Arcane Tower

Walkthrough

The area in the order you play it. Tick things off as you go: they tick off in the checklists below too.

1. 1

   Bypass the Courtyard Turrets

   When you approach the front entrance courtyard through Torchstalk Gulch, enter turn-based mode to take cover from the automated Arcane Turrets that blast continuous ranged attacks across your path. Rush toward the locked chest at X: 27, Y: -298 in front of the estate to claim Skybreaker before slipping past the defenses. You can exploit the turrets' vulnerability to Lightning damage, obscure their vision with Fog Cloud, or shut them down entirely by placing a Sussur Bloom nearby.

   Skybreaker: from the main courtyard entrance, walk to the south terrace bench (X: 27, Y: -298) to find the heavy chest tucked behind itHow: pick the lock on the heavy chestMissable because: locked out once you pass the point of no return in the Gauntlet of Shar (entering the Shadowfell) in Act 2 Don't miss New

   Tip: Turn-based mode makes it simple to dash between cover without taking repeated turret fire.

   Watch out: Straying out of cover without antimagic or lightning attacks will leave your party exposed to heavy continuous damage.

2. 2

   Infiltrate the Second Floor Entrance

   Step inside the main entrance on the second floor, taking care to evade or disable the interior turrets. Walk out to the northern balcony to find the Chest of the Mundane, which uses an illusion to hide its true contents. Pick up the chest's items or suppress its field with a Sussur Bloom to reveal the boots Mystra's Grace.

   Mystra's Grace: Second floor northern balconyHow: Loot from the Chest of the Mundane after dispelling its illusion with a Sussur Bloom or taking its contentsChest of the Mundane Hidden Loot: from the Second floor main entrance, step onto the north balcony to find the Chest of the Mundane containing Mystra's Grace disguised as junk. New

   Tip: Placing a Sussur Bloom next to the Chest of the Mundane instantly dispels its illusion so you can retrieve its gear.

   Watch out: Looting the Chest of the Mundane without dispelling the illusion or pulling the items into your inventory will leave Mystra's Grace hidden as junk.

3. 3

   Descend the South Wall Mushrooms

   Head out to the exterior south wall where large shelf mushrooms form natural stairs down the tower's facade. Carefully leap across these mushroom ledges to descend directly to the estate's lower grounds. This path allows you to reach the backyard gardens without needing the inactive central lift.

   Tip: Jump or feather fall spells ensure your party reaches the lower garden without taking fall damage across the ledges.

4. 4

   Power the Ground Floor Generator

   Gather a Sussur Bloom from the garden outside and bring it to the power generator on the ground floor. Insert the bloom into the engine to activate the central elevator and permanently shut down the automated Arcane Turrets throughout the estate. Before taking the lift upward, open the Gilded Chest located halfway between the generator room and the elevator chamber at X: -53, Y: -284 to obtain Uncovered Mysteries.

   Uncovered Mysteries: Inside a gilded chest on the ground/generator floor mezzanine near the elevator

   Tip: Activating the generator brings the elevator online and completely disarms all Arcane Turrets across the entire estate.

   Watch out: Sussur Blooms emit an antimagic field that prevents spellcasting, so manage who carries them carefully.

5. 5

   Harvest the Greenhouse Mushrooms

   Ride the elevator up to the first floor greenhouse to forage materials needed for Help Omeluum Investigate the Parasite. Search the indoor planters and harvest patches of Tongue of Madness along with Timmask Spores. Collect these alchemical specimens before riding the lift higher into the estate.

   Tongue of Madness: Growing on the greenhouse floor and in the basementTimmask Spores: Harvested on the greenhouse floor and in the basement

   Tip: Both required quest fungi grow right inside the planters on this level.

6. 6

   Search the Bedroom Quarters

   Ride the elevator up to the third floor bedroom to study the poetry notes and search the living quarters. Loot the wooden chest resting at the foot of the bed at X: -29, Y: -273 to acquire Mage's Friend, then pick up Orpheus, Prince of the Comet, Part One: Betrayal from the bookshelf at X: -31, Y: -296 to advance Discover the History of Prince Orpheus. If you wear the Dog Collar dug up from Dread Hollow and hit the northeast wall button by the bed, the dispenser drops a Raw Steak.

