In a game as big as Baldur's Gate 3, it's no surprise that there are loads of hard-to-find and hidden things. Just like previous games by Larian Studios, Baldur's Gate 3 rewards exploration and roleplaying choices. In fact, there are so many secret rooms, encounters, and even companions to discover that a single playthrough will never be enough.
[Warning: The following article contains spoilers for Baldur's Gate 3.]
Baldur's Gate 3 is broken down into three acts, each taking place in a different region of the Sword Coast as the party moves ever closer to the city of Baldur's Gate. Act One is packed with hidden secrets despite being available during early access and managed to surprise even those who had been playing it since 2020. Act Two continues the story in the cursed Shadowlands, where secrets, quests, and unique interactions are hidden in the gloom.
Related: 7 Baldur's Gate 3 Quests That Are Essential Before Moving To Act 2
8 The Last Light Inn Cellar
One of the key areas of Act Two is the Last Light Inn, a Harper base sheltered from the terrible effects of the shadow curse. However, it’s very easy to miss that down in the cellar of the Light Light Inn, there is a great quest that adds much-needed context to the region. The quest "Investigate the Selunite Resistance" will take the party to various locations throughout the Shadowlands, including other easily missed areas that will be handily marked now on the map.
7 The Githyanki Creche
When leaving Act One, there is the choice to go through the Underdark or over the Mountain Pass. However, when trying to enter the Mountain Pass, a warning will pop up, leading many to avoid it and head straight for the Underdark, not realizing that the Mountain Pass can be visited and exited, allowing the Underdark route to still be taken. More importantly, the Mountain Pass is the location of the githyanki creche that Lae’zel is so eager to find and plays a very important role in her personal questline
The githyanki have turned a former monastery of Lathander into their new creche, and there is a lot of lore to be discovered in the monastery. Exploring the creche will lead to some great loot to be found inside this area, such as the mace The Blood of Lathander and a side quest involving an important egg. But the main reason is to use the zaith’isk and discover its true purpose. This will lead to a conversation with Vlaakith and the ability to visit the Dream Guardian.
Related: 10 Baldur's Gate 3 Items Worth Keeping
6 Githyanki Ambush
Speaking of githyanki, they can be found in the Shadowlands on the bridge on the far side of Reithwin and will ambush the party when spotted. This ambush will trigger a visit from Kith’rak Voss if the party does not visit the githyanki creche in the Mountain Pass. After defeating the ambush, during the next long rest at camp, Voss will visit and ask the party to aid them. This githyanki ambush is one of two ways to trigger this quest and get the Psionic Detector, an important item for detecting future githyanki ambushes.
5 Release The Pixie
One of the most difficult parts of traveling through the Shadowlands is the curse beset on the region, which will gradually start to affect the party as well. One way to deal with this issue is to carry a Moonlantern, but this will take up the weapon slot for whichever character is carrying it. An easy-to-miss alternative is to release the pixie trapped within the lantern and use the bell she will give as thanks. The bell can be used to call her back and ask for her help with the curse. If she can be persuaded, she will grant the Pixie Blessing, which does the same job as the Moonlantern without taking up a weapon slot.
4 Reithwin's Toll House
The Toll House of Reithwin can be missed depending on the route taken through the Shadowlands, but it is well worth a visit. On the top floor is Gerringothe Thorm, the former toll collector of the area, now twisted by the shadow curse into a formidable gold monster. After defeating her and looting her office, there is a second secret that can be found by smashing some rotten floorboards to reveal a hidden room that can be jumped down to that has more loot.
3 He Who Was
Over on the far Eastern side of the Shadowlands is an NPC called He Who Was, who will give the party the quest "Punish the Wicked." The quest involves gathering evidence of murders committed by Madeline, who is currently a corpse. There are a few ways this quest can end, depending on dialogue choices and whether the party chooses to side with He Who Was or Madeline. However, one possible outcome will grant the reward of the Raven Gloves, which allow the character wearing them to summon Quoth the Raven, which is one of many hilarious Easter eggs, as a familiar without needing to know the spell find familiar.
2 Araj Oblodra
Araj Oblodra is an easy-to-miss NPC in Moonrise Towers who offers some unique potions in exchange for a sample of blood. Letting her take a sample will unlock her as a vendor, and Araj will create a potion unique to the character's race. This can be done for each party member, with each potion lasting until a long rest.
Araj also has some special dialogue if Astarion is in the party when speaking to her, as one of her dreams is to be bitten by a vampire. Astarion will refuse, commenting that he can smell something wrong with her blood, and although he can be persuaded to bite her, he will disapprove. If Astarion bites her, Araj will give the party a potion that permanently raises the drinker's Strength score by two. However, if romancing Astarion, forcing him to bite Araj can have some negative side effects.
1 Rescue Us
Us, the little intellect devourer from the tutorial area, can be found again in the end area of Act Two. Deep in the Mind Flayer Colony, there is a morgue area behind a destructible wall and guarded by a bugbear called Chop. In the morgue is Us, trapped in a cage. Once freed, Us will give the party an item that can be used to summon them. When summoned, Us behaves like any familiar and hilariously will look like a cat when in populated areas and is a perfect example of some of the hidden secrets that can be found when exploring in Baldur’s Gate 3.
