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| description = This page focuses on Ketheric Thorm's behavior during combat and how to fight him.
| description = This page focuses on Ketheric Thorm's behavior during combat and how to fight him.
| image = alena-dubrovina-kethericportrait-1.webp
| image = alena-dubrovina-kethericportrait-1.webp
}}{{CharacterInfo
}}
|title      =
{{Infobox creature
|name       = Ketheric Thorm
| name = Ketheric Thorm
|file        = alena-dubrovina-kethericportrait-1.webp
| image =  
|STR        = 18
<gallery>
|DEX        = 13
Alena-dubrovina-kethericportrait-1.webp|Portrait
|CON        = 17
</gallery>
|INT        = 12
| size = Medium
|WIS        = 15
| race = [[Undead]] [[Half-Elf]]
|CHA        = 20
| type = Undead
|str save    =  
| class = [[Oathbreaker]] Paladin
|dex save    =  
| ac = 22
|con save    =  
| e hp = 101
|int save    =  
| t hp = 218
|wis save    = Yes
| hp = 145
|cha save    = Yes
| movement m = 9
|level      = 11
| weight kg = 75
|race        = [[Undead]]
| level = 11
|type        = Undead
| str = 18
|HP          = 188
| t str = 20
|AC          = 22
| dex = 13
|speed      =  
| t dex = 15
|size        = Medium
| con = 17
|weight      = 75 kg / 165 lbs
| int = 12
|proficiency = 4
| wis = 15
|initiative  = +1
| cha = 20
|passive    =
| t cha = 22
{{PAS|Arcane Enchantment|Ketheric's Shield|custom=Ketheric's Shield Icon.png}}{{PAS|Darkvision (Passive Feature)|Darkvision}}{{PAS|Defence}}{{PAS|Divine Health}}{{PAS|Extra Attack}}{{PAS|Fey Ancestry}}{{PAS|Immutable Form}}{{PAS|Improved Divine Smite}}{{PAS|Magical Plate|Reaper's Embrace|custom=Reaper's Embrace Icon.png}}{{PAS|Opportunity Attack}}{{PAS|Reaper's Rigidity|Reaper's Embrace|custom=Reaper's Embrace Icon.png}}{{PAS|Shield Bash|Ketheric's Shield|custom=Ketheric's Shield Icon.png}}
| wis save prof = Yes
|bludgeoning = Resistant
| cha save prof = Yes
|piercing    = Resistant
| resistances = necrotic resistant full, poison immunity
|slashing    = Resistant
| t resistances = bludgeoning resistant nm, piercing resistant nm, slashing resistant nm, necrotic resistant full, poison immunity
|acid        =
| conditions = Aura of Hate, Aura of Protection
|cold        =
| h conditions = Aura of Hate, Aura of Protection, Legendary Action: Hordestrike
|fire        =
| passives = Arcane Enchantment (+1) @ Ketheric's Shield, Darkvision, Defence, Divine Health, Extra Attack, Fey Ancestry, Immutable Form, Improved Divine Smite, Magical Plate (-2) @ Reaper's Embrace, Opportunity Attack, Reaper's Rigidity @ Reaper's Embrace, Shield Bash @ Ketheric's Shield
|force      =
| h passives = Arcane Enchantment (+1) @ Ketheric's Shield, Darkvision, Defence, Divine Health, Extra Attack, Fey Ancestry, Immutable Form, Improved Divine Smite, Legendary Action: Hordestrike, Magical Plate (-2) @ Reaper's Embrace, Opportunity Attack, Reaper's Rigidity @ Reaper's Embrace, Shield Bash @ Ketheric's Shield
|lightning  =
}}
|necrotic    =
{{CombatTab}}
|poison      =
|psychic    =
|radiant    =
|thunder    =
|class      =
|background  =
|location    = [[Moonrise Towers]]<br>[[Mind Flayer Colony]]
}}{{CombatTab}}
This page focuses on [[Ketheric Thorm]]'s behavior during turn-based combat gameplay.
This page focuses on [[Ketheric Thorm]]'s behavior during turn-based combat gameplay.


== Spells and abilities ==
== Attacks and abilities ==
{{Feature box
{{Feature box|Incubate Death}}
|name=Deadly Orders
 
|image name=Generic Control.webp
{{Feature box|Deadly Orders}}
|Command your troops to prioritise attacking a specific foe.


