Nat 1? Drink Up! The Ultimate BG3 Drinking Game

Baldur’s Gate 3 is already a glorious mess of chaos, magic, and moral ambiguity—so naturally, someone decided to add alcohol to the mix. Enter the BG3 Drinking Game: a community-driven, logic-defying romp where every failed dice roll is an invitation to embrace poor decisions. Whether you’re diving into Faerûn with friends or embarking solo, this drinking game is the perfect way to turn tactical gameplay into an unpredictable party.

So grab a tankard, roll initiative, and remember—no one makes good choices at 3 drinks deep with Astarion flirting in the corner. Let’s break down how to play.

What Is the BG3 Drinking Game?

The BG3 drinking game is a fan-made set of rules that turns your in-game decisions, battles, and story events into opportunities for sipping, chugging, or outright toasting. Drawing inspiration from classic Dungeons & Dragons drinking games, it uses Baldur’s Gate 3 mechanics as triggers for fun. The rules vary from friendly sips for minor slip-ups to full shots for catastrophic failures (looking at you, critical fails).

Originally gaining traction in Reddit threads like r/BaldursGate3, players have continued to invent creative and hilarious rules based on companion interactions, combat chaos, and roleplay moments. And since BG3 is as unpredictable as your friend’s decision to romance the talking brain, no two drinking sessions are the same.

Why Play a BG3 Drinking Game?

If the idea of battling mind flayers while mildly inebriated sounds like a good time, you’re in the right tavern. Adding a drinking game to BG3:

• Makes every decision feel extra high-stakes (and hilarious)
• Is a perfect social layer for co-op sessions
• Turns misfortune into entertainment
• Puts a fun spin on long gameplay nights or repeat playthroughs

It also doubles as a great icebreaker if your party is a mix of BG3 veterans and newcomers. Nothing unites players like mutual shame from failing a charisma check and being forced to drink for it.

Core BG3 Drinking Game Rules

Universal Gameplay Triggers

Here’s where the foundation lies—these are the classic, easy-to-remember rules:

• Roll a natural 1 on any check or attack: take a shot
• Fail a saving throw: take 1d6 drinks (you can actually roll)
• Death saving throws? That’s a guaranteed shot
• Failed persuasion/intimidation/deception check? Take a drink and your dignity

If you want to crank up the chaos, add in a die mechanic to determine how much you drink. Rolling a 1d4 or 1d8 after a failed skill check adds an extra layer of unpredictability (and danger).

Companion-Specific Rules

The real magic happens with companion-based chaos. Try these:

• Lae’zel says “Ghaik” = drink
• Gale monologues about the Weave or explodes = drink
• Shadowheart disapproves of your action = take a long sip and question your morals
• Astarion flirts (with anyone) = clink glasses

Bonus round: pick a “Chosen One” NPC for the session—any time they talk, attack, or get injured, everyone drinks.

Combat Chaos Rules

Combat is already turn-based mayhem, so here’s how to liquify it:

• Missed attack = take a sip
• Natural 20 = assign a drink to another player
• Use a barrel for explosive damage = everyone drinks in your honor
• Someone dies? Group shot, and maybe reconsider your battle tactics

Co-op BG3 Party Mode

2-4 Player Party Rules

When playing in multiplayer, assign one companion to each person. Now, any time that companion has a reaction, dialogue, or stat event—it triggers a drink for their human counterpart. This keeps everyone alert (or increasingly tipsy) and personalizes the chaos.

Encourage players to swap characters every short rest or act to mix up drinking triggers. You could also designate a “DM” who doesn’t play but moderates drinks, rolling dice for others and assigning punishments.

Custom Rule Add-Ons

• Use physical dice: 1d4 = sips, 1d8 = full drinks
• Add narrative triggers like “anytime someone opens a mimic chest” or “when someone flirts and fails”
• Bard casts Vicious Mockery? Insult someone and make them drink

Flexibility is key—make your rules reflect how seriously (or not) you want to take the game.

Ridiculously Fun Variations for the BG3 Drinking Game

1. The Illithid Madness Challenge

If your character has any Mind Flayer powers, you’re already corrupted—so act like it.

• Use a tadpole power? Drink and whisper “Submit to the Absolute” in your creepiest voice.
• Fail an Illithid Wisdom check? That’s a shot for the hive.
• Use a power successfully? Everyone else drinks for not embracing the brain bugs.

Bonus: If you refuse to use any Illithid powers all game, you’re a “Purist”—you get to assign one drink per Act to another player for being weak.

2. Goblin Party Mode

This one is pure chaotic evil. Any time a goblin appears or is referenced, you must do the following:

• If they’re hostile? Roll 1d6. On a 5 or 6, everyone drinks and chants “FOR THE TRIBE!”
• If they explode? Finish your drink in their honor.
• Talked to Volo? You’re now the “Bard” and must narrate every drink in song or rhyme until the next Long Rest.

3. The Romance Roulette

Spice up the spicy scenes.

• Every time someone starts flirting? Take a romantic sip and look longingly at the nearest player.
• If a romance cutscene happens? Everyone else toasts and sings a love song.
• Get rejected? Take 2 drinks and dramatically leave the room (or pretend to).

Dramatic acting is mandatory.

4. Shadowheart’s Holy Hangover

If Shadowheart is in your party, you’re now in a cult. Embrace it.

• Any time she mentions Shar? Drink and speak in riddles for the next minute.
• Use her cleric spells? Everyone takes a penitence drink.
• She disapproves of you? Chug and whisper “Forgive me, Mother Night.”

5. The Wyll Pact Pact

You made a deal with Mizora… now you make a pact with your liver.

• If you summon a familiar? Share a drink with it (or at least pretend to).
• Wyll is in your party? Anyone who breaks their moral code must drink double.
• Fail to uphold a promise in-game? Roll 1d8 and drink that many sips in shame.

6. Barrelmancer Bonus Round

For the players who treat every battle like a fireworks show.

• Use an explosive barrel or surface effect? Assign drinks equal to the number of enemies hit.
• Blow up a friend? Take their drink for them.
• If someone survives because of a barrel trap? Everyone must cheer and drink.

7. The Gnome Toss Gambit

You’re now playing dodgeball with gnomes.

• Successfully throw or launch a gnome? Take a victorious drink and yell “FLY, YOU FOOLS!”
• Fail to save a gnome? Everyone drinks for your lack of heroism.
• If Barcus Wroot dies? Finish your drink, and maybe your save file.

8. Drunken Dice Duel

At any moment, a player can yell “DICE DUEL!” and challenge someone to roll a d20. The loser drinks.

• You can only use this once per Long Rest.
• Rolling a natural 1? You now owe two drinks and must refer to yourself as “The Jester” until the next duel.

9. Cutscene Chaos

Cutscenes are sacred… but also dangerous.

• Unexpected cutscene triggers? Everyone must pause, predict what happens next, and drink if wrong.
• Romantic cutscene with the wrong character? You now owe a “walk of shame” (circle the room holding your drink and sulk).

10. The Oathbreaker’s Tax

If you’re playing a paladin and break your oath…

• You must take a solemn shot, whisper “My honor is gone,” and get on one knee.
• For the rest of the Act, you are the “Dark Paladin” and must speak only in brooding one-liners after drinking.

Final Thoughts: Embrace the Chaos, Roll the Dice!

The BG3 drinking game isn’t about winning—it’s about laughing at failures, making dumb decisions on purpose, and yelling “nat 20!” with a pint in hand. Whether you’re romancing vampires, saving goblins, or throwing gnomes off cliffs, alcohol just adds that extra layer of madness.

Just remember: the real Constitution saving throw is the friends we drank along the way.