bg3 act-3 encounters honour-mode lower-city endgame

Act 3

Act 3 Updated 2026.05.10

Encounter list for BG3 Act 3 (Rivington, Lower City, House of Hope, Bhaal Temple, Netherbrain). Honour mode notes.

Progress ·

Act 3

Difficulty: 🟢 Easy · 🟡 Medium · 🔴 Hard · ⚫ BOSS — see the general encounter notes for the full legend, the pre-fight ritual checklist, and the run-killer mistakes list.

🟢 Easy

EncounterLocationNotes
Rivington patrolsRivington outskirtsGeneric Flaming Fist + Steel Watcher trash.
Open Hand Temple murderLower CityInvestigation, no immediate fight.
House of Healing patientsLower CityCultists pretending to be healers. Easy fight if you confront.
Iron Throne approachUnderwaterMechanical not combat — bring Water Breathing potions.
Sharess’ Caress brawlLower CityOptional bar fight. Easy.
Steel Watcher random patrolLower CityLone Steel Watcher — burn it down. Reverberation procs through Resistance.
Minsc rescue preludeLower CityLight fight. Recruit Minsc afterward for late-game companion.

🟡 Medium

EncounterLocationNotes
Iron Throne raidSubmerged prison⚠️ Timed. 5-turn limit. Rescue priority NPCs (Counsellor Florrick, Duke Ravengaurd). Steel Watchers + cultists. Misty Step / Boots of Speed essential. Honour mode: pre-buff with Heroes’ Feast, Aid, Bless.
Bhaal Temple trialsUnder Lower CityMultiple Bhaalist initiate fights as you descend. Use Banishment / Hold Monster on key targets.
Steel Watch Foundry approachLower CityWatcher patrols + worker zombies. Methodical clear.
Murder Tribunal initiatesBhaal TempleIf Dark Urge OR posing as one. Several waves of cultists.
Lorroakan in Ramazith’s TowerSorcerous Sundries topSided WITH Nightsong → Lorroakan + summoned elementals. Side AGAINST → Aylin helps fight him. Side with Nightsong = Aylin assist + Staff of Spellpower drop.
Cazador’s spawn (multiple)Cazador’s PalaceVampire spawn waves. Stake and dust.
Ansur preliminaryWyrm’s RockSearch puzzle, then Ansur boss fight.

🔴 Hard

EncounterLocationNotes
Steel Watch TitanSteel Watch Foundry interior⚠️ Massive HP + AoE laser. Disable the foundry power core first (multiple workers around). Once disabled, Titan loses much of its power. Otherwise it’s brutal. Twin Hold Monster doesn’t work (construct).
House of Hope (multiple devils)House of Hope (via Helsik ritual)Hope, Korilla, Yurgir (if alive), and Raphael’s minions. Don’t engage Raphael directly until Hope is freed. Multiple legendary action devils. Heroes’ Feast + Aid mandatory.
Sarevok AnchevBhaal Temple final corridorBig multi-attacker with high HP. Counterspell his big plays. Hold Monster (Heightened) lands ~50%.
Viconia DeVirHouse of Justice / Shar templeCleric of Shar with Spirit Guardians, Inflict Wounds, party of Sharran zealots. Block her concentration with Magic Missile darts to drop SG.
Ansur (legendary dragon)Wyrm’s Rock chamber⚫⚫ Lightning breath in cone — vulnerable when you stack enemies, dangerous to you (you’re Storm Sorc, lightning resist via Heart of the Storm). Dragon’s legendary actions cause storm clouds. Bring Boots of Stormy Clamour + Resilient (CON) for concentration.
Orphic / Emperor combat (depending on choice)Astral Plane endgame transitionDecision-locked fight. Skipped if you side with Emperor.
Murder Tribunal finalBhaal Temple endMultiple Bhaalist Slayers + traps. AoE-heavy, use Careful Spell.

⚫ BOSS

EncounterLocationNotes
Cazador SzarrSzarr Palace ritual chamberVampire ascension fight. Phase 1: Cazador + 4 spawn. Phase 2: at 50% HP he becomes Vampire Lord, gains flight + necrotic burst. Strategy: stake the 7 spawn pods around the room (each round) to weaken him. Don’t ascend Astarion unless you want the evil ending — even if Astarion isn’t in your party, the choice still matters narratively.
Orin the RedBhaal Temple inner sanctumBhaal’s chosen, transforms into Slayer form mid-fight. Save Duke Ravengaurd / Stelmane before fighting Orin — she keeps a hostage. Heightened Hold Monster + Twin Disintegrate from your friend = quick deletion.
Lord Enver GortashWyrm’s Rock fortress throne roomPhase 1: Gortash + Steel Watchers + cultists in throne room. Phase 2: ammo traps + the throne fires lightning. Strategy: kill the Watchers first (they’re the threat), Gortash himself is squishy. Heroes’ Feast pre-cast.
RaphaelHouse of Hope — final phase⚫⚫⚫ Hardest optional fight. Pit Fiend form + 2 Cambion sons. Steal the Orphic Hammer first (frees Hope, who then helps fight Raphael). Use Killer’s Sweetheart ring for guaranteed crit opener. Twin Hold Monster doesn’t work (Fiend with magic resistance). Stack Bless + Heroes’ Feast + Aid + Stoneskin on Lae’zel pre-fight.
Netherbrain (Phase 1: Avernus)Avernus battleWave defense. Gortash’s Steel Watchers (if Gortash dead) help you. Or fight them too if hostile.
Netherbrain (Phase 2: brain interior)Inside NetherbrainMind flayer waves + tentacle traps. Astral Tadpole gives you flight/extra attacks.
Netherbrain (Phase 3: Final Form)Top of Netherbrain⚫⚫⚫ THE FINAL BOSS. Massive HP, 4 tentacle minibosses to kill first, then the brain. Karlach + Wyll fight the dragon ride, your party hits the brain. Use the controlled Netherbrain power if applicable to deal massive damage in one round. Save your Twin Chain Lightning for the brain’s exposed phase — every player builds toward this moment.