Baldur's Gate 3
Baldur's Gate 3

Act 3 Side Quests

Navigate Baldur's Gate 3 Act 3's intricate side quests. Uncover political intrigue, solve investigations, and face challenging encounters for valuable gear and.

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Act 3 Side Quests

Baldur's Gate itself is a massive hub of activity, with countless citizens in need of help (or manipulation). Act 3 side quests often involve intricate investigations, political intrigue, and challenging encounters, offering significant experience, powerful gear, and crucial insights into the city's underbelly. Many of these quests also have far-reaching consequences, influencing the final chapters of your adventure.

Recommended Act 3 Side Quests

Investigate the Murders

This critical quest plunges you into a series of gruesome murders plaguing Baldur's Gate, linked to the Bhaalist cult. Uncovering the truth is essential for the city's safety and your own survival.

  • Location: Starts in the Lower City, near the Basilisk Gate or the Elfsong Tavern.
  • Initiation: Speak to the Flaming Fist investigating a murder scene (e.g., near the Open Hand Temple or the Wine Festival). Alternatively, you might stumble upon a victim yourself.
  • Key NPCs: Inspector Valeria, Devella, Dolor, Orin the Red.
  • Objectives:
    1. First Murder Scene: Investigate the initial murder. Look for clues on the body and in the surrounding area. You'll likely find a "Bhaalist Murder Target" list.
    2. Open Hand Temple Murders: Head to the Open Hand Temple. Investigate the cellar and the surrounding area. You'll find a hidden passage leading to the Undercity.
    3. Tracking Dolor: Follow the trail of murders. Dolor, the primary assassin, will strike at various locations (e.g., the Wine Festival, Fraygo's Flophouse). You'll need to intervene and defeat him.
    4. The Guildhall: After confronting Dolor, you'll gain access to the Guildhall. Speak with Nine-Fingers Keene to learn more about the Bhaalist cult.
    5. The Candulhallow's Crypt: Follow the clues to Candulhallow's Crypt, a hidden entrance to the Bhaalist Temple.
    6. Bhaalist Temple: Navigate the temple, confront the Bhaalist cultists, and ultimately face Orin the Red.
  • Strategy Tips:
    • Investigation: Bring characters with high Investigation and Perception. Spells like Detect Thoughts can reveal crucial information from witnesses.
    • Combat: Dolor is a nimble assassin. Use crowd control and focus fire. Orin is a shapeshifter and a formidable foe; ensure your party is well-rested and equipped. She often targets your weakest party member, so protect your casters.
    • Saving Victims: Some murder targets can be saved if you intervene quickly enough. This often requires high Initiative rolls.
    • Pitfalls: Failing to investigate thoroughly can lead to dead ends. Be wary of false leads and red herrings.
  • Potential Rewards:
    • Experience: Significant XP for each stage of the investigation and combat encounters.
    • Unique Items:
      • Amulet of Bhaal: (From Orin) Grants the wearer the ability to cast Slayer Form once per Long Rest.
      • Bloodthirst: (From Orin) Legendary Dagger, +2 weapon, grants True Strike as a bonus action, and has a chance to inflict Bleeding.
      • Crimson Mischief: (From Orin) Legendary Shortsword, +2 weapon, grants advantage on attack rolls against creatures below 50% HP.
      • Various gold and magical items from defeated cultists.
    • Story Progression: Essential for understanding the main narrative and confronting Orin.

Save the Gondians / Avenge the Ironhands

This questline involves the enslaved Gondian gnomes at the Steel Watch Foundry and the plight of the Ironhand Gnomes. Your choices here have significant moral and strategic implications.

  • Location: Lower City, starting at the Last Light Inn (if you saved the Tieflings/Gnomes in Act 1) or directly in Baldur's Gate.
  • Initiation:
    • Speak to Wulbren Bongle (if he survived Act 2) in the Lower City.
    • Discover the Steel Watch Foundry in the Lower City.
    • Encounter the Ironhand Gnomes in the sewers.
  • Key NPCs: Wulbren Bongle, Barcus Wroot, Zanner Toobin, Gortash.
  • Objectives:
    1. Locate the Steel Watch Foundry: Find the heavily guarded factory in the Lower City.
    2. Infiltrate the Foundry: Gain access to the interior. This can involve stealth, persuasion, or direct combat.
    3. Free the Gondians: The Gondian gnomes are being forced to build Steel Watchers. You can attempt to free them. This often involves disabling their mind-control collars.
    4. Destroy the Foundry: Wulbren Bongle will insist on destroying the Foundry. You can either help him or find an alternative solution.
    5. Confront Gortash: Destroying the Foundry will significantly weaken Gortash, making your eventual confrontation with him easier.
  • Strategy Tips:
    • Stealth vs. Combat: The Foundry is heavily guarded by Steel Watchers and Banite cultists. Stealth can be effective, but combat is often inevitable.
    • Gondian Safety: The Gondians are fragile. Be careful with area-of-effect spells. Prioritize disabling their collars or eliminating their Banite overseers.
    • Disabling the Steel Watch: Look for the control center within the Foundry to potentially disable or turn the Steel Watchers against their masters.
    • Wulbren's Plan: Wulbren's method of destroying the Foundry is explosive. Ensure your party and any freed Gondians are clear.
    • Pitfalls: Allowing too many Gondians to die can lead to negative consequences with the Ironhand Gnomes. Failing to destroy the Foundry leaves Gortash with a powerful army.
  • Potential Rewards:
    • Experience: Substantial XP for freeing Gondians and destroying the Foundry.
    • Allies: The Ironhand Gnomes and freed Gondians can become allies in the final battle.
    • Unique Items:
      • Gauntlets of the Warmaster: (From Gortash, if you confront him after) Legendary Gauntlets, +2 to Strength, grants advantage on attack rolls against constructs.
      • Various schematics and components from the Foundry.
    • Story Impact: Directly affects the strength of Gortash and the final confrontation.

