Highlights

• Act 1 in Baldur's Gate 3 is the largest act, with many hidden secrets that players may miss.
• Players can find an Owlbear Cub as a pet by fighting the Owlbear and then winning or convincing Krolla to give it to them.
• The Necromancy of Thay book can grant unique bonuses if read without failing any dice throws, and it has further rewards in Act Three.

Act 1 in Baldur’s Gate 3 is objectively the largest of the three Acts, and within that first entry into Baldur’s Gate 3, there are bound to be some hidden secrets that first-time, or even veterans of the game, will miss. These secrets aren’t always just about finding a hidden entrance by removing a book from a shelf, they can go deeper than that, like through conversation with a character, theft, and more.

The beauty of Baldur’s Gate 3 is that secrets are bound to almost every area, and as players free themselves from the nautiloid and venture forth into the great expansive lands of Baldur’s Gate 3’s Act 1, they might uncover some hidden secrets that will set them on a path to power, or hilarity.

Updated on May 7, 2024, by Jake Fillery: Baldur's Gate 3 hides plenty of secrets, especially in Act One. Act One is arguably the most important of the acts, purely because there is so much to do and uncover to help create powerful builds for Tav and the company they keep. The best BG3 secrets often provide players with bonuses to their stats, interesting quests, and deep-rooted lore, so it's best to look here for some secret locations and loot that are bound to be unforgettable as players progress further into the game.

10 The Shadow Druids

Locate A Letter In The Putrid Bog (X: 97, Y: 224)

Upon entering the Grove, players might immediately suspect that Kagha isn't exactly a nice person, since she was all too willing to murder a child for something so minuscule. Upon further investigation, players can locate a letter addressed to her within the Emerald Grove, and begin the Investigate Kagha quest, which sees them travel to the Putrid Bog in search of a note that reveals dark secrets.

This note indicates the interference of the Shadow Druids, manipulative cultists who want to initiate the Rite of Thorns. If players fail to find the original letter addressed to Kagha, or deal with Kagha thanks to Halsin, then the Shadow Druids will never be exposed, and players will miss out on an important story thread that might make them think twice about judging Kagha.

9 Orpheus, Prince of the Comet, Part One: Betrayal

Found In The Fourth Floor Of The Arcane Tower In The Underdark (X: -31, Y: -296)

Whilst it might not be the most powerful secret hidden in Baldur's Gate 3, it's still vitally important if players are to further uncover the truth of the Githyanki people and to help Lae'zel see that there is more to the universe than war and combat. Uncovering this chapter of Orpheus, Prince of the Comet, players can decipher it through Lae'zel who will begin to question her queen early on.

There are a few chapters, but players can find the first in the Arcane Tower, a rather tricky area to traverse due to the puzzle elements involved, and the death that is assured by the turrets that defend the secrets within.

8 Loviatar's Love

Complete Abdirak's Dialogue 3 Times In The Shattered Sanctum

Loviatar's Love is a permanent buff that can be provided to the player in Act One, and it will allow them to receive a +2 to attacks and saving throws when they are below 30% health. There is only one way to acquire this, and it's entirely missable if players fail the necessary dice rolls. To start, players need to venture to the Shattered Sanctum and discuss Loviatar with Abdirak.

Abdirak will hit the player three times, and players must not fail the dialogue options that will see them scream in pain. By completing this section, the buff will be theirs forever, and players can so easily miss it if they fail the dialogue or simply ignore Abdirak due to his strangeness.

7 An Owlbear Pet

Found At The Owlbear Nest (X:86, Y:448)

With so many entrances and secrets to uncover, it’s no surprise that some players may have never taken the path to find the Owlbear Nest. Alternatively, they may have actually found the Owlbear Nest but decided it wise not to tangle with the Owlbear inside. However, if players choose to fight the Owlbear, then the Owlbear Cub will begin feasting on its mother, and this won’t be the last time players see the Owlbear.

After this encounter, players can head to the Goblin Camb and find the Owlbear Cub as the animal being used for the cruel Chicken Run. Players can win the Owlbear Cub or convince Krolla to gift it to them. Players can then tell the Owlbear Cub that he is welcome to Tav’s camp, and thus provide themselves with a pet, as long as they completely help him whenever he turns up.

