In the mystical realms of Baldur’s Gate 3, players are drawn into the enigmatic Emerald Grove, where a puzzling challenge awaits. Hidden within the Enclave Library lies a set of stone slabs adorned with ancient runes, a gateway to untold treasures and secrets. To unlock this hidden vault, adventurers must navigate a web of choices—stealing the elusive Rune of the Wolf from the watchful Rath or engaging in a more nefarious path. Will you employ cunning stealth or brute force to solve the rune puzzle and unveil the riches that lie beneath? The fate of your quest hinges on your decisions in this captivating blend of strategy and storytelling.
- Emerald Grove is one of the locations found in the Druid Grove. You’ll find the entrance in the central part of the village, near the statue around which the druids have gathered. Visiting this area is part of the main quest Remove the Parasite.
- Go to the neighboring Druids’ Chambers and talk to Nettie. During the conversation, let her know about the tadpole in your head. Nettie will ask you to follow her and unlock the secret passage to the Enclave Library.
- Finish the conversation in any way – we’ve described it in more detail on the Nettie and the antidote page.
- You should eventually find yourself in the library with a stone statue and four rune pedestals (pictured above), with the way to the Emerald Grove still open.
- There are three runes around the statue. The fourth one, Rune of the Wolf, is missing, and you’ll need it to complete the quest.
How to get the missing Rune of the Wolf?
To obtain the missing Rune of the Wolf in Baldur’s Gate 3, players have a couple of options. The quickest method is to pickpocket Rath, an NPC located in the main room of the Emerald Grove. To do this, approach him stealthily—preferably using a character with high Dexterity like Astarion—wait for an opportune moment, and steal the rune from his inventory. If you prefer a more heroic route, you can first rescue Halsin from the Goblin Camp; upon returning to Emerald Grove, Rath will reward you with the rune for your efforts. However, if stealth or rescue fails, players can also resort to violence, though this will complicate quests and relationships within the game.
- The missing rune is held by Rath, an NPC in the main room of the Emerald Grove (pictured above).
- One way to get it is to pickpocket him. Save the game and choose your sneakiest character, such as Astarion. Enter stealth, wait for a good moment (for example, while the wolf is walking away) and pickpocket him. Take the rune out of Rath’s pocket. Immediately move away from the druid, as he can otherwise notice the theft and confront you. Wait for him to finish his search.
- The second way is by far the worst one, as it requires murdering everyone in Emerald Grove. This could be a very difficult battle and it will lock you out of some quests. After the battle, you must find Rath’s corpse.
If you’re having trouble sneaking up on Rath, you can use an invisibility potion. You can purchase one from Auntie Ethel.
- The third way is to find and rescue Halsin. As a reminder, he’s being held prisoner at the Goblin Camp. We’ve described how to free him on the Halsin page in the Party chapter.
- After returning to the Emerald Grove, talk to Rath. He’ll reward you with the rune.
If you’ve stolen it from him beforehand, he’ll notice it’s gone, but won’t accuse you of theft.
Placing the Rune of the Wolf in the pedestal
To successfully place the Rune of the Wolf in the pedestal, first, ensure you have obtained the rune from Rath, who can be found near the entrance of the Emerald Grove. After acquiring it, head to the Enclave Library, where you’ll find an empty socket among four pedestals surrounding a stone statue. Interact with this empty socket to open the combine items window. From your inventory, select the Rune of the Wolf and insert it into the designated slot. Once you’ve placed the rune, click “Combine” to activate it. Completing this step is essential for solving the puzzle, as it allows you to proceed with activating the remaining runes and ultimately unlocks access to the hidden vault below.
- Take the rune to the Enclave Library. Interact with the Empty Socket pictured above.
- The combine items windowwill pop up. Open the inventory and insert the Rune of the Wolf into the empty slot to the right. Then, click Combine.
- The pedestal with the Rune of the Wolf is now ready. Click on it to activate it.
- Do the same with the remaining three pedestals – the ones holding the Rune of the Eagle, Rune of the Bear and Rune of the Elk.
