Hidden Secrets In Act 1

Summary

• Act 1 in Baldur’s Gate 3 is the largest act, with many hidden secrets that players may miss.
• Players can find an Owlbear Cub as a pet by fighting the Owlbear and then winning or convincing Krolla to give it to them.
• The Necromancy of Thay book can grant unique bonuses if read without failing any dice throws, and it has further rewards in Act Three.

Baldur’s Gate 3
tells a story made up of three Acts, and the first has the most to see and do as a way of immersing players and training adventurers. By the time they’ve explored every nook and cranny of the Wilderness, they’re well-prepared for the dangers of the Underdark, the tempations of the Absolute, and the political peril of the big city.

As soon as players free themselves from the nautiloid and venture forth into the great expansive lands of Act 1, they’ll uncover some hidden secrets that will set them on a path to power, mystery, or even hilarity. It’s possible to move on to Act 2 without discovering any of these secrets, but for those players that are completionists or want the full story will all the backstory and details, it’s worth the trouble.

Updated December 28, 2024, but Kristy Ambrose: Whether it’s a first playthrough or a tenth, there are still countless secrets waiting in Act 1 alone for players to discover before continuing their adventure. Updates are still ongoing for Baldur’s Gate 3, and the incoming Patch 8 is expected to be one of the most substantial yet. There’s some special gear and valuable secrets in the many hidden corners of Act 1, and many quests that start here continue into the third act and the final chapters of the game.

15

Freeing Us

Found In The Nautiloid’s Second Room

• Appears again in the Mind Flayer colony at the end of Act 2.

When players begin their journey, they will need to escape the Nautiloid. However, there are a few goodies here that players should be aware of before they begin their adventure. Firstly, there is Us, the living brain trapped inside the head of an elf named Myranth inside the second room that players enter upon waking up on the Nautiloid.

While players can indeed mutilate the brain and lobotomize Us, it’s not a good idea. Players should free Us from their entrapment and allow the NPC to become a temporary companion. While players will lose this strange companion after leaving the Nautiloid, the brain does make an important appearance later so it’s an early investment.

14

Lihala’s Lute

Pass Alfira’s Skill Checks at the Cliff in Emerald Grove

• This item might not be attainable for Dark Urge characters.

Alfira is a lovely tiefling who joins the band of refugees. She can be located at the Emerald Grove overlooking the cliff as she attempts to compose a song. Players who interact with her can aid her troubles, and pass a few Performance checks to successfully play the lute she provides them with.

To players who are successful in both of those skill checks, she will reward them with Lihala’s Lute, which may not serve much purpose to players who are not the Bard class, but it’s still a nice gift, especially since it allows players to play any instrument they find from then on. For those who are playing the Dark Urge, Alfira comes to a tragic end unless the protagonist knocks her out and another Bard shows up at the campsite to take her place.

13

Lump The Enlightened’s Horn

Convince Lump to Become Allies in the Blighted Village

• Easier for a character with a lot of money or high Charisma.

Allying oneself with an ogre isn’t usually the best idea, but there’s something oddly intellectual about Lump when players interact with him at the Blighted Village. Lump is rather intelligent for an ogre, and players can convince him and his friends to join up if they pass a Deception Skill Check.

Convincing Lump to join isn’t too hard, so long as players have decent luck with Deception, Persuasion, or even just 500 Gold. Lump gifts the Lump’s War Horn item that can be blown to summon these three in any combat situation in Act One. It can be a lifesaver, but players have to convince Lump to stick around for another fight. Failing that, they can let Lump go, or kill him for the Warped Headband of Intellect.

12

Brand of the Absolute

Speak to Gut in the Shattered Sanctum

• Getting this brand gains disapproval from some Companions.

When players are tasked with venturing to the Shattered Sanctum, most will simply follow their instructions to kill the three leaders within and free Halsin. Yet, if players are more tactical about it, they can speak to Gut who is offering the irreversible and unseen Brand of the Absolute. This brand synergizes with certain items and NPCs and can offer permanent bonuses later in the game.

With the Brand of the Absolute, players can see further functionality of the Absolute’s set of weapons and armor, as well as specific dialogue with other members of the Absolute. It might earn the disapproval of some companions, but it could be worth it to be a double agent.

11

The Shadow Druids

Locate A Letter In The Putrid Bog

• Find Kagha’s dark secret in the swamp.

