How to Save Isobel at the Last Light Inn

Learn how to protect Isobel from Flaming Fist Marcus at the Last Light Inn in Baldur's Gate 3. Get tips on pre-fight buffs, positioning, and defeating Marcus quickly to save everyone.

Alright, so you've made it to the Last Light Inn and Isobel's got her magic shield up. This is a crucial moment in Act 2, and if things go south, you could lose more than just Isobel. So, before you even think about chatting with her, do yourself a massive favor: hit that manual save button. Seriously, save right before you talk to her. Trust me, you'll thank me later if you have to replay this fight.

When you first approach Isobel, you can ask her about her story and how she's protecting the inn. It's all pretty chill until Flaming Fist Marcus shows up, all winged and arrogant, ready to snatch her away. You *could* even help him if you're feeling particularly evil, but we're here to save the day, right?

Before you dive into the fight, make sure your whole party is well-rested. A Long Rest is ideal – it'll top off your HP and spell slots. Also, make sure everyone's got a good stock of health potions, and consider using some buff potions. Things like an Elixir of Arcane Cultivation for an extra spell slot or an Oil of Sharpness to boost damage and attack rolls can make a huge difference.

Cast Buffs on Isobel

Keeping Isobel alive is your absolute top priority. Marcus can't actually kill her, but if her HP drops to zero, he'll nab her, and there's nothing you can do to stop that – it's a scripted event. Your only shot at saving her is to keep her above 0 HP. You can actually start setting this up before the fight even kicks off, which is super helpful for getting the most out of your turns.

One of the best pre-fight buffs you can cast on Isobel is Sanctuary. This stops her from being targeted first if Marcus wins initiative, but remember, she can't attack without breaking the spell. If your characters get to act before Isobel, or even before Marcus, that's ideal. It's a free buff that can prevent her from taking a ton of damage right out of the gate.

Casting Bless before the fight saves you an action during the chaos. Another great pre-fight spell is Spirit Guardians. It has a nice area of effect, so Marcus is likely to walk right into it and take damage. It’s basically free damage without using up your precious actions. If you have Glyph of Warding, you can place that near the balcony door – that's where Marcus makes his entrance. Any spell that lasts for multiple turns, like Heroism, Blade Ward, Haste, or Bardic Inspiration, is a solid choice. Prioritize protective spells for Isobel, but anything that chips away at Marcus from afar is good too.

How to Defeat Marcus Quickly

Once you've got your buffs sorted and Isobel prepped, it's time to think about positioning. You absolutely want to fight Marcus inside Isobel's chambers, not out on the balcony. So, wait for Isobel to move into the chambers before you start the conversation, and don't initiate it on the balcony. If she's being stubborn and not moving, just make sure all your characters are on the balcony so they don't block line of sight to Marcus.

Fighting inside is better because it means you can get to the other folks being attacked by Winged Horrors on the first floor much faster once Marcus is dealt with. You should focus on Marcus first, but you'll have less distance to cover after he's down if you're already inside. When the fight starts, focus on using debuffs to make Marcus easier to hit. Any damage-over-time effects are also best applied early.

Make sure everyone is within striking distance of Marcus from the start. Use your characters' strengths – let melee fighters go for their melee attacks first if possible. You need to inflict as much damage as you can, as early as you can, because Marcus hits like a truck. He also starts with temporary hit points, so burn through those quickly before you start doing real damage to him. High-damage attacks and spells are key here, which is why being well-rested is so important.