Baldur’s Gate 3 Festering Cove
Looking for a Baldur’s Gate 3 secret area to explore? The Underdark is a vast underground region with many hidden locations. The Festering Cove is one such place, and it’s home to strange amphibian-like creatures.
The area is surrounded by dangerous fauna and dark crevices. The entrance to the cave is surrounded by sinister choices and hazardous areas. If you’re looking for a new location to explore in the D&D game, here’s everything you need to know about the Baldur’s Gate 3 Festering Cove.
Baldur’s Gate 3 Festering Cove location
The Festering Cove is located near the mushroom portals in Auntie Ethel’s lair. To reach the Underdark, you have three ways to choose from, including a dark portal in the Undercity and a mushroom portal in the Underdark.
Don’t attempt to jump on the mushrooms unless you have a way to destroy explosive vegetation first, as it will hurt you if you step on it. Instead, go to the right-hand corner of a small area with mushrooms and jump in the corner. You should be able to climb down the Cragged Rock.
Baldur’s Gate 3 Festering Cove choices
There are sinister choices tied to the Festering Cove. Sacrificing a companion in the Cove means they can’t be revived and you lose a questline, but you do receive a permanent buff called BOOOAL’s Benediction.
The same buff can be obtained by receiving BOOOAL’s sickle, which can be obtained through a murder agreement. Both methods provide advantage against bleeding creatures while kuo-toa worship BOOOAL. However, if you choose to sacrifice a companion, you cannot revive them, and the questline tied to that companion is lost.
BOOOAL’s Benediction provides the following buff:
Engaging in combat with the kuo-toa and BOOOAL means you can loot the cave. Sacrificing a companion means you lose the ability to loot the cave, but you do receive the above-mentioned permanent buff.
Saving the kuo-toa requires specific dialogue choices and passing two skill checks. First, you need to convince the kuo-toa to leave the cave. Second, you must tell them to follow you without threatening them. You can then speak with them outside the cave, where you can give them food or return them to their home in the Undercity.
Here are the kuo-toa and BOOOAL’s respective loot tables:
There are also hidden chests in the Cove. You can open them, but the kuo-toa won’t be happy with you. The hidden chests contain gold and useful materials:
The Festering Cove is a great place to visit in Baldur’s Gate 3, especially if you need the unique buff that comes with sacrificing a companion. Be sure to visit the Cove before proceeding to Moonrise Towers in Act 2.
