BG3 Gauntlet of Shar: three trials, four gems and the library

The conventional route needs four Umbral Gems: one from each of three trials and one near Yurgir. Each trial starts by interacting with its sacrificial bowl. This guide includes Act 2 puzzle and story spoilers.

Complete the trials

Soft-Step: send one character through the maze, avoid patrolling shadows and traps, then unlock the final gate with the key or lockpicks. Detection returns participants to the start. Take the gem at the end.

Self-Same: defeat the party’s mirror copies. Position carefully and attack your own counterpart when possible; collect the gem after the fight.

Faith-Leap: ungroup one character and study the path diagram on the floor by the bowl before crossing. Follow it between platforms; a wrong step can be fatal, especially in Honour Mode. Take the gem and use the exit rather than having the whole party follow blindly.

For Soft-Step, the key is in a hidden room around X:-803 Y:-760; a nearby lever opens access. The last gate can also be lockpicked or bypassed by teleporting. In the Silent Library, the needed book is on a northeastern bookcase around X:-772 Y:-741; avoid area attacks that could destroy it. The chamber gate can be opened by the correct column button or lockpicked. These coordinates come from the community wiki, not our in-game verification.

The fourth gem and spear

Yurgir’s area contains the fourth gem. Conversation, combat or stealth can lead to it, but approaching from some directions triggers a fight. If travelling with Shadowheart, visit the Silent Library for the Spear of Night. Eliminate the source of Silence and avoid area damage near the bookshelves.

Library riddle answer

Place Teachings of Loss: The Nightsinger on the Riddle of the Night pedestal to open the hidden room and take the spear.

Before accepting the Shadowfell transition warning, finish Moonrise prison rescues and other time-sensitive tasks. This draft follows the community wiki; it lacks original route images and has not been tested in-game.

BG3 Wiki: trial routes and library