10
editsConfront the Elder Brain: Difference between revisions
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
m
→Possible Gale Decision: corrected an to and
(→Walkthrough: Reorganized "Atop the Netherbrain" section to remove repetition, and to clarify which enemies always appear and which are dependent on siding with Orpheus or the Emperor. Added red link for "Countermeasures" in order to create a page for them.) |
PyroSunshine (talk | contribs) m (→Possible Gale Decision: corrected an to and) Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit |
||
| (13 intermediate revisions by 5 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
[[File:Confront the Elder Brain Quest.jpg|thumb|The Elder Brain is the ultimate opponent, and the one way to escape the tadpoles.]] | |||
'''Confront the Elder Brain''' is a [[quest]] in [[Act Three]] of Baldur's Gate 3. | '''Confront the Elder Brain''' is a [[quest]] in [[Act Three]] of Baldur's Gate 3. | ||
==Objectives== | ==Objectives== | ||
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"> | <div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"> | ||
<div style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.6;">Follow the Chosen to Baldur's Gate.</div> | <div style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.6;">Follow the Chosen to Baldur's Gate.</div> | ||
| Line 141: | Line 140: | ||
Regardless of who is allied with, Orpheus/the Emperor joins the party as a temporary companion and opens up a portal to the [[High Hall]]. The final battle to defeat the brain has begun. | Regardless of who is allied with, Orpheus/the Emperor joins the party as a temporary companion and opens up a portal to the [[High Hall]]. The final battle to defeat the brain has begun. | ||
=== | === Upper City === | ||
[[File:Upper City Invasion.webp|thumb|left|The Invasion|200px]] | [[File:Upper City Invasion.webp|thumb|left|The Invasion|200px]] | ||
[[File:Upper City Invasion2.webp|thumb|left|The ruins|200px]] | [[File:Upper City Invasion2.webp|thumb|left|The ruins|200px]] | ||
[[File:High Hall Quest.jpg|thumb|Map of the High Hall]] | [[File:High Hall Quest.jpg|thumb|Map of the High Hall]] | ||
The party returns to Baldur's Gate to find it in shambles. The entire city is a battle between the Nautiloids and an army of Red Dragons. | |||
[[Kith'rak Voss]] will teleport in with a group of githyanki to confront the party. If Orpheus was freed, he will offer his aid freely. If The Emperor consumed Orpheus, he will be angry; a {{Ability check|Persuasion|30}} or {{Ability check|Deception|30}} will make him stand down and begrudgingly lend his aid; otherwise, he will attack. | |||
Moving forward, the party finds a building where all of their allies are gathered, along with a Flaming Fist named [[Beorn Wunterbrood]]. The individuals that appear are based on who was successfully recruited as part of [[Gather Your Allies]]. These allies grant a new action - Call Forth Allies - that can summon reinforcements or utilize powerful AoE attacks. | |||
==== Courtyard ==== | |||
Upon approaching the courtyard, the party will come across [[Watchman Gyordi|Watchmen Gyordi]], [[Watchman Goodge|Goodge]], [[Watchman Fry|Fry]], and [[Watchman Ebber|Ebber]] running away. A passive {{Ability check|Insight|20}} followed by a dialogue option with a {{Ability check|Persuasion, Intimidation, Deception, Strength|20}} will convince them to stand and fight, joining you as allies for the courtyard battle only. On Explorer and Balanced difficulty only, there is also a single-use restoration pod that gives the benefits of a Long Rest. | |||
Entering the courtyard leads to an all-out battle against various Absolutist cultists, [[goblin]]s, [[Mind flayers]], [[Illithid Arcanist]]s, [[Winged Horror]]s, [[Intellect Devourer]]s, an [[ogre]], and a [[Spectator]]. | |||
It is possible to bypass this battle by avoiding entering through the main entrance, and approaching the High Hall from the northern or southern routes with stealth and invisibility. | |||
==== Upper City Sewers ==== | |||
[[File:Upper City Sewers.jpg|thumb|Map of the Upper City Sewers]] | [[File:Upper City Sewers.jpg|thumb|Map of the Upper City Sewers]] | ||
Instead of the courtyard, the party can take a hidden route through Upper City Sewers. This route features few goblins, a mind flayer, Absolute cultists, [[Necromite]]s, and a [[Death Knight]] named [[Stalker Svignee]]. | |||
==== The High Hall ==== | |||
After fighting or sneaking their way through the courtyard or the sewers, the party enters the High Hall proper. | |||
The hall contains Intellect Devourers, Mind Flayers, and Banite and Bhaalist cultists. A [[Nautiloid_(Creature)|Nautiloid]] pulls up and bombards areas and summons Mind Flayer and Intellect Devourer reinforcements every turn. | |||
There are two paths to the top. The left path has a {{cond|Medium Toughness}} door that must be broken down or lockpicked. The right path has a high wall that most characters will not be able to jump up, but a nearby statue that can be pushed over (with a Strength check) to provide a foothold. | |||
At the very top is a door to stem of the Netherbrain. Approaching the stem ''with any character'' causes a cutscene that destroys the Nautiloid and ends the fight, and teleports the entire party to this location. On Explorer and Balanced difficulty only, there is another restoration pod. Regardless, the way forward is to climb the Netherbrain. | |||
===Possible Gale Decision=== | |||
