Baldur’s Gate 3 Defiled Temple puzzle solution and walkthrough

On your way through the Baldur’s Gate 3 Defiled Temple but just can’t figure out how to solve that moon puzzle? While exploring the Goblin Camp, you might have come across the Defiled Temple and decided to check it out, only to be stumped by a fairly difficult puzzle. The solution isn’t that obvious, but once you know how to do it, you’ll be through in no time.

If you’re busy questing, you should take a look at our Baldur’s Gate 3 Search the Cellar quest guide. And if you’re having trouble with some Baldur’s Gate 3 low frame rate issues, we’ve got a guide to help you out there. For now, let’s take a look at the Baldur’s Gate 3 Defiled Temple puzzle solution and walkthrough.

How to solve the moon puzzle in the Defiled Temple in Baldur’s Gate 3

Inside the Defiled Temple, you’ll eventually come across a puzzle on the ground, showing various different phases of the moon inside four circles. The solution to this puzzle involves moving them around so that certain phases of the moon are in the right circles, but it’s not immediately obvious where each should be.

First things first, move all of the new moons (the fully black moons) into the circle that is lit up. Next place the full moons (the fully white moons) into the circle directly opposite. Now, there should be two places left on the circles to either side, where you should move the half-moon circles to. This is all easier said than done, so we’ve got a step-by-step guide to solve this on an untouched puzzle.

For the sake of simplicity, we’ll refer to the lit up circle as south, with the other circles being west, north, and east when going clockwise. Here are the steps to solve the puzzle in order:

1. Turn the north circle once.
2. Turn the west circle three times.
3. Turn the south circle once.
4. Turn the west circle twice.
5. Turn the east circle twice.
6. Turn the south circle once.
7. Turn the east circle twice.

If you followed those steps correctly, a passage will open up leading you to a new area called the Underdark. This is an important location in the Find the Nightsong quest, and you’ll be required to fight some tough enemies, so prepare yourself.

Alternatively, if you really can’t be bothered with this puzzle, you can actually skip it by lockpicking a nearby level. Move your party near the lever to trigger a perception check, which, if successful, will reveal the lever. However, if you fail this check, you’ll have to make do with the moon puzzle.

That’s everything you need to know about the Baldur’s Gate 3 Defiled Temple puzzle solution. If you’re wondering how to move the scuffed rock in Baldur’s Gate 3, we’ve got a guide for that. And if you’re not happy with how you look and are wondering can you change appearance in Baldur’s Gate 3, we’ve got you covered there,too.