Upon entering the Grove, players might immediately suspect that Kagha isn’t exactly a nice person, since she was all too willing to murder a child for something so minuscule. Upon further investigation, players can locate a letter addressed to her within the Emerald Grove, and begin the Investigate Kagha quest, which sees them travel to the Putrid Bog in search of a note that reveals dark secrets.

This note indicates the interference of the Shadow Druids, manipulative cultists who want to initiate the Rite of Thorns. If players fail to find the original letter addressed to Kagha, or deal with Kagha thanks to Halsin, then the Shadow Druids will never be exposed, and players will miss out on an important story thread that might make them think twice about judging Kagha.

10

Orpheus, Prince of the Comet, Part One: Betrayal

Found On The Fourth Floor Of The Arcane Tower In The Underdark

• Easy to miss but important for Githyanki lore.

Whilst it might not be the most powerful secret hidden in Baldur’s Gate 3, it’s still vitally important if players are to further uncover the truth of the Githyanki people and to help Lae’zel see that there is more to the universe than war and combat. Uncovering this chapter of Orpheus, Prince of the Comet, players can decipher it through Lae’zel who will begin to question her queen early on.

There are a few chapters, but players can find the first in the Arcane Tower, a rather tricky area to traverse due to the puzzle elements involved, and the death that is assured by the turrets that defend the secrets within.

9

Loviatar’s Love

Complete Abdirak’s Dialogue 3 Times In The Shattered Sanctum

• A buff that gives the bearer a +2 to their attack rolls and Wisdom saves when they have 30% of their hit points or less.

Loviatar’s Love is a permanent buff that can be provided to the player in Act One, and it will allow them to receive a +2 to attacks and saving throws when they are below 30% health. There is only one way to acquire this, and it’s entirely missable if players fail the necessary dice rolls.

Players need to venture to the Shattered Sanctum and discuss Loviatar with Abdirak. If they read the book on the table in front of him entitled “On Receiving Her Grace,” players get an extra choice of torture device.

Abdirak will hit the player three times, and players must not fail the dialogue options that will see them scream in pain. By completing this section, the buff will be theirs forever, and players can so easily miss it if they fail the dialogue or simply ignore Abdirak due to his strangeness.

8

The Phalar Aluve

Found In A Corner Of The Underdark

• A Rare long sword that gives +1 to Performance and gives the bearer the Phalar Aluve: Melody ability.

This mysterious sword is tucked in a quiet corner of the Underdark. It’s not hard to find the location, which is just to the north of the Selunite Outpost. However, the party can easily walk past this obscure spot or get distracted fighting the nearby minotaurs and never find it.

The Melody ability gives the Phalar Aluve
the ability to Sing to buff allies’ mental abilities, like Concentration. It also gives the user Shriek, which gives enemies Disadvantage on their saving throws and extra Thunder damage when the bearer hits them.

Once the party finds the sword, they discover it’s embedded in a rock, and are required to pass a few skill checks to retrieve it. If the character has a high Strength ability score, they can pull it from the rock. A Religion check will reveal that a blood sacrifice will release the sword. Clerics of Eilistrae, the Drow goddess of beauty and freedom, can free the sword without an ability check.

7

An Owlbear Pet

Found At The Owlbear Nest

• A dark cave beneath the Blight Village, next to a small river.

With so many entrances and secrets to uncover, it’s no surprise that some players may have never taken the path to find the Owlbear Nest. Alternatively, they may have actually found the Owlbear Nest but decided it wise not to tangle with the Owlbear inside. However, if players choose to fight the Owlbear, then the Owlbear Cub will begin feasting on its mother, and this won’t be the last time players see the Owlbear.

After this encounter, players can head to the Goblin Camb and find the Owlbear Cub as the animal being used for the cruel Chicken Run. Players can win the Owlbear Cub or convince Krolla to gift it to them. Players can then tell the Owlbear Cub that he is welcome to Tav’s camp, and thus provide themselves with a pet, as long as they completely help him whenever he turns up.

6

Commander Zhalk’s Everburn Blade

Kill Commander Zhalk On The Nautiloid

• The Command spell has a use after all.

When players first begin their journey into Baldur’s Gate 3, they will be placed onto the Nautiloid with the task of escaping. Towards the end of this segment, they will have to help a Mind Flayer battle some devils and reach the helm to get off the ship or crash it. Players should ignore the request to reach the helm, as they have 15 turns to kill Commander Zhalk and reach the helm, and Zhalk should be the priority.