[[File:CTNB Quest Ending Gale Alone vs Brain Stem.jpg|350px|thumb|''"Though our time together will be exceptionally brief. Farewell, and happy landing."'']] Depending on the choices made prior to crossing the "point of no return" and if [[Gale]] is in the party, interacting with the Brain Stem can trigger a short conversation between him and the player character. It is now possible to let Gale climb the Brain Stem alone and use his orb to destroy the Netherbrain. If that happens then all of the fights described in the rest of this article '''are completely avoided.''' After a cutscene with Gale activiating the orb, the party will get directly to the endings and after that to the epilogue of the game. | |||
=== Atop the Netherbrain === | === Atop the Netherbrain === | ||
The Netherbrain is guarded by four [[Illithid Arcanist|Illithid Arcanists]] and a [[Dominated Red Dragon]]. There are also sixteen [[Tentacle]] enemies hidden under the brain's surface that will appear if an allied character travels within 3m/10ft of them. | The Netherbrain is guarded by four [[Illithid Arcanist|Illithid Arcanists]] and a [[Dominated Red Dragon]]. There are also sixteen [[Tentacle]] enemies hidden under the brain's surface that will appear if an allied character travels within 3m/10ft of them. | ||
The party will also face additional enemies that vary depending on whether the | The party will also face additional enemies that vary depending on whether the party chose to side with Orpheus or the Emperor: | ||
*If Orpheus was sided with, the Emperor appears on top of the Netherbrain to stop the party. The Emperor conjures four [[Dream Guardian|Dream Guardians]] to fight alongside him, stating that he knows the party's every weakness. | * If Orpheus was sided with, the Emperor appears on top of the Netherbrain to stop the party. The Emperor conjures four [[Dream Guardian|Dream Guardians]] to fight alongside him, stating that he knows the party's every weakness. | ||
*If the Emperor was sided with, the Netherbrain itself spawns four [[Countermeasure|Countermeasures]], powerful | * If the Emperor was sided with, the Netherbrain itself spawns four [[Countermeasure|Countermeasures]], powerful Aberrations that are designed to counter specific classes. The Countermeasures summoned depend on the classes of the current party members. | ||
The physical structures of the "Atop the Netherbrain" map area allow for multiple "safe" paths across the brain matter, including two visible paths along the "ridges" of the Crown to the east and west. Staying on these paths will prevent [[Tentacle]] enemies from appearing and attacking the party. | The physical structures of the "Atop the Netherbrain" map area allow for multiple "safe" paths across the brain matter, including two visible paths along the "ridges" of the Crown to the east and west. Staying on these paths will prevent [[Tentacle]] enemies from appearing and attacking the party. | ||
At the start of this fight, a counter is issued for 4 turns, after which a [[Nautiloid_(Creature)|Nautiloid]] ship will arrive and begin using the same "targeting" bombardment seen during the | At the start of this fight, a counter is issued for 4 turns, after which a [[Nautiloid_(Creature)|Nautiloid]] ship will arrive and begin using the same "targeting" bombardment seen during the partys' ascent in the High Hall.<ref>At time of writing, the turn counter UI element may display as having five "sections" around its circle, with one section depleted, but still otherwise functions as only allowing up to 4 turns. It's basically impossible to confirm if this UI element behavior is a "bug", or if it had to be implemented this way for another reason.</ref> | ||
Only an illithid party member that is "holding" the Netherstones can cast [[Karsus' Compulsion]]. To do this, the illithid party member needs to move close enough to the Crown of Karsus, and then cast Karsus' Compulsion for several turns. The party member can be attacked, possibly interrupted, and even killed while attempting to cast this spell. As no other party members can cast the spell in their place, the killed illithid party member must resurrected to try casting [[Karsus' Compulsion]] again, at the next available opportunity.<ref> The resurrected illithid party member will still have the usual effects of being resurrected while in combat, and there may be multiple turns before they are capable of taking actions again.</ref> | |||
Successfully casting [[Karsus' Compulsion]] opens up a portal to the "Mind of the Netherbrain" area, where a physical manifestation of the | Successfully casting [[Karsus' Compulsion]] opens up a portal to the "Mind of the Netherbrain" area, where a physical manifestation of the Netherbrain can be attacked. Killing it before the turn limit, leads to defeat the Netherbrain, once and for all. | ||
===Mind of the Netherbrain=== | ===Mind of the Netherbrain=== | ||
This area contains a number of loosely connected floating platforms that are ''breakable''. Periodically, a small group of platforms will be marked for destruction, and their outlines will turn pink. Once a platform is destroyed, any entities that were on the surface are instantly killed and cannot be resurrected during the fight. | This area contains a number of loosely connected floating platforms that are ''breakable''. Periodically, a small group of platforms will be marked for destruction, and their outlines will turn pink. Once a platform is destroyed, any entities that were on the surface are instantly killed and cannot be resurrected during the fight. If winning the fight, then every party member who is killed here or in the "Atop the Netherbrain" area will be resurrected after the fight. | ||
