Class-Specific Strategies

Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn offers a rich tapestry of class-specific content, particularly through the Stronghold quests. Mastering these unique challenges and leveraging your class's strengths is crucial for a truly optimized playthrough. This section details actionable strategies, item recommendations, and quest guidance tailored to specific classes.

Fighter Stronghold: De'Arnise Keep

As a Fighter, your Stronghold is the venerable De'Arnise Keep. This questline begins shortly after escaping Irenicus' Dungeon, when Nalia de'Arnise approaches you in the Copper Coronet, requesting aid against the trolls infesting her family home. Completing this quest not only grants you a powerful base of operations but also provides significant experience and valuable gear.

Initial Assault: Upon arriving at De'Arnise Keep, you'll face numerous Trolls and Spirit Trolls. Equip your strongest melee characters with slashing or fire/acid damage weapons. Consider bringing a mage or cleric who can cast spells like Burning Hands, Flame Blade, or Acid Arrow to ensure trolls are permanently dispatched.
Key Items & Locations:
- Flail of Ages: This legendary weapon is found in pieces throughout the keep. The head of the Flail of Ages +1 is on a troll in the courtyard. The +2 head is in the keep's dungeon, and the +3 head is in the main keep, often on a Yuan-ti Mage. Assemble it at the smithy within the keep for a devastating multi-elemental weapon.
- Stone Golem Manual: Located in the keep's library, this manual is essential for crafting the Golem Manual, which allows you to summon a powerful Stone Golem once per day.
- Horn of Valhalla: Found in the keep's basement, this horn can summon Berserkers to aid you in combat.
Stronghold Management: Once the keep is cleared, you'll be tasked with managing its affairs. This involves making decisions that affect the keep's income, security, and reputation. Prioritize repairing the keep and recruiting guards to ensure its stability. Regular patrols and tax collections will be part of your duties.
Fighter-Specific Gear: Look for heavy armor and powerful two-handed or sword-and-shield combinations. The Full Plate Mail +1 (often found on enemies or in shops like Adventurer's Mart) is an early excellent choice. Later, seek out the Plate of the Balduran or Dragon Scale Armor.

Paladin Stronghold: The Radiant Heart

Paladins gain access to the Order of the Radiant Heart as their Stronghold. This involves upholding justice and proving your worth to the order. The quests often revolve around moral dilemmas and combating evil forces within Athkatla and beyond.

Initiation & Trials: Your journey to becoming a Knight of the Radiant Heart begins in the Temple District. You'll need to complete several trials, often involving investigating crimes, rescuing innocents, and confronting corrupt individuals.
Key Quests & Locations:
- Investigating the Cult of the Eyeless: This quest, initiated by the Order, takes you into the sewers beneath the Temple District to confront a dangerous cult. Be prepared for undead and cultist encounters.
- The Corrupt Paladin: You may be tasked with dealing with a fallen paladin, requiring a careful approach to either redeem or defeat them.
- Defending the Innocent: Various citizens will approach you with pleas for help, offering opportunities to earn reputation and prove your devotion to justice.
Paladin-Specific Gear:
- Holy Avenger (Carsomyr): This legendary two-handed sword is arguably the best weapon for a Paladin. It provides +5 enchantment, dispels magic on hit, and grants magic resistance. It is found in the Underdark, specifically in the domain of the Balor, Firkraag.
- Shield of the Order: A powerful shield that can be acquired through your Stronghold quests, offering significant defensive bonuses.
- Helm of Brilliance: While not exclusive, this helm (found in the Planar Sphere) is excellent for Paladins, granting fire resistance and the ability to cast Sunfire.
Stronghold Benefits: As a Knight of the Radiant Heart, you gain access to unique vendors, healing services, and the ability to recruit squires. Your decisions will impact the Order's standing and your own reputation.

Cleric Stronghold: Temple of Lathander/Helm/Tymora

Clerics are granted a temple Stronghold, the specific deity depending on your character's alignment and chosen faith. This involves managing the temple, performing religious duties, and upholding the tenets of your deity.

Temple Management: Once you've proven your devotion (often by completing a significant quest for your chosen deity, such as the Unseeing Eye quest for Lathander), you'll be given stewardship of a temple. This involves managing offerings, healing the sick, and performing blessings.
Key Quests & Locations:
- The Unseeing Eye: For Lathander clerics, this quest (starting in the Temple District) involves delving into the sewers and the depths below to confront a powerful beholder cult. Successfully completing this often leads to your Stronghold.
- Dealing with Heretics: You may be tasked with confronting individuals or groups who defy your deity's teachings.
- Divine Interventions: Occasionally, your deity may directly intervene, offering unique quests or blessings.
Cleric-Specific Gear:
- Mace of Disruption +2: Excellent against undead, this weapon can be found in the City Gates district (in a locked chest). Essential for many early-game encounters.
- Shield of Balduran: Found in the Planar Sphere, this shield grants significant magic resistance and is invaluable for any front-line cleric.
- Amulet of Power: Found in the Temple of Helm, this amulet grants an extra spell per level and protects against level drain, making it a must-have.
Stronghold Benefits: Your temple provides a steady income, access to powerful clerical scrolls and items, and the ability to recruit acolytes. Maintaining your temple's reputation is key to unlocking its full potential.

Thief Stronghold: Shadow Thieves' Guild

Thieves, and their various kits, gain control of the Shadow Thieves' Guild. This Stronghold is all about intrigue, subterfuge, and managing the criminal underworld of Athkatla. Your quests will involve heists, assassinations, and maintaining your network of contacts.

Joining the Guild: Your path to guild leadership begins by proving your worth to Aran Whitehand in the Shadow Thieves' Guildhall (located in the Docks District). This typically involves completing several tasks against the rival Bodhi's Guild.
Key Quests & Locations:
- Bodhi's Challenge: Much of your early Stronghold questline will involve undermining Bodhi's operations, leading to direct confrontations in the Graveyard District and eventually the Lower Planar District.
- The Guild Heist: You'll be tasked with various heists, requiring careful planning and execution. Maximize your Stealth, Open Locks, and Find Traps skills.
- Assassination Contracts: The guild will offer contracts to eliminate specific targets. These often require stealth and precision.
Thief-Specific Gear:
- Shortbow of Gesen: A powerful +4 shortbow that can be assembled from pieces found in various locations, including the Planar Sphere and the Underdark. It fires infinite +3 arrows.
- Staff of the Ram: An excellent blunt weapon for Thieves who specialize in staves, found in the Underdark.
- Boots of Speed: Found early in the game (often in the Copper Coronet or on various enemies), these boots are essential for any Thief, allowing for quick repositioning and escape.
- Cloak of Non-Detection: Found in the Shadow Thieves' Guild, this cloak is invaluable for stealth missions.
Stronghold Management: As the leader of the Shadow Thieves, you'll manage guild operations, assign tasks to your subordinates, and deal with rival factions. Your decisions will impact the guild's profits and influence in Athkatla.