Your underlings are more likely to target this foe, and their [[Attack Roll]]s against it have {{Advantage}}.
{{Feature box|Divine Smite}}
}}
 
{{Feature box
{{Feature box|Blinding Smite}}
|name=Divine Smite
|image name=Divine Smite.webp
|Your weapon emanates divine might as you strike, dealing an additional {{DamageText|2d8|Radiant|drs=t}} damage. Deals an additional {{DamageText|1d8|Radiant|drs=t}} damage to Fiends and Undead.
}}


== Conditions and passives ==
=== Honour Mode ===
{{Feature box
{{Feature box|Hordestrike}}
|name=Aura of Protection
|image name=Aura of Protection.webp
|You and nearby allies gain a bonus to {{SavingThrow}}s equal to your [[Charisma]] modifier.
}}
{{Feature box
|name=Aura of Hate
|image name=Aura of Hate.webp
|You and any nearby fiends (and undead) gain additional damage to melee weapon attacks equal to your [[Charisma]] Modifier. The aura disappears if you fall Unconscious.
}}


== Allies ==
== Allies ==
The encounters with Ketheric may involve the following allies for either side. Detailed information in their respective pages.
Ketheric will be accompanied by the following allies. Detailed information can be found on their respective pages.


=== Enemy allies ===
=== Moonrise Towers Rooftop (Stage 1) ===
* [[Susdera]]
* [[Susdera]]
* [[Necromite]]
* [[Squire]] (If still alive)
* [[Intellect Devourer]]
* [[Kar'niss]] (If still alive)
* 8x [[Necromite]]
 
=== Mind Flayer Colony (Stage 2) ===
* [[Mind Flayer]]
* [[Mind Flayer]]
* [[Isobel]] (conditional)
* [[Isobel]] (if kidnapped during [[Resolve the Abduction]])
* 4x [[Intellect Devourer]]
* 4x [[Necromite]]
 
== Encounter details ==
Ketheric Thorm's actual battle has two individual stages, some of which may be affected by the choices of the party.


=== Player allies ===
===Stage 1 (Moonrise Towers Rooftop)===
* [[Dame Aylin]]
The first part of the encounter with Ketheric takes place atop [[Moonrise Towers]]. Ketheric will be joined by [[Susdera]], his loyal dog [[Squire]], as well as eight [[Necromite|necromites]]. Susdera will stand immediately before the party, while Ketheric will stand on the small balcony behind her, with necromites flanking the stairs to him on both sides.


== Encounters ==
Ketheric boasts an impressive 22 AC and thus may be very difficult for the party to hit. Additionally, though his Dexterity skill is relatively low, he has advantage on Dexterity Saving Throws via {{SmRarityItem|Ketheric's Shield}}. Spells with a Dexterity saving throw can still be used should Ketheric activate [[Reaper's Embrace]], which negates the advantage he has. He is also immune to {{Cond|Charmed}} or {{Cond|Sleeping}} due to his [[Fey Ancestry]]. As an undead he is also immune to many crowd control spells such as {{SAI|Command}} and {{SAI|Hold Person}}.
Ketheric Thorm's actual battle has three individual stages, with some of the choices of the party coming into play in them.


===Phase 1===
Ketheric's main source of damage will be through a combination of his melee attacks and {{SAI|Divine Smite}}s. As a [[Paladin]] enemy, his attacks can very quickly burst down party members if his hits all connect. At the end of his turn, Ketheric will also order his necromites to focus their attacks on a single party member using [[Deadly Orders]] and cap his turn by casting [[Incubate Death]]. The skeletal involucre it summons will detonate at the end of the round.
The first part of the encounter with Ketheric is atop the [[Moonrise Towers]]. Ketheric will be joined by [[Susdera]], an acolyte of [[Myrkul]], as well as eight [[Necromite|necromites]]. Susdera will stand immediately before the party, while Ketheric will stand on the small balcony behind her, necromites flanking the stairs to it on both sides.  


The necromites can be safely ignored if the party is equipped to have a high DC or has necrotic resistance, as they only cast [[Reach from Beyond]], a low damage spell. However, both Ketheric and Susdera can summon more of them, so it's best to dispatch them with AoE attacks to avoid being overwhelmed.
Should the player have spared Aylin, she will join the fight on the party's side and assist. She cannot be controlled by the player but her AI will often attempt to focus on killing Susdera or Ketheric.


Susdera herself may prove to be more of a direct threat at the start of combat given that she can cast Fireball and the party begins the fight grouped together by default. [[Silence]] or [[Darkness]] spells can neutralize her and give the party a chance to form up as needed. She's also able to cast "Bone Chill", preventing healing for one entire turn.
Once Ketheric's health drops to around 25%, he will interrupt the fight by summoning a gargantuan tentacle, kidnapping Aylin should she be present, and fleeing down the destroyed tower to the [[Mind Flayer Colony]]. If all of his allies are dead, combat ends immediately, otherwise they must be dispatched first. The party is then free to explore the surroundings and follow Ketheric when ready.


