The Arcane Tower is a mysterious and deadly location in Baldur’s Gate 3. When I first stumbled upon the tower, my party got blasted with Arcane Turrets that dealt a ton of damage from afar. To make matters worse, my own attacks didn’t seem to do anything to them in return. Luckily, I’ve figured out how to get past them—and return the tower to its former glory. Here’s everything you need to know to reactivate the Arcane Tower in Baldur’s Gate 3.
BG3 Arcane Tower guide - How to get past the Arcane Turrets in Baldur’s Gate 3
The Arcane Tower is located in the southwest corner of the Underdark, pictured above(X:-19 Y:-284). A pair of turrets guard the entrance; while their Sturdy effect makes destroying them a tough task, it can be done; if you have a spellcaster in your party, you can flingLightning spellsat them to quickly decimate their small HP pools.
It’s also possible to get around the turrets without taking any damage. This is the route I chose; to do it, you’ll need to sendone party memberaround the turrets and down an outside wall of the tower. I highly recommend sending a character likeAstarion, as his Dash class action and Sleight of Hand proficiency will be useful. You can also send a druid with Wild Shape.
To get past the turrets,ungroup your partyand enter Turn-Based Mode. This will allow you to move precisely and better predict when the turrets will fire. Then, follow the steps I’ve outlined below:
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How to Repair the Arcane Tower Elevator in Baldur’s Gate 3
You’ve made it past the turrets, but now what? Well, inside the Arcane Tower is an elevator that will allow you to travel to each floor—but you have to restore the power first. To do this, you’ll need to get to the bottom level of the tower and turn the generator on. Here’s how I did it:
How to Open the Arcane Tower Basement in Baldur’s Gate 3
Once you’ve turned the elevator on, head for the stairs to the right of the generator. At the top, enter the elevator and press theAscendbutton twice; this will take you to the ground floor where you may regroup with the rest of your party.
From here, feel free to explore the tower and hunt for loot, butdon’t head to the top floor just yet. First, you’ll want to find all the poetry stashed around the Arcane Tower. These arebooks or pagesthat contain brief excerpts from poems; you need to read all of them. Note that you won’t be able to get the Patched Parchment until you reach the top floor.
Once you’ve done your reading, head to the top floor of the Arcane Tower. You’ll be confronted by a giant automaton namedBernard. He’ll speak a line of poetry from the Roads to Darkness; if you’ve read it, you’ll have the dialogue option"Or art thou friend, a rescue from my lonely wake?"
Choosing this option will unlock more dialogue with Bernard, but most importantly,it allows you to avoid fighting him. Bernard is a tough opponent, and he isn’t alone; there are Animated Armour enemies in the room with him. Choosing any other option will immediately cause him to turn hostile. On the other hand, he does drop a unique lightning weapon; if you decide it’s worth killing him for, then go for it.
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All Bernard Dialogue Options in Baldur’s Gate 3
If you’ve read all the books, you’re able to speak with Bernard to give him various commands in the form of poetry. Each line of poetry will make him do something different, but the most important one is the line that gives you theGuiding Light ring.
Whether you choose to fight Bernard or not, be sure to pick up the Guiding Light ring and equip it. Head back to the elevator, and a second button will be revealed. This button takes you to the basement; hit it to go there automatically.
Baldur’s Gate 3 Arcane Tower Basement Loot
There’s plenty of loot to be found in the Arcane Tower basement, including a powerful magic staff. Other items range from scrolls to books and even quest items. Here are the highlights:
When you’re ready to leave, interact with the metal door across the rope bridge(X:166 Y:-411). Climb up the stairs and interact with the lever on the stone wall. The wall will move, and you’ll emerge at the bottom floor where the generator is. From here, you’re free to continue exploring the Underdark as you please.
For more onBaldur’s Gate 3, check outTrap Disarming GuideandHow to Save Shadowheart in Baldur’s Gate 3here at Pro Game Guides.
