Hidden Gems in Baldur's Gate 3: Quests You Never Knew Existed
Baldur's Gate III is a massive game with a wealth of content that isn't essential to the main plot. This means that as you explore, you might miss some of the best quests. Some are cleverly hidden, others require special stat checks or prerequisites. To help you out, I've highlighted some of my favorite hidden quests you may have missed on your first playthrough.
Search the Cellar - The Necromancy of Thay
Quest Start Location: Act 1 - Under the Blighted Village
To find this hidden quest, enter the door next to the Waypoint in Blighted Village. Go behind the bar to find a door leading to the basement. Walk towards the back of the room and pass a Perception check to discover a lever on a slanted wall beside some stacked crates.
Flip the lever and follow the path revealed behind the bookcase to find a mirror. Convince it to let you pass to find a hidden room. Head to the locked gate, disarm the traps, unlock the door, and disable the pressure plate beneath the strange tome to pick up the Necromancy of Thay.
To unlock and read the book, go beneath the Well in the Blighted Village. Climb down and fight through spiders and monsters. At the end, beneath the spider matriarch boss, find a purple stone on the lower level.
Use Stealth to get the gem without fighting the boss. Be at least Level 4 before you fight it. Use the amethyst to open the book, which can grant various boons and be important to Astarion if you resist its evil influence.
Auntie Ethel's Hideout
Quest Start Location: Act 1 - Emerald Grove
Auntie Ethel can first be met in the Emerald Grove. Later, find her on the road with two men bent on her harm. After that, find her in the swamp south of the Blighted Village. It's worth pursuing this mysterious stranger, although it might not be entirely safe.
The Riverside Teahouse is her home. Walk close to the fireplace, and a perception check will reveal that it's an illusion. She's hiding something down there, but proceed at your own peril. Your reward for fighting her is increasing a stat of your chosen character by one.
You can also find Ethel later in Act 3 in the basement of the Blushing Mermaid, where she'll drop a powerful Wild Mage ring.
The Strange Ox
Quest Start Location: Acts 1 - Emerald Grove
To start this quest, get a potion, spell, or item that allows you to Speak To Animals. Speak to the Strange Ox at the Emerald Grove in Act 1, found along with the other livestock just north of the first vendor.
In Act 2, find the ox in the Last Light Inn near the blacksmith. In Act 3, find it in Rivington, just west of the Requisitioned Barn. Climb the small hill and open the shabby barn door to speak with the bizarre creature and complete the final part of this surprising quest.
Lifting the Shadow Curse
Quest Start Location: Act 2 - Last Light Inn
Act 2 can be a wretched place, but you can lift the shadow curse from those lands by helping Halsin find the imprisoned caretaker of the area. That changes the whole experience.
If you still have Halsin on your side, find Art Cullagh in the Last Light Inn. Listen to Art ramble in his sleep, then speak to Halsin. Next, go to the House Of Healing and get the lute from Malus Thorm. Return and play it for Art. Head to the beach and defend Halsin while the rescue of Thaniel takes place.
Separately, you can play hide and seek with Oliver. Head to the eastern reaches of the shadow-cursed lands to meet him, as he'll be necessary for Thaniel's recovery.
The Blood of Lathander
Quest Start Location: Act 2 - Crèche Y'llek
In the southeast of the Shadow-Cursed Lands, find a path to the mountains. Follow the long path to reach the Rosymorn Monastery. Explore the area fully to find all three Ceremonial weapons. Place them on the correct altars in the small room upstairs to avoid setting off a trap later. Doing so awards you the Dawnmaster's Crest.
Once you have it, or decide to do an escape sequence later, work your way to the basement to find Crèche Y'llek, the home of Lae'zel's allied Githyanki. After reaching the final area and making your decision regarding the artifact, explore once again. At the far west of the chamber, find a hidden door beyond some barrels. Move through and head down to another area.
Bypass or disable the series of traps to find the resting place of the legendary mace, the Blood Of Lathander. Loot the mace and place the Dawnmaster's Crest in its place. Walk out with a powerful weapon. If you didn't gather the Crest, escape quickly before the area collapses.
All That Glitterbeards is Gold - The Counting House
Quest Start Location: Act 3 - The Counting House
If you are a big Baldur's Gate fan, you'll find plenty worth your time in The Counting House in Baldur's Gate's Lower City. You can get a pass to gain entry, but it isn't required. Head into the lobby and convince your way past the Captain. Go downstairs and persuade the second guard to let you pass as well.
Beyond that, solve the puzzle leading to the High Security Vaults. The solution for me was standing on 1, 3, 5, and 6, read like a phone's number pad. Head inside for a sweet surprise.
Faerûn is Full of Secrets
You'll find many hidden quests as you travel through Faerûn, but these should give you some awesome starting points. Keep exploring every corner, speaking to every character, and trying every dialogue option. Good hunting, adventurers!
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