The Infernal Brain is the driving force behind the conflict in Baldur’s Gate 3, but he doesn’t seem to be as intelligent as the lore would have us believe.
In Baldur’s Gate 3, the Infernal Brain is the source of virtually all problems. Sure, without him the Deadly Three would still be running around trying to take over the Sword Coast, and the Githyanki would probably still be ruled by a fascist dictator, but those problems would be a lot easier if you and half the country didn’t have a maggot wriggling around in your skull.
As a Venerable Brain, further strengthened by the crown of Karsus, the Infernal Brain should, logically, be capable of conquering the world. The game spends two entire acts describing the power of the Venerable Brains; it is only through the powers of Orpheus and the benevolence of the Emperor that you can survive his call.
Additionally, anyone who explores Gayle ‘s quest in depth, or listens to Raphael’s offer in Act 3, knows how powerful the Crown of Karsus is. After all, she’s enough to make Gayle a god. A Venerable Brain with such power would therefore be unstoppable.
Baldur’s Gate 3 players spot inconsistency between Infernal Brain’s attitude and lore
However, this is one area where the lore of Baldur’s Gate 3 and the need for good gameplay come into conflict. It wouldn’t be very satisfying if the Infernal Brain killed your entire team in one hit at the start of the boss fight, even though it should technically be able to.
Some players on the Baldur’s Gate 3 subreddit pointed this out, saying that the Infernal Brain looked stupid compared to its lore-compliant version.
One player summarized: “The supreme intellect of an Infernal Mastermind is nothing compared to the need for a story to make the plot reach its conclusion.”
Ultimately, Baldur’s Gate 3’s depiction of the Infernal Brain highlights a delicate balance between lore fidelity and gameplay imperatives, providing players with an experience that is both immersive and playable.
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