Challenge Orb in Baldur's Gate 3: how to complete the challenges and find all the dark gems

Ball's call "Daughter of Darkness". The main task while exploring the sacred temple of the Night Singer is to the tests of the goddess, receive the spear of Night, find dark gems and open access to a new location, the Kingdom of Shadows.

This guide provides a detailed walkthrough of Shar's Challenge in Baldur's Gate 3, covering how to complete the Trial of Soft Step, Trial of Self-Repeat, and Trial of Leap of Faith.

How to get into Challenge Ball in Baldur's Gate 3

The entrance to the "Challenge Shar" is located inside the location "Vaults of Tormov", which can be reached only if you have a working "House of Healing".

At the “Entrance to the Mausoleum” the first person the protagonist will meet will be the half-devil Raphael, with whom you can enter into a contract (task Astarion find out what the scars on his back mean.

How to solve the puzzle in the Tomb of the Tormes

Once inside the tomb, you will stumble upon Herald of Balthazar - a skull hovering near the sarcophagus and refusing to engage in dialogue with strangers.

Behind it, in the northern part of the region, is the main hall: its walls are decorated with various images, and the floor is "strewn" traps. It is not necessary to neutralize them: they are activated only if you solve the puzzle with the paintings incorrectly.

If you look closely, you can see that buttons are placed under the pictures "Lunar Towers", "Sorrow" and "General". Correct interaction with them will lead to the opening of a new age leading to the underground zone "Challenge Shar".

To solve the puzzle, you must sequentially click on:

• "Lunar Towers";
• "Sorrow";
• "General".

How to solve the Shar statue puzzle

Interact with gem travelto go down to the lower level of the location. Then, open the stone door and find yourself in a spacious hall, where in the center is located ball statue.

You won't be able to approach her: Nightsinger is surrounded by an invisible barrier, a collision with which will cause the unit to be thrown back by a shock wave. If you read the inscription on the tablet, it becomes clear that the solution to the puzzle "lies in darkness". We'll have to turn off all light sources (mystical censers).

Separate Astarion from the group and supply him with "Inventory" sapper kits: The entrance to each side room is fenced off with a marble slab that, if interacted, can trigger a shadow trap.

Then, use the "Hide" skill and visit each room where you interact:

• С leverto lower two mystical censers;
• С light sourceto turn it off.

As soon as the hall is completely plunged into pitch darkness, around the statue of the goddess will be displayed purple symbols. In the "Stealth" mode, go to the right side of the zone from where the labyrinth starts and, carefully, without touching the traps and glowing symbols, overcome the path to Shar.

After activating the dark gem, hear: "Welcome child. Come to my voice and prove that you are worthy". Go to the next stone door to enter the main area of ​​the sacred temple.

Where to find Balthazar

In the next zone, the protagonist will be met by skeleton duelists: from a conversation with them, it will become clear that this is an unusual undead that someone controls. It will not be possible to find out the details - a group of uninvited guests will dark justiciarsprotecting sacred lands from third-party interference.

Fight them, directing the main striking force to destruction dark thrillto stop the influx of additional enemies. After that, focus on avengers, nightweavers and soulcatchers. It is not necessary to be distracted by the previously mentioned skeleton duelists: during the battle against a stronger enemy, they will take the side of the protagonist, and due to their low % of health, they will most likely be killed during the first cycle.

Once the opponents are destroyed, go through heading west and activate the rune circle "Challenge Shar". Then, continue to move along the intended trajectory: move inside the hall, which is being explored by skeleton duelists.

The arrival of new guests will again provoke the appearance of dark justiciars and dark awe.

After destroying the second group of enemies, you will gain access to a small office studied by the Flesh, medic ghouls and Balthazar.

From the dialogue with the commander of the Reborn, it will become clear that he, like the protagonist, is exploring the "Challenge of Shar" in order to find an ancient relic, which will later be transferred to his master - Ketherik Torm.

• If you play along with Balthazar and agree to help him find Dark Gems, and then ask for help in the form of additional resources (remark from the Persuasion category), you will receive "Golem Summoning Bell".
• If you provoke a fight with the commander of the Ascended, you will face in a fight with Flesh, medical ghouls and Balthazar himself. As a result, you will be able to pick up a unique accessory - Rare Hoop of Bones.

Before you go on a new assignment, look into the storage located nearby (CS - 30).

Inside you will find three luxurious chests with the following contents:

• "Ring of Merciless Light" of unusual quality;
• The book "Teachings on Loss: Infinite Darkness";
• Alchemical ingredient "Spores of acceleration";
• Scroll "Planar Servant" (×1);
• Scroll "Magic Weapon" (×1);
• Scroll "Flicker";
• Infernal Iron (×1);
• Gold (×567).

