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Learn how to kill Balthazar in Baldur’s Gate 3, he undead necromancer Balthazar is found in the Gauntlet of Shar of Act 2 with multiple consequences.
As you explore the Gauntlet of Shar puzzle in Act 2, you encounter Balthazar, who’s behind the overarching story. He is a powerful necromancer with the Circle of Bones headpiece and a fleet of enemy NPC around him. Additionally, he cannot be surprised, giving added difficulty to fighting him in an enclosed area surrounded by enemies. In this guide, we explain how to kill Balthazar, why you should, and alternatives.
Where To Find Balthazar in Baldur’s Gate 3
To find Balthazar, travel to the Gauntlet of Shar under the Thorm Mausoleum in Act 2. Requiring a puzzle completion, you can then move west from the entrance to his location, which enemies surround. Following the trials and the Umbral puzzle, go up the stairs on the west towards the room guarded by a mob of undead (X: -605, -1431). Expect a battle with skeletons before encountering him, and Balthazar should be friendly, depending on your previous decision.
Defeat the mob and talk to the man at the center of the table. The necromancer will reveal himself as Balthazar, Chief Advisor to Ketheric Thorm, and will ask you to aid him in retrieving a relic. Persuade him, and he will tell you of the Nightsong and its ties to Ketheric.
How to Prepare Before Fighting Balthazar
To prepare for the Balthazar fight, sneak into the room and put your ranged character on the ledge in the corner in stealth. Make sure to consume elixirs, potions, and coatings while in turn base mode. Reset your turn so you get a fresh action and bonus action. Spells like Bless, or anything that lasts 10 turns is also helpful. The enemies are surpise-able, but not Balthazar. However, if you want to kill him, turn one if possible or knock him prone with stunning attacks. On honour mode, he can become immune to ice and necrotic damage, so be aware and always examine the boss before the fight.
Also, keep Poison resistance potions handy to resist his spells and attacks. Also, stock up on Silence potions to block his spells entirely.
How To Defeat Balthazar in Baldur’s Gate 3
To beat Balthazar, you can fight him inside the Gauntlet of Shar or after Act 2. It’s much easier to face him in the Gauntlet of Shar with more options to prepare and an easier fight.
The necromancer is weak to close proximity attacks, so make sure you’re as close to him as possible. He has a wide array of necrotic damage spells in his arsenal, so use Silence to prevent him from deploying those against your party. Since the undead around him stay close together, AoE spells are your best bet for managing them. Wipe them out together and deal with Balthazar up close.
Should you choose to not take on the fight early, you will face the necromancer later in Act 2. The boss arena will be at the edge of a cliff facing an abyss. You can use Shove or Gust of Wind to toss Balthazar into the abyss and kill him. However, do be careful as his skeletons can do the same to your companions.
Recommended Potions, Spells and Attacks to Use
Potion of speed, Elixir of Bloodlust, and Heriosm Elixir are the best consumables for the Balthazar fight. The best spell to limit his spells is Silence or Counterspell. Cast the Polymorph spell on Balthazar to turn him into a sheep in Act 2. This will make your life quite easy since you can just toss him into the void.
Should You Kill Balthazar Early?
You can kill Balthazar at any point during your interactions with him. Eliminating him early removes him as a threat later in the game, but you will miss out on a few potential rewards.
Balthazar is easier to tackle in the second half of the game, and you will also be better equipped to defeat him. Choosing to confront him at Shar could backfire on you. The platform at Shadowfell gives you an amazing opportunity to throw him into the abyss. Moreover, allowing Balthazar to live longer helps flesh out his personality more, which enhances the narrative.
Rewards For Beating Balthazar in BG3
Balthazar drops the Circle of Bones headgear, which grants the Animate Dead spell, upon his death. This Level 3 Necromancy spell can turn corpses into allies. It also gives a passive Undead Ward status to undead allies nearby.
What Happens If You Help Balthazar in Baldur’s Gate 3?
Choosing to help Balthazar in retrieving the hidden relic in the Temple of Shar grants you the Summon Golem Bell. The bell can be used to summon Flesh Golem as allies to fight enemies. He also gives you the Moonlantern, a quest item that grants immunity to Shadow Curse ailments.
Alternative Way To Defeat Balthazar in BG3
An alternative way to beat Balthazar is by knocking him off of the ledge with a shove, a gust of wind, or Thunderwave at the conclusion of Act 2 near Nightsong. Depending on an earlier decision, you may be hostile to Balthazar immediately. If not, go near him and knock him off the ledge for an easy kill.
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