When at least one character successfully passes through the portal, the initiative order will introduce an entity representing the Netherbrain into the turn order.<ref>If Examined, the full name of the Netherbrain's entity is revealed to be "The Unbreakable Will of the Netherbrain", but in the Combat Log and Initiative Order this entity is still labelled as "The Netherbrain."</ref> | When at least one character successfully passes through the portal, the initiative order will introduce an entity representing the Netherbrain into the turn order.<ref>If Examined, the full name of the Netherbrain's entity is revealed to be "The Unbreakable Will of the Netherbrain", but in the Combat Log and Initiative Order this entity is still labelled as "The Netherbrain."</ref> | ||
To reach "The Mind of The Netherbrain" after this trigger occurs, ''each individual | To reach "The Mind of The Netherbrain" area after this trigger occurs, ''each individual party member and summoned creature'' must directly interact with the portal to be brought through, or else they will remain in the "Atop the Netherbrain" area. | ||
Upon successfully interacting with the portal, the | Upon successfully interacting with the portal, the party member will appear somewhere inside "The Mind of the Netherbrain", on one of the aforementioned breakable platforms (out of the rough "half-ring" grouping of platforms that is farthest away from the Netherbrain). Once all party members are ''either'' inside the "Mind of the Netherbrain" area, or have been killed while still in the "Atop the Netherbrain" area, the turn order will truncate down to include just the entities present inside the "Mind of the Netherbrain" area. | ||
===The Unbreakable Will of the Netherbrain=== | ===The Unbreakable Will of the Netherbrain=== | ||
When the Netherbrain is added into the turn order, a new counter will appear, overwriting the state of the prior timer. If | When the Netherbrain is added into the turn order, a new counter will appear, overwriting the state of the prior timer. If the Netherbrain entity is not killed within the allotted turns, a Game Over screen will occur. | ||
If the final DC 99 check to "DOMINATE THE BRAIN" was passed with a critical success, the Netherbrain will start with the [[Against All Odds (Condition)|Against All Odds]] debuff, lowering | If the final DC 99 check at the Morphic Pool to "DOMINATE THE BRAIN" was passed with a critical success, the Netherbrain will start with the [[Against All Odds (Condition)|Against All Odds]] debuff, lowering its HP by 20%. | ||
At the start of each of the Netherbrains' turns, it may attempt to cast a spell called [[Orb of Negation]] which summons an entity of that name with an aura condition attached to it, and adds the orb entity into the turn order. When the turn of an orb entity arrives, any platforms | At the start of each of the Netherbrains' turns, it may attempt to cast a spell called [[Orb of Negation]] which summons an entity of that name with an aura condition attached to it, and adds the orb entity into the turn order. When the turn of an orb entity arrives, any platforms afflicted with the orbs' condition be destroyed. The party members and summons on the platforms will be killed. | ||
The first time within each round that the Netherbrain takes damage from another character, it may attempt to cast an ability called [[Retributive Brainquake]], which deals 10-60 damage (minimum of 5 damage if an unspecified save is passed) to all characters who are within 30m of the Netherbrain. | The first time within each round that the Netherbrain takes damage from another character, it may attempt to cast an ability called [[Retributive Brainquake]], which deals 10-60 damage (minimum of 5 damage if an unspecified save is passed) to all characters who are within 30m of the Netherbrain. | ||
When the Netherbrain reaches 0 hit points | When the Netherbrain reaches 0 hit points it is defeated and a conversation will trigger allowing the party to choose what to do with the defeated Netherbrain. | ||
===Final Choice=== | ===Final Choice=== | ||
After the Netherbrain has been defeated, the choice must be made to either [[Control the Elder Brain]] or [[Destroy the Elder Brain]]. Regardless of the choice, this | After the Netherbrain has been defeated, the choice must be made to either [[Control the Elder Brain]] or [[Destroy the Elder Brain]]. Regardless of the choice, this leads to the endings and after that to the epilogue of the game. | ||
== Allies in the Final Fight== | == Allies in the Final Fight== | ||
| Line 268: | Line 281: | ||
|- | |- | ||
|[[Zhentarim]] | |[[Zhentarim]] | ||
| | |[[Black Fist Enforcers]] | ||
| | |Summon two elite assassin mercenaries from the Zhentarim's ranks. | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[Jaheira]] | | [[Jaheira]] | ||
| Line 326: | Line 339: | ||
==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
* Despite being a possible ally in [[Gather Your Allies]], the Gondians do not appear to have a summon/ability. | * Despite being a possible ally in [[Gather Your Allies]], the Gondians do not appear to have a summon/ability. | ||
<references /> | <references /> | ||