Among the many secrets that Baldur's Gate 3 there is an entire race of people, the Kuo-Toa, hidden away from the rest of society in a hole even deeper than the Underdark. The plot takes players through many hidden places but this one is so hidden that it's not labeled on the map and no markers will direct players to find it.
The Festering Cove, therefore, is a special treat for those who stumble upon it. Some may even scour every map in Baldur's Gate 3 and never find it. Players will either need to get lucky when they wander around and spot this secret entrance or find out from the community.
Updated August 12th, 2024, by Kristy Ambrose: The Festering Cove was one of the many secrets discovered literally months after the Baldur's Gate 3's initial launch, and became one of the best examples of how detailed and creative everything in the game really was. It's these kinds of secrets and adventures that gave BG3 so many dedicated fans and famous awards. The realm of the Kuo-Tao feels unfinished, especially considering the level of detail for such a minor area that most players never see, but perhaps future updates will reveal more, or the location will appear again in the lore of the D&D universe.
The Festering Cove Entrance
Located North Of The Wizard's Tower
- Walk north of the stairs to the Wizard's Tower to find a dark corner with a dark cave, explosive mushrooms, and a climbable rock.
There are multiple ways to get into the Underdark, and that will be the first part of the journey. Perhaps the easiest way is through the Goblin Camp and then go directly west from the Selunite Outpost, but other ways include picking the lock on the elevator in the Zhentarim Hideout, using Auntie Ethel's mushroom ring portals, or jumping through a hole in the Whispering Depths.
- If the party visits the Myconid Colony first, they can pick up a quest that leads them to the Wizard's Tower. Speak to the Mind Flayer vendor to start "Help Omeluum Investigate the Parasite" which sends the main character on a mushroom hunt.
- There's an inscribed Githyanki disc on the 3rd floor of the Tower that Lae'zel can read. It fills out some of the lore for her Companion quest, "Discover the History of Prince Orpheus." If she's not present, there's another disc called The Careful Art of Tir'su Ciphers that can be located on the 4th floor, or return to the camp with the disc and ask Lae'zel about it there.
After arriving at the location, look into the giant chasm and find a platform on the opposite side. Jump over using the shelf-like fungus and find a space with a ruined campsite and a climbable rock face. Consider using Feather Fall if you have the potion or the spell as part of an ideal Wizard build. Climb down to discover the Festering Cove and meet the Kuo-Toa.
The Festering Cove
More About Lore And Roleplaying Than Actual Rewards
- For those who have yet to do the Auntie Ethel boss battle, there is a Redcap here who plays the part of a perfect appetizer for that eventual showdown.
This area is completely optional and missable. There is a single quest here as well as some treasures to find. Due to its isolation, players can either resolve things peacefully or wipe everyone out without changing the main plot.
Storyline Features And Related Items
For an obscure location, there's a lot going on in the Festering Cove.
- Good-aligned characters may want to save the Kuo-Toa from BOOOAL, but this is only possible by passing some difficult dice rolls.
- The Dark Urge can take BOOOAL's side and get a decent weapon as a reward, the Sickle of BOOOAL, a 2d4 Sickle with a buff similar to BOOOAL's Benediction.
- Sacrifice one of your companions and get a permanent buff called BOOOAL's Benediction, which grants Advantage when attacking enemies with the Bleeding condition.
OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Rating:96/100 Critics Recommend:98% Platform(s) PC , macOS , PS5 , Xbox Series X Released August 3, 2023 Developer(s) Larian Studios
