How To Clear The Soft-Step Trial In Baldur's Gate 3? How to Pass the Soft-Step Trial in Baldur’s Gate 3?

Learn how to clear the Soft-Step trial in Baldur's Gate 3 with these tips and strategies, and overcome challenges and progress in the game efficiently.  

by Alaguvelan M | Updated Aug 13, 2023

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How To Clear The Soft-Step Trial In Baldur's Gate 3?

Mastering the Soft-Step Trial in Baldur’s Gate 3 might seem intricate initially, but with proper preparation, it becomes a breeze. This phase of the Gauntlet of Shar tasks you with sneaking past patrolling foes and circumventing obstacles. The good news is, there are no limitations on which abilities you can employ, allowing you to turn this trial from daunting to effortless.

Navigating the Soft-Step Trial in Baldur’s Gate 3 offers various solutions. You can opt for a straightforward approach, attempting to stealthily maneuver through, which can be quite challenging, or you can take a shortcut. To make the Soft-Step Trial a cakewalk, follow these steps:

Select a character with high Sneak, Dexterity, and Slight of Hand abilities (Astarion fits the bill). Detach them from the rest of the party. Equip them with items or scrolls enabling the use of Misty Step or Dimension Door. The more, the merrier. Provide them with ample Invisibility charges. Initiating the trial involves interacting with the altar and offering blood. Now, follow a specific path through the maze: 

  • Enter through the leftmost of the three doors and activate Invisibility. 
  • Move west until you reach a wall. 
  • Turn south and operate the lever. 
  • Pass through the opened walls, grabbing the Soft-Step Trial key from the table en route. 
  • Proceed west through the hall with a grease trap until you encounter a windowed wall. 
  • Engage the lever on the opposite side of the window. Shift north and employ Misty Step or Dimension Door to propel yourself as far as possible (to avoid an Explosion trap). 
  • Navigate around the corner, moving south through the door opened by the last lever.
  • Round one more corner and head north until you spot a significant Wrought-Iron Gate. 

Utilize Misty Step or Dimension Door to access the other side of the gate. Now, seize the Umbral Gem, marking the successful completion of the Soft-Step Trial. Explore the chamber and use the Umbral Transporter to return to the maze's starting point, where your party awaits.

How to Pass the Soft-Step Trial in Baldur’s Gate 3?

Exploring the enigmatic Moonrise Towers within Baldur’s Gate 3 may lead you on a quest for a particular Relic. Inside the Mausoleum and subsequently, through the Gauntlet of Shar, you'll encounter a series of trials. Among Shar’s most devout followers, Shadowheart is ready to tackle these challenging tasks. These trials aren't straightforward and will thoroughly evaluate your skills. Now, let's delve into the strategy for successfully overcoming the Soft-Step Trial in Baldur’s Gate 3.

Initiating your journey, you encounter a perplexing trial. Within a concise maze, peculiar shadows loom. Navigating the Soft-Step Trial in Baldur’s Gate 3 necessitates stealthily evading these shadows. A wrong turn leads to a sudden teleportation back to the starting point as the shadow spots your presence.

Prior to commencing any trials, ensure a blood sacrifice is made at the Sacrificial Bowl. To align with the roleplay, I had Shadowheart perform this act, considering her devotion to the deity. It's a crucial step due to her connection.

At the trial's outset, you'll encounter four archways. My recommendation is to embark on this journey solo, guided by the one who made the sacrifice. This approach enhances your chances of remaining undetected by the shadows. Employing the strategy from our stealth guide, cast Pass Without Trace, a spell Shadowheart should possess.

After numerous attempts, I succeeded by guiding Shadowheart alone through the second Archway. I timed her movement to coincide with the shadow passing by, sneaking up on the right side as it moved to the left. Following this path, I reached a button near the right wall, swiftly pressing it.

The adjacent wall opened, revealing an area with a second shadow. Astonishingly, I executed a successful Stealth check despite its proximity. This underscores the value of Pass without Trace, providing a +10 Stealth bonus.

Once hidden, I proceeded onward until the trial's conclusion. Ascending the stairs, I unlocked the gate, ensuring to carry lockpicks. Claim the coveted prize, the Umbral Gem. Upon retrieval, a button materializes, allowing for teleportation back to the starting point when pressed.

And thus, you've triumphantly completed the Soft-Step Trial in Baldur’s Gate 3! Brace yourself for progressively more challenging trials ahead, such as the Faith-Leap Trial, which, upon realization, led me to question my initial assumptions.

Baldur’s Gate 3  Soft-Step Trial Walkthrough

The essence of this trial is straightforward: Navigate through the maze without being detected. In this trial, you'll find yourself within a maze patrolled by hidden shadow entities. These entities possess a unique form of vision that enables them to perceive the direction they are moving. Getting caught by them results in a maze reset.

The labyrinth holds various traps and obstructed paths. It's advisable to unlock the doors and disarm any traps before embarking on the trial. To initiate the trial, interact with the Shar offering bowl and offer your blood. This action opens the doors to the maze. Opt for the central door with a solitary, stealthy character. Despite the presence of multiple levers within the maze, pulling them is not recommended. Doing so alters the maze's layout, without necessarily making the trial easier.

Instead of manipulating the levers, proceed through the central door. When the shadow patrolling the corridor moves from left to right, head toward the upper left door it came through. Be cautious of the trap at the doorway.

Leap over the trap if it remains undisturbed. Here, you have two choices: Follow the designated route by proceeding through the next doorway on the right (beware of the trap) and navigating the lengthy hallway. Opt for a shortcut by jumping through the small window on the upper side of the room. If you traverse the extended hallway, be mindful of the patrolling shadow. Move swiftly while concealing yourself, hugging the left wall until you reach the corner of the subsequent doorway.

Wait for the shadow to pass before proceeding through it. Turn left and ascend the stairs. For those who leaped through the small window, the path involves moving ahead and turning right to ascend the stairs. Both routes converge at a locked iron door that requires lockpicking to unlock. Upon entry, claim the Umbral Gem.

Interact with the statue to teleport back to the main entrance, enabling you to continue the Gauntlet of Shar. What's next on the agenda? The comparably simpler Self-Same trial.

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How To Clear The Soft-Step Trial In Baldur's Gate 3 - FAQs

1. What is the objective of the Soft-Step Trial in Baldur's Gate 3?

The objective of the Soft-Step Trial is to navigate through a maze without being detected by shadow entities.

2. How can I make the Soft-Step Trial easier in Baldur's Gate 3?

To make the trial easier, choose a character with high Sneak, Dexterity, and Slight of Hand, and equip them with items that enable abilities like Misty Step or Dimension Door.

3. Are there multiple solutions to the Soft-Step Trial in Baldur's Gate 3?

Yes, there are multiple ways to complete the trial. Players can choose to sneak through, but they can also explore alternative approaches.

4. What should I do before attempting the Soft-Step Trial?

Before starting the trial, make a blood sacrifice at the Sacrificial Bowl. This step is important for roleplay purposes and to initiate the trial.

5. How should I navigate the maze during the Soft-Step Trial?

Proceed through the maze by avoiding the shadow entities' line of sight. Using stealth and abilities like Misty Step or Dimension Door can help you bypass obstacles.