A new speedrunning record has been set in the world of Baldur's Gate 3 by a player known as Mae, who completed the game's Honour mode—a notoriously difficult setting—in an astonishing 19 minutes and 32 seconds. This achievement shaves off nearly two minutes from Mae's previous record and utilizes a series of clever strategies, including a "flying stealth bear one-shot technique," which has become part of the speedrunning community's arsenal. Mae overcame challenges, including a softlock situation, and is now aiming to break records in five different speedrunning categories of the game.

Developed by Larian Studios, Baldur's Gate 3 is an RPG that infuses the classic Dungeons & Dragons elements with intricate storytelling and robust strategic gameplay. Although the game presents a time-consuming challenge for most players, speedrunners like Mae are continuously pushing the boundaries of what is considered possible through mastery and innovation. With its robust modding community and committed fanbase, Baldur's Gate 3 remains a staple in the RPG and speedrunning scenes, amplifying its replayability and technical exploration. Mae's record is not only a testament to their skill but also to the intricate mechanics and emergent gameplay possibilities inherent in Baldur's Gate 3.

What are the strategies used to speedrun Baldur's Gate 3?

Speedrunners like Mae use a mix of optimized pathing, character interactions, and combat strategies, including the flying stealth bear technique, to bypass traditional gameplay duration and complete the game at record speeds. They exploit precise timing and game mechanics to shave seconds off their runs. Overcoming glitches and softlocks quickly is also part of the skillset needed to set such impressive records.