Where to Find Explosive Powder in Baldur’s Gate 3? Know Its Objectives, Walkthrough, Tips
by Aishwarya R
Updated Aug 10, 2023
Baldur’s Gate 3
Baldur's Gate 3 stands as a remarkable addition to the realm of role-playing video games, meticulously crafted by Larian Studios. As the third installment in the esteemed Baldur's Gate series, this game draws inspiration from the venerable Dungeons & Dragons tabletop role-playing system, weaving an intricate tapestry of adventure, strategy, and immersive storytelling.
Released in early access form on October 6, 2020, for macOS, Windows, and the Stadia streaming platform, Baldur's Gate 3 embarked on its journey to captivate players' imaginations. This early access phase allowed players to delve into a portion of the game, providing a glimpse into its expansive world and mechanics, while also facilitating valuable feedback for further refinement.
The game's full release for Windows on August 3, 2023, marked a significant milestone in its development. The culmination of meticulous design, intricate narratives, and gameplay mechanics that pay homage to its Dungeons & Dragons roots, Baldur's Gate 3 transformed into a complete and polished experience. Its journey didn't end there, as the game's expansion to other platforms continued. Scheduled for release on September 6, 2023, the macOS and PlayStation 5 versions aimed to extend the game's reach, promising the same enthralling adventure on new horizons. Meanwhile, an Xbox Series X/S version loomed on the horizon, though its release date remained a mystery.
However, the path wasn't without its twists. The Stadia version, initially a part of the game's platform lineup, met an unfortunate fate due to the closure of Google Stadia. Despite this setback, the game's core essence remained untouched — an enthralling experience that had garnered praise even in its early access phase.
Upon its full release, Baldur's Gate 3 achieved a remarkable feat: universal critical acclaim. The game's intricate world-building, characterized by lush visuals, engaging characters, and a deep, branching narrative, proved to be a haven for players seeking epic adventures. The integration of the Dungeons & Dragons ruleset served as the foundation for tactical gameplay, granting players the power to shape their journeys through choices, strategy, and character development.
Baldur's Gate 3 stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of the franchise, paying homage to its roots while embracing modern technology and design philosophies. The game's journey from early access to full release exemplifies the dedication of both developers and players, united in their passion for immersive storytelling and captivating gameplay.
Where to Find Explosive Powder in Baldur’s Gate 3?
In Baldur's Gate 3, navigating through the Underdark and reaching the Grymforge is just a part of the adventure. Once you arrive at the Grymforge, you'll discover that True Soul Nere is trapped in a mine collapse, initiating the "Free True Soul Nere" quest. To rescue him, you need explosive powder, specifically Smokepowder Satchels. Here's a guide on where to find explosive powder in the Grymforge:
Locating Explosive Powder in Baldur's Gate 3's Grymforge:
When you enter the Grymforge, make your way around the docks to the northeast side. There, you'll find Duergar disposing of dead Deep Gnomes into the water. South of the Duergar, you'll notice a small Metal Door along the right (east) wall. Proceed through this door.
Inside the narrow room beyond the metal door, your party members will start making Perception Checks (based on their Wisdom). You might notice two things: a Collapsed Archway and a Button. Both of these serve the same purpose — granting access to the hidden room to the south. If you have the ability to shapeshift (as a Druid character), you can transform into a smaller creature to slip through the gap. Alternatively, other characters can simply push the button, which will open a doorway.
Once you're inside the secret room, you'll find a chest that you can loot. Additionally, there will be two Smokepowder Satchels in the southeast corner of the room. Collect both of them as they are the explosive powder you need. Keep in mind that you'll need both satchels to proceed.
Using Smokepowder Satchels to Free True Soul Nere:
It's important to note that True Soul Nere's attitude might lead to a potential fight between your party and him, as well as the other Duergar in the vicinity. Regardless of the outcome, the main objective is to obtain the Broken Moonlantern from Nere or his body, as this is a crucial item for your journey. Exploring the depths of the Grymforge and rescuing True Soul Nere can be a challenging yet rewarding aspect of Baldur's Gate 3's Underdark adventure.
Find Explosive Powder Quest Objectives
The "Find Explosive Powder" quest is a pivotal mission within Baldur's Gate 3, taking place during Act I. Successfully completing this quest propels the narrative forward, uncovering new layers of intrigue and challenge. Here are the objectives of Find Explosive Powder Quest:-
Find Explosive Powder Quest Walkthrough
Here's a comprehensive walkthrough to guide you through the quest:
If you've previously completed the "Rescue the Gnome" quest, you might find an explosive within the gnome's backpack.
