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forbidden knowledge bg3: The Mirror of Loss in Baldur’s Gate 3’s Gauntlet of Shar can be quite perplexing. Like many players, you might have spent excessive time in the room, repeatedly turning candles on and off, only to abandon the broken mirror in frustration. The good news is that in Act 3, you’ll encounter another Mirror of Loss that you can interact with properly.
If you’ve completed Shadowheart’s quest at the House of Grief in the Lower City, you’ll find this mirror in the Chamber of Loss at the cult’s headquarters’ lowest level. By interacting with this mirror correctly, you can gain an ability score buff. Here’s a guide on how to use the Mirror of Loss effectively in Baldur’s Gate 3.
How to Use the Mirror of Loss|forbidden knowledge bg3
Step 1: Interact with the Mirror
To begin, interact with the Mirror of Loss in the House of Grief. You will need to pass one of two possible intelligence-based skill checks to understand its purpose:
- Arcana Check (Difficulty Class 25): Study the mirror to grasp its true nature.
- Religion Check (Difficulty Class 20): Examine it closely as an object of faith to understand its purpose.
Step 2: Pray to the Mirror
After successfully passing or skipping the intelligence check, you must pray to the mirror by passing a Religion check (Difficulty Class 25) before offering up one of your memories. This step will allow you to sacrifice a memory to trade -2 in one ability score for +2 in another. You can later remove the -2, which is explained below.
Note: You can only access the top memory response if you’ve read the Necromancy of Thay and acquired the Forbidden Knowledge condition. The Deception choice does not provide any bonus, so avoid selecting that option.
Mirror of Loss Memories
(Forbidden Knowledge)
- Strength: Offer memories of your strength, times when you triumphed thanks to raw power (-2 Strength).
- Dexterity: Relinquish memories of your youth, when your limbs were nimble and your heart carefree (-2 Dexterity).
- Constitution: Sacrifice memories of fortitude and well-being, when body and mind endured challenges (-2 Constitution).
- Intelligence: Give up memories of valued knowledge from books and scrolls (-2 Intelligence).
- Wisdom: Let go of wisdoms bestowed upon you by time, including old wounds and tough lessons (-2 Wisdom).
- Charisma: Surrender memories of when your charm won applause, smiles, and kisses (-2 Charisma).
(Deception)
- False Offering: Invent a false offering to deceive the mirror, which does not result in any bonus.
Mirror of Loss Buffs
After acquiring -2 in your chosen ability score, you can select a +2 in another ability:
- Strength (+2): Claim memories from a long-dead general of a vanished kingdom.
- Dexterity (+2): Access the memories of a seasoned thief’s daring exploits.
- Constitution (+2): Seize the memories of a barbarian tempered against hardship.
- Intelligence (+2): Glean the secrets of a wizard from Candlekeep’s libraries.
- Wisdom (+2): Turn to the wisdom of a drow from Lothe or Shar.
- Charisma (+2): Embrace the guile of a bard who could charm even a dragon.
How to Remove Stolen Vigour
Once you have both -2 and +2 in your chosen ability scores, use the Remove Curse spell from Shadowheart to eliminate the -2, which appears as the Stolen Vigour condition. If you fail the Religion check while praying to the mirror, you will only receive the -2 penalty without a bonus. In this case, sacrificing your Forbidden Knowledge from reading Necromancy of Thay is advisable, as it allows you to select a +2 even if you failed the Religion check.
Conclusion About forbidden knowledge bg3
The Mirror of Loss in Baldur’s Gate 3 presents a complex but rewarding challenge. By correctly interacting with this mystical artifact in the House of Grief, you can strategically adjust your ability scores to enhance your character’s strengths. Understanding and navigating the intelligence and Religion checks are crucial steps to maximize the benefits of the mirror.
By offering a significant memory to the mirror, you can trade a -2 penalty in one ability score for a +2 boost in another. Remember, the choice of memories and the Deception option play a key role in this process. If you encounter difficulties, particularly with the Religion check, leveraging the Forbidden Knowledge can help secure the desired bonus. With careful attention and strategic choices, the Mirror of Loss can be a powerful tool in optimizing your character’s abilities and ensuring success in your adventure.