Behind the double oak door, in turn, you will find altar Shar.

1. If you successfully an intelligence test (IC - 14) through the “Pray at the altar” line, get the buff “Grace of the Nightsinger": creature is resistant to necrotic damage until its next long rest.
2. In case of failure, a negative status will be imposed "Evil Ball": Mistress of Loss has jinxed you, causing a temporary decrease in agility.

If you go even further, you will come across another double oak door. After picking the lock, get access to the secret part of the location with gilded chest, where you can get gold (×123), pearls and the alchemy ingredient Cloud Giant's Finger.

However, first you have to deal with raincoat — a winged creature capable of summoning in the form of "Phantasms" during the battle.

Walkthrough Challenge Ball in Baldur's Gate 3: how to get dark gems

Dark Gems are ancient gems with a purple tint that can be placed on an ancient altar to gain access to the lower floor of Challenge Shar and the secret location, the Realm of Shadows. All of them - four.

How to kill Yurgir

1st dark gem.

The first gem can be obtained after with Raphael's sworn enemy - orton by name Yurgir. In order to get to it, move to the rune circle and follow to eastbound (based on a map). In a lighted room, in the central part of which sits elusive beast, on a successful Perception check, you sense that someone has ambushed you.

When you get close to a monster resembling a panther, a cut-scene will start, as a result of which you will get acquainted with Yurgir. To complete the optional mission "Kill the old enemy Raphael", it is necessary to destroy Orton and his retinue.

A direct attack will result in a battle with a dozen merregons, an elusive beast, and Jurgir himself.

However, you can resort to a more sophisticated way of killing the enemy - to build a conversation in such a way that, in the end, Orton personally gets rid of his servants, and then casts himself into Hell on his own.

Start a conversation with Raphael's sworn enemy and choose the following lines:

• “Let that thing go. I want to talk to you".
• "Wait, do you know Raphael?"
• “I had some dealings with this devil. Maybe we can help each other?"
• “Let's share everything we know about Raphael. Maybe we can help each other."
• “Show me your contract. Perhaps there is some condition that you did not take into ?

Then, you must successfully Insight check and continue the dialogue by choosing:

• “Raphael wants you to kill Dark Justicars? But why?"
• [Belief: COP - 16] “There is a clever trick hidden in the lyrics of the song. You always have listeners - your servants. Get rid of them."
• [Belief: COP - 21] “This is just the beginning: the elusive beast can hear you too, can't it? Kill her too."
• [Belief: COP - 21] "Right. Now kill yourself. Then you will fulfill the of the contract and be reborn in Averno. Free."

Finishing every game karmic cubes "Good Luck", demonstrate your skillful oratorical skills, fulfill part of the deal with Raphael and get the opportunity to pick up several Merregon Halberds of unusual quality, hell metal, very rare "One-Handed Hellfire Crossbow" и first dark gem.

How to the Trial of the Soft Step

2st dark gem.

Move to the rune circle and head north. Open first wooden gateto enter the test area. Its essence is to get to the dark gem, without getting caught creatures of darkness wandering through the labyrinth.

Tips to help you the soft step test:

1. Check out the starting area for the presence of useful consumables: skeletons can be found with scrolls of "Invisibility" and additional sapper kits that will be needed to deactivate marble slabs, gargoyle heads and other traps.

2. Before interacting with the sacrificial chalice that triggers the trial, break open one of the iron doors and explore the maze. You can first neutralize all the traps, as well as lay a comfortable route to the room with the dark gem.
3. During the trial, if you fall within the shadow's line of sight and successfully complete a Stealth check, don't move until the enemy entity leaves the area. If you get caught, the hero will be paralyzed, and then transferred to the initial zone with skeletons.
4. Use leverageto move walls and prevent shadows from moving.

5. Avoid bright light sources that capture a specific area. If you linger in an area lit by a mystical censer for a long time, you will most likely fail your Stealth check and be seen by the shadows.

Having overcome the labyrinth, you will find yourself next to a locked wrought iron gate (KS - 10). Hack them and take them second dark gem.

How to the Test of Self-Repetition

3st dark gem.

After completing the first quest of the goddess Shar, leave the territory of its conduct and go to the next heavy door. This time you will have to fight copies of the squad's characters.

