In the heart of Baldur’s Gate 3 lies a battle that tests not just your combat skills but your very resolve: the showdown with Raphael, the devilish mastermind. As you step into the House of Hope, prepare to confront one of the game’s most formidable foes, whose cunning and charisma are matched only by his overwhelming power. With a staggering health pool of 666 and an array of devastating spells at his disposal, Raphael is not just a boss; he’s a theatrical villain who sings his own theme song while orchestrating chaos. Will you emerge victorious against this enchanting yet terrifying adversary, or will his dark magic consume your party? The stakes have never been higher as you strategize to dismantle his defenses and claim victory in this unforgettable encounter.
How to set Hope free?
To set Hope free in Baldur’s Gate 3, players must first acquire the Orphic Hammer, a crucial item located within the House of Hope. Once equipped with the hammer, navigate to Hope’s prison, which can be accessed either through a hidden hatch or by jumping down from a higher level. After defeating the enemies guarding her, use the Orphic Hammer to smash the two large red crystals that bind her chains. With the crystals destroyed, Hope will be released and temporarily join your party, providing valuable support in subsequent battles, particularly against Raphael. Remember, however, that she cannot remain with you after this encounter, as she chooses to stay behind in Hell to reclaim her life.
When you meet Raphael in Act 3 of BG3, you can make a pact with him. Regardless of whether you choose to do so and received the hammer in return or completely avoided getting friendly, you can sneak into his house. To learn more about how to finish the ritual in Devil’s Fee, visit the How to enter House of Hope? page of our guide.
Hope will greet you as soon as you enter House of Hope. This is a potential ally that can help you fight Raphael, so we recommend freeing her from imprisonment before you leave via the portal.
To free Hope, you’ll need the Orphic Hammer, and if you haven’t got it from Raphael, you can steal it. If you made a pact with Raphael and already have the Hammer, you’ll need to steal your contract.
Go to the Archive and talk to the archivist. You can tell that you are Verillius Receptor or get into his mind. With the skill check successful, you’ll receive an invitation to the Boudoir. Enter the Boudoir and click on the magic curtain at the door. You can now enter the room.
You’ll meet Haarlep. Either you fight him and his aides or avoid the battle by completing skill checks during the conversation. Either way, you’ll receive the key to the safe and now you need to press the button below Raphael’s painting. Take everything from the safe and read the obtained notes. You now know the password to the magic barrier that protect the hammer or the contract. Return to the Archive and collect what you need.
Don’t forget to take Gauntlets of Hill Giant Strength and Amulet of Greater Health. To collect them, you’ll need to disarm the traps on the pillars.
Proceed to the prison hatch at the end of the corridor and eliminate any hostile target along the way. In the prison, you’ll have to defeat 2 Spectators and a few Imps. At the location, equip the Orphic Hammer and destroy 2 crystals imprisoning Hope.
The woman will temporarily join your active party and you will be able to control her during the battle against Raphael.
How to convince Yurgir to betray Raphael?
To convince Yurgir to betray Raphael in Baldur’s Gate 3, players must engage in a dialogue that involves passing a challenging Charisma check. This check requires a minimum of 30 Charisma points, making it quite difficult for characters with lower Charisma. If your character does not meet this threshold, it’s advisable to save the game beforehand and attempt the check multiple times until a critical success is achieved by rolling a 20. Successfully persuading Yurgir not only weakens Raphael’s position but also opens up potential alliances that can aid in the subsequent boss fight against the devil, enhancing your chances of victory and influencing the narrative direction of the game.
Vurgir is first enocuntered in Act 2 during your journey through Gauntlet of Shar. Even if then you’ve convinced him to commit suicide, Yurgir will appear at Raphael’s side. At that moment, you can convince him to betray the devil.
To successfully convince Yurgir, you need to complete a Charisma check. This check is very difficult, as you need at least 30 Charisma points. If your Charisma is low and you don’t have any available bonuses to apply to the dice throw, save the game and try the check until you roll 20. Rolling 20 on the dice means critical success, allowing you to complete the check.
How to defeat Raphael?
To effectively defeat Raphael in Baldur’s Gate 3, players must employ a strategic approach that focuses on both offense and defense. Start by maintaining close proximity to Raphael to impose disadvantage on his ranged attacks, while utilizing melee characters to keep the pressure on him. It’s crucial to destroy the four soul pillars in the arena as they significantly bolster Raphael’s power and enable him to draw souls for devastating spells. Use bludgeoning or force damage to take down these pillars quickly, as this will weaken Raphael and prevent him from unleashing his most powerful abilities. Avoid radiant damage entirely, as it will rebound and harm your party. During the fight’s second phase, be prepared for increased aggression from Raphael; ensure your team is positioned to heal and regroup while unleashing all available resources to bring him down swiftly. With careful planning and execution, victory over this formidable foe is within reach.
