Venture into the Blighted Village, a haunting remnant of a once-thriving community now overrun by goblins and dark secrets. As you navigate its ramshackle homes, you’ll encounter fierce combat, treacherous choices, and hidden treasures that could alter the course of your adventure in Baldur’s Gate 3. Will you confront the goblin menace head-on, or will cunning dialogue allow you to slip through their grasp? The fate of this forsaken village lies in your hands.
Blighted Village – important places
Blighted Village is a significant location in Baldur’s Gate 3, serving as a hub for various quests and encounters. This area, once a thriving tiefling settlement, has fallen into disarray and is now overrun by goblins, ogres, and other threats. Key places within the village include the Apothecary’s Cellar and the Whispering Depths, both of which offer unique challenges and rewards. Players will encounter notable NPCs such as Barcus Wroot and Lump the Enlightened, who can influence the unfolding narrative. The village is not only a battleground but also a treasure trove of secrets, making it essential for players to explore thoroughly to uncover its mysteries and resources.
Entrance to the owlbear’s lair. The meeting with the clerics, which might have taken place in the forest, is related to the lair. If you’ve led the conversation well and agreed to avenge the death of the man murdered by an owlbear, then the clerics can wait at the entrance to the lair and help you defeat the monster.
The owlbear is a strong enemy. You will find a description of the fight with him on the Owlbear page. Note, however, that you can also interact with this opponent in a peaceful way by communicating with animals or by passing a skill check. There is a gilded chest with a trap in the lair – a description of opening it can be found on a separate page Chest next to the Owlbear lair.
Scratch, the dog. It watches over the corpse of his master Gomwick in the woods. You can calm the dog by talking to it (a suitable charm or mixture is required), or by passing the Animal Handling, Persuasion, or Intimidation skill check. This will allow you to pet Scratch. You can let the dog to sniff the hero. From now on it may appear in the party’s camp. Loot Gomwick’s body to find several letters and other small loot.
Entrances to the village. There are goblins in an Blighted Village. You can approach from the east (near the bridge and the forest) or from the south (near the marsh).
On the first attempt to enter the village, you are stopped by goblins. Fighting them is not required and it is not advisable, because you can get attacked by all the creatures in the area. If you still want to fight, use stealth to get close to the goblins or, for example, set up your party members in the best spots. It’s worth trying to pass a persuasion or intimidation skill check – a successful test will allow you to travel freely around the village.
Windmill. A group of goblins bully a gnome tied to a windmill – you can attack them, pay the full sum (1,000 gold) to leave the place, pay less by using persuasion (different skill checks with different difficulty levels) or use illithid power to make the goblins leave.
If you want to save the gnome, you have to stop the windmill – the button is inside it, on the ground floor (the above picture shows it).
Ogres. The lives of the team could be in danger here. The encounter with the ogres begins upon entering the ruined building. If you don’t want to be attacked by them, you have to pass a Deception skill check. Monsters stand by a tiefling’s corpse – you will find, among other things, a unique medallion.
Whispering Depth
In the Whispering Depths, players will uncover a hidden realm beneath the Blighted Village, accessible through a well or by breaking through concealed walls in the Blacksmith’s workshop. This eerie location is filled with challenges, including formidable foes like Phase Spiders and Ettercaps, as well as valuable loot that can enhance your journey. As you navigate the depths, be prepared for intense encounters and strategic battles, culminating in a showdown with the Phase Spider Matriarch. Successfully conquering this area not only rewards adventurers with treasures but also opens a path to the mysterious Underdark, adding depth to the exploration experience in Baldur’s Gate 3.
Whispering Depths is a bigger dungeon located beneath the Blighted Village. There are two main ways to reach this cave complex:
The first method is to interact with the well in the village. You can optionally take the investigation skill check and examine the well a little more thoroughly first.
The second way involves examining the basement of a building in the central part of the village. In addition to searching the basement (watch out for traps on some crates!), you have to complete a skill check to discover the cracked wall shown in the picture. You can then demolish this wall in any way you want, e.g. using melee weapons or offensive spells. This will allow you to enter the dungeon behind the wall.
The cobwebs which act as bridges in some parts of the location make the exploration of the Whispering Depths problematic. When you step on a web, the hero will have to make defensive throws – failing one of them will inflict the negative Enwebbed status. In this state, the hero is unable to perform any actions and will additionally alert the surrounding monsters.
