When you reach the Temple of Shar in Baldur’s Gate 3, you will encounter a necromancer named Balthazar who requires assistance in finding a relic beyond the Gauntlet. However, Balthazar is portrayed as an evil character, leaving you with the decision of whether to help him or attack him.
Locating Balthazar
You can find Balthazar within the Gauntlet of Shar, located under the Thorm Mausoleum. The coordinates are X: -840 Y: -786. The Gauntlet is positioned to the north of Reithwin in Act 2’s Shadow-Cursed Lands, just west of the Mason’s Guild. Both the main storyline and Shadowheart’s questline will lead you to this area.
To gain access to the Gauntlet of Shar, you must solve a puzzle involving murals inside the entrance of the Mausoleum. Once the puzzle is solved, a door will open, allowing you to descend into the Gauntlet.
The quest “Find Ketheric Thorm’s relic” will be assigned to you when you speak with Balthazar. At this point, you have the choice to help him or attack him. While attacking may initially seem like the better option, it is more beneficial to assist Balthazar.
In short, it is recommended to help Balthazar when he asks you to search for the hidden relic within the Temple of Shar. As soon as you engage in conversation with him, he will perceive you as a True Soul and trust in your abilities to aid his cause. While you have the choice to continue talking or attack him on sight, it is advisable to refrain from attacking as it will yield benefits later in the game.
Balthazar reveals himself as an important figure in Ketheric Thorm’s plans, who is heavily involved in the evil events of Moonrise Tower. If you align yourself with Thorm and his cause, assisting Balthazar becomes crucial. However, even if you are against the Absolute, helping Balthazar is still recommended. Through dialogue, he can provide valuable information and useful materials if you pass persuasion checks.
After agreeing to help him and retrieving the relic that protects Ketheric Thorm from the Shadow Curse, you will be rewarded. Balthazar can provide you with a Moon Lantern, which is exceptionally valuable when navigating Moonrise Tower and the Shadow Cursed Lands. The Moon Lantern grants immunity to all levels of shadow and even contains a Pixie. This leaves you with the decision of whether to release the Pixie in Baldur’s Gate 3.
Defeating Balthazar
After claiming your well-deserved reward, why not continue the thrill by taking on Balthazar within the Gauntlet of Shar? By defeating this formidable foe, you can eliminate another source of evil in the Absolute. It’s the perfect opportunity for victory and an even greater reward for your party. That’s why we highly recommend helping the necromancer initially and displaying a little patience to reap even more benefits.
Fighting Balthazar: Before or Within Shadowfell?
Balthazar is an adversary not to be underestimated. With his army of undead minions, facing him is no easy task. To ensure you’re fully prepared, we advise saving your progress before engaging in battle with Balthazar. There are two options available to you: fighting him before or within Shadowfell. Here’s what you need to know about each encounter:
Before Shadowfell
Your first encounter with Balthazar takes place in a locked room just west of the Gauntlet of Shar waypoint. Following a conversation with his undead guards outside and a fight against Dark Justiciar Avengers, you’ll gain entrance to the room. However, this location may prove to be the most challenging for confronting Balthazar within the storyline.
If you choose to fight Balthazar in his chambers before entering Shadowfell, be prepared to face him, along with a hoard of minions, and his brother, Flesh.
- Talk to the Duelist to initiate the encounter.
- Engage in battle with the minions before the doors.
- After the skirmish, proceed through the now unlocked doors.
- Now, your party can set up and confront Balthazar.
This battle requires no further conversation and offers the greatest challenge when facing Balthazar. However, it’s worth noting that fighting him before entering Shadowfell means you will be outnumbered, making it a difficult feat to overcome.
Within Shadowfell
Get ready for an epic showdown with Balthazar in the thrilling world of Shadowfell! But before you engage in the ultimate battle, you’ll be faced with some intriguing dialogue choices that will unravel the story behind Balthazar and the enigmatic Nightsong. Brace yourself for the quest to Find Ketheric Thorm’s Relic!
Prepare to be shocked as Balthazar reveals himself to be an imposter, masquerading as the revered Monk Balthazar. He wickedly confesses to killing the real monk and assuming his identity. To aid you in securing the relic, Balthazar generously presents you with a summoning bell that can summon his brother, Flesh.
As you face off against the enemies guarding the relic, you will be transported to the mysterious realm of Shadowfell. Here, you will come to discover that the Nightsong, whom you believed to be a myth, is in fact a captive. Ketheric Thorm, in his bid for invulnerability, has imprisoned her on a platform, withholding her power. This pivotal juncture presents you with a crucial decision – will you align yourself with Balthazar or choose to fight alongside Nightsong against him?
The advantage of battling Balthazar within the confines of Shadowfell cannot be underestimated. Give careful thought to your strategy and make sure not to conclude the dialogue with Balthazar until you’re fully prepared for the fight. The terrain of Shadowfell offers numerous platforms that can be exploited to gain an upper hand. Make use of the unique abilities of your companions by strategically positioning them around the area. We highly recommend the following companions for this epic encounter:
- Lae’zel: A formidable fighter, Lae’zel’s strength checks and ability to push enemies off the edge make her an invaluable asset.
- Gale: As a skilled wizard, Gale can rain down spells from a safe distance or unleash devastating Thunderwave attacks in the midst of battle.
- Shadowheart: Blessed with divine powers as a cleric, Shadowheart can unleash fear upon the enemy hordes by employing her Turn Undead ability.
Equip yourself with the right skills and tools to tip the scales of victory in your favor. Abilities such as Eldritch Blast, Arrow of Roaring Thunder, and any attack that can knock enemies away will be immensely useful for this encounter.
If you’re looking for a swift resolution to the fight, the unique option of shoving Balthazar off the platform and into the void during the party’s dialogue presents itself. It’s a clever way to avoid a potentially messy confrontation. Any skill or item with knockback capabilities or an Arrow of Roaring Thunder can accomplish this task with flair.
However, be aware that if you choose to send Balthazar plunging into the void, you will miss out on the loot he drops. For those who prefer to savor the spoils of victory, here’s a list of the loot you can acquire by defeating him in the traditional manner:
- Three Speak with Dead scrolls
- A dagger
- Circle of Bones: a rare headgear
- A book about Soul Cage Research
While the loot Balthazar drops may not be of the highest tier, the opportunity to humorously dispatch him into the Shadowfell void is an adventure in itself. Sometimes, a good laugh is worth more than any material reward!
Discover the Consequences of Letting Balthazar Take the Nightsong in BG3
If you are playing a non-evil run in Baldur’s Gate 3 and you value the well-being of your party, it is strongly recommended to eliminate Balthazar before leaving Shadowfell, regardless of your decision about helping him or not. Surrendering the Nightsong to Balthazar without taking action against him will result in unfortunate consequences.
Firstly, Shadowheart, one of your party members, will express her discontent and permanently abandon the group. This loss can have significant implications on your gameplay experience and strategy moving forward. Secondly, when you encounter Ketheric Thorm, you will find yourself in a challenging predicament. You will be imprisoned in a strange, fleshy chamber, at the mercy of Balthazar, who has been assigned the task of taking the Astral Prism from you. Needless to say, this outcome does not bode well for your character.
On the other hand, if you choose to eliminate Balthazar in BG3, you will still have to decide what to do with the Nightsong next, potentially opening up new paths and possibilities for your character.
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