Did you manage to find the Arcane Tower, one of the most tricky locations in the game filled with secrets? This Arcane Tower full guide in BG3 will help you complete every puzzle within this location.
This tower contains various loot, all hidden behind secret choices, puzzles, and locked doors.
In this Arcane Tower full guide in Baldur’s Gate 3, I will explain everything you need to know about the Arcane Tower including how to get in, how to activate the Elevator, what to say to Bernard, and how to find the secret basement.
How to Find and Enter the Arcane Tower in BG3
The Arcane Tower is located in the bottom left corner of The Underdark area and is guarded by many reactive turrets.
To get past the turrets and enter the Arcane Tower in BG3, players will need to stand just outside of the courtyard and send a Rogue character to sneak through the courtyard.
While the tower is aiming at the rest of your party, the Rogue can easily get past it. For the second turret, try to sneak through again and use the pillars as cover if unsuccessful.
Afterward, you’ll be free to enter the Arcane Tower.
How to Activate the Arcane Tower Elevator in Baldur’s Gate 3
The first thing to do after entering the Arcane Tower is to activate the elevator in the middle of the room. To do that, navigate to the balcony doors on the left and jump off the balcony towards the blue mushrooms.
After reaching the bottom floor, do a Perception check to find the hole in a pipe just next to the building.
Transform into a rat familiar or any small animal and go through the pipe, or lockpick the door nearby. Take the Sussur Blossoms from the tree at the back of the building and take them to the generator in the center of the room.
This will restore the elevator and also disable the turrets.
Arcane Tower – Guardian Bernard Boss Fight Choices
Go back to the Elevator and start exploring the Tower. First, travel to the floor just before the highest level and find The Roads to Darkness book. Then, navigate to the top floor, interact with Bernard, and select the following dialogue option:
- “Or art though friend, a rescue from my lonely wake?”
This dialogue will make Bernard friendly towards you and you’ll be able to explore the rest of the elevator floors in peace.
There are more books around the tower and each unlocks a different interaction with Bernard. Here are all of them:
| Book | Location | Dialogue Choice | Result |
| Torn Paper | Floor before Bernard – On the table against the elevator. | “The silence stretches on – I’m all alone. / Please, can I hold hands, for just a while?” | Bernard hugs you. |
| Parchment Paper | Bernard floor – On the table next to him. | “These empty sheets are all that’s left of you. / The last of all the thoughtless gifts you gave.” | Bernard gives you a Potion of Greater Healing. |
| Dusty Book | First floor, near the entrance. | “There is a light in every living thing. / It’s crawling towards the surface to survive.” | Bernard turns hostile. |
| Threadbare Book | Floor above the generator room, next to the elevator. | “How can I trust? How will I ever know? How can I show myself, my darkest me?” | Bernard places a Guiding Light ring next to him. |
How to Enter the Arcane Tower Secret Basement in BG3
To enter the Arcane Tower secret basement in Baldur’s Gate 3, players need to equip the Guiding Light after reading the Threadbare book and talking to Bernard. This will reveal a secret button on the Elevator leading to the secret laboratory.
This location includes various unique items that are worth collecting, so I highly recommend visiting it. Here is everything you can find there:
- Basilisk Oil
- Staff of Arcane Blessing
- Scroll of Hypnotic Pattern
- Sparkswall Ring
- Timmask Spore
Wrapping up
To summarize the Arcane Tower complete guide in Baldur’s Gate 3, that’s everything you need to know on how to enter the tower, disable the turrets and activate the generators, interact with Bernard, and explore the secret laboratory in the basement.
What do you think about the Arcane Tower location? What’s the best item you got from this location? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.
For more similar content, check out our guides on how to get Infernal Iron in Baldur’s Gate 3 and on the best Nightsong choice in BG3.
He has a Master’s Degree in Philosophy, which allows him to always come up with a fresh approach to solving in-game puzzles and challenges, but also to create content that’s to the point, clean and easy to follow.
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