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Are you having trouble completing the Gauntlet of Shar in Baldur’s Gate 3? This massive underground building is filled with plenty of traps and puzzles. If you want to reach the end of it and progress Shadowheart’s storyline, you need to collect the Umbral Gems in each trial.
There are three trials that you will need to complete throughout the gauntlet. Even reaching the gauntlet has proven difficult thanks to the various battles along the way. If you have Astarion on your team, make sure he has a strong Baldur’s Gate 3 companion build. Having the Risky Ring can prove useful for the fights here as well.
The Gauntlet of Shar can be found during multiple quests and appears during Act Two. This is one of the multiple acts in Baldur’s Gate 3. Are you prepared to delve into the gauntlet? Here is how to complete the Gauntlet of Shar in Baldur’s Gate 3.
Where to find the Gauntlet of Shar in Baldur’s Gate 3 – Complete the Mausoleum puzzle
The Gauntlet of Shar is located in the northwestern corner of the map in Act Two. Once you reach the forest, you will need to travel west, make your way through the graveyard, and go north of the House of Healing.
After traversing the shadows, you will come across a mausoleum where you will meet up with Raphael. He will warn you of a devil inside the gauntlet that you may need to deal with who happens to be an old enemy of Raphael’s. With the conversation over, enter the Thorm Mausoleum.
Inside the mausoleum is your first puzzle. Head to the back of the mausoleum where you find a large sarcophagus. Around it are three paintings/murals. Interact with the buttons under the paintings/murals in the following order:
- Moonrise Towers
- Grief
- General (Image of Ketheric Thorm)
Once you have done this, a set of doors will open in the back of the mausoleum, granting you access to the entrance of the Gauntlet of Shar dungeon.
How to complete the Gauntlet of Shar Trials in Baldur’s Gate 3
Now that you have entered the Gauntlet of Shar, you will have several puzzles to solve. These are:
- The Statue puzzle
- Soft-Step Trial
- Self-Same Trial
- Faith-Leap Trials
- Silent Library Puzzle
The Gauntlet of Shar is like a maze with multiple stairs and levers that will take you to different parts. Once you reach the main room, it is easy to navigate. You can also choose to interact with Balthazar if you’d like but it is not necessary. Let’s break down the different puzzles/trials.
How to solve the Statue Puzzle
At the entrance of the Gauntlet of Shar is a statue puzzle. Here, you will hear the words, “The answer lies in darkness.” The solution is simple; you need to make the room dark.
In each of the corners of the room, you will find a sarcophagus with a level next to it. Flip all four of the levers, avoiding the traps in the process. Once all four of the levers are pulled, you will see four braziers get lowered into the room. These should automatically turn off.
If the braziers/lanterns don’t turn off, go around the room and shut them all off manually. With the room shrouded in darkness, go through the breaks in the ring that appear around the statue.
Interact with the Umbral Gem. This will unblock the door in the back of the room so you can progress forward. Further up ahead, you will find the Gauntlet of Shar Waypoint.
How to complete the Soft-Step Trial
Each trial in the Gauntlet of Shar has a sacrificial bowl in front of it. Interact with these to begin the trials. After making a blood sacrifice, the trial will begin. Note that there is a skeleton on the left side of the room with an Invisibility Scroll if you need it.
The goal of this trial is to sneak past the various undead enemies in the maze and reach the end. When you reach the ancient altar/Umbral Transporter at the end, you will complete the trial and be brought back to the beginning.
How to complete the Self-Same Trial
The Self-Same Trial is a basic combat trial but it does have a slight twist. You will need to fight your current party to claim victory. Like the previous, trial, interact with the sacrificial bowl at the start. Afterward, make your way through the doors.
You can choose to sneak here to get an idea of where your dark counterparts are hidden. Get as close as you can and get ready for a fight. Once you beat yourselves, you can use the statue to portal back to the start of the trial.
How to complete the Faith-Leap Trial
The last trial in the Gauntlet of Shar is the Faith-Leap Trial. This one is the most difficult of the trials and requires you to reach multiple platforms in the dark.
All you need to do to complete this trial is to follow the path shown in front of the altar at the start. This will lead you to the different pedestals around the room and finally to the end.
The Silent Library Puzzle
The Silent Library Puzzle is part of the Gauntlet of Shar but it is not an official trial and is not required to obtain all of the Umbral Gems. Instead, you will try to solve a riddle involving the Nightsinger and silencing the Nightsong. This will lead to you obtaining the Spear of Night which will help you further Shadowheart’s questline.
Completing this puzzle requires you to get the Teachings of Loss book after defeating the Dark Justiciars and the Umbral Tremors.
How to get the Final Umbral Gem
While you have completed the trials, you will be missing one gem. This is because the final Umbral Gem is being guarded by the Orthon (the devil that Raphael warned you about).
You can obtain the final gem by either stealing it from the Orthon or killing it. If you choose to pick a fight with the Orthon, you will have to fight multiple fiends and a Displacer Beast. The Orthon also has the Hellfire Hand Crossbow, allowing him to hit pretty hard.
After getting all of the gems, you will be able to continue through the Gauntlet of Shar and continue Shadowheart’s storyline.
How many trials are in the Gauntlet of Shar in Baldur’s Gate 3?
There are four trials for you to complete in the Gauntlet of Shar in Baldur’s Gate 3 if you want to complete Shadowheart’s questline.
Where are all the Umbral Gems in the Gauntlet of Shar in Baldur’s Gate 3?
The Umbral Gems are all locked behind the trials in the Gauntlet of Shar. Completing all of the trials will get you the Umbral Gems. The final gem is being held by the Orthon.
Is Shadowheart needed to complete the Gauntlet of Shar in Baldur’s Gate 3?
Nope. You do not need to have Shadowheart in your party to complete the Gauntlet of Shar.
