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Discover how and why you should save Volo in Baldur’s Gate 3, with all the steps, details, and consequences explained.
Baldur’s Gate 3 is an award-winning, wildly popular CRPG that has an incredible cast of characters. There are multiple companions to meet and recruit and a vast array of NPCs to interact with. Furthermore, some of those NPCs are more than just your basic quest givers or boss enemies. With the right dialogue options or quests completed, they can offer something more to your party. Volo is one such character you meet early on in your travels through Faerun. You may find his presence an annoyance at first, but perhaps he has some secrets hiding up his sleeve. In the following Baldur’s Gate 3 guide, we’ll cover how to save Volo with a step-by-step walkthrough, along with consequences and rewards for doing so, and whether it’s worth the extra trouble.
What is the Rescue Volo Quest in BG3?
Rescue Volo is a side quest that you can easily start by interacting with Volo after entering the main Goblin Camp area in the courtyard outside of the Shattered Sanctum. A lot is going on in this courtyard where goblins are feasting, but Volo will stick out because he’s up on a ‘stage’ where he’s been forced to perform. Interact with him and you’ll find out he is now a prisoner and his goblin keeper will drag him back into the Sanctum to lock him up.
Therefore, you’ll need to head inside the Sanctum and find Volo again inside before you can attempt to rescue him.
What does Volo do in BG3?
In Baldur’s Gate 3, Volothamp Geddarm is a widely traveled wizard who appears to be masquerading as a bard. More broadly, he is a reoccurring character in Forgotten Realms media who also made an appearance in both previous Baldur’s Gate games. He is well known in the world of his guidebooks, including titles such as Volo’s Guide to Monsters.
In Act 1 of Baldur’s Gate 3, you will likely first encounter Volo while visiting the Emerald Grove. He can be found in the Sacred Pool area where the Druids are preparing their ritual. He is attempting to interview a bear, with limited success. Moreover, as soon as you introduce yourself he will start to interview you about the fight you just had outside the main gate.
At this point in the game, Volo will appear like little more than an eccentric paparazzi, trying to write exaggerated reports of otherwise mundane encounters. However, when you find him again later, he’ll require your help.
Why should you Save Volo in BG3? Explained
You should save Volo in Baldur’s Gate 3 not only because you’ll receive basic quest rewards like loot and gold, but also because Volo can offer you a permanent bonus. Volo’s Ersatz Eye will grant you the See Invisibility buff permanently. This passive feature will allow you to see invisible creatures within a range of 9 meters. Furthermore, they must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw or lose their invisibility.
However, the narrative and cutscene before receiving this bonus are not for the faint of heart. After you rescue Volo from his cage in the Shattered Sanctum, he will later appear at your camp. He will stay awhile, and if you speak with him, will offer his services in an attempt to remove your tadpole. This requires surgery, where he basically digs directly into your eye with an ice pick. Consequently, you will lose your original eye, but Volo will give you the Ersatz Eye in a gruesome exchange.
Can You Skip rescuing Volo in BG3?
Yes, you can skip rescuing Volo in Baldur’s Gate 3 if you want to, or simply miss it by accident. Even if you speak to Volo outside the Shattered Sanctum and receive the quest, you do not have to follow through.
You can simply not enter the room with Volo’s cage and simply leave him to his fate with the goblins. However, there are two different paths this can take. First, if you kill the goblin leaders then you will be forced to free him regardless. Secondly, if you side with the goblins then Volo will remain inside the cage. However, he will somehow manage to free himself because later on you will encounter him again in Act 3.
How to unlock Rescue Volo Quest in BG3?
To unlock the Rescue Volo quest in Baldur’s Gate 3, all you need to do is interact with Volo at the Goblin Camp while he is being forced to perform outside the Shattered Sanctum. This will initiate a dialogue cutscene where you can try to help or mock him. His goblin keeper will become angry either way and march him back off to his cage.
That interaction will automatically grant you the Rescue Volo quest, and you can then find it listed in your journal.
How to Rescue Volo in Baldur’s Gate 3? Complete Walkthrough
Here are the basic steps to follow to complete the Rescue Volo quest:
- Speak to Volo in the Goblin Camp
- Enter the Shattered Sanctum and find Volo in his cage on the right-hand side
- Speak to the goblin Viskarra
- Succeed on a 10DC Deception or Intimidation dialogue option
- Use the keys to open Volo’s cage
After Volo has been marched off out of the courtyard, head north to find the entrance into the Shattered Sanctum. In the entry hallway, you’ll run into some more guards who challenge you. It’s pretty easy to get by them by telling them you are there to see one of the goblin leaders. It doesn’t matter which one.
Then, after you’re past the guards and inside the main temple area, turn right and head up the set of stairs. Then take a left and walk down to find the third open entryway on your right. Inside this room, Volo will be locked in a bone cage with the goblin Viskarra nearby.
Speak to Viskarra and pass a 10DC Deception or Intimidation dialogue option to convince her that Volo is now yours. You can also attempt to bribe her, but she won’t take less than 250 gold. Afterward, she will give you the keys and leave. Use the keys to open the cage for Volo. He will thank you, promise to meet up again with you later at camp and drink an Invisibility potion before leaving on his own.
Rewards for Rescuing Volo in BG3
You will be rewarded with the Blazer of Benevolence after you save Volo in Baldur’s Gate 3 when you speak with him at camp. This uncommon light armour is a great early Act 1 piece for Bards. The Remedial Rhymes bonus will grant the wearer 4 temporary hit points anytime they inspire an ally with Bardic Inspiration.
Additionally, now that Volo is in camp you can continue to speak with him and he will make his offer to remove your tadpole. If you let him try, Volo won’t be successful, but after a messy surgery, you will receive Volo’s Ersatz Eye. If you’re squeamish you won’t want to watch, but the See Invisibility buff can be very useful.
Eventually, Volo will leave your camp before the start of Act 2. He’ll leave behind a note mentioning that he’s heading to the city of Baldur’s Gate. You can encounter him in trouble again down on the Grey Harbour Docks next to the Steel Watch Foundry. Rescue him again (no quest, this time) and he will become an ally in the final fight. He gives the Volo’s Guide to Monsters condition which will grant your party +2 to Attack Rolls, Saving Throws and Ability Checks.
FAQs About How to Rescue Volo BG3
Q1: Is it worth it to save Volo in Baldur’s Gate 3?
Answer: Yes, it is worth saving Volo in BG3 because you will receive the Blazer of Benevolence and the option of the Volo’s Ersatz Eye permanent bonus. Additionally, if you save Volo again in Act 3, then you will earn his favor as an ally in the final fight. His bonus, Volo’s Guide to Monsters, is a condition that will boost your whole party’s attack rolls and saving throws.
Q2: Can you recruit Volo BG3?
Answer: You can recruit Volo as a camp follower and ally in Baldur’s Gate 3, but not as a full companion. He will never join your party in a battle where you could use his abilities against enemies. However, as a camp follower, you can receive the Volo’s Ersatz Eye permanent bonus. Furthermore, if you save him later on in Act 3 he will be there to grant his Volo’s Guide to Monsters condition before the final fight.
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