| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Item Type | Story Item |
| Location | Necromancer's Lab (Blighted Village) |
| Requirement | Dark Amethyst |
| Key Reward | Speak with Dead (Ritual) |
| Passive | Forbidden Knowledge |
The Necromancy of Thay is one of the most intriguing and mysterious story items found within the world of Baldur's Gate 3. This cursed tome, hidden deep within the Blighted Village, offers players a chance to delve into forbidden arts. However, interacting with such a dark artifact comes with social consequences among your companions and requires careful preparation to avoid deadly traps.
Locating the Necromancy of Thay
To find the Necromancy of Thay, you must venture into the Blighted Village. Specifically, the book is located in the Necromancer's Lab beneath the village. You can find the entrance to this area by exploring the basement of the local smithy or by entering through the well.
Once inside the lab, the book rests on a trapped altar at coordinates the named location; verify the current map, situated behind a locked gate. You will need to unlock the gate to gain access to the chamber. Be warned: taking the book from the pedestal triggers a trap. To safely retrieve it, you can:
- Place an item of similar weight, such as another book, on the pedestal.
- Pass a Perception check to reveal the trap and then disarm it.
- Disarm the two nearby statues.
- Enter turn-based mode to quickly move your party out of the trap's range before exiting the mode.
For players looking to optimize their party composition before embarking on this quest, check out our best builds guide to ensure you have the necessary skills to handle the traps and encounters in the lab.
Unlocking the Tome: The Dark Amethyst
The book is initially locked and cannot be opened by conventional means. To unlock it, you must acquire the Dark Amethyst. This item is located in the Whispering Depths at coordinates the named location; verify the current map. The Whispering Depths can be accessed via the well in the Blighted Village.
Be prepared for a challenging fight, as the Dark Amethyst is guarded by the Phase Spider Matriarch. Once you have retrieved the gem, you can use it to open the Necromancy of Thay. If you need help preparing for this boss fight or navigating the early game, our Baldur's Gate 3 walkthrough provides essential strategies.
Reading and Interacting with the Book
Once the book is opened, you can begin to read its dark secrets. Reading the Necromancy of Thay is a significant choice, as it permanently locks the book to the inventory of the character who reads it. Once a character starts the reading process, no other party member can interact with or read the tome.
Companion Reactions
Interactions with the book influence your approval ratings with companions:
- Giving the book to Astarion: Astarion approves (+5), while Gale disapproves (-5).
- Destroying the book: Karlach, Lae'zel, and Wyll approve (+1). Astarion and Gale disapprove (-5). Note that destroying the book requires Radiant damage and will spawn three hostile Shadows.
- Reading the book: Gale, Astarion, and Karlach all disapprove to varying degrees.
Skill Checks and Special Options
When reading the book, you will face skill checks. Certain classes have unique methods to modify these:
- Bards: May perform DC 5, 10, and 15 Performance checks.
- Sorcerers: May perform DC 5, 10, and 15 Charisma checks.
Regardless of the method used, the outcome of the checks remains the same. Turning at least one page grants the reader the Speak with Dead spell, which can be cast as a ritual without consuming a spell slot. Turning three pages grants the Forbidden Knowledge tag and the Forbidden Knowledge passive feature.
Advanced Usage and Act Three
Once all three pages are turned, the book will refuse to open again for the remainder of Act One and Act Two. To unlock further secrets, you must wait until Act Three, where you will need to find the Tharchiate Codex.
The Forbidden Knowledge passive itself is quite powerful. It can be sacrificed later in the game to allow the reader to safely obtain a permanent bonus from the Mirror of Loss in the House of Grief. As you progress toward the end of the game, consider how these permanent stat changes might affect your character's long-term potential. You can plan your character's growth using our build planner.
Important Notes on the Tome
- Oath of the Ancients: Reading the book does not break the Oath of the Ancients for Paladins.
- Visual Changes: Upon reading, the item quote changes from "It. Is. Not. Too. Late." to "Look. Away."
- Knock Spell: Using the Knock spell on the book is not recommended, as it simply summons a hostile Shadow.
The Necromancy of Thay represents one of the most direct connections to the darker lore of the Baldur's Gate 3 universe. While the disapproval from companions like Gale and Astarion can be a deterrent, the utility of the Speak with Dead ritual and the eventual bonuses from the Forbidden Knowledge passive make it a highly sought-after item for many players.
Source-aware planning notes
Item guidance is most reliable when it records where the collected sources agree and leaves uncertain properties unfilled. Make a small checklist for the objective, compare the source wording, and avoid treating an attributed value, drop chance, or interaction as confirmed unless the snapshot supports it. Official updates can change item behavior, so preserve the date and re-check before relying on a detail in a new run. Use the article's headings as a worksheet: write down the confirmed premise, the next action, and the point at which you need to verify a newer source. This approach keeps the guide useful for a first pass while making its limits visible. It also prevents a concise community summary from being mistaken for a complete rulebook. When you adapt the advice to a different party, difficulty, platform, or patch, preserve the original wording and add your own observation separately. A careful note is more valuable than a confident detail that the collected evidence cannot support.
FAQ
Can I give the Necromancy of Thay to another character after starting to read it?
No. Once a character has successfully obtained or begun reading the book, it becomes permanently locked to that character's inventory. You cannot transfer it to other companions or the player character.
What happens if I use the Knock spell on the book?
Using the Knock spell on the book will summon one hostile Shadow. It does not unlock the book's secrets and is generally considered a negative outcome.
How do I access the rest of the book's secrets?
After turning three pages, the book will close and refuse to open further in Act One or Act Two. You must progress to Act Three and locate the Tharchiate Codex to continue unlocking the knowledge contained within the tome.