Before you begin the fight, save your game, and make sure that your heroes have their hit points fully replenished. If you saved Hope and managed to convince Yurgir to help during the fight, the ensuing battle should be quite easy.
Korilla, Hope’s sister will join the battle on Raphael’s side. You can try to persuade her to betray Raphael, or knock her unconscious during the battle to avoid killing her.
Here are some tips on how to quickly defeat Raphael:
- You should have at least one Barbarian and Fighter in your active party. This is because Raphael and his aides are resistant to almost every element. Melee attacks deal the most damage.
- Do not equip a Paladin or a Cleric for the fight, as all radiant damage is deflected by Raphael, and as the attacks return, they may kill the given hero instantly.
- Good tip for this fight is to destroy all pillars from which Raphael channels energy at the very beginning of the battle. Every pillar has 99 hit points, but it will only take 2 blunt weapon attacks to destroy each one.
- Start with eliminating Raphael’s aides.
- Once Raphael summons a new ally and it appears next to one of your heroes, get away from them and attack with ranged damage. After depriving an aide of health points, they will explode, with a new monster appearing in its place.
- Use Hope’s spells to heal the entire party. Aside from healing spells, Hope has useful skills like Bless.
- Block Raphael’s attacks with Illithid Powers like Psionic Backlash or other passive abilities.
- Raphael is vulnerable to Necrotic, Psychic and Force damage.
What makes Raphael’s second phase so deadly
Raphael’s second phase in Baldur’s Gate 3 becomes particularly deadly due to several critical enhancements and mechanics that significantly increase his threat level.
Transformation into Ascended Fiend: Once all soul pillars are destroyed, Raphael transforms into his Ascended Fiend form, gaining access to a more powerful arsenal of spells and abilities. This transformation is not merely cosmetic; it permanently enhances his combat capabilities, making him a formidable opponent.
Increased Damage Output: In this phase, Raphael can unleash devastating attacks, including a powerful area-of-effect spell that deals 20d6 Hellfire damage at the cost of two soul charges. This ability can decimate players caught in its radius, especially those with low health or defenses.
Multiattack Capability: Raphael gains the ability to perform multiple attacks in a single turn, thanks to his Action Surge ability. This allows him to strike up to four times in one round, significantly increasing his overall damage potential and making it difficult for players to recover between hits.
Enhanced Dexterity and Armor Class (AC): With the destruction of each soul pillar, Raphael not only gains additional soul charges but also benefits from increased Dexterity, leading to a higher AC. This makes him harder to hit while simultaneously boosting his damage output.
Soul Charges for Spellcasting: Each destroyed soul pillar grants Raphael additional soul charges that he can use as spell slots, allowing him to cast powerful spells more frequently. As he consumes souls, he regains health and enhances his magical capabilities, creating a cycle that can prolong the fight and increase his lethality.
Overall, the combination of these factors makes Raphael’s second phase a critical turning point in the battle, requiring players to adapt their strategies quickly and efficiently to survive against this formidable foe.
How does Raphael’s Multiattack work in his Ascended form
In his Ascended Fiend form, Raphael’s Multiattack ability becomes a significant threat due to its mechanics and the conditions under which it operates. Here’s how it works:
- Action Surge: Raphael gains the ability to use Action Surge, allowing him to take an extra action on his turn. This effectively lets him attack multiple times in one round, significantly increasing his damage output.
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Attack Mechanics:
- Number of Attacks: Raphael can perform two attacks per use of Multiattack, each dealing 2d12 slashing damage plus his attack modifier of +5. This means he can inflict substantial damage if both attacks hit.
- Frequency: If he has no remaining Soul Charges and all Soul Pillars have been destroyed, Raphael can utilize this Multiattack as part of his regular actions in combat.
- Strategic Importance: The combination of Action Surge and Multiattack means that Raphael can potentially attack four times in a single round if players do not manage the fight effectively. This makes positioning and crowd control essential for players trying to mitigate the damage from his relentless assaults.
- Combat Dynamics: Players must be cautious, as Raphael’s high initiative and ability to strike multiple times can quickly turn the tide of battle, especially if they are unprepared or fail to eliminate his Soul Pillars early in the fight.
Overall, Raphael’s Multiattack in his Ascended form is designed to challenge players by maximizing his offensive capabilities while minimizing their chances for recovery between attacks.