Spot two Duergar near the Grymforge (X: -610, Y: 409) hurling Deep Gnome corpses into the water. Request permission to loot the bodies and pass a Perception check (DC: 10) to uncover valuable items. The Duergar may request assistance or ask you to leave.
Behind the Duergar, locate a double iron door. Unlock it and find a secret door with a button. Activate the button to reveal a staircase leading up.
On the way up the stairs, you'll find a chest containing items like the Arrow of Ice. Continue forward and pass another Perception check to spot a loose stone.
As you ascend the stairs, pass yet another Perception check to detect an impending ambush by three Ochre Jellies. Defeat them to progress.
Proceed to the upper level and gather supplies like the Trap Disarm Toolkit, Arrow of Ice, and Arrow of Lightning.
Turn left and traverse the catwalk. Leap across a gap to reach a locked intricate door (DC: 10). Unlock it to access the Contemplation Chamber.
Inside the chamber, approach Philomeen (X: -539, Y: 468) near a smokepowder barrel. Engage in dialogue, attempting to convince her to cooperate. Beware, as failure may result in her detonating the barrel and inflicting severe damage.
Successfully convincing Philomeen yields the Runepowder Vial. Alternatively, engage her in combat and either acquire the vial or make a Dexterity check (DC: 20) upon interacting with the barrel.
Explore behind a secret door (X: -587, Y: 390) to discover more explosives.
Tips to Find Explosive Powder Quest
Baldur's Gate 3 is a world filled with hidden secrets and treasures. Take your time to thoroughly explore the environment, interact with objects, and engage in conversations. Sometimes, key information or items needed for quests are tucked away in unexpected places.
During conversations, choose your dialogue options carefully. Different characters might reveal crucial information or lead you to important quest items. Be attentive to their words and personalities to make informed decisions.
Keep an eye out for Perception checks. These checks, often based on your characters' Wisdom attributes, can unveil hidden passages, objects, or clues that might be vital for progressing in the quest.
Leverage your characters' abilities to your advantage. If you have characters with shapeshifting or other special abilities, use them to access areas that might be otherwise unreachable.
When dealing with NPCs, consider using diplomacy and deception. Persuading characters to cooperate can lead to smoother quest progression, while a failed persuasion attempt might have unexpected consequences.
If combat arises during the quest, devise effective combat strategies. Assess your party's strengths and weaknesses, and plan your moves strategically to overcome challenges.
Save your progress frequently. Baldur's Gate 3 features a dynamic and sometimes unpredictable world. Regular saves can prevent frustration by allowing you to revert to a previous state if something goes awry.
Keep your inventory organized. Make sure you have enough space to pick up important quest items without being encumbered by unnecessary gear.
Be open to alternative solutions. In RPGs like Baldur's Gate 3, quests often have multiple paths and outcomes. If you encounter an obstacle, consider different approaches to overcome it.
Pay attention to notes, letters, and other written materials you come across. They can provide valuable hints about your objectives or shed light on the game's lore.
Don't be afraid to experiment. If you're unsure about a course of action, you can save your game and try different approaches to see which one yields the best result.
Baldur's Gate 3's interactive environment can yield surprising results. Experiment with interacting with objects and using spells to see how they might affect the world around you.
The in-game map can help you keep track of locations you've explored and potential points of interest. Use markers to remind yourself of places you want to revisit.
NPCs often drop hints about quests, locations, or characters during conversations. Listen carefully to what they say, as these hints can guide you in the right direction.
Where to Find Explosive Powder in Baldur’s Gate 3 - FAQs
To find explosive powder in Baldur's Gate 3, embark on the "Find Explosive Powder" quest. The quest involves locating smokepowder to clear a cave-in. Look for Philomeen's stash in the Contemplation Chamber within the Grymforge, or explore the secret room behind a locked door to find additional explosives.
To access the Contemplation Chamber, proceed through the secret door behind the double iron door in the Grymforge. Unlock the intricate door at the top of the stairs (DC: 10). Inside, you'll encounter Philomeen near a smokepowder barrel, a pivotal point in the quest.
If Philomeen threatens to detonate the smokepowder barrel, engage in dialogue to attempt to convince her otherwise. Successfully convincing her will yield the Runepowder Vial. However, if you fail to convince her, her detonation will cause significant damage. Alternatively, you can engage her in combat and attempt to obtain the vial or barrel through different means.
Yes, apart from Philomeen's stash, you can also find explosives behind a secret door (X: -587, Y: 390). Explore this area to discover another potential source of explosive powder to aid in your quest to clear the cave-in.
Yes, you can consider alternative options to clear the cave-in. Utilizing a black powder bag from the windmill or employing hand grenades can serve as substitutes for explosive powder. Experiment with different approaches to overcome the obstacle.