Baldur's Gate 3: how to clear the Arcane Tower in BG3
The Underdark is full of secrets and oddities, but by far the flashiest is the Arcane Tower. Not only does it tower above everything else in the Underdark, but it’s protected by some rather powerful magical turrets, so it must have some good secrets in store.
There are some challenges to overcome and puzzles to solve along the way though, so we’ll tell you what to expect in this full Arcane Tower walkthrough.
This is just one of many secrets in Baldur's Gate 3 though, so check out our guides on how to complete the Gauntlet of Shar, finish the masterwork weapon, and open Necromancy of Thay.
Avoid the arcane turrets – BG3
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Once you get close enough, you’ll be thrown in turn-based mode as the arcane turrets take aim at you. It’s best that you deactivate group mode and take just one character through this section – ideally, a Rogue, as they can use Dash as a bonus action. The turrets will show you their exact line of sight with a laser, so just make sure that your character always ends their turn with a piece of terrain between them and the turret.
Sneak around through the window of the tower and go out of the balcony to the left, there you’ll find some mushrooms drooping down below the balcony. Use them to jump all the way down to the ground – you may have to take a little bit of fall damage here, but you’ll be fine.
Here you can get into the bottom floor by lockpicking a door where you’ll find a deactivated generator that you need to get going.
Fuelling the generator – BG3
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Go back out of the door you came in through and you’ll find a tree with Sussur Blooms nearby. You’ve just got to pick one up and throw it in the generator. This will make the teleporters start working again and deactivate all of the turrets, so you can reunite your party before you continue up the tower.
Bernard’s riddle – BG3
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An automaton called Bernard will greet you if you go up to the top floor, and you’ll be faced with a riddle. If you rush straight up there, you won’t know the solution and be faced with a very difficult battle against the automatons.
Instead, you need to read these three books scattered throughout the tower:
- The Roads to Darkness – found on a desk on the library floor.
- Dusty Book – found on a bookstand next to one of the sets of doors on the floor you originally entered the tower through.
- Threadbare Book – found on a shelf on the garden floor near the bottom of the tower.
Now you can confront Bernard and quote the lines from the book to him, convincing him you’re not a threat.
Entering the basement – BG3
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There is one last secret here, and you have to go to the basement to get it. Pick up the Guiding Light ring that lays on a table on the floor where you meet Bernard. Wear it while near the elevator and a new button will appear, letting you go to the basement.
The main price here is the Staff of Arcane Blessing, which grants the wielder d4 boost to saving throws and 2 extra d4s on spell attack rolls.