6 Commander Zhalk’s Everburn Blade

Kill Commander Zhalk On The Nautiloid

When players first begin their journey into Baldur’s Gate 3, they will be placed onto the Nautiloid with the task of escaping. Towards the end of this segment, they will have to help a Mind Flayer battle some devils and reach the helm to get off the ship or crash it. Players should ignore the request to reach the helm, as they have 15 turns to kill Commander Zhalk and reach the helm, and Zhalik should be the priority.

Zhalik is strong, and he’s distracted by the Mind Flayer. Bringing along party members like Lae’zel is a good idea to deal extra damage, loot Zhalk’s Everburn Blade, and escape. This blade deals a considerable amount of damage for Act One, and if they do not loot it on the Nautiloid, it’s lost forever.

5 Necromancy of Thay

Located In The Apothecary’s Cellar Beneath The Blighted Village

Usually, when someone sees a book adorned with dried skin and a literal face, it’s best to leave it on the shelf. Yet, for Baldur’s Gate 3 and Tav, it’s a good idea to pick it up and investigate it. The Necromancy of Thay is a book that players can open once they obtain the Dark Amethyst from the Whispering Depths, and they might want to create a save file before doing so.

Reading the Necromancy of Thay without failing any dice throws will grant them some unique bonuses, but the story doesn’t end there. If players claim the Necromancy of Thay in Act One, then they can see more from this quest in Act Three, and even further rewards.

4 The Festering Cove

Deep In The Underdark (X:70, Y:-239)

The Underdark can be an overwhelming and dangerous place to players unsuspecting, and as such, it’s no surprise that it houses some rare and missable equipment and missions. One such place is the Festering Cove, which is best found next to the mushroom portals after Auntie Ethel’s lair, where players will need to jump over a gap in order to access this hidden cove.

From within the cove, players will discover the Kuo-toa, a strange fish species that worships BOOOAL, a Redcap as the God of Murder. Players can find some neat lore and weapons here, as well as an interesting feature to sacrifice a companion for good for a permanent buff. Yet, is it worth losing a party member forever?

3 Forge The Mourning Frost

3 Pieces Found Across The Underdark

Mourning Frost is a Very Rare Quarterstave that can only be created in Act One. It is by no means a simple weapon, as it features a special perk in which players will deal Cold damage, but also to themselves. This can lead to perks like Chilled, thanks to the combination of Heart of Ice and Insidious Cold as the effects for this weapon.

Players need to traverse the Underdark to discover three items to then craft this weapon, and these pieces and their locations can be found here:

• Icy Helve – Defeat Dhourn, located West of the Selunite Outpost
• Icy Metal – Loot Xargrim the Pale Corpse found inside the Myconid Colony’s secret area, discovered after completing the Defeat the Duergar Intruders quest
• Icy Crystal – Loot Filro the Forgotten, found near the Sussur Tree

2 Noblestalk

Found Northwest Corner of the Underdark, Avoid the Bibberbang

When players adventure through the Underdark, they may come across an area covered in bulbous green mushrooms, ready to explode. Players will need to safely navigate through this area to pick the Noblestalk that is hiding here. It’s a strong medicine, strong enough to bring back lost memories. There are a few characters that players can give this item to in order to restore their memories:

• Baelen Bonecloak
• Derryth Bonecloak
• Shadowheart
• Dark Urge Origin Character

If players want to learn more about Shadowheart and her quest, then perhaps giving her this item is a wise idea, although she might need some persuading.

1 Auntie Ethel’s Hair

Fight Auntie Ethel Until Her Health Is Below 20% In The Sunlit Wetlands

Auntie Ethel may have appeared as just an ordinary and helpful old lady, but if players are to venture to the Sunlit Wetlands and discover her home, they will uncover the truth that she is actually a despicable hag. Auntie Ethel will descend further into her lair when players uncover her dark secret, and they will be tasked with traveling deeper until they begin a boss fight.

Whilst the fight is difficult, it is certainly rewarding thanks to the XP and equipment gained. However, players might not know that they can hold off from killing Auntie Ethel, and can get her health below 20% so that she surrenders in an attempt to barter. Auntie Ethel will trade some of her hair so that she may live, and this grants players a +1 to any Ability Score of their choice as a permanent buff. Auntie Ethel lives to see another day, but that doesn’t mean it’s the last players will see of her.