Baldur’s Gate 3 player skips most hated part of Act 2 with simple spell

Noelle Corbett
Shadowheart looking confused in Baldur's Gate 3

A Baldur’s Gate 3 player has explained how to get through one of Act 2’s most tedious and frustrating sections with just a second-level spell.

Baldur’s Gate 3 is a massive game with so much content to explore across its three acts. The sheer amount of freedom and the number of character options and game-changing decisions encourage multiple playthroughs.

However, there are definitely sections that players may dread having to repeat. Act 2’s Gauntlet of Shar, namely its three trials, falls into this category. The area is necessary to progress the plot and contains key moments for Shadowheart, but the trials themselves can be tedious to complete, especially on repeat playthroughs.

Luckily, one Baldur’s Gate 3 player has explained how to skip the entire thing – and all it takes is a second-level spell.

Shadowheart looking at a statue of Shar in Baldur's Gate 3

Baldur’s Gate 3 player skips Gauntlet of Shar with Knock spell

As Reddit user Boring_Account_1063 explains, it’s easy to skip this dreaded section of Act 2 thanks to one of the game’s most deceptively useful spells: Knock.

The game intends for players to find the four Umbral Gem needed to power the lift and the door to the next area by completing the various trials. However, you really only need to obtain one, which can be found in the room with Raphael’s old enemy.

From there, all you need to do is use the Gem to power the lift, then cast Knock on the door that normally requires the other three Gems. Doing so is enough to open the door, bypassing what can be a frustrating and time-consuming part of the game.

Of course, this means missing out on valuable XP that you’d normally get from completing the trials. Still, some commenters have shared simple ways to get through those.

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inBaldursGate3

There are even more ways to cheese these, with some suggesting sending one character to the end of the Soft-Step Trial before actually activating it and using pathfinding or lighted weapons to see the path for the Faith-Leap Trial.

Though some may want to proceed with the game as intended and experience everything Baldur’s Gate 3 has to offer, those playing for the second, third, or tenth time (especially in Honor Mode) will likely want to take advantage of every shortcut they can find.

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