Zhalk is strong, and he’s distracted by the Mind Flayer. Bringing along party members like Lae’zel is a good idea to deal extra damage, but it’s easier to get Shadowheart to use the Command
spell to get him to drop it instead. Loot the Everburn Blade
, and escape. If players do not loot it on the Nautiloid, it’s lost forever.

5

Necromancy of Thay

Located In The Apothecary’s Cellar Beneath The Blighted Village

• A quest that lasts for all three acts and a fun pop culture Easter egg.

Usually, when someone sees a book adorned with dried skin and a literal face, it’s best to leave it on the shelf. Yet, for Baldur’s Gate 3 and Tav, it’s a good idea to pick it up and investigate it. The Necromancy of Thay is a book that players can open once they obtain the Dark Amethyst from the Whispering Depths, and they might want to create a save file before doing so.

Reading the Necromancy of Thay without failing any dice throws will grant them some unique bonuses, but the story doesn’t end there. If players claim the Necromancy of Thay in Act One, then they can see more from this quest in Act Three, and even further rewards.

4

The Festering Cove

Deep In The Underdark

• Mind the exploding mushrooms and random holes.

The Underdark can be an overwhelming and dangerous place to players unsuspecting, and as such, it’s no surprise that it houses some rare and missable equipment and missions. One such place is the Festering Cove, which is best found next to the mushroom portals after Auntie Ethel’s lair, where players will need to jump over a gap to access this hidden cove.

From within the cove, players will discover the Kuo-toa, a strange fish species that worships BOOOAL, a Redcap as the God of Murder. Players can find some neat lore and weapons here, as well as an interesting feature to sacrifice a companion for good for a permanent buff. Yet, is it worth losing a party member forever?

3

Forge The Mourning Frost

3 Pieces Found Across The Underdark

• One of the few crafted weapons in the game and the only one not from the Adamantine Forge.

Mourning Frost
is a Very Rare Quarterstave that can only be created in Act One. It is by no means a simple weapon, as it features a special perk in which players will deal Cold damage, but also to themselves. This can lead to perks like Chilled, thanks to the combination of Heart of Ice and Insidious Cold as the effects for this weapon.

Players need to traverse the Underdark to discover three items to then craft this weapon, and these pieces and their locations can be found nearby. To find the Icy Helve, Defeat Dhourn, located West of the Selunite Outpost. Loot the Icy Metal from Xargrim the Pale Corpse, which is found inside the Myconid Colony’s secret area, and discovered after completing the “Defeat the Duergar” Intruders quest. Find the Icy Crystal on the body of Filro the Forgotten found near the Sussur Tree

2

Noblestalk

Found Northwest Corner of the Underdark, Avoid the Bibberbang

• Difficult to get and even harder to keep, use Enhanced Jump and Misty Step if possible.

When players adventure through the Underdark, they may come across an area covered in bulbous green mushrooms, ready to explode. Players will need to safely navigate through this area to pick the Noblestalk
that is hiding here. It’s a strong medicine, strong enough to bring back lost memories.

There are a few characters that players can give this item to in order to restore their memories; Baelen Bonecloak and Derryth Bonecloak, Shadowheart, or the Dark Urge Origin character. If players want to learn more about Shadowheart and her quest, then perhaps giving her this item is a wise idea, although she might need some persuading.

1

Auntie Ethel’s Hair

Fight Auntie Ethel Until Her Health Is Below 20% In The Sunlit Wetlands

• Grants players a +1 to any Ability Score of their choice as a permanent buff.

Auntie Ethel may have appeared as just an ordinary and helpful old lady, but if players are to venture to the Sunlit Wetlands and discover her home, they will uncover the truth that she is actually a despicable hag. Auntie Ethel will descend further into her lair when players uncover her dark secret, and they will be tasked with traveling deeper until they begin a boss fight.

The fight is difficult, it is certainly rewarding thanks to the XP and equipment gained. However, players might not know that they can hold off from killing Auntie Ethel, and can get her health below 20% so that she surrenders in an attempt to barter. Auntie Ethel will trade some of her hair so that she may live. Auntie Ethel lives to see another day, but that doesn’t mean it’s the last players will see of her.