How to Complete the Soft-Step Trial in Baldur’s Gate 3 (BG3)

Completing the Gauntlet of Shar in Baldur’s Gate 3 can be a pretty tough challenge. There are difficult battles, puzzles, and, to top it all off, some mechanically challenging trials. In this guide, we’ll be covering how to easily complete the Soft-Step Trial in BG3.

How to Complete the Soft-Step Trial in Baldur’s Gate 3 (BG3)

When you enter the room leading into the Soft-Step trial, there will be a basin that requires a blood sacrifice. Head up to it with your main character and interact with it. If you want to build up approval from Shadowheart, let her do it in your stead when she asks. This will open the gates and let you enter the trial. Before you go in, you’ll want to use your sneakiest character. For me, that was Astarion. You’ll want to separate them from the party by right-clicking on their portrait and selecting ungroup from party. Now, press the big hourglass button in the bottom-right of the screen to enter turn-based mode. Enter the trial with your sneaky character and leave the rest of your party behind.

Use the Hide class action to be able to sneak and roll Stealth checks. Then, head straight in and to the right. Make sure you stay out of range of the shadow creatures as much as possible. Head through the doorway once the shadow moves out of the way, and you should find a lever right there. Pull the lever and on your next turn. The wall next to you will open up.

Move down the newly opened-up hallway to the table near the end of it. Take the key from the table and wait for the shadow to pass you by.

Hopefully, you pass your Stealth check here. Once the shadow has moved past you, make your way back down the hallway the way you came. At the other end of the hall, there will be a button on the wall for you to press. There is another shadow on the other side of the wall, so try to time pressing the button for when it moves past.

Once you hit the button, the wall will move out of the way. Move straight ahead, and use your cunning dash action for extra movement if possible. Heading through the doorway at the end of the path will lead you to the final chamber. Use the key from the table on the gate to enter the room. Take the Umbral gem from the statue and then interact with the Umbral transporter that appears. Your character will be back out at the entrance with the BG3 Soft-Step Trial complete and the Umbral gem in hand.

Related: Are There Benefits to Dual Wielding Weapons in Baldur’s Gate 3?

All Gauntlet of Shar Trials in BG3

Here are all Gauntlet of Shar Trials in BG3:

1. Soft-Step Trial: Navigate by stepping on the correct tiles to avoid triggering traps and find the first Umbral Gem.
2. Self-Same Trial: Face and defeat your own clones to acquire the second Umbral Gem.
3. Faith-Leap Trial: Make precise jumps across platforms to obtain the third Umbral Gem.

You will find one Umbral Gem after completing each trial, but you need four Umbral Gems. The fourth one can be found after you complete Yurgir’s Tribulation. Then, to obtain the Spear of Night, you must complete the Silent Library Puzzle.

• Yurgir’s Tribulation: Solve the light puzzle to enter the dungeon and defeat Raphael’s old enemy to get the last Umbral Gem.
• Silent Library: Discover the correct books to unlock the Spear of Night.

Additionally, you will encounter various challenges, such as dealing with Balthazar, the leader of the dark justices, and deciding whether to join him or fight against him. You’ll also need to place the Umbral Gems on pedestals and use them to activate the Umbral Stone Altar to find Ketheric Thorm’s Relic.

How to Get to the Gauntlet of Shar

To reach the Gauntlet of Shar in Baldur’s Gate 3, you’ll need to navigate to the Thorm Mausoleum located in the Shadow-Cursed Lands during Act 2. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you find your way:

1. Start at the Masons Guild: Travel west from the Masons Guild.
2. Head to Reithwin Town Waypoint: From there, move northwest toward the Reithwin Town waypoint.
3. Find Arabella: Near the waypoint, you’ll encounter Arabella, who is looking for her parents, triggering a quest called “Find Arabella’s Parents.”
4. Enter the Thorm Mausoleum: After the cutscene with Arabella, enter the archway and proceed north until you reach a building. Turn left to head northwest.
5. Navigate to the Mausoleum Entrance: Continue following the path and ascend the stairs. A cutscene with Raphael will start, offering another quest to defeat his old enemy.
6. Solve the Mausoleum Puzzle: Inside the Mausoleum, solve the puzzle by pressing buttons under three paintings to open secret doorways.
7. Access the Gauntlet of Shar: Once inside the secret area, select the Traversal Gem on the platform to be lowered into the Gauntlet of Shar.

And that’s how to complete the Soft-Step Trial in BG3. If you’re looking for more guides, check out how to save the distressed patient. 

Baldur’s Gate 3 is available on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC.

The above article was updated on 5/16/2024 by Davi Braid to add information about the Soft-Step Trial.