If you’ve been diving into Baldur’s Gate 3, you’ve probably noticed that there’s a lot to explore and even more to discover. But along with the adventure, you may have found yourself stuck at times, especially when trying to open the Necromancy of Thay book. Don’t worry – the key to unlocking it is the Dark Amethyst crystal, and in this guide, we’ll walk you through where to find it and how to use it to unlock the secrets of the book.
How to Find Dark Amethyst in Baldur’s Gate 3
There are two main ways to find the Dark Amethyst in the game. You can either investigate the well in the Blighted Village or locate a weak wall inside the Forge building. Both paths will lead you to the eastern side of the Whispering Depths, though the Forge route gives you the advantage of high ground.
No matter which path you choose, the Dark Amethyst is located on the far west side of the lower level, but getting there won’t be easy. The area is infested with Phase Spiders and their Matriarch, who guards the crystal’s location.
If your party is not strong enough, fighting the Phase Spiders and their Matriarch can be a tough challenge. In this case, it’s safer to sneak a character under the spider nest and steal the Amethyst. If you decide to go this route, it’s recommended to enter through the well.
On the other hand, if you’re up for a fight, you’ll face multiple Phase Spiders that teleport and attack from a distance, making it difficult for your melee characters to engage. It’s best to use your melee fighters as tanks while positioning your ranged characters in spots that force the spiders and Matriarch to get closer.
The Matriarch will also summon more smaller spiders from egg sacs scattered around the map, but you can either deal with them quickly or destroy the egg sacs before they hatch. Once you’ve cleared the area of spiders, you can claim the Amethyst and unlock a waypoint to the south.
How to Use the Dark Amethyst to Read Necromancy of Thay
Once you have both the Dark Amethyst and the Necromancy of Thay, it’s time to open the book. Simply right-click on the book and select a character to read it. But be aware – unlocking the full potential of the book isn’t as easy as it seems. You’ll need to pass three progressively harder Wisdom checks, with the difficulty increasing to 10, 15, and 20.
Having high Wisdom and proficiencies is crucial to succeeding in these checks. If you fail a check, your character will temporarily suffer from the ‘Whispers of Madness,’ which affects their Wisdom ability checks. To cure this, you’ll need the Level 3 Cleric spell ‘Remove Curse.’
Failing two checks, however, will give you the ‘Baleful Knowledge’ status, causing a permanent disadvantage on all Wisdom checks for that character throughout the game. To avoid this, it’s a good idea to close the book after your first failure or use any inspiration points you have to reroll the check.
If you succeed in all three checks, you’ll gain:
- +1 bonus to Wisdom saving throws and ability checks
- A permanent Speak with Dead spell slot
Don’t get rid of the book after this, as it’s only partially deciphered, and you can unlock even more rewards later in Act 3.
Conclusion
Finding and using the Dark Amethyst in Baldur’s Gate 3 might seem like a daunting task, but with the right strategy, it’s definitely worth it. Not only does it unlock the Necromancy of Thay book, but it also gives you powerful rewards that can help you in the game’s later stages. So, gear up, get ready for a tough fight (or a sneaky heist), and enjoy the journey!
