Should You Free Sazza in Baldur’s Gate 3? A Comprehensive Guide

The question of whether to free Sazza, the goblin captive, is a significant early decision in Baldur’s Gate 3 that ripples throughout your playthrough. There’s no simple yes or no answer; it’s a choice that depends heavily on your desired playstyle, your moral compass, and your long-term goals within the game. In short, freeing Sazza is not inherently good or bad, it’s a morally gray choice that opens specific paths with significant consequences.

Let’s dive deeper. If you are aiming for a purely “good” playthrough, freeing Sazza can seem counterintuitive. She’s a goblin, and goblins are generally depicted as hostile. However, in Baldur’s Gate 3, choices are rarely black and white. Freeing her can lead to a path where you still oppose the goblins, but ultimately, it offers you more control over the narrative.

If you’re willing to embrace the chaos, the possibility of recruiting Minthara, the powerful drow leader, becomes a reality. Minthara’s recruitment is inextricably linked to saving Sazza. This alliance, however, almost always comes at the cost of the Tieflings at Emerald Grove, and even some companions like Wyll and Karlach.

The Consequences of Freeing Sazza

Freeing Sazza involves sneaking into her cell, potentially using Thieves’ Tools, and then escorting her out of the Emerald Grove. This act of helping a perceived enemy doesn’t end there; it marks the start of your connection to the goblin side of the conflict. Let’s break down the immediate and long-term consequences:

Short-Term Effects

• Increased Goblin Faction Standing: Saving Sazza increases your standing with the goblins, particularly if you choose to reveal that you are helping her.
• The “Raid the Emerald Grove” Quest: This unlocks a new, morally dubious questline, leading you down a darker path involving the slaughter of the tieflings, a consequence for which there are some ways to minimize the damage done.
• A Gift From Sazza: Sazza will reward you with an enchanted dagger, which can be a nice bonus in the early game.

Long-Term Implications

• Minthara Recruitment: The most significant consequence is the potential to recruit Minthara. This is a very difficult task, and requires some advanced knowledge to complete. She becomes a powerful companion, offering a unique skillset and storyline.
• Alliance With Goblins: Siding with the goblins means participating in their plans, which usually culminate in an attack on the Emerald Grove.
• Loss of Tiefling Support: If you side with the Goblins, expect to lose any goodwill you may have built with the Tieflings and even some of the companions, like Wyll and Karlach. This could have a negative impact on certain story paths and future opportunities.
• Romance With Minthara: For players interested in a romance with Minthara, freeing Sazza is an early prerequisite.

A “Good” Playthrough & Sazza?

The common concern is whether you can save Sazza and still do a “good” playthrough. The answer is, in a roundabout way, yes. While freeing her initially seems like a bad choice, it actually opens up a specific scenario where you can achieve what some players describe as a “heroic betrayal.”

By freeing Sazza, you can still choose not to fully side with the goblins. You can use this opportunity to lead Minthara and her army into an ambush at the gates of the Emerald Grove. This allows you to fight against the goblins and defend the grove, while still having technically saved Sazza and made her alliance with you. It’s tricky, but it allows for a good aligned ending to the situation.

What Happens if Sazza Dies?

If Sazza dies during her imprisonment or rescue, the questline tied to her ends. There is no way to revive her, and her death will close off the Minthara recruitment option along with the “Raid the Emerald Grove” questline.

Conclusion: Is it worth it?

Ultimately, the decision to save Sazza is a reflection of your chosen path in Baldur’s Gate 3. Here is a quick summary to help you decide:

• Free Sazza if: You are open to a more chaotic playthrough, curious about Minthara’s story and romance, are ready to make some morally gray decisions, and are okay with losing some potential allies.
• Don’t free Sazza if: You are intent on a strictly “good” playthrough, value the support of the Tieflings, want to avoid the darker themes of the Goblin path, and prioritize a more traditional heroic story.

Remember that there are ways to navigate even tricky situations in this game, and even a ‘bad’ choice may lead you to a different kind of victory.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can you save Sazza and side with the Tieflings?

Yes, you can save Sazza and still side with the Tieflings by using the heroic betrayal method mentioned earlier. This involves leading the Goblins to the Grove’s gate but then turning on them and defending it alongside the Tieflings.

2. Can I recruit Minthara without killing the Tieflings?

Yes, there is a specific method to recruit Minthara without killing the Tieflings. It involves knocking her out during the battle at the Goblin Camp instead of killing her. This causes her to become “unavailable” until a later point, but still allows you to recruit her later in the game.

3. What happens if you let Sazza live?

Letting Sazza live unlocks a specific storyline involving Minthara, leading to an alliance with the Goblins, and it potentially also leads to a romantic entanglement with her.

4. Can you recruit both Minthara and Halsin?

Normally, you cannot recruit both Minthara and Halsin. They represent opposing sides of the conflict. However, there are some advanced, very specific, and sometimes buggy methods, to recruit both.

5. How do I rescue Halsin?

Halsin can be found in the Worg Pens of the Goblin Camp, where he is being tormented by Goblins. You need to defeat the Goblins to free him and show that you are not an enemy.

6. Can you romance Astarion if you side with the Goblins?

Yes, you can still romance Astarion, regardless of whether you side with the Goblins or the Tieflings. His romance is not tied to the side you choose in Act 1.

7. How can you romance Minthara?

To romance Minthara, you typically need to align with the goblins, complete the attack on Emerald Grove, and make certain choices in dialogue with her. It is a dark romance path that goes against the “good” alignment.

8. How do you free Sazza from the Emerald Grove prison?

You need to pick the lock on her cell door, which requires Thieves’ Tools and a character with decent Dexterity. Once the door is open, you can talk to her to proceed.

9. Is Sazza a companion?

No, Sazza is not a companion in Baldur’s Gate 3. She is just an important NPC involved in this specific storyline.

10. Should I kill Minthara or knock her out?

If you want to recruit Minthara while trying to save the Tieflings, knocking her out during the Goblin camp encounter is the correct choice. However, this may lead to bugs and other complications, depending on the version of the game you play.

11. What are the benefits of siding with the Goblins?

Siding with the Goblins allows you to recruit Minthara, gain unique equipment, and experience the darker side of the game narrative. It also opens up a different kind of story experience that is quite distinct from the “heroic” storyline.

12. What happens if I ignore Sazza?

If you ignore Sazza, the related questline will eventually end and you will not be able to recruit Minthara unless through methods, which may be considered exploits or glitches.

13. What happens when Tieflings and humans have children?

The children of a humanoid and a tiefling are always tieflings. This is due to the infernal traits being dominant.

14. How do I escape the Goblin Camp prison?

If you are imprisoned in the Goblin Camp, you can either pick the lock or break the mysterious hole in the wall.

15. Can Tieflings be hurt by fire?

No, Tieflings are resistant to fire damage due to their infernal ancestry.