How to Beat and Kill Balthazar in BG3

The world of Baldur’s Gate 3 is filled with moral dilemmas and deadly battles, and one of the most memorable confrontations comes when facing Balthazar, the necromancer servant of Ketheric Thorm. 

This fight is one of Act 2’s turning points, blending story depth with challenging strategy. Many players wonder how to beat Balthazar in BG3 efficiently, especially since his Flesh Golem and undead summons can easily overwhelm an unprepared party.

This guide breaks down everything you need to know, from how to defeat him, techniques to gain an advantage, and the valuable rewards that follow.

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How to Beat and Kill Balthazar in BG3

Balthazar is encountered in the Gauntlet of Shar during Act 2. Depending on your decisions, you can either temporarily ally with him or face him in combat immediately. 

If you let him live, he can later appear again in Moonrise Towers, forcing another encounter.

In either case, the fight is intense. Balthazar’s main strength lies in necromancy and crowd control. 

He can summon undead, command his Flesh Golem, and deal powerful necrotic damage using area spells. 

His biggest weakness, however, is his dependence on maintaining those summoned creatures. Once you eliminate him, the rest collapse.

Here’s a general overview of his setup:

• Main Threat: Balthazar (necromancer)
• Summons: Skeletons, Zombies, Flesh Golem
• Damage Type: Necrotic, Melee (from minions)
• Weakness: Radiant and Fire damage
• Environment Advantage: Chasm in his chamber (instant kill zone)

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Best Strategy

If you want to kill Balthazar in Baldur’s Gate 3 efficiently, focus all your attacks on him rather than the undead minions. 

Use Radiant spells like Guiding Bolt or Moonbeam to counter his necromantic power, or employ Fire spells like Fireball to quickly thin out his undead army.

Alternatively, clever players can throw or push him into the pit during his ritual scene in the Gauntlet of Shar, an instant kill that skips the entire battle. 

This environmental trick is one of the smartest ways to beat him without depleting resources.

Pay Attention to How to Play It

When preparing for the Balthazar fight, understanding the field and managing your party’s positioning is crucial.

Positioning is Everything

Keep your ranged fighters and spellcasters elevated or behind cover. Balthazar’s spells can deal massive damage in clusters, so avoid bunching up.

Control the Flesh Golem

The Flesh Golem is durable but slow. You can immobilize or weaken it using Hold Monster, Blindness, or Grease + Fire combinations. 

Once Balthazar falls, the Golem will automatically die, so don’t waste all your energy trying to kill it early.

Turn Undead and AoE Management

Clerics and Paladins have an edge here; Turn Undead and Radiant area effects can scatter his minions, buying your team breathing room.

Dialogue Options Matter

Before the fight, your dialogue choices can influence the battle’s setup. Persuasion or Deception may delay combat or reveal story details, but ultimately, he will turn hostile. 

Prepare buffs before initiating conversation to start with an advantage.

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Buff Before the Battle

Spells like Bless, Protection from Evil and Good, and Aid significantly improve your chances of survival. Enter combat with these already active.

Tips and Tricks

If you’re still struggling with how to beat Balthazar in BG3, here are proven techniques from experienced players and community-tested strategies:

1. Use Light-Based and Radiant Damage

Balthazar’s undead composition makes him vulnerable to light magic. Clerics, Paladins, and Sorcerers with Radiant-based spells should lead the offensive.

2. Exploit the Chasm

The easiest way to end the fight, push him into the nearby pit. Use Thunderwave, Eldritch Blast (Repelling Invocation), or Shove from a melee fighter. Instant kill, no spell slots wasted.

3. Disrupt Concentration

Many of his spells depend on concentration. Use Magic Missile or Ranged attacks to interrupt his casting, forcing him to lose control of his minions.

4. Save Action Surges for Burst Damage

Fighters can unleash massive burst turns to drop Balthazar quickly. Combine with Action Surge or Haste for maximum output before he casts another summoning spell.

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5. Don’t Underestimate Minions

Even though they vanish when he dies, his undead can easily block movement. Use area-of-effect (AoE) damage early to thin them out and open paths for melee characters.

Rewards

Defeating Balthazar yields more than just satisfaction; he carries important loot and contributes to major story progression.

Common Rewards Include

• Gauntlet Key: Essential for progressing through the Gauntlet of Shar.
• Notes on the Rite of Transformation: Unlocks lore and hints about Ketheric Thorm’s resurrection.
• Gold and Magical Gear: Varies depending on when and where you fight him.
• Experience Points: A generous XP boost for mid-level parties.
• Moral Impact: His death slightly alters interactions with Shadowheart and your alignment with Shar’s influence.

If you kill him by pushing him into the pit, you can still loot his items using a Mage Hand or Jump spell, so nothing is lost.

Final Note

The battle with Balthazar in Baldur’s Gate 3 tests both your tactical sense and moral judgment. While it’s possible to manipulate or delay the encounter, eventually you’ll have to face the necromancer and his creations head-on.

The key to beating and killing Balthazar lies in understanding his weaknesses, managing your positioning, and exploiting the environment.

Whether you burn through his undead army with radiant light or send him plummeting into the abyss, the fight delivers one of Act 2’s most rewarding moments.

For players seeking mastery over Baldur’s Gate 3’s toughest foes, remember: every necromancer is mortal once the light touches them.

FAQ

How to beat Balthazar in Baldur’s Gate 3?

To beat Balthazar in Baldur’s Gate 3, focus on killing him first instead of his undead minions. Use Radiant or Fire damage to exploit his weakness and disrupt his spellcasting. You can also push him into the pit inside the Gauntlet of Shar for an instant kill.

What is the easiest way to kill Balthazar in BG3?

The easiest method is to shove or blast him into the chasm during his ritual scene using spells like Thunderwave or Eldritch Blast (Repelling Blast). This instantly kills him without a full combat encounter and saves your party’s resources.

Is Balthazar a hard boss in Baldur’s Gate 3?

Balthazar is moderately difficult, especially for mid-level parties. His strength lies in summoning undead and using Necrotic damage. However, strong crowd control, Radiant spells, and positioning make the fight much easier.

What happens if you kill Balthazar in BG3?

Killing Balthazar rewards you with the Gauntlet Key, Notes on the Rite of Transformation, and valuable XP. His death also influences the Shadowheart and Shar storylines, depending on your dialogue and alignment choices.

What technique works best to kill Balthazar in BG3?

The best technique is to focus fire on Balthazar while controlling his Flesh Golem and minions with AoE spells. Use Turn Undead, Hold Monster, or Fire attacks. If you prefer a shortcut, use environmental tactics to knock him into the pit.