Killing Yurgir the Orthon in Baldur's Gate 3: A Step-by-Step Guide

In the world of Baldur's Gate 3, the devil Raphael frequently tempts players with irresistible deals to pursue. One such quest is Kill Raphael's Old Enemy, where he asks you to take down Yurgir the Orthon in exchange for reading Astarion's scars. However, before unleashing you on this demon murder hunt, Raphael warns you about the formidable Orthon. This guide will walk you through the process of killing Yurgir the Orthon and provide you with alternative solutions to this challenge.

Getting to the Orthon in the Thorm Mausoleum

To begin the quest, you'll first need to get to Yurgir the Orthon. Raphael can be found standing on the front steps of the Thorm Mausoleum, which is located northwest in the Shadow-Cursed Lands. Talk to Raphael to grab his quest, which will urge you to kill the Orthon he's at odds with. Once you've accepted the quest, enter the Thorm Mausoleum through the front door.

Solving the Painting Button Puzzle in the Thorm Mausoleum

Upon entering the Thorm Mausoleum, a talking skull greets you. To progress through the area, you'll need to solve a puzzle that tests your knowledge about Thorm. The puzzle involves pressing buttons below specific paintings in a certain order. To solve the puzzle, follow these steps:

• Press the button below the Moonrise Tower painting to the entrance's left.
• Press the button below the Grief painting to the entrance's right.
• Press the button below the General painting opposite the entrance.

After pressing all the buttons in the correct order, head through either of the corridors and board the traveling disc. This will take you down to the Gauntlet of Shar.

Locating Yurgir the Orthon in the Gauntlet of Shar

To find Yurgir the Orthon and progress in the Kill Raphael's Old Enemy quest, follow these steps:

1. Solve Shar's statue puzzle by lowering and turning off the lanterns in the area.
2. Proceed to the next room and deal with the Undead Justiciar plaguing the area. Prioritize destroying the portals to prevent more undead from spawning in the area.
3. From the Gauntlet of Shar waypoint, take a right and then a second right down a broken path of stairs.
4. You'll see a creature resembling a black panther that will start running away. This is the Displacer Beast, the Orthon's pet. Follow it to find Orthon's lair.
5. Take a long rest before facing Orthon. This is by no means an easy battle.

Killing Yurgir the Orthon in Baldur's Gate 3

To kill Yurgir the Orthon, you'll need to incapacitate him and his pet Displacer Beast. Use Tasha's Hideous Laughter, Fear, or Drow Poison to have these two enemies skip their turns while focusing on the many Merregon on the upper floor. Additionally, use Polymorph on the Displacer Beast to turn it into a harmless sheep for most of the encounter.

During the battle, focus on eliminating one Merregon at a time. They have low health bars but deal significant damage with each blow. Take them down one by one to avoid taking unnecessary damage.

Be careful when the Orthon comes back into battle. He'll throw multiple Orthon explosives at a time, so move all party members away before they explode. Alternatively, you can pick up the explosives and store them in your inventory to prevent them from exploding.

When Yurgir the Orthon dies, he'll drop the Hellfire Hand Crossbow, a rare crossbow in BG3 that deals 4-9 damage. Finish the quest by talking to Raphael, who will visit your camp during the next long rest.

Killing Yurgir the Orthon Using Persuasion

If your Charisma is high enough in BG3, you can persuade Yurgir the Orthon to kill himself. To do this, pass an Insight check while asking him about his contract, and then choose the dialogue option [PERSUASION] The Lyrics are a trick. You've always had an audience – your followers. Get rid of them. Pass a DC16 Persuasion check, and Yurgir will have all the Merregon in the room kill each other.

Next, choose [PERSUASION] You're not finished yet – the displacer can hear you, can't she? Kill her. This will require a DC21 Persuasion check. If you pass it, the Orthon will shoot his Displacer Beast, Nessa.

Finally, choose [PERSUASION] Exactly. Kill yourself, complete the contract, and you'll be reborn in Avernus. Free, and pass another DC21 Persuasion check to have Yurgir do himself in. You can then loot his body, and Shadowheart will be impressed.

Sparing Yurgir the Orthon and Breaking His Contract

Instead of killing Yurgir the Orthon, you can persuade him to let you help break his contract. This will start a new quest, Break Yurgir's Contract.

To help Yurgir, choose the dialogue option [PERSUASION] There must be something you missed. Let me search this place for you. This will require you to pass a DC16 Persuasion check, but if you do, he'll agree, and a search area will appear on your map.

Make your way down to the feet of the giant statue of Shar, where you'll find a broken effigy and a book. Interact with these items to summon a rat, which you'll then need to kill. This will cause a small rat army to attack you, but you can easily wipe them out with a few large AOE spells.

The last rat you face in this Baldur's Gate 3 fight will transform into Lyrthindor, the Last Dark Justiciar. Kill him, and you'll have fully broken Yurgir's contract. You can then collect your reward, the Umbral Gem, and complete the Gauntlet of Shar. However, Raphael won't be too pleased about this.

Should You Kill Yurgir the Orthon or Break His Contract?

We highly recommend killing Yurgir the Orthon in Baldur's Gate 3. Keeping him alive offers no benefits and causes Astarion to become significantly displeased with you. On the other hand, not only will Yurgir's demise satisfy Raphael, but it also propels Astarion's storyline forward.

Who is Yurgir the Orthon in BG3?

There you have it – three solutions for how to beat Yurgir the Orthon in BG3: kill him, convince him to kill himself, or break his contract and spare him. Need more advice? Check out our complete Baldur's Gate 3 guide for battle strategies, story tips, and gameplay breakdowns.