How do I get the Sword of Flame in Baldur's Gate 3?

The Sword of Flame, also known as the Everburn Blade, is one of the most sought-after weapons in Baldur's Gate 3, especially in the early stages of the game. This powerful greatsword deals additional fire damage, making it a formidable weapon for martial classes like Fighters, Paladins, and Barbarians. Obtaining the Sword of Flame requires careful planning, as it is tied to a specific encounter early in the game. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide on how to acquire it, along with tips and strategies to ensure success.

The Sword of Flame is wielded by Commander Zhalk, a powerful Cambion enemy aboard the Nautiloid ship during the gameÔÇÖs prologue. To obtain the sword, you must defeat Zhalk and loot it from his body. However, this is no easy task, as Zhalk is a high-level enemy with significant health and damage output. Additionally, the encounter is timed, as the Nautiloid is crashing, and you have limited turns to complete the objective.

To begin, youÔÇÖll need to focus on maximizing your damage output while minimizing the risk of Zhalk killing you or your allies. One effective strategy is to use the Mind Flayer, who is fighting Zhalk, to your advantage. The Mind Flayer is a temporary ally in this encounter and deals significant psychic damage to Zhalk. Your goal is to support the Mind Flayer by dealing as much damage as possible to Zhalk while keeping your party alive.

Start by positioning your party members strategically. Place your melee characters, such as LaeÔÇÖzel or a custom Fighter, close to Zhalk to take advantage of their high damage output. Ranged characters, like Shadowheart or a custom Wizard, should stay at a distance to avoid ZhalkÔÇÖs powerful melee attacks. Use spells like Guiding Bolt from Shadowheart or Magic Missile from a Wizard to deal consistent damage. If you have a character with the Command spell, consider using it to force Zhalk to drop his weapon, though this is risky and may not always work.

One important tip is to focus on ZhalkÔÇÖs health bar and the Mind FlayerÔÇÖs attacks. The Mind Flayer can deal significant damage, but itÔÇÖs not guaranteed to kill Zhalk on its own. YouÔÇÖll need to contribute enough damage to ensure Zhalk is defeated before the Nautiloid crashes. Be mindful of the turn limit, as you only have a few rounds to complete this objective. If Zhalk is not defeated in time, youÔÇÖll miss the opportunity to obtain the Sword of Flame.

Common mistakes to avoid include spreading your damage too thin or focusing on other enemies in the area. While there are other enemies aboard the Nautiloid, your primary focus should be on Zhalk. Ignoring him or diverting your attention to lesser threats can result in failure. Additionally, avoid positioning your characters in a way that leaves them vulnerable to ZhalkÔÇÖs attacks. He can easily kill a low-health character in a single turn, so keep your party members at a safe distance when possible.

Advanced techniques involve optimizing your partyÔÇÖs abilities and equipment before the encounter. If youÔÇÖre playing as a custom character, consider choosing a class with high damage output, such as a Fighter or Paladin. Equip your party with the best available gear, even if itÔÇÖs just basic weapons and armor. Use consumables like healing potions or scrolls to give yourself an edge in combat. If you have a character with the Sleep spell, you can use it to incapacitate Zhalk temporarily, though this is less reliable due to his high health pool.

In terms of D&D 5E rules, the Sword of Flame functions as a +1 greatsword with additional fire damage. This makes it an excellent weapon for martial classes that rely on strength-based attacks. The fire damage is particularly useful against enemies vulnerable to fire, though it may be less effective against creatures with fire resistance. Keep this in mind when using the sword in later encounters.

A specific example of this strategy in action involves using LaeÔÇÖzel as your primary damage dealer. Equip her with the best available weapon and position her close to Zhalk. Use her Action Surge ability to deal extra damage in a single turn. Meanwhile, Shadowheart can cast Guiding Bolt to provide advantage on attacks, increasing your chances of hitting Zhalk. A Wizard or Sorcerer can use Magic Missile to ensure consistent damage, even if Zhalk has high armor class.

In conclusion, obtaining the Sword of Flame requires careful planning, strategic positioning, and maximizing your partyÔÇÖs damage output. Focus on supporting the Mind Flayer, avoid common mistakes, and use advanced techniques to optimize your chances of success. With the right approach, you can acquire this powerful weapon early in the game and gain a significant advantage in combat.