How do I get the legendary weapon The Blooded Greataxe in Baldur's Gate 3?

The Blooded Greataxe is one of the most powerful legendary weapons in Baldur's Gate 3, offering significant combat advantages for characters who specialize in melee damage. Obtaining this weapon requires careful planning, exploration, and often overcoming challenging encounters. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide on how to acquire The Blooded Greataxe, including mechanics, strategies, and tips to ensure success.

To begin, The Blooded Greataxe is typically found in Act 2 of the game, specifically in the Shadow-Cursed Lands. This area is filled with dangerous enemies and environmental hazards, so preparation is key. The weapon is often tied to a specific quest or hidden location, and obtaining it may require solving puzzles, defeating tough enemies, or making certain story choices. One of the most reliable ways to acquire The Blooded Greataxe is by completing the questline involving the Thorm family, particularly Gerringothe Thorm, a powerful boss who guards the weapon.

The first step is to reach the Shadow-Cursed Lands. This area becomes accessible after completing Act 1 and progressing through the Mountain Pass or the Underdark. Once in the Shadow-Cursed Lands, youÔÇÖll need to navigate the treacherous environment, which is plagued by a shadow curse that can harm your party if youÔÇÖre not properly prepared. To mitigate this, ensure you have a source of light, such as a torch or a spell like Light or Daylight, to protect your party from the curse.

Next, youÔÇÖll need to locate Gerringothe Thorm. She is found in the Reithwin Tollhouse, a location in the Shadow-Cursed Lands. The Tollhouse is heavily guarded, and Gerringothe herself is a formidable opponent. Before engaging her, itÔÇÖs advisable to clear out any surrounding enemies to avoid being overwhelmed during the fight. Gerringothe has high health and deals significant damage, so having a well-balanced party with strong melee fighters, ranged attackers, and support characters is crucial.

Combat tactics are essential when facing Gerringothe. She has abilities that can debuff your party and deal area-of-effect damage, so positioning your characters to avoid clustering is important. Use crowd control spells like Hold Person or Silence to limit her abilities, and focus on dealing consistent damage. If your party includes a Barbarian or Fighter, they can serve as the primary damage dealers, while a Cleric or Druid can provide healing and support. Rogues or Rangers can use ranged attacks to chip away at her health from a safe distance.

Once Gerringothe is defeated, she will drop The Blooded Greataxe. This weapon is a two-handed greataxe with unique properties. It deals additional necrotic damage on hit, making it particularly effective against enemies vulnerable to this damage type. Additionally, it has a chance to inflict the Bleeding condition, which causes the target to take damage over time. These properties make The Blooded Greataxe an excellent choice for characters who specialize in dealing high melee damage, such as Barbarians, Fighters, or Paladins.

When equipping The Blooded Greataxe, consider your characterÔÇÖs build and playstyle. For example, a Barbarian with the Great Weapon Master feat can maximize the weaponÔÇÖs damage output by combining its necrotic damage with the featÔÇÖs bonus damage. Similarly, a Paladin can use Divine Smite in conjunction with the greataxe to deal devastating burst damage. ItÔÇÖs also important to balance your characterÔÇÖs offensive capabilities with defensive stats, as wielding a two-handed weapon leaves you more vulnerable to attacks.

One common mistake to avoid is underestimating the difficulty of the encounter with Gerringothe Thorm. She is a high-level boss with powerful abilities, and attempting to fight her without proper preparation can lead to a party wipe. Ensure your party is well-rested, has full health, and is equipped with appropriate gear before engaging her. Additionally, make sure to save your game before the fight, as losing the encounter can result in losing progress.

Advanced techniques for optimizing The Blooded Greataxe include using it in combination with other abilities and items. For example, a Fighter with the Action Surge ability can use it to make multiple attacks in a single turn, maximizing the weaponÔÇÖs damage potential. Similarly, a Barbarian in a Rage can benefit from the increased damage output while also gaining resistance to physical damage. Additionally, consider using potions or scrolls that enhance your characterÔÇÖs strength or damage output, such as Potions of Giant Strength or Scrolls of Haste.

In terms of D&D 5E rules, The Blooded Greataxe functions similarly to a standard greataxe but with added necrotic damage and the potential to inflict the Bleeding condition. This makes it a versatile weapon that can be used in a variety of combat scenarios. The necrotic damage is particularly effective against enemies with low resistance to this damage type, while the Bleeding condition can help whittle down tougher foes over time.

In conclusion, obtaining The Blooded Greataxe in BaldurÔÇÖs Gate 3 requires careful planning, strategic combat, and a well-prepared party. By following the steps outlined above, you can successfully acquire this powerful weapon and use it to enhance your characterÔÇÖs effectiveness in combat. Remember to prepare thoroughly, use effective combat tactics, and optimize your characterÔÇÖs build to make the most of The Blooded GreataxeÔÇÖs unique properties. With the right approach, this legendary weapon can become a cornerstone of your partyÔÇÖs arsenal, helping you overcome even the toughest challenges in the game.