How to get to the Underdark in Baldur's Gate 3
Find out how to get to the Underdark in Baldur's Gate 3 here, including the solution to the moon plates puzzle and whether you should go to the Mountain Pass.
Getting to the Underdark in Baldur's Gate 3 can be quite tricky, but if you want to continue your journey through the Forbidden Realms then solving the moon plates puzzle is a must.
Baldur's Gate 3 gives players a wide variety of different ways to tackle each problem they face, and this certainly extends to the macro level, where different routes and paths can be discovered in the game.
So, if you're looking to find out how to get to the Underdark in Baldur's Gate 3 - or just want to solution for the moon plates puzzle - all you need to do is carry on reading below.
How do you get to the Underdark?
In order to reach the Underdark in Baldur's Gate 3, you must follow the steps listed below:
- Head to the Goblin Camp and enter the Shattered Sanctum (Selûne Temple) through the Heavy Oak Doors
- Navigate to the chapel on the south-western side, and unlock the door at X:253 Y:-8 using the Priestess' Key looted from True Soul Gut
- Continue through the Defiled Temple until you read a set of four circular disks on the floor at roughly X:438 Y:56
This is what's known as the moon plates puzzle, and you will need to complete this in order to progress into the Underdark.
Alternatively, you can pass a Perception save at X:447 Y:52 to have a lever appear which completely bypasses the need to complete the puzzle. Unfortunately, you'll only get one chance to pass this check.
Once either the puzzle has been solved or the lever has been pulled, all you need to do is head through the passageway that's revealed to the north, then walk down the stairs and take the ladder at the end to reach the Underdark.
How to solve the moon plates puzzle
To solve the moon plates puzzle in Baldur's Gate 3, all four circles on the plate under the spotlight must be black instead of light. This can be done by rotating the plates until you reach a desired solution, and it is best to try and move one at a time.
There are only four black circles across the four plates, so as long as they all exist on the spotlighted plate then the puzzle should be solved.
Should you go to Mountain Pass or Underdark?
We strongly recommend that you choose to head to the Underdark in Baldur's Gate 3 over the Mountain Pass, as there is plenty for you to discover in the dark underground. Furthermore, the Underdark offers an easier experience, as the Mountain Pass will likely present a warning to most players stating that they are under-levelled for what is to come in the Mountain Pass.
Don't worry about missing anything though, as you can always go back at a later point once you are stronger and explore what the Mountain Pass has to offer. But at the point that most players are at when the choice is to be made, taking the route in the Underdark is the much better option.
So, that's everything you need to know about getting to the Underdark in Baldur's Gate 3, including the moon plate puzzle solution and whether you should head to the Mountain Pass first or not.
For more aid in your adventures through the Forbidden Realms, why not check out our Baldur's Gate 3 homepage? In the meantime, we've got everything you'll need to know to run Baldur's Gate 3 on Steam Deck, including all of the best settings.
About The Author
Harry Boulton
Harry is a Guides Writer at GGRecon, having completed a Masters of Research degree in Film Studies. Previously a freelance writer for PCGamesN, The Loadout, and Red Bull Gaming, he loves playing a wide variety of games from the Souls series to JRPGs, Counter-Strike, and EA FC. When not playing or writing about games and hardware, you're likely to find him watching football or listening to Madonna and Kate Bush.
