How to Find and Open Necromancy of Thay – Quick Guide
How to unlock Baldur's Gate 3's hidden Necromancy of Thay tome
To unlock the ancient Necromancy of Thay tome in Baldur's Gate 3, you'll need to overcome several challenges. Below, we break down how to locate and open the Necromancer's Book of Thay—without getting lost—starting with a quick overview, followed by a detailed walkthrough.
Step 1: Quest Search the Cellar – Finding the Necromancer's Book of Thay
Head to the Ruined Village and enter the second building on the left—the Apothecary's House. On the counter, you'll find a book that triggers the quest Search the Cellar.
Behind the counter, locate the cellar trapdoor leading to the underground area. Once inside, search the westernmost room of the lab for a rusty key on a shelf—you'll need it later.
Next, move the three wooden crates beside the large cabinet. A successful Perception check reveals a hidden lever. Lift or toss the crates aside to access it. Pulling the lever shifts the cabinet, opening a secret passage.
Outsmarting the Magic Mirror
You'll encounter enemies—defeat them all. Afterward, you'll face an ornate, talking magic mirror. To trick it, respond in this exact order:
- "Yes, an ally! An ally of your master."
- "Szass Tam is evil and vile."
- "Balm is used to clean wounds."
- "I'd look for a spell to free me from this worm."
The mirror will then let you pass into the next chamber.
In the center of the room, pick up the research note on the table to advance the quest. Use the rusty key to unlock the sealed door—behind it lies the Necromancer's Book of Thay.
Warning! Disarm the traps first—there are plenty. Then claim the book.
Step 2: Deciphering the Ancient Tome
To unlock the dark path of necromancy and open the book, you'll need a Dark Amethyst. Return to the Ruined Village, but this time, don't enter any house—instead, descend into the Whispering Depths:
- Go to the village well, examine it, and enter the Whispering Depths.
- Prepare for a fight against phase spiders.
- Make your way to the Phase Spider Matriarch's nest in the far west.
- Sneak in (tip: use an Invisibility Potion) or defeat the Matriarch.
- The glowing Dark Amethyst lies beneath her nest, next to a broken pillar—press Left Alt to pick it up.
Step 3: Reading the Final Page of the Necromancer's Book
How do you read the last page of Necromancy of Thay? To uncover the book's full secrets, you must first reach Baldur's Gate. There, visit "Mystic Marvels"—part of the Wizards of Waterdeep questline (Gale). Once inside, look for the librarian's office and interact with the clasped book on the shelf. A dark portal will open, teleporting you to a Vault of Magic.
Alternatively, you can access this vault by pressing one of the large buttons in Lorroakan's Tower, labeled "Vault Room."
Explore the entire Vault of Magic. When you reach the puzzle room, proceed through the doors in this order:
- Silverhand
- Conjuration
- Wish
Watch out for traps. After solving the puzzle, pull the lever in the final chamber and return to the first room—Elminster's Vault should now be open.
Inside, you'll find the Tharchiate Codex, which is required to read the final page of Necromancy of Thay. The Wisdom check is no easy feat—you'll need to roll a 20. If you succeed, the reward is substantial: the last page grants you a powerful spell to summon ghouls.