Ketheric may be a challenge if the party has no means of reliably damaging high AC enemies as he boasts a strong 22 AC. Additionally, though his Dexterity skill is relatively low, he has advantage on Dexterity Saving Throws via [[Ketheric's Shield]]. Spell with a dex save component can still be used should Ketheric use [[Reaper's Embrace]], which would negate the advantage he has. Charming or putting him to Sleep is out of the question too given his Fey Ancestry.
===Stage 2 (Mind Flayer Colony)===
====Phase 1====
The next stage of the fight begins shortly after catching up to Ketheric in the [[Mind Flayer Colony]]. A Restoration Pod that grants the benefits of a [[Long Rest]] can be found to the right of the elevator that brings you to him. This pod is present even on Tactician and Honour difficulty. The {{Cond|Rejuvenating Miasma}} condition in the area also allows the party to cast {{SAI|Animate Dead}} without consuming any corpses.  


Ketheric has relatively low Intellect, so spells with it as a saving throw are a good means of damaging him. Alternatively, players may lean more into the melee side of things and attempt to knock him prone, paralyze him, disarm him or otherwise. Blinding him or other means of granting the party Advantage are also means of getting hit in more reliably.
After the cutscene regarding Ketheric and his allies, players will enter a short conversation with Ketheric. During this dialogue, he can be talked down from fighting with a {{Ability Check|Persuasion|18}}, which will only be available if party members laid the conversational groundwork during the prior conversation on top of Moonrise Towers. On a success, Ketheric will kill himself and the battle will skip directly to [[#Phase 2|phase two]]. Otherwise, a fight will ensue.


Ketheric's main source of damage will be through a combination of his melee attacks and Smites. As a [[Paladin]] type of enemy, his attacks can very quickly burst down party members if his hits all connect. Radiant damage resist, AC increasing spells and granting him Disadvantage are all methods to mitigate his burst damage somewhat. At the end of his turn, Ketheric will also order his necromites to focus fire using [[Deadly Orders]] and cap his turn by casting [[Incubate Death]]. Be careful of the AoE explosion of the summoned entity should it not be destroyed before transformation.
Ketheric will stand on a raised circular platform before the party. To the far right, a [[Mindflayer]] can be found overlooking the battlefield, and four [[Intellect Devourer|Intellect Devourers]] will quickly approach the party from below it. On the other side of the room, to the left, four [[Necromite|necromites]] will sling spells down at the party from another raised platform.


Ultimately, the best course of action is to burst Ketheric down as soon as possible through whatever means available. Should the player have spared Aylin, she will join the fight on the party's side and assist. She's capable enough of quickly dispatching Susdera through her own Smites and greatly help with Ketheric.  
Should she be alive, [[Dame Aylin|Aylin]] will be found trapped by spectral hands, granting Ketheric [[Invulnerable_(Condition)|invulnerability]] once more. Aylin can be freed from her prison via the {{SAI|Help}} action. Once free, she will assist the party in the fight, usually by charging directly at Ketheric.


Once Ketheric's health drops to around 25%, he will interrupt the fight by summoning a gargantuan tentacle, kidnapping Aylin should she be present, and fleeing down the destroyed tower to the [[Mind Flayer Colony]]. If all of his allies are dead, combat ends immediately, otherwise they must be dispatched first. The party is then free to explore the surroundings and follow Ketheric when ready.
Dealing with Ketheric himself should be relatively similar to his first encounter. Like in the previous fight, Ketheric can order his party to focus a single party member using {{SAI|Deadly Orders}} and raise new necromites using {{SAI|Incubate Death}}. If the party {{Cond|Disarmed}} him of {{SmRarityItem|Ketheric's Warhammer}} during the previous fight, then he will have a regular replacement warhammer.
 
If [[Isobel]] was kidnapped during [[Resolve the Abduction]], she will be tadpoled and brainwashed into fighting alongside her father. She will use {{SAI|Healing Word}} and {{SAI|Cure Wounds}} on injured enemies.
 
As soon as Ketheric is defeated, the next and final phase of the fight begins.
 
====Phase 2====
{{see also|Apostle of Myrkul}}
The last phase of the fight begins as soon as Ketheric is killed, and this time the party faces the '''[[Apostle of Myrkul]]'''. Twisted by necrotic magic, the Apostle takes up the entire space in the center of the room, summoning necromites as the fight begins.
 
