Baldur’s Gate 3: Your Guide to Navigating the Dank Crypt

The Dank Crypt in Baldur’s Gate 3 is a treacherous dungeon filled with traps and locked doors, ultimately leading to valuable treasure and the crucial NPC, Withers. Navigating this dark labyrinth can be perilous, with bandits and undead lurking around every corner, so having a solid walkthrough can mean the difference between a successful adventure and an untimely demise. Withers is a key figure to encounter, as he can provide significant assistance once you befriend him and add him to your party. Here’s a comprehensive guide to tackling the Dank Crypt, including strategies for overcoming traps, defeating foes, uncovering treasure, and securing Withers.

The Dank Crypt is divided into three distinct areas:

Let’s start with the entrance located on the Ravaged Beach, just north of where you land after escaping the Mind Flayers’ Nautiloid Ship.

Before venturing into the Dank Crypt, ensure your party is at least level 2, as there are some formidable threats inside. While it’s possible to enter at level 1, you’ll face considerable challenges. The ideal party composition for Baldur’s Gate 3 should focus on combat prowess, with some skills in trap disarming and lockpicking. Stealth and social interactions are limited here, so the following characters will be most beneficial:

Make sure to gather all your essential gear—magic items, healing potions, weapons, and armor. It’s also wise to take a short rest beforehand and ensure your spellcasters have a few spell slots available to utilize the diverse spells that can aid you.

The main entrance to the Dank Crypt is marked as an “Ancient Door” near the Overgrown Ruins waypoint, located at the northeast end of the Ravaged Beach. This door is locked, but you can attempt a lockpick check if you have the necessary tools.

There are three additional entrances at the Chapel Entrance further north, but these routes are significantly more dangerous. The bandits guarding these paths are quite tough, so it’s advisable to be at least level 3 before attempting to confront them.

Now, let’s explore the alternative routes into the Dank Crypt:

I’ll assume you’re entering through the Ancient Door by the Overgrown Ruins. The Hatch is a viable second option, but it essentially presents the same challenges in reverse order unless you’re specifically aiming to reach Withers and the Amulet of Lost Voices.

Upon entering the Dank Crypt through the Ancient Door, you’ll spot a sarcophagus ahead. If your characters succeed on some perception checks, they’ll notice grease traps scattered around the room, as well as a button on an eastern pillar, which requires another perception check to detect. Here’s how to navigate the grease trap and proceed.

The button is the simplest solution, but if you miss it, other methods can work too. If you’re too far from the button, Gale or Lae’zel can use the Mage Hand spell, or you can shoot it with a bow or crossbow!

To access the next room, you’ll need to use the Engraved Key on the Heavy Oak Doors to the north.

In this connecting room, you’ll have the chance to collect some treasure:

You’ll encounter two sets of doors: one leading north and a smaller door to the west. I’ll address the west door first, but scroll down for details on the north door.

Going through the west door leads to a new area called the “Bedchamber,” where you’ll find an Ornate Door ahead with voices coming from the other side—yet no visible means to open it.

This door can only be opened from the other side, which is accessible via the first two alternate paths through the Chapel Entrance. If you navigate through the broken floor or the outside Ornate Door, you’ll face the bandits, but you’ll also discover a statue of a wizard with a hidden button behind it. Pressing this button will unlock the door.

At this point, your only option is the North Heavy Oak Door back in the treasure room. Let’s see what lies beyond.

After passing through the North Heavy Oak Door, you’ll have several tasks to tackle immediately:

Return to the main room with the statue. In the northwest corner, a successful perception check will reveal a button. Pressing it will open a door but also animate the Entombed dead. However, since you’ve already looted their weapons and gear, they’ll be much easier to defeat!

Once you’ve taken care of them, proceed through the door that the button opens to discover a secret tomb. Open the Heavy Chest to find 93 Gold and the Amulet of Lost Voices, a powerful item that allows the wearer to cast the Speak With Dead spell on any equipped corpse!

Finally, open the new sarcophagus to trigger a cutscene featuring Withers, an intelligent undead. He’ll pose some cryptic questions but won’t attack. After the dialogue, you can find him at your campsite.

Withers serves as a vital NPC for reviving fallen characters in Baldur’s Gate 3, though he charges 200 Gold for each revival. He can also help you respec your characters and even recruit hirelings!

That wraps up the key elements of the Dank Crypt! You can exit the way you came or head east from the Jergal statue into the underwater river to find the hatch mentioned earlier as another option for entering or leaving the area.