Need a Moonlantern in Baldur's Gate 3? Learn the two main ways to get this essential item: by defeating the drider Kar'niss or by looting Balthazaar's room in Moonrise Towers.
Alright, so you're venturing into the Shadowlands in Baldur's Gate 3 and need that sweet Moonlantern to keep the darkness at bay? Don't worry, it's not as complicated as it sounds. There are actually two main ways you can snag one, no matter what kind of playthrough you're doing.
- 1Method 1: Take Down the Drider, Kar'niss
This is a great option if you want the lantern relatively early. If you sided with the Harpers when you first entered the Shadowlands, you'll likely get a quest to ambush Kar'niss. You can either go along with him for the escort, or wait for the ambush and take him down. If you sided with Minthara, you might have even summoned Kar'niss yourself using the Spider's Lure. You can still attack him then! Just make sure you're ready for a fight. He's a tough drider, but he's got the Moonlantern on him, so it's worth the effort. - 2Method 2: Loot Balthazaar's Room
This method is more for when you're exploring Moonrise Towers. If you've been following the Absolute's path, you'll eventually end up in Moonrise Towers. Minthara might even point you towards Balthazaar, mentioning he's key to the cultists navigating the Shadowlands. Head up the stairs from the Throne Room to the first floor. You're looking for a locked door guarded by an eyeball. You can pick the lock, use a 'Knock' spell, or find another sneaky way to get past it without alerting anyone. Once you're inside Balthazaar's room, the Moonlantern is sitting right there in the middle of the room. You can do this even if you sided with the Harpers and infiltrated the towers.
What the Moonlantern Does:
Once you've got that Moonlantern, you'll be able to explore the really dark parts of the Shadowlands, the areas with those thick walls of shadow. Just have one of your characters equip it, and boom – you and your whole party can walk around freely in the dark. It's way better than a regular Light spell or a torch, giving you a much larger area of effect.
A Quick Note on Broken Moonlanterns:
Just so you know, if you find any broken Moonlanterns around Grymforge or other areas, you can't actually fix them. So don't waste your time trying!
- No matter which method you choose, make sure your party is ready for a fight. Kar'niss can be a tough opponent, and Moonrise Towers has its own set of challenges.
- If you're going for Balthazaar's room, be stealthy! You don't want to alert the guards unnecessarily.
- The Moonlantern is crucial for navigating certain areas, so try to get it as soon as you can in Act 2.
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