During this phase, up to four additional [[Skeletal Involucre]]s will be created at random points on the edges of the battle at the end of every round. The involucres are resistant to piercing damage but vulnerable to bludgeoning and radiant damage.
 
The Apostle hits hard, hits often, and has a large health pool. The main gimmick of the fight is that the Apostle will sacrifice a necromite in order to gain the {{SAI|Finger of Death}} spell. Should the necromites be dealt with, then this spell cannot be cast.
 
The Apostle's presence also applies {{cond|Bone Chilled}} to anyone near it on the platform, which prevents healing damaged party members.
 
Once the Apostle is defeated, Ketheric will finally die for good, allowing the party to retrieve his Netherstone, and proceed to [[Baldur's Gate]].
 
== Tactics ==
===Stage 1 (Moonrise Towers Rooftop)===
 
The best course of action is to burst Ketheric down as soon as possible through whatever means available. His high Armour Class will make it difficult to land attacks on him unless the party manages to inflict conditions that give advantage on attacks such as {{Cond|Prone}}, {{Cond|Blinded}}, {{Cond|Faerie Fire}}, or {{Cond|Paralyzed}}. He can also be made much less threatening if {{Cond|Disarmed}} since he will no longer be able to use his {{SAI|Divine Smite}}s.
 
The party can also consume {{SmRarityItem|Elixir of Radiant Resistance}} to reduced the high damage of his {{SAI|Divine Smite}}s.
 
The necromites can be safely ignored if the party has a high AC or necrotic resistance, as they only ever cast {{SAI|Reach from Beyond}}, a low damage spell. However, both Ketheric and Susdera can summon more of them, so it's best to dispatch them with AoE attacks to avoid being overwhelmed.
 
Susdera herself may prove to be more of a direct threat at the start of combat given that she can cast {{SAI|Fireball}} and the party begins the fight grouped together by default. {{SAI|Silence}} or {{SAI|Darkness}} spells can neutralize her and give the party a chance to form up as needed. She's also able to cast {{SAI|Bone Chill}}, preventing healing for one entire turn.
 
Alternatively, it is possible to kill Susdera, Squire, and all 8 Necromites prior to the battle. The party can enter the rooftop early by defeating Radija and the 4 necromites guarding its entrance, allowing them to talk to Susdera and antagonize her into attacking them. This will cause her and all 8 necromites to turn hostile, while the {{Cond|Invulnerable}} Ketheric will not unless the party gets too close to him. Susdera and the necromites can be safely dispatched from a distance without approaching Ketheric. The party can also encounter and kill Squire in [[Moonrise_Towers#Ketheric's room|Ketheric's bedroom]],
 
===Stage 2 (Mind Flayer Colony)===
====Phase 1====
The restoration pod prior to the fight provides an excellent opportunity to prepare for the coming battle by summoning additional help. If available, {{SAI|Conjure Minor Elemental}} can be particularly helpful in keeping the necromites and skeletal involucres under control. The party can also take advantage of the {{Cond|Rejuvenating Miasma}} condition to summon multiple undead minions with {{SAI|Animate Dead}}.
 
During the battle, the party should ideally split into three groups: one to deal with the Mindflayer and help Aylin if alive, one to keep Ketheric occupied, and one to deal with the Necromites. Dispatching the Mindflayer quickly will help the party keep control of the battle as it will otherwise attempt to {{Cond|Stunned|stun}} them. It will also grant the party member a high vantage point to fight against the intellect devourers and Ketheric. Dispatching the intellect devourers shouldn't be too difficult as most AoE spells can remove them all at once. They are not too troublesome either, though they could prove an annoyance should they {{Cond|Threatened|threaten}} a ranged unit.  


===Phase 2===
The Necromites on the left platform are not too dangerous, however, they should be eliminated before the next phase, otherwise Ketheric will have a great power spike. One party member with an AoE spell should suffice, leaving them up there will also provide another vantage point for the rest of the fight.
The second phase of the fight begins shortly after catching up to Ketheric in the [[Mind Flayer Colony]]. A Restoration Pod that grants the benefits of a [[Long Rest]] can be found to the right of the elevator that brings you to him. After the revelations regarding Ketheric and his allies, players will enter a short conversation with Ketheric. Whatever outcome of the dialogue, a fight will ensue.


