Cazador's Palace

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

   Upper Palace Ramparts & Entry

   When you arrive along the Lower City Central Wall ramparts, confront Merony and the South Tower guards, talking them down or defeating them before passing north to Szarr Palace's front doors. Then enter the grand foyer, where you will find the ballroom barred ahead by the magically sealed Sinister Door. Before leaving the main hall, prepare your party to explore the lower palace wings to find the two keys required to unseal it.

   Watch out: Once you push deep inside the estate, long resting and fast travel become blocked until Cazador is defeated.

2. 2

   The Cursed Guest Room

   Head down to the lower palace guest rooms, where a lethal aura of necrotic rot radiates from the cursed corpse of Victoria. Use spells like Fly or Misty Step—or drink an Elixir of Necrotic Resistance—to cross the room safely to the wardrobe and nearby opulent chest. Retrieve the Kozakuran Dictionary and the Helmet of Grit before exiting the necrotic field.

   Kozakuran Dictionary: Inside a dresser within a necrotic-cursed bedroom on the palace's first floor Don't missHelmet of Grit: Szarr Palace, inside the cursed guest room near Victoria's corpse (X: -1298, Y: 965) to a locked opulent chestHow: pick the lock of the chest while surviving the necrotic rotMissable because: locked behind the necrotic room before resolving the palace Don't miss New

   Tip: Use turn-based mode or cast Daylight/Misty Step to minimize the ticks of necrotic rot while looting.

   Watch out: Walking through the necrotic aura without resistance or high mobility will rapidly kill party members in seconds.

3. 3

   The Palace Kennels

   In the lower hallway near X: -1289, Y: 982, pass an Investigation or Perception check to reveal a hidden door leading into the Kennels. Inside, Cazador's skeletal kennel-master Godey attempts an ambush; if Astarion is present, you can defuse the fight and pass a DC 20 Charisma check to convince him to surrender the Szarr Family Ring, or simply slay him in combat. Loot the ring, then return to the grand entrance hall.

   Key fight: Godey the Kennel Keeper
   Szarr Family Ring: Carried by the skeleton servant Godey in the kennels Don't missA concealed kennel room guarded by Godey can be revealed by passing a DC 10 Investigation check on a hidden wall panel in the lower hallway, or noticed automatically if Astarion is in the party.

   Tip: Having Astarion speak can bypass the initial ambush with a DC 15 Deception or Intimidation check.

   Watch out: If you fail the DC 20 Charisma check to demand the ring peacefully, Godey attacks immediately.

4. 4

   Unlocking the Sinister Door & Ballroom Battle

   Return to the Sinister Door in the grand foyer, read the Kozakuran Dictionary to decipher the inscription, and insert the Szarr Family Ring into the lock. Step into the opulent ballroom to immediately face a pack of enthralled werewolves, wolves, and bats guarding the grounds. Clear the encounter, proceed through the double doors to the southwest office, and step onto the circular dais elevator to descend into Cazador's Dungeon.

   Tip: High-initiative crowd control spells like Hypnotic Pattern or confusion neutralize the werewolves before they close the distance.

5. 5

   Cazador's Dungeon Sub-level & Study

   Step off the elevator at the Cazador's Dungeon Waypoint and use the Szarr Family Ring to open the Crypt Gate. Head west across the narrow bridge into Cazador's study to commune with the Skull of Vellioth the Martinet across three DC 15 Wisdom checks, claiming the Black Mass Scroll. Before venturing further into the ritual grounds, jump or fly down to the lower catwalks beneath the bridge to uncover a buried casket and unseal the one-way shortcut gate leading to the sewers.

   Pelorsun Blade: Inside a dirt mound in a trapped rosewood casket on the lower walkway of the dungeon area Don't missLower City Sewers Shortcut: from Cazador's Dungeon Waypoint (X: -1928, Y: 827), drop down to the lower catwalks to a locked Crypt Gate (X: -1981, Y: 843) NewBlack Mass Scroll: from Cazador's Dungeon Waypoint, cross the bridge west into Cazador's study to the Skull of VelliothHow: interact with the skull and pass three DC 15 Wisdom checks to inspect the memories New

   Tip: You can shoot the button on the lower pillar to raise and lower the giant chandelier as an elevator between catwalk levels.

   Watch out: Passing the DC 30 lock on the lower crypt gate lets you exit to the sewers to camp, but it cannot be picked from the sewer side first.

6. 6

   The Prison Cells

   Follow the northern corridor of the dungeon toward the grand chamber, passing mass cages holding thousands of vampire spawn. Speak with Sebastian in the eastern cage and the Gur children across from him to learn that Cazador's ritual staff acts as the key to all holding cells. Continue onward to the large double doors leading into the ritual dais once you have pre-buffed your party with daylight and summons.

   Tip: Casting Daylight: Sphere on a weapon before entering the next chamber prevents Cazador from adopting his mist form.

7. 7

   The Rite of Profane Ascension

   Enter the Grand Chamber to trigger dialogue with Cazador Szarr; if Astarion is unstealthed, Cazador binds him into the ritual circle, starting a strict 3-turn timer to reach and free him with the Help action before he is consumed. Slay Cazador's minions—including Chatterteeth, werewolves, and fallen Gur—while driving Cazador down to 0 hit points so he retreats into his central sarcophagus. Once all combatants are down, interact with the sarcophagus to decide the fate of Astarion and the vampire spawn, claiming Rhapsody and Woe from Cazador's remains.

   Key fight: Cazador Szarr and the Black Mass Ritual
   Rhapsody: Looted from Cazador Szarr's remains in his sarcophagus after combat Don't missWoe: Acquired as a drop from Cazador Szarr after the battle concludes Don't miss

   Tip: Keep daylight effects directly on Cazador to shut down his regeneration and legendary reactions.

   Watch out: If you refuse Astarion without passing a DC 15 Insight and DC 18 Persuasion check, he permanently leaves your party forever; attacking him mid-ritual makes him hostile and destroys your chance to obtain Woe properly.

What you decide here and what it leads to.