Baldur’s Gate 3 invites players to explore the captivating universe of Dungeons & Dragons, artfully adapted for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S by Larian Studios. This adventure is teeming with mythical beings, formidable foes, and engaging quests awaiting your discovery.

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An early quest in Baldur’s Gate 3 titled «Search the Cellar,» initiates in the Blighted Village during Act One. You’ll kick off this quest by reading a journal located in the village alchemist’s residence, which leads you on a journey to uncover the alchemist’s true identity and the mysteries of his secret cellar.

Updated by Jeff Brooks on November 5, 2025: This guide explores the mysteries of the Necromancy of Thay, spanning from its humble beginnings in Act One to thrilling late-game scenarios in Act Three. While you’ll have to navigate some tough skill checks for the best outcomes, the book is well worth the effort. The guide is enhanced with new visuals, improved formatting, helpful links, and simplified instructions to maximize what you can gain from this enigmatic tome.

Location of the Necromancy of Thay

Underneath the Blighted Village (Act One)

The Necromancy of Thay is a nefarious book accessible early in Baldur’s Gate 3, specifically in Act One’s Apothecary Basement. To locate it, head to the Blighted Village and enter the first building on your left, which is the Apothecary. There, you’ll find a wooden trapdoor behind the counter leading to the basement.

In the basement, seek out a lever located behind some crates on the far side from the ladder. Pulling this lever will reveal a hidden passage, leading you to a confrontation with some Skeleton Guardians. After defeating them, continue your exploration until you find the Ornate Mirror, a magical mirror capable of conversation. There are various strategies you can employ to bypass the mirror and access the room containing the Necromancy of Thay book.

Once you succeed in overcoming the Magical Mirror, locate the Rusted Key or use alternate methods to access the Rusted Iron Gate in the room. Ensure traps in the room are disarmed first; inside, you will find the Necromancy of Thay book.

How to Open the Necromancy of Thay

Find a Dark Amethyst

To unlock the Necromancy of Thay, you’ll need a Dark Amethyst. Fortunately, this can also be found within the Blighted Village; specifically, it’s located deep down in the spider lair within the well. You can either descend into the well or break through a wall into the cavern beneath it from the Blacksmith’s cellar. The Dark Amethyst lies atop a pile of bones on the western side of the cavern, behind the Matriarch Spider and other Phase Spiders.

The typical approach involves defeating all the spiders first and then retrieving the Dark Amethyst. Alternatively, you may choose to use stealth or invisibility to bypass the spiders, grab the Amethyst, and escape, making this a trickier option.

After you acquire the Dark Amethyst through your chosen method, interact with the Necromancy of Thay in your inventory. You’ll have the option to ‘Place the amethyst in the slot on the book’s cover,‘ which you should select. Following this, choose the ‘Open the book’ option from the four available.

Using the Necromancy of Thay

Reading the Book

If you’re searching for guidance on opening the Necromancy of Thay, it’s likely you want to successfully read it. To do this, you’ll need to succeed in three separate Wisdom checks after opening the book; failure in any check results in a curse (be it Whispers of Madness or Baleful Knowledge, which both impose Disadvantage on Wisdom Checks until Remove Curse is cast on the afflicted character).

However, each successful check provides rewards, including the Speak with Dead Ritual Spell and the Forbidden Knowledge passive feature. After passing all three initial saving throws, you’ll have extracted all available knowledge from the book (for now), and it will close forcefully.

Unlocking the Full Potential of the Necromancy of Thay in Act Three

It’s easy to forget about an item tucked away in your inventory since Act One, but you’ll have the chance to unlock the ultimate capabilities of the Necromancy of Thay in the city of Baldur’s Gate with the help of the Tharchiate Codex, a secret book found in the vault below Sorcerous Sundries, specifically in Elminster’s part of the vault.

After reading the Tharchiate Codex, you can revisit the Necromancy of Thay. Successful completion of another Wisdom Saving Throw (DC 20) during the re-read will grant an impressive new ability: the power to cast the Danse Macabre spell, which conjures four Ghouls to fight alongside you.

The table below summarizes the potential rewards gained from reading the Necromancy of Thay.

Considering the Destruction of the Necromancy of Thay?

If you prefer to avoid the book’s dark secrets, you can opt to destroy it using Radiant damage. However, this choice is not advisable, as it only earns you minimal approval from characters like Karlach, Lae’zel, and Will while also inciting a battle with three hostile Shadows upon its destruction.

What to Do with the Necromancy of Thay: Video Guide

Ultimately, the Necromancy of Thay stands out as one of the most enigmatic items in Act One, and it’s fantastic that there are multiple ways to engage with it, each offering its own rewards.