The following tips will help you speed up the test of self-repetition:

1. Before interacting with the sacrificial bowl, it is recommended to "Long rest"to restore the Focus and Spell slots. If you wish, you can buy scrolls that allow you to deal additional area damage, as well as other consumables from the merchant by moving to the rune circle near the Last Light tavern.
2. At the start, the clones will be in ambush mode: To initiate combat, approach enemies in Stealth mode and attack from behind. Thus, get additional advantages in battle, as take your opponents by surprise.
3. It is important that each hero on the team is focused on killing their copy. If a character attacks another clone, he will receive a negative status "Rogue Stupidity": all creature stats are reduced by 3 per alien reflection attack. This negative state can only be reset after a Long Rest.
4. Since each of the clones occupies a certain position, it is recommended to ungroup the squad and, under the influence of the “Hide” skill, bring the heroes as close to their “mirrors” as possible.
5. A copy of the protagonist is a representative of his race: it does not bear the name of the protagonist and has a different appearance.

At the site of the death of the ghostly reflection, which is a copy of the main character, a very rare ring "Killer's Love".

According to its ive effect, the wearer's next attack will become a critical hit after the death of an enemy creature. The bonus is triggered once before a long rest.

After destroying the last reflection, you can pick up third dark gem. In order to leave the test area, go up to the second level of the location and interact with dark transport. Thus, move to the sacrificial bowl.

How to the Leap of Faith Challenge

4 dark gem.

Leave the room where you completed the second quest from Nightsinger and go down the stairs to the next heavy door to start the Leap of Faith challenge. As part of this “order”, you will have to the location of the auxiliary platforms and subsequently get to the last vast stone slab that “stores” the dark gem.

The difficulty lies in the absence of any auxiliary light sources: after interacting with the sacrificial bowl, the test area will plunge into pitch darkness, you will have to move “by touch”.

Recommendations and tips to help you the test of the leap of faith:

1. The path to each stone slab, on which the statue of the goddess is located, is visible exactly as long as the acting character chosen to complete the task Shar is at a distance of 5-10 meters. As soon as it approaches, the auxiliary platforms will "evaporate".
2. pay attention to image, folded in front of the sacrificial bowl: with its help one can understand the approximate location of the shadow plates.
3. The basis for fast movement between platforms is jumping. The longest jumps are owned by
4. As soon as you get to the dark gem, do not rush to turn around and overcome the shadow path again. Instead, use dark transport, which will immediately transfer the hero to the sacrificial bowl.

In addition, you can the test using:

• Spell Bundles "Daylight" (School of Evocation, Priest) and "Give flight" (Transformation School, Wizard/Sorcerer): Highlight the area and fly to the last platform;
• Spell Bundles "Daylight" (School of Evocation, Priest) and "Door to Space" (Evocation School, Sorcerer): Illuminate the area and teleport between the stone slabs until you get to the last one;
• Spell Bundles "Daylight" (School of Evocation, Priest) and "Foggy Step" (School of Evocation, Wizard): Illuminate the area and jump across the distance between the platforms where the altars are placed, ignoring the auxiliary shadow slabs with powerful jumps.

Where to insert dark gems

The first dark gem must be placed on ancient altar, located east of the Shar Challenge rune circle - not far from this place, a meeting with skeleton duelists was previously held, as well as a battle with the first group of justicars of the goddess.

As soon as you insert the gem, an elevator structure will drive up to the platform. Interact with gem travellocated on the edge to go down to the lower level of the sacred temple.

Thus, you will go to the next ancient altar, on which you need to lay the remaining dark gems. This action will unlock the age to the Realm of Shadows, which is the Nightsong Prison. However, before you dive into the new zone and finally complete the Nightsinger's errand, you need to find spear of night.

How to get the spear of the night

To obtain the Sacred Weapon, find the entrance to the Silence Library (north of the area where the Leap of Faith Trial took place) and defeat the Dark Justicars.

Next, check the bookshelves for "Teachings on Loss: Nightsinger" and, by interacting with the buttons located on the walls of the columns, unlock the age to the altar "Mystery of the Night".

Lay a book on him - thereby open access to treasure room, where you can get the very rare Dark Justicar's Helm, the rare Dark Justicar's Halfplate Medium Armor, and the rare Nightspear weapon.

If you have difficulty finding weapons, check out the separate guide, which shows in detail how to how to find spear of night in bg3.

Once you have obtained the Nightspear, you will be able to continue completing the missions Find the Relic of Ketherik Torm, Find the Nightsong, and Daughter of Darkness.

In the Kingdom of Shadows, the protagonist will have to get acquainted with the Nightsong and make a difficult choice that can have a serious impact on the main storyline of the game.

In a separate manual, detailed other game guides.