This time, Ketheric can be found on the raised, round platform before the party. To the far right, a [[Mindflayer]] can be found overlooking the battlefield, further in, four [[Intellect Devourer|Intellect Devourers]] will quickly approach the party. Should she be alive, [[Dame Aylin|Aylin]] will be found trapped by spectral hands, granting Ketheric [[Immortal|immortality]] once more. To the other side of the room, to the left, four [[Necromite|necromites]] will sling spells down at the party.
It is recommended to clear all of Ketheric's allies before moving on to the next phase of the fight.


===Phase 3===
====Phase 2====
{{see also|Apostle of Myrkul}}


After either destroying, or liberating the [[Dame Aylin|Nightsong]], his invulnerability is lost, and he can finally be killed. During the first stage of the boss fight, he will eventually flee to the lower levels of the Tower, towards the [[Mind Flayer Colony]] to reconvene with [[Lord Enver Gortash]] and [[Orin the Red]], revealing himself, Gortash, and Orin as the Chosen of Myrkul, Bane, and Bhaal respectively.
Wounded party members can use [[Disengage]] to leave the platform or move to a few small areas at the very edge of it outside the {{Cond|Bone Chilled|bone chill}} aura, and downed ones can be shoved off the platform by others if necessary.  


If [[Gale]] uses his [[Netherese Orb Blast]], the game can end at this very moment, allowing the party to kill Ketheric Thorm, [[Enver Gortash]], [[Orin the Red]] and the [[Absolute]] in one fell swoop.
Party members having trouble hitting the Apostle can turn to area-of-effect attacks, such as spells or {{SmRarityItem|Smokepowder Bomb}}s. The Apostle's immobility allows certain spells such {{SAI|Wall of Fire}} to continuously damage it each turn.


The latter two will leave Ketheric to retrieve the [[Mysterious Artefact]] in order to lead the [[Absolute]]'s army to [[Baldur's Gate]]. During this second segment of the boss fight, which the player can bypass entirely with a successful Charisma skill check. In either case, if the [[Dame Aylin|Nightsong]] has not been destroyed, he will retrieve it once more, and either he, in the second stage or the [[Apostle of Myrkul]] in the third, will regain their invulnerability - but this can be rectified by using a [[Help]] Action on [[Dame Aylin|Nightsong]].
Despite the large size of the Apostle, it's still susceptible to most regular conditions, such as {{Cond|Blinded}}, and can be made {{Cond|wet}} using {{SAI|Create Water}}. Likewise, although it has a difficult-to-overcome saving throw versus many more severe conditions, casting {{SAI|Darkness}} on it will blind the Apostle thereby helping any melee fighters prevent some of the damage and combos, in particular removing its ability to opportunity strike.  


Once he is defeated, he will finally die for good, allowing the party to retrieve his Netherstone, and proceed to [[Baldur's Gate]].
The Apostle's [[Reaper's Scythe]] does respectable damage and also knocks party members back, potentially off of the platform itself. Positioning all melee units with the spikes of the arena at their back will prevent them from being knocked off the platform this way. Alternatively, the Apostle can be {{Cond|disarmed}} of its scythe, removing the threat entirely.


== Notes ==
== Notes ==
{{notebegin}}
* If [[Gale]] uses his [[Netherese Orb Blast]] during the second encounter with Ketheric, the game can end at this very moment, allowing the party to kill Ketheric Thorm, [[Enver Gortash]], [[Orin the Red]] and the [[Absolute]] in one fell swoop. This only works during the cutscene; using the ability outside of the cutscene will trigger a [[Game Over]] as usual.
* Ketheric has [[Necrotic]] resistance and [[Poison]] immunity on Tactician difficulty.
* Susdera and the Necromites can be slain without angering Ketheric by reaching the roof of Moonrise Towers before [[Aylin]] is met and remaining far away from Ketheric. This makes it possible to leave him with no allies when the party finally confronts him. [[Susdera]] is especially vulnerable to being pushed or displaced in some manner due to her proximity to a lethal drop.
* If you are an [[Oathbreaker]] [[Paladin]] above level 11, it is possible to use [[Control Undead]] on the Apostle of Myrkul and have him fight for you against his minions. His movement speed of 0 means he will not follow you anywhere to fight anyone out of his range. You could then attack him again and kill him while he remains friendly and won't fight back. This death however will not trigger the cut scene where he turns back to Kethric or the Dream Visitor returns. Looting the body of the Apostle will give you a supply pack, a letter from Isobel, Kethric's Warhammer, and Kethric's Sheild, but not the Reaper's Scythe, Reaper's Embrace or Kethric's Netherstone. This option thus prevents the game from progressing to Act 3.
{{noteend}}
[[Category:Combat guides]]
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