Should You Keep the Wand or Give It to Mayrina in Baldur’s Gate 3?
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The decision of whether to keep the wand or give it to Mayrina in Baldur’s Gate 3 is a pivotal one that profoundly impacts the storyline surrounding Auntie Ethel and the fate of Mayrina’s husband, Connor. Ultimately, the “best” choice depends on your character’s alignment and your desired outcome. Generally, giving the wand to Mayrina is considered the more morally righteous choice, leading to a happier (though still bittersweet) conclusion for her. Keeping the wand offers potential power gains, but comes with significant moral compromises and potentially darker consequences.
Understanding the Implications
Before deciding, it’s crucial to understand the ramifications of each choice:
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Giving the Wand to Mayrina: Mayrina can, with your guidance, potentially resurrect Connor as a zombie. While this is far from a perfect solution, it provides her with some semblance of closure and companionship. This aligns with a good or neutral playthrough, emphasizing compassion and helping those in need. This path also prevents any negative impacts on your character or party members from wielding the wand’s power.
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Keeping the Wand: The Bitter Divorce wand possesses a unique ability: it can resurrect the dead as zombies. This power can be strategically advantageous in combat, providing temporary allies. However, using the wand has several drawbacks. Firstly, it’s morally questionable to use necromancy indiscriminately. Secondly, the resurrected zombies are weak and short-lived. Most importantly, keeping the wand furthers a selfish path, and the game acknowledges the darkness in your character as a result.
Weighing the Pros and Cons
Let’s break down the advantages and disadvantages of each option:
Giving the Wand to Mayrina
Pros:
- Moral High Ground: Aligns with a good-aligned character. You are assisting a grieving widow and offering her a small measure of peace.
- Positive Relationship Impact: Improves your standing with companions who value compassion and altruism.
- Story Resolution: Completes Mayrina’s quest line in a satisfying (if somber) manner.
- No Negative Consequences: Avoids any moral or gameplay penalties associated with wielding necromantic power.
Cons:
- No Personal Gain: You receive no tangible benefit from giving the wand away.
- Zombie Connor: The resurrected Connor is a mindless zombie, offering little true companionship for Mayrina. This may feel like a bittersweet or even unsettling ending.
Keeping the Wand
Pros:
- Necromantic Power: Grants the ability to raise zombies as temporary allies in combat.
- Tactical Advantage: Provides extra bodies on the battlefield, diverting enemy attention.
- Unique Item: Adds a unique item to your inventory.
Cons:
- Moral Compromise: Requires embracing necromancy, which is generally considered evil.
- Weak Zombies: The resurrected zombies are fragile and quickly defeated. They’re more of a distraction than a serious threat.
- Negative Relationship Impact: Displeases companions who disapprove of necromancy.
- Narrative Consequences: May lead to darker paths and choices later in the game, reflecting your character’s embrace of dark magic.
Considerations for Your Playthrough
The “correct” decision depends heavily on your roleplaying preferences.
- Good-Aligned Character: If you’re playing a character who values compassion, helping others, and upholding moral principles, giving the wand to Mayrina is the clear choice.
- Neutral Character: A neutral character might weigh the potential benefits of keeping the wand against the moral implications. Consider whether the tactical advantage outweighs the moral cost.
- Evil-Aligned Character: An evil character would likely keep the wand, embracing the power of necromancy and disregarding Mayrina’s suffering.
Ultimately, the choice is yours. Consider the consequences, your character’s alignment, and your desired ending for Mayrina’s quest line.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions about the Bitter Divorce wand and the Mayrina quest line:
1. What exactly does the Bitter Divorce wand do?
The Bitter Divorce wand allows you to cast the spell “Animate Dead” once per long rest. This spell resurrects a corpse as a zombie, which will fight alongside you until it is destroyed. The zombie created is weak and does not last long.
2. Can I use the Bitter Divorce wand to resurrect someone other than Connor?
Yes, you can use the Bitter Divorce wand to resurrect any corpse you find. However, the resurrected creature will always be a basic zombie.
3. Is there a way to resurrect Connor without turning him into a zombie?
No. In the current version of the game, there is no way to bring Connor back to life in his original form through the events surrounding Auntie Ethel and Mayrina.
4. Will Mayrina be happy if I give her the wand?
Mayrina will be appreciative if you give her the wand. She’ll then attempt to resurrect Connor, resulting in his zombie form. While not entirely happy, she’ll find a twisted sort of comfort in his presence.
5. What happens if I refuse to give Mayrina the wand?
If you refuse to give Mayrina the wand, she will be devastated and angry. The quest line will essentially end with her remaining grief-stricken.
6. Can I steal the wand back from Mayrina after giving it to her?
Yes, you can steal the wand back from Mayrina if you choose. However, this will likely have negative consequences for your relationship with her and potentially other companions who value honesty and compassion.
7. Is there a better wand for necromancy later in the game?
Yes, there are more powerful necromantic wands and items available later in the game that offer more potent necromantic abilities. The Bitter Divorce wand is useful early on, but its usefulness diminishes as you progress.
8. Does keeping the wand affect my romance options?
Keeping the wand can affect your romance options, especially with companions who disapprove of evil acts. Some companions may be less likely to pursue a romantic relationship with you if they witness you embracing necromancy.
9. Can I destroy the Bitter Divorce wand?
No, you cannot destroy the Bitter Divorce wand. It is a quest-related item and cannot be removed from your inventory through destruction.
10. Does using the Bitter Divorce wand affect my alignment?
While the game doesn’t explicitly shift your alignment on the character sheet, repeatedly using necromancy will be perceived as evil by your companions and will influence narrative choices and outcomes.
11. How does my choice affect the overall story of Baldur’s Gate 3?
The decision regarding the Bitter Divorce wand has limited impact on the grand narrative of Baldur’s Gate 3. Its primary impact is on Mayrina’s personal story and your character’s alignment/reputation.
12. What is the best way to use the Bitter Divorce wand in combat?
The best way to use the Bitter Divorce wand is to resurrect a corpse near enemies, drawing their attention and providing a temporary distraction. The zombie’s low health means it won’t survive long, so use it strategically.
13. If I side with Auntie Ethel, can I still get the Bitter Divorce wand?
Yes, you can acquire the Bitter Divorce wand regardless of whether you side with Auntie Ethel or not. However, siding with Auntie Ethel involves making morally questionable choices.
14. What happens to Mayrina after I complete her quest line?
After you complete Mayrina’s quest line (either by giving her the wand or refusing to), she will remain in the swamp area near Auntie Ethel’s lair. You can interact with her, but her dialogue options will be limited.
15. Is there any hidden loot associated with either choice (keeping or giving the wand)?
There is no significant hidden loot directly associated with either choice regarding the wand itself. The main reward is the Bitter Divorce wand itself, and the potential tactical advantage (or moral satisfaction) it provides. Focus on completing Auntie Ethel’s quest line to maximize the potential for rewards in the area.