Baldur's Gate 3 has been out for a hot minute now—yes, even in 2026, folks are still romancing bears and arguing about mind flayers—and Larian Studios packed Faerûn so full of lore that fans have taken to filling in the gaps with theories wild enough to make a mind flayer blush. From the identity of a certain oversized druid to the true nature of a smug wizard, here are some of the most delightfully unhinged fan theories that refuse to die. Grab your tin foil hat (it's fashionable, darling) and let's dive in.

The Bear Necessities: Halsin Is Actually a Bear

Let's start with the big one—literally. Halsin, the massive elven druid with a heart of gold and a suspicious fondness for honey, can Wild Shape into many animals, but his preferred form is a bear. He 'loses control' of the 'beast within' if he's not careful, which leads to that infamous scene where bear-Halsin gets, shall we say, intimately acquainted with the player. Plus, his bear Wild Shape gets its own separate action button, distinct from his normal Wild Shape ability. That's a bit sus, no?

This has led some fans to theorize that Halsin is actually a bear who learned how to take elf form, rather than the other way around. It would certainly explain his unusual size and his obsession with honey—because let's be real, no elf is that into honey. And he wouldn't be the first bear to be playable in a Baldur's Gate game, as the gentlemanly ursine Wilson appeared in Baldur's Gate 2's enhanced edition. So the next time Halsin gives you those big, soulful eyes, ask yourself: is he a druid who turns into a bear, or a bear who's been pulling the wool over everyone's eyes for centuries? 🐻

Lorroakan: The Red Wizard in Disguise?

The smug Lorroakan is the master of Ramazith's Tower and owner of Sorcerous Sundries. Players run afoul of him when he attempts to capture aasimar Dame Aylin, aka the Nightsong. But some fans have theorized that 'Lorroakan' is actually Baldur's Gate 1 and 2 party member Edwin Odesseiron, Red Wizard of Thay, in disguise. The evidence? Lorroakan's fondness for red clothes, Thay-related artifacts found in his vault, and a mention in the book Minsc and Boo's Journal of Villainy that the two had fought and Edwin had emerged victorious. Talk about a glow-up—or rather, a cover-up. If this theory holds, then Edwin's been living his best life running a magic shop and being insufferable to adventurers. Classic Red Wizard move, honestly. 🧙

The Nautiloid Was Not Random (Or: 'Oops, All Chosen Ones')

The game's opening cutscene seemingly shows a mind flayer nautiloid indiscriminately scooping up civilians from the streets of Baldur's Gate to infect with tadpoles. But some fans think that not all of its selections were quite so random. The driving force behind this theory is the sheer unlikeliness of 'random selection' resulting in the kidnapping of so many important individuals. I mean, come on—what are the odds? Thoughts about who chose the targets vary, however, and include:

• The Emperor, subtly influencing the Netherbrain to choose people powerful enough to defeat it. Sneaky squid, that one.

• The Brain itself, selecting victims strong enough to help free it from the Chosen Three. A self-serving brain? Shocking.

• Enver Gortash, removing people who could prove problematic to his plan to become Archduke of Baldur's Gate, such as Wyll, the current Duke's son. This theory further posits that Gortash's intended target was Cazador Szarr, and the nautiloid grabbed Szarr's spawn, Astarion, by accident. Oops—wrong vampire. Talk about a clerical error with bite. 🐙

Sarevok Is a Fake (Sorry, Buddy)

While some fans were excited to see iconic villain Sarevok Anchev return as an opponent in Baldur's Gate 3, others were disappointed. In particular, many were frustrated that the game once again saw Sarevok serving Bhaal, when players were given the opportunity to redeem him in Baldur's Gate 2's Throne of Bhaal DLC. This has led to the theory that the Sarevok players face is not the real deal. Just who this 'Sarevok' is, however, sees fans divided. Some guess that he is a false form taken by shapeshifter Orin the Red. Others point to an in-game text, Disorders of the Nerves and Mind: A Treatise, which discusses an ordinary man deluded into thinking he is Sarevok. This theory purports that Orin and the Cult of Bhaal found this man and fed into his delusions, ultimately creating a false 'Sarevok' to run the Court of Bhaal and face the player's party. Either way, it's a pretty cheeky way to bring back a legacy villain without actually bringing him back. 💀

The Tin Foil Hat Roundup

Theory	The Gist	Wildness Level
Halsin is a bear	He's a bear who learned to be an elf, not the other way around	🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻
Lorroakan = Edwin	The smug wizard is actually a Red Wizard in disguise	🧙🧙🧙🧙
Nautiloid wasn't random	Someone cherry-picked the tadpole victims	🐙🐙🐙🐙
Sarevok is fake	Either Orin or a deluded rando	💀💀💀💀💀

At the end of the day, these theories are a testament to how much fans love this game—and how much time they've spent staring at Halsin's bear form wondering, 'What if?' Whether any of these will ever be confirmed is anyone's guess, but half the fun is in the speculation. So keep those tin foil hats polished, folks. In Faerûn, nothing is ever quite what it seems—especially not the bears. 🐻✨