One solution to the problem with the cobwebs is to find a certain corpse in the dungeon – loot them to get the Spiderstep Boots. This item makes the character immune to the Enwebbed status. Since the boots can only be worn by one party member, it’s worth assigning them to the hero you will use to explore the dungeon. Of course, even with the Spiderstep Boots on, you still have to watch out for the monsters.
The Whispering Depths are inhabited primarily by Ettercaps, which can cause temporary infections, and Phase Spiders, which, in addition to possessing venom, can also teleport. Try to jump onto shelves with spiders or pull them to you. Also, try to attack smaller groups of monsters – you will avoid situations in which you get surrounded by several creatures.
The dungeon is also home to the Phase Spider Matriarch – a much tougher monster described in the Bosses chapter. Before you try to defeat the Matriarch, try dealing with the Phase Spiders without alerting her. You should also destroy the eggs so that the little spiders can’t “hatch” after engaging in a fight with the boss.
There are quite a few treasures in this dungeon. Most of them are found on corpses, in various types of backpacks and other containers. There is Dark Amethyst near the Matriarch’s lair, which is an important item associated with The Necromancy of Thay book. If you don’t want to fight the giant spider, you can just sneak past it and get that artifact.
One of the unique locations in the Whispering Depths is an encampment, where, besides journals, you can also find various scrolls.
The basement in the necromancer’s house
The basement in the necromancer’s house within the Blighted Village is a hidden area that players can explore for valuable loot and challenging encounters. Accessed through a hatch in a dilapidated building, this eerie space contains a lever concealed behind boxes. Pulling the lever reveals a secret room filled with wooden coffins, from which undead warriors will rise to attack. Players must navigate this treacherous environment while solving puzzles, including interacting with a mysterious mirror that blocks further passage. Successfully overcoming these challenges can yield unique rewards and enhance the player’s experience in this dark and atmospheric setting of Baldur’s Gate 3.
The ruined necromancer’s house is located in the southeast part of the Blighted Village. The most important object, however, is the hatch shown in the image above. It allows you to move into the vast basement.
In its first area, you can find minor loot, but the most important treasures are hidden. You will find the switch behind the crates. Use it to unlock a passage.
Go further into the basement to come across a talking mirror. To unlock the passage behind the mirror, you must answer correctly:
- You can reveal your own name. Then claim to be the master’s ally.
- Tell that Szass Tam is a nasty creature.
- Discuss the doctor’s journal and the use of lotion to cleanse the wound.
- Reveal your desire to get the parasite out of your head.
If you choose the wrong answers, you will be attacked by monsters.
Passing the mirror’s test correctly unlocks access to the necromancer’s lab. The most valuable item in this location is The Necromancy of Thay book. The book is inside a locked room that also has traps – check out the Necromancy book and traps page to learn how to get it.
What are the key quests in the Blighted Village
In the Blighted Village of Baldur’s Gate 3, players encounter several key quests that shape their adventure and choices. Here are the primary quests to focus on:
- Goblins at the Gate: Upon entering the village, players face a choice to either engage in combat with goblins or successfully persuade them to let you pass. This encounter sets the tone for interactions throughout the village.
- Ogre Encounters: Players can confront three ogres—Fank, Chock, and Lump the Enlightened. Options include combat or deception, where players can convince the ogres of their allegiance to the Absolute to avoid conflict.
- Rescue the Gnome: At the windmill, players find a deep gnome tied up by goblins. They can choose to fight the goblins, convince them to leave, or ignore the situation altogether.
- Whispering Depths: This dungeon can be accessed through various means, including a well or by breaking through walls in a blacksmith’s workshop. It holds significant treasures and challenges.
- Necromancer Hideout: Located in a dilapidated house, this quest involves navigating a basement filled with undead warriors and solving riddles posed by a talking mirror to progress further.
These quests not only provide combat opportunities but also emphasize dialogue and strategy, allowing players to shape their narrative within this darkly enchanting village.
What happens if you fail the Perception Check at the entrance of the Blighted Village
If you fail the Perception Check at the entrance of the Blighted Village in Baldur’s Gate 3, your party will not notice the goblin ambush waiting ahead. This oversight means you will be caught off guard upon entering the village, leading to immediate hostility from the goblins stationed there.
Consequently, you will have to engage in combat with multiple goblin enemies, including those on rooftops and within nearby buildings. The encounter can quickly escalate as additional goblins may join the fight if they hear the commotion, making it a challenging battle right from the start.
To succeed in this fight, players need to utilize strategic positioning and ranged attacks effectively, as several goblins have height advantages that can complicate direct confrontations.