Help the Hag Survivors

This quest involves confronting Auntie Ethel once more, or rather, her lingering influence and victims in Baldur's Gate.

  • Location: Lower City, near the Blushing Mermaid or the Old Garlow's Place.
  • Initiation: Encounter the Hag Survivors in the Lower City, or investigate strange occurrences related to mind-controlled individuals.
  • Key NPCs: Mayrina (if she survived Act 1), Captain Grisly, Vanra.
  • Objectives:
    1. Discover the Hag's Influence: Learn about the Hag's continued presence and her victims.
    2. Locate Vanra: A child named Vanra has been abducted by the hag.
    3. Confront Auntie Ethel: Track down Auntie Ethel's new lair, likely beneath the Blushing Mermaid.
    4. Rescue Vanra: Defeat Auntie Ethel and rescue Vanra from her clutches.
  • Strategy Tips:
    • Auntie Ethel's Tricks: She will use illusions, duplicates, and charm spells. True Sight or revealing spells are highly effective.
    • Saving Vanra: Vanra is often inside the hag. You'll need to defeat Ethel without harming Vanra, or use specific items (like the Hag's Bane potion) to force Ethel to expel her.
    • Hag's Bane: This potion is crucial for safely extracting Vanra. You might need to craft it or find its components.
    • Pitfalls: Harming Vanra during the fight can lead to a failed quest or negative consequences.
  • Potential Rewards:
    • Experience: Good XP for completing the quest.
    • Unique Items:
      • Amulet of the Harvester: (From Ethel) Grants the wearer advantage on Wisdom saving throws.
      • Various magical ingredients and potions.
    • Mayrina's Gratitude: If Mayrina is involved, her gratitude can lead to further interactions.

Free the Artist

This quest involves a cursed artist and a powerful, sentient portrait.

  • Location: Lower City, in the Open Hand Temple or the Circus of the Last Days.
  • Initiation: Speak to the "cursed" artist, Oskar Fevras, in the Open Hand Temple, or encounter the strange portrait in the Circus.
  • Key NPCs: Oskar Fevras, Lady Jannath.
  • Objectives:
    1. Investigate the Curse: Learn about the nature of Oskar's curse.
    2. Find Lady Jannath: Oskar's patron, Lady Jannath, holds the key to his freedom.
    3. Deal with the Poltergeists: Lady Jannath's estate is haunted by poltergeists.
    4. Break the Curse: Find a way to free Oskar from the sentient portrait's influence.
  • Strategy Tips:
    • Poltergeist Combat: Poltergeists are immune to many physical attacks. Use magical damage or weapons that deal force/radiant damage. Spells like Faerie Fire can help target them.
    • Investigation: Thoroughly search Lady Jannath's estate for clues.
    • Pitfalls: Rushing into combat with the poltergeists without proper preparation can be challenging.
  • Potential Rewards:
    • Experience: Decent XP for completing the quest.
    • Gold: A significant sum from Lady Jannath.
    • Unique Items:
      • Gloves of the Automaton: (From Lady Jannath) Grants advantage on attack rolls against constructs.
      • A powerful, sentient painting that can be displayed in your camp.

General Act 3 Questing Advice

  • Explore Thoroughly: Baldur's Gate is dense. Check every alley, speak to every NPC, and investigate every suspicious building. Many quests are hidden behind seemingly innocuous interactions.
  • Long Rests: Don't be afraid to take Long Rests. Act 3 is challenging, and many quests involve multiple combat encounters or require spell slots.
  • Companion Quests: Act 3 is where many companion quests reach their climax. Prioritize these as they often offer powerful rewards and significant story beats.
  • Reputation: Your actions in Act 3 can significantly impact your reputation with various factions (Flaming Fist, Guild, Zhentarim), which can open or close off certain quest paths.
  • Skill Checks: Many Act 3 quests rely heavily on Persuasion, Deception, Intimidation, Investigation, and Perception checks. Ensure your party has members proficient in these skills.
  • Vendor Stock: Vendors in Baldur's Gate often have powerful magical items. Check their inventories regularly.