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The Western Tunnels
Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn

The Western Tunnels

Navigate Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn's Western Tunnels. Defeat Gauths, a Beholder, Kuo-toans, and Demon Knights, and find powerful loot like Soul Reaver +4.

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Navigate Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn's Western Tunnels. Defeat Gauths, a Beholder, Kuo-toans, and Demon Knights, and find powerful loot like Soul Reaver +4.

Walkthrough
  1. 1
    Enter the Western Tunnels. The entrance area is clear, but two tunnels lie to the north.
  2. 2
    Equip the Shield of Balduran and Cloak of Mirroring on your lead characters and enter the first northern tunnel. Here you will face two Gauths and a Beholder. They offer no loot but provide good experience.
  3. 3
    Proceed through the next tunnel to the east. Engage and defeat the Kuo-toan war party.
  4. 4
    Search the birthing pools around the edge of this room to find Corrupted Tadpoles, which may be useful later.
  5. 5
    Exit the birthing chamber and continue east. For now, ignore the tunnel leading north.
  6. 6
    When you reach a stone bridge, ensure one character has fire resistance. Have this character cross the bridge alone. A Flame Strike trap is located halfway across, which cannot be detected or removed, but it only triggers once. After it triggers, it is safe to cross.
  7. 7
    On the other side, approach the door. Leave most of your party outside. Buff up heavily and send a single character, preferably one capable of summoning (a Wand of Monster Summoning works), inside.
  8. 8
    Inside, you will find a statue of the demon prince Demogorgon with an inscription suggesting an animal sacrifice. Summon monsters at the foot of the statue and quickly retreat to your party.
  9. 9
    As you retreat, five Demon Knights will appear. They will gate in separately, allowing you to fight them in smaller groups: two near the door, two further in, and one near the statue. They possess dangerous attacks like Symbol spells. Each Demon Knight is worth 16000 XP. The leader drops the Soul Reaver +4 two-handed sword, Armor of the Hart +3 (the best non-drow armor before the expansion), and the Girdle of Frost Giant Strength. The other Demon Knights drop Two-Handed Swords +1.
  10. 10
    Backtrack and take the northern tunnel you previously ignored.
  11. 11
    A Kuo-toan war party is located where the cavern opens up, and another is found through the passage to the northeast. Ignore the western passage for now and proceed northeast.
  12. 12
    From the round chamber where the second war party was, there are two paths. The northwestern path does not lead to anything significant.
  13. 13
    Enter the room to the northeast, which is the chamber of the Kuo-toan Prince and his two Monitor bodyguards. The Prince regenerates rapidly. To defeat him, interact with one of the room's pools three times, dropping the Corrupted Tadpoles into them to weaken him.
  14. 14
    Loot the Prince's remains for a large amount of gold, several gems, Bracers of Blinding Strike, and Kuo-toa's Blood, which is needed for a quest in Ust Natha.
  15. 15
    Backtrack and take the western tunnel you ignored earlier.
  16. 16
    You will encounter a group of Drow guarding a gate.

Skipping the Underdark Section:

While not recommended for a first playthrough, this section can be skipped, especially for Legacy of Bhaal runs. To bypass the Drow gate:

  • If you have 17 Charisma or Viconia in your party, you can either bribe the Drow with 1000 GP or convince them that an attack is underway. This will cause them to open the gates, allowing you to proceed to the surface exit.
  • Even if you intend to explore the Underdark, placating the Drow can give you an advantage. Target the Drow Wizard with a backstab before engaging the others.
  • Among the Drow gear, you may find the Archers Eyes amulet if imported from Siege of Dragonspear.
  • Do not pass through the gate if you wish to maintain your disguises for Ust Natha.
Tips
  • Prepare fire resistance before crossing the stone bridge.
  • Buff your party heavily before entering the Demogorgon statue room.
  • Summon monsters to distract the Demon Knights.
  • Use Corrupted Tadpoles to weaken the Kuo-toan Prince.
  • Consider bribing or deceiving the Drow guards to skip the Underdark section.

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