After returning to the Town Hall at the very end of the Help Underduke quest in act three Baldur’s Gate 3you have a choice. A fight is about to break out and you must choose a side: the Zhentarim or Nine-Fingered Keene and the Guild.
It’s not immediately clear which side you should be on at this crucial moment, so we’ll lay your options on the table. You should side with the Zhentarim or the Nine-Fingered Keene Baldur’s Gate 3? Let’s find out.
On the side of the Zhentarim
If you are playing an evil character in Baldur’s Gate 3then you should definitely consider siding with the Zhentarim. They take part in a coup against the Guild, wanting to take control only for their own selfish reasons.
If you sided with the Zhentarim, their leader, Roah Moonglow, claims that you will have a “private army at your beck and call” when it comes time to fight the Absolute. This is useful when concluding Baldur’s Gate 3where you will be able to summon two assassin mercenaries during the final battle.
On the side of Nine-Fingered Keene and the Guild
Nine-Fingered Keene and the Guild are basically Robin Hood-style characters BG3. Their actions are not entirely justified, but neither are they moustache-twirling villains like the Zhentarim. In a well-balanced competition, the choice should be clear.
As for rewards, Nine-Fingers Keene promises the Guild’s support against the Absolute. Functionally, it is exactly the same as the Zhentarim bounty, with two warriors summoned to aid in combat.
However, there is one large prize that gives Nine-Fingered Keene the edge. After looting the Zhentarim corpses, Roah Moonglow will have a pouch containing 10,000 gold pieces. This quest will begin. Return the gold to Rakath. You can return the gold to complete a quest that has its own rewards, or you can just keep the 10,000 for yourself. After all, you are under no obligation to return it.
Should you side with the Zhentarim or Nine-Fingers Keene?
Now that you know what happens when you choose both sides, which side should you choose to fight on?
Ultimately, I will suggest you side with Nine-Fingered Keene during the Help Underduke quest. Morally, this is the more truthful option, and considering that both sides will fight alongside you against the Absolute, there is no difference. On the Nine Fingers side, you’ll also get 10,000 gold, which is always something to consider.
There is a third option that I haven’t talked about yet: killing everyone. When the challenge comes, you can simply decide that no one is worthy of your support, opting instead to murder both the Zhentarim and Nine-Fingered Keene/Guild.
Apart from the mountain of loot, there is no benefit to it. You lose support for the Absolute, although you gain the moral advantage by destroying two immense criminal groups, turning into Baldur’s Gate 3 guard.