   Mage's Friend: Third floor bedroom at X: -29 Y: -273How: Loot from a wooden chest at the foot of the bed NewOrpheus, Prince of the Comet, Part One: Betrayal: Third floor bedroom at X: -31 Y: -296How: Pick up from a bookshelf and decipher with Lae'zel, Tir'su Ciphers, or an ability check NewWearing the Dog Collar found at a nearby grave and pressing the mysterious wall button by the bed in Lenore's quarters dispenses raw steak into a food bowl.

   Tip: You can decipher the Orpheus slate using Lae'zel, Tir'su Ciphers, or an ability check.

   Watch out: Failing to equip the Dog Collar before pressing the bedroom's northeast button prevents you from receiving the Raw Steak.

7. 7

   Parley on the Rooftop

   Take the lift up to the fourth floor roof to encounter the construct Bernard and his Animated Armours. Greet him by reciting "Or art thou friend, a rescue from my lonely wake?" to avoid combat and gain 50 XP; answering incorrectly makes the constructs attack immediately. Recite "How can I trust? How will I ever know? / How can I show myself, my darkest me?" to receive Guiding Light, then smash the Stool of Hill Giant Strength behind the Animated Armour at X: -26, Y: -272 to pick up the Club of Hill Giant Strength from the debris. If you fight Bernard or use Command: Drop on him, you can also claim his weapon, the Light of Creation.

   Key fight: Bernard
   Guiding Light: Placed on a table by Bernard after reciting poetry, or looted from himLight of Creation: Dropped or stolen from Bernard on the tower roofClub of Hill Giant Strength: Fourth floor roof behind Animated Armour at X: -26 Y: -272How: Break the Stool of Hill Giant Strength and loot the debris NewChest of the Mundane Hidden Loot: from the Second floor main entrance, step onto the north balcony to find the Chest of the Mundane containing Mystra's Grace disguised as junk. NewOrpheus, Prince of the Comet, Part One: Betrayal: Third floor bedroom at X: -31 Y: -296How: Pick up from a bookshelf and decipher with Lae'zel, Tir'su Ciphers, or an ability check New

   Tip: Reciting the friendly poem line avoids a tough battle against Bernard and his Animated Armours completely.

   Watch out: Reciting "There is a light in every living thing..." turns Bernard and his Animated Armours immediately hostile.

8. 8

   Plunder the Secret Basement

   Equip the Guiding Light ring to reveal a hidden button inside the elevator that descends straight into the basement vault, or reach it by flying through the first floor gap, triggering the hidden fourth floor bookshelf lever, or hitting the lever under the staircase. Search the secret laboratory to find the Staff of Arcane Blessing leaning against a table, along with The Sparkswall inside a gilded chest. Before leaving the tower, you can also harvest extra samples of Tongue of Madness and Timmask Spores from the basement patches.

   Staff of Arcane Blessing: Leaning against a table in the hidden basement laboratoryThe Sparkswall: Inside a gilded chest in the hidden basementEquipping Guiding Light reveals a hidden "Basement" button on the elevator platform that transports the party directly to Lenore's secret laboratory.Skybreaker: from the main courtyard entrance, walk to the south terrace bench (X: 27, Y: -298) to find the heavy chest tucked behind itHow: pick the lock on the heavy chestMissable because: locked out once you pass the point of no return in the Gauntlet of Shar (entering the Shadowfell) in Act 2 Don't miss NewMage's Friend: Third floor bedroom at X: -29 Y: -273How: Loot from a wooden chest at the foot of the bed NewClub of Hill Giant Strength: Fourth floor roof behind Animated Armour at X: -26 Y: -272How: Break the Stool of Hill Giant Strength and loot the debris New

   Tip: Putting on the Guiding Light ring exposes the hidden elevator button leading right to the vault.

   Watch out: Leaving the Guiding Light unequipped means the elevator will not display the basement destination button.

What you decide here and what it leads to.