Title: Baldur’s Gate 3 Player Discovers Unconventional Strategy to Defeat Final Boss in Act 2
Subtitle: Strategy involves a large pile of gold, a special weapon, and reverse-thievery
By Rebekah Valentine | October 15, 2021
A resourceful player of Baldur’s Gate 3 has uncovered a clever method to defeat the final boss of Act 2 in a single blow, utilizing an unorthodox combination of items and tactics. Reddit user u/GoldenThane shared their strategy on the Baldur’s Gate 3 subreddit, outlining the surprising approach that left the boss utterly defeated.
The secret weapon in GoldenThane’s arsenal was a morning star known as Twist of Fortune, obtainable in Act 2. This weapon features a unique ability called Blood Money, which inflicts an additional 3 piercing damage per every 300 gold possessed by the target. By employing a technique known as “reverse pickpocketing,” GoldenThane managed to sneakily deposit 15,000 gold into the boss’s pockets before the final showdown, significantly boosting the potential damage output. Then, with a single strike of Blood Money, they decimated the boss and accomplished their victory.
[Warning: spoilers ahead]
GoldenThane specifically employed this strategy during the second phase of the Ketheric Thorm fight at the conclusion of Act 2. By cleverly pickpocketing Thorm and exploiting the Blood Money ability when he transformed into an Apostle of Myrkul, GoldenThane was able to accumulate 150 bonus damage alongside the base damage of their attack. Although this alone would not have been sufficient to defeat the boss entirely, it appears that other effects, such as the Illithid power “Cull the Weak” and potentially other abilities, contributed to the boss’s downfall.
The Twist of Fortune morning star is conveniently accessible just before this stage of the game through Gerringothe Thorm. Players can choose to eliminate Gerringothe, pickpocket him, or find other creative means to obtain this special weapon.
Notably, it appears that this innovative strategy can be scaled up to tackle even higher health pools. Discussions within the community touched on whether it would work in the first encounter with Thorm, where he is intended to be invincible. According to user u/srsbsnsman, a stack of 50,000 gold achieved the same effect of reducing his health to zero, but the game did not acknowledge his defeat, resulting in a soft lock that restricted further progress. Players are thus advised to adhere to the intended battle mechanics for this specific encounter.
GoldenThane also divulged another intriguing reverse pickpocketing technique in a separate thread, whereby players can drop a cursed corpse into the inventory of a challenging foe in Act 3. Though more intricate, this method offers a humorous and unconventional approach to bypassing an exceedingly difficult fight.
For those who prefer a more traditional playthrough, a comprehensive guide to Baldur’s Gate 3’s Act 2 is available to aid players in navigating the battles and quests. Additionally, the community has showcased various unique exploits, including someone achieving the worst possible ending for all characters and a speedrunner completing the game in an astonishing ten minutes.
As players continue to explore Baldur’s Gate 3, it is clear that the game harbors hidden strategies and surprises, exemplifying the extent of creativity and ingenuity within the community.
About the Author:
Rebekah Valentine is a Senior Reporter at IGN, covering gaming and related news.