- Activating all four runes will lower the statue and uncover spiral stairs.
Exploring the Hidden Vault
Exploring the Hidden Vault reveals a treasure trove of rewards for players who successfully navigate the Emerald Grove’s rune puzzle. Upon solving the intricate challenge within Nettie’s Library, adventurers unlock a concealed staircase leading to this vault. Inside, they can find valuable loot, including the unique two-handed weapon known as Sorrow, which boasts a special ability to pull enemies closer, and the Robe of Summer, providing resistance to cold damage. Additionally, various high-quality potions, poisons, and scrolls await discovery, making this hidden area a must-visit for those seeking to enhance their arsenal and resources in Baldur’s Gate 3 .
Your reward for the quest is all the loot in the Hidden Vault. The most important items here are:
- A rare (blue) two-handed weapon – Sorrow. It has a unique weapon action, Sorrowful Lash, which deals damage and pulls enemies closer.
- An uncommon (green) Robe of Summer. It grants resistance to Cold damage.
- Various high-quality potions, poisons and scrolls – check the crates that aren’t marked by holding down the ALT key.
What other puzzles can be found in Baldur’s Gate 3
In Baldur’s Gate 3, players encounter a variety of intriguing puzzles that challenge their wits and problem-solving skills throughout the game. Here are some notable puzzles:
Notable Puzzles in Baldur’s Gate 3
- Defiled Temple Moon Puzzle: Located beneath the Goblin Camp, this puzzle requires players to manipulate floor tiles to arrange black and white circles in a specific pattern, guided by clues found in a nearby Selunite Journal.
- Mausoleum Portrait Puzzle: Found in the Thorm Mausoleum, players must select three portraits in the correct order to tell a story about loss and ambition, unlocking a path forward.
- Inquisitor’s Chamber Statue Puzzle: In Act Two, players face two rotating statues and must orient them towards the setting and rising sun based on clues related to Lathander, requiring knowledge of Faerûn’s astronomy.
- Reithwin Plaque Puzzle: This puzzle involves touching plaques in the correct order to receive Shar’s blessing, with inscriptions that can be challenging to decipher against the mausoleum’s backdrop.
- Wyrmway Puzzles: A series of trials including the Chamber of Justice, where players must determine a fair punishment for a thief; the Chamber of Insight, which involves discerning harmful intentions; and the Chamber of Strategy, a chess-like challenge.
- Emerald Grove Rune Puzzle: In Nettie’s Library, players must find and place the missing Wolf Rune among other animal-themed runes to unlock hidden treasures.
These puzzles not only enhance gameplay but also deepen the narrative experience as players explore the rich lore of Baldur’s Gate 3.
What is the solution to the Wyrmway puzzles
In Baldur’s Gate 3, the Wyrmway puzzles consist of four distinct trials, each designed to test different virtues. Here’s a breakdown of the solutions for each trial:
Chamber of Justice
- Objective: Determine a fair punishment for a character depicted in the paintings.
- Solution: Use the Remove Curse spell on the judge in the center to reveal three punishment options. Choose the painting titled “The Cell” and place it in the empty niche to complete this challenge.
Chamber of Insight
- Objective: Identify and eliminate the shade with harmful intentions.
- Solution: Enter turn-based mode and throw the flying books to make them readable. The shade advocating genocide, named Suelto, is the one to destroy. Eliminate Suelto to pass this trial.
Chamber of Strategy
- Objective: Checkmate the black king in two moves.
- Solution: The chess puzzle varies, but players can simply cast a lightning spell (like Lightning Bolt or Chain Lightning) on the black king to defeat it instantly, bypassing the need for traditional chess moves.
Chamber of Courage
- Objective: Survive four rounds of combat against elemental foes.
- Solution: Pick up a torch and endure attacks from elemental creatures. Ensure that the character holding the torch has high hit points and use spells like Thunderwave to manage enemy positioning effectively.
Completing these trials not only advances the story but also rewards players with valuable items and lore related to the game’s rich narrative.
