kind of smut.” If you can pull off a 15 dice roll Persuasion skill check, you will get through the situation.

On the other end, let’s say you’re more of the Intimidating type, like a Berserker Barbarian. Grukkoh asks what you’re doing there, and you need to give a bold reply: “I am laughing at your puny rutting.” It’s a gamble, needing a dice roll of 15. When Grukkoh realizes your character is making fun of him, he’ll be so taken aback that he’ll declare the moment is ruined; he leaves, and you’re left there.

Having a talk with Buthir in BG3 in the barn

Escaping the Fight

If things do start to heat up and weapons are about to be drawn after you have opened the door, don’t sweat it. You can always high-tail it out of there. Keep in mind that being bold isn’t always the best course of action – sometimes, the smart move is to beat a hasty retreat. But in Baldur’s Gate 3, you can’t simply turn tail and run – you need to be strategic about your exit.

Once the fight starts in the barn, here’s what you do: you use your spells, but not to attack. You’re going to use them to create a distraction or slow down your barn buddies. Use spells that can disorient or hinder them – anything that gives you a leg up in making your good escape.

For example, a well-timed Blind spell will be valuable; cast it on both Buthir and Grukkoh, and suddenly, they’re swinging at shadows while you’re slipping out the door. Keep moving, stay out of their reach, and soon enough, you’ll be out of combat mode. And just like that, you’ve turned a potential fight to the death into a successful escape. No harm, no foul – you leave with your health at peak, and Buthir and Grukkoh get to carry on with… whatever they were doing.

Escape or Kill Buthir in Baldur’s Gate 3: The Consequences of Choices

In Baldur’s Gate 3, every choice you make is like a pebble in a pond – it ripples out and affects your game in ways big and small. So, what happens when you decide to let Buthir and Grukkoh live or, you know the other way, not so nice?

  • Scenario one – you’re the peacemaker: You either avoid the barn, talk your way out of a fight, or make a sneaky exit. For starters, this choice means to pat yourself on the back for not turning a lovers’ tiff into a bloodbath. You will have no guilt, and that’s got to count for something in a game where choices matter. By avoiding the fight here, you will not receive any loot items. Although you walk away with your full stamina and your morals intact, your inventory will stay lighter the same as it was before coming into this barn.
  • Now, flip the script: If you decide to fight and defeat the couple, you will receive a decent loot drop including 3 Gold and 1 Bone, alongside 50 XP.

But is it worth it to fight with Grukkoh in BG3 or do you take the high road and keep your hands clean? It’s a classic RPG dilemma and that’s the beauty of Baldur’s Gate 3, your choices shape your adventure. They can make you a hero, a villain, or something in between. So, what’s it going to be? It’s up to you what you should do.

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