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In the sprawling, choice-driven world of Baldur’s Gate 3, every decision can have dramatic consequences and every dice roll can tip the scales between triumph and tragedy. That’s why many adventurers turn to save scumming in Baldur’s Gate 3—an age-old technique where players save their game before a major event, dialogue, or dice check, then reload as many times as needed to secure the perfect outcome. Whether you’re desperate to pass a crucial persuasion check, avoid a party wipe in a brutal encounter, or simply want to see every possible branch of a quest, save scumming in Baldur’s Gate 3 offers a safety net for those who want to bend fate to their will. This article explores what save scumming is, how to do it effectively on PC and console, the debate around its use, and tips for balancing fun and challenge in your Forgotten Realms journey. If you’ve ever hovered over F5 before a risky moment or wondered if you should embrace or resist the urge to reload, this guide is for you.
What Is Save Scumming in Baldur’s Gate 3?
Save scumming is the practice of saving your game before a significant action—such as a dialogue choice, skill check, or combat scenario—and reloading that save if the outcome isn’t to your liking. In Baldur’s Gate 3, this often means quicksaving before a dice roll, then reloading repeatedly until you succeed. The term has a long history in RPGs and strategy games, but it’s especially prominent in games like Baldur’s Gate 3, where randomness and branching storylines are core to the experience.
The game’s Dungeons & Dragons-inspired mechanics mean that even the most skilled characters can fail a check due to a bad roll, and the consequences can be immediate and severe. Save scumming lets players mitigate this randomness, ensuring that they never have to live with an outcome they dislike—whether that’s a failed romance, a missed treasure, or a disastrous battle.
How to Save Scum in Baldur’s Gate 3?
On PC
Baldur’s Gate 3 makes save scumming almost effortless, thanks to its robust save system and quicksave feature. The F5 key is your friend: pressing it instantly creates a quicksave, letting you lock in your progress before any risky move. If things go south, simply reload your last save (F8 by default) and try again.
You can also create manual saves from the options menu (press Esc, then select Save Game), allowing you to keep multiple save files at different story points. This is especially useful if you want to revisit major branching decisions without replaying the entire game.
On Console
On PlayStation 5 and other consoles, you can save scum by opening the pause menu and selecting Save Game before a key moment. If the result isn’t what you want, reload your last manual save and try again. While it may take a few extra seconds compared to PC quicksaves, the principle is the same.
Why Do Players Save Scum?
There are as many reasons to save scum as there are adventurers in Faerûn. Some of the most common motivations include:
- Avoiding Major Setbacks: Baldur’s Gate 3 is notorious for punishing failures, whether it’s losing a party member, failing a critical persuasion check, or triggering a deadly trap. Save scumming lets players sidestep these setbacks and keep their adventures on track.
- Perfecting Outcomes: Many players want to see the “best” result of a quest, romance, or dialogue, and save scumming allows them to experiment with different choices until they find the one that feels right.
- Curiosity and Exploration: Some use save scumming to explore every narrative branch, seeing how different choices play out without committing to a single path.
- Overcoming Randomness: The D&D dice system means even high-skill characters can fail. Save scumming gives players a way to fight back against the whims of fate.
The Save Scumming Debate: Cheating or Just Playing Smart?
Save scumming is a hot topic in the Baldur’s Gate 3 community, sparking debates about authenticity, immersion, and the “right” way to play. Some argue that reloading to avoid failure undermines the spirit of Dungeons & Dragons, where living with the consequences is part of the adventure. Others see it as a perfectly valid way to enjoy a single-player game, especially one as unpredictable and punishing as Baldur’s Gate 3.
Larian Studios, the game’s developer, has weighed in on the debate. Michael Douse, Larian’s director of publishing, encouraged players to “trust the dice” and embrace both success and failure as part of the story. The game is designed to react to your choices and failures, often in surprising and satisfying ways. Some streamers even take pride in “no save scumming” runs, treating it as a badge of honor.
On the other hand, many players and writers argue that games are meant to be fun, and save scumming is simply another way to tailor the experience to your preferences. After all, Baldur’s Gate 3 is a single-player adventure at heart, and how you play is ultimately up to you.
Save Scumming Strategies and Tips
If you decide to embrace save scumming in Baldur’s Gate 3, there are a few strategies to keep in mind:
- Save Early, Save Often: Make a habit of quicksaving before any risky action—be it a dialogue, trap, or combat encounter.
- Use Multiple Save Slots: Keep several manual saves at key story points in case you want to revisit major decisions or outcomes.
- Don’t Overwrite Too Soon: Avoid overwriting your most recent save until you’re sure you’re happy with the result.
- Balance Fun and Challenge: If you find yourself reloading after every minor setback, consider letting some failures stand. Sometimes, the most memorable stories come from unexpected outcomes.
- Experiment and Explore: Use save scumming as a tool for experimentation—try different dialogue options, explore alternate quest solutions, or see what happens if you take a risk.
