Summary

  • A player discovered an exploit to defeat Raphael in Baldur's Gate 3 and obtain the powerful Helldusk Armor, which was previously inaccessible until later in the game.
  • Players can knock out Raphael by attacking him with a different character in the camp, then cast Silence on him to make the process easier.
  • The Helldusk Armor has impressive stats, including a high AC of 21, resistance to fire damage, immunity to the Burned status effect, and the ability to cast Fly, making it valuable for the entire playthrough.

A Baldur's Gate 3 player has discovered another way to take down Raphael in Act 1, which now provides one of the best armor pieces available. It comes months after Larian patched out a prior exploit involving the devil in one of the multiple updates Baldur's Gate 3 has received since release.

Raphael is a devil that Baldur's Gate 3 fans love to hate, a scheming infernal figure who waxes lyrical about the tentacular doom set to befall players from the very first act of the game. As such, it is of little surprise that bullying Raphael has become somewhat of a popular pastime for the community, especially considering that he is a goldmine of EXP draped in a highly coveted chestpiece. Larian patched out a method of acquiring his experience months ago, but with an intrepid fanbase, it was only a matter of time before another way to humble the wannabe playwright found the light of day.

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Hope_bringer discovered that not only was there an exploit for Raphael, but it allowed players to loot the Helldusk Armor from him, typically inaccessible until the House of Hope. Previously, knocking Raphael out in Act 1 rewarded 1400 EXP with just a diary in his possession, but the early game level boost was more than enough to justify it. The method captured by Hope_bringer requires Raphael to spawn in camp, which players can manifest by attacking him with a different character than the one he is talking to at any other spawn point. With Raphael settled into camp, they simply proceeded to cast Silence on the devil, which seems to neither provoke him nor alert other camp members.

Thanks to Raphael's enormous health pool and relatively high AC, merely wailing on him with a main hand attack would take time, with some who have tested the exploit report spending between 8 and 11 minutes to bring Raphael down. It is not possible to kill him outright, and his 1400 EXP is seemingly dependent on having the non-lethal attack passive toggled on. However, there is always the option to murder Gale, a companion who releases a Necrotic Aura upon death, reverse pickpocket Raphael to give him the wizard's corpse and watch his health tick away.

The Helldusk Armor that Raphael drops can serve players for their entire playthrough. Boasting a mighty AC of 21, this Legendary Heavy Armor can be worn by anyone thanks to a trait that automatically makes the wearer proficient. As if that was not enough, it also provides Resistance to fire damage, immunity to the Burned status effect, applies Burning to enemy casters upon successful Saving Throw, and allows the wearer to cast Fly. Given that this exploit has been confirmed to work in Honour mode, Larian is likely to patch this out sooner rather than later.

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9 /10

Baldur's Gate 3
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RPG
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Systems
PlayStation-1 Xbox-1 PC-1
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Top Critic Avg: 96 /100 Critics Rec: 97%
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Released
August 3, 2023
ESRB
M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence
Developer(s)
Larian Studios
Publisher(s)
Larian Studios
Engine
Divinity 4.0
Multiplayer
Online Co-Op, Local Co-Op
Cross-Platform Play
Full cross-platform play.
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WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
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Abducted, infected, lost. You are turning into a monster, but as the corruption inside you grows, so does your power. Forge a tale of fellowship and betrayal, sacrifice and survival, and the lure of absolute power. Caught in a conflict between devils, deities, and sinister otherworldly forces, you and your party will determine the fate of the Forgotten Realms.

THE ULTIMATE D&D EXPERIENCE
Choose from a wide selection of D&D races and classes, or play as an origin character with a hand-crafted background. Adventure, loot, battle, