How to Complete the Soft-Step Trial in Baldur’s Gate 3

The Soft-Step Trial in Baldur’s Gate 3 is one of the three trials in the Gauntlet of Shar required for the Shadowheart questline.

Baldur's Gate 3 Shadowheart with Artifact
The trial can be completed in two ways (Source: Larian Studios)

The Soft-Step Trial is the first trial players encounter in the hidden Gauntlet of Shar in Baldur’s Gate 3. You will find this Gauntlet in the Shadow-Cursed lands in Act 2 of the game, and you need it to finish the Shadowheart questline.

The Gauntlet of Shar in BG3

The Gauntlet is available once players reach Act 2. In this act, head to the Shadow-Cursed lands and towards the Thorm Mausoleum. You will find it hidden under the mausoleum. Complete it to advance the Shadowheart questline.

To do so, you have to pass three trials: the Soft-Step Trial, the Self-Same Trial, and the Faith-Leap Trial

What is the Soft-Step Trial?

The Gauntlet is near the Grand Mausoleum (Source: Larian Studios)

The Soft-Step Trial in Baldur’s Gate 3 is the first trial in the Gauntlet of Shar that, as the name suggests, puts players’ stealth abilities to the test. The trial expects players to pass through a maze and reach the end. This maze, however, is armed to the brim with traps and patrolled by two deadly shadows, so players have to navigate carefully. If detected, they are teleported back to the start, and the trial restarts.

How to Complete the Soft-Step Trial in BG3

You can complete the first trial in the gauntlet, the Soft-Step Trial, using the steps below: 

  • Enter the trial room and interact with the Sacrificial Bowl at the gate. Spill blood into the bowl to begin the trial.
  • A ghost patrols the trial room. At any cost, do not be spotted. Dash on the left once the coast is clear. 
  • Past the first gate, watch out for the grease on the floor that will knock you down. Get up quickly, and jump through the window. 
  • Once past the window, make your way up the stairs towards the Wrought-Iron Gate. 
  • You can either lockpick this gate or destroy it. 
  • Go past the gate and retrieve the Umbral Gem.
  • Use the Umbral Transporter to complete the trial. 
The Soft-Step Trial begins after interacting with the sacrificial bowl.
The Soft-Step Trial begins after interacting with the sacrificial bowl (Source: Larian Studios)

Alternate Way to Complete the Soft-Step Trial

There is an easier, perhaps cheesier, way to complete the trial too. If you’re willing to swallow your pride and cheese the game, you will be able to go past the room without triggering the ghost. Follow the steps below:

  • Before you interact with the Sacrificial Bowl and begin the trial, head to the Iron gate next to it. 
  • Lockpick the gate and open it. 
  • Send your sneakiest character into the trial room and approach the first gate.
  • This gate is booby-trapped. You can either jump over it, or try your luck and disarm it. 
  • Go past the trap and jump through the window ahead.
  • Make your way up the stairs to the Wrought-Iron gate and lockpick your way past it. 
  • Now, use another character to interact with the Sacrificial Bowl at the start and begin the Soft-Step Trial. 
  • This will spawn the Umbral Gem at the end of the room. Switch back to your character inside the room and retrieve it. 
  • Use the Umbral Transporter to complete the trial. 

What Character Should You Use For The Soft-Step Trial?

Since the Soft-Step Trial in Baldur’s Gate 3 tests your stealth abilities, you must pick one of the more inconspicuous characters with higher stealth stats, such as Astarion. You can also use the Invisibility potion to make the trial easier and sneak past the patrolling ghosts undetected.

Rewards for Completing Soft-Step Trial in BG3

Once you have carefully navigated past the ghosts and the traps in the maze, walk up the staircase. Past a locked gate you will find the Umbral gem, your reward for completing the trial. It is necessary to proceed in the Gauntlet of Shar.


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