bg3 act-1 boss nere grymforge honour-mode
True Soul Nere
Act 1 ·Updated 2026.05.11
Drow True Soul trapped in a collapsed tunnel in Grymforge. Timed encounter — long resting twice after discovery causes his death. Fight Nere + 4 duergar after freeing him, or side with the duergar against him.
True Soul Nere — Grymforge
Location: Collapsed tunnel in Grymforge. Use Smokepowder Bombs (from Roah or Philomeen) to clear the rocks.
Pre-Fight Checklist
- Trade with duergar BEFORE freeing Nere — Stonemason Kith (Elixir of Vigilance), Corsair Greymon (alchemy).
- Get the Smokepowder — from Philomeen the gnome (hideout near the elevator), or kill her for it. Or use Smokepowder Bombs from Roah.
- ⚠️ You have 2 long rests after discovering the cave-in. After that, Nere dies (and the trapped gnomes die too). Don’t long rest more than once.
- Level 5+ recommended.
- Position before blowing the rocks: spread out on the elevated platforms. Nere and the duergar emerge from the tunnel.
Strategy
Choices
| Choice | Consequence |
|---|
| Fight Nere + duergar (default) | Nere + 4 duergar. Hardest but most XP/loot. |
| Persuade Brithvar (duergar sergeant) to side with you | 4 duergar + your party vs Nere + 2 loyalist duergar. Easier fight. Persuasion DC 15 before freeing Nere. |
| Side with Nere | Fight Brithvar’s duergar instead. Less loot, locks gnome rescue quest. |
Kill Order (if fighting everyone)
- Nere FIRST — he’s the biggest threat. Paladin-type with smites, ~70 HP. Hold Person works (humanoid).
- Duergar — 4 of them. Tanky but low damage. AoE or pick them off one at a time.
Tactics
| Tactic | Detail |
|---|
| Hold Person | Nere and all duergar are humanoids. Heightened Hold Person → paralysis → auto-crits. |
| Mind Flayer parasite connection | After killing Nere, his parasite gives you a tadpole power. |
| Shove into lava | The arena has lava pools around the edges. Repelling Blast, Shove, Pushing Attack → instant kill if they fail the save. |
| Explosive barrels | Several smokepowder barrels near the cave-in. Move them before the fight and detonate. |
Party Assignment
| Build | Role |
|---|
| Storm Sorc | Heightened Hold Person on Nere. Magic Missile / Lightning Bolt the duergar clump. |
| Lae’zel | GWM nova on paralyzed Nere (auto-crits). Disarming Attack removes his weapon. |
| Bardadin | Slashing Flourish + Divine Smite. Command: Grovel on duergar. |
| Shadowheart | Bless. Create Water + Spirit Guardians (lava pools become electrified? No, but good positioning). |
| Throwzerker | Enraged Throw → auto-prone Nere. Throw duergar into lava (instant kill). |
Honour Mode Specifics
- Don’t rest. The 2-long-rest timer is real. Plan food/supplies accordingly.
- Free the gnomes before the fight (optional). They’re trapped behind rocks near the cave-in. If Nere dies before you free them, they suffocate. Use the extra Smokepowder vial from Philomeen.
- Lava shove kills work in Honour Mode. No body = no loot though. Use on the duergar, not Nere.
Post-Fight
- Loot Nere: Disintegrating Night Walkers (legendary boots, Misty Step + Freedom of Movement). One of the best boot slots in the game.
- Nere’s head: takes an item for the Myconid Colony quest.
- Free Barcus Wroot and the gnomes → they appear at Last Light Inn (Act 2) and Ironhand Gnomes’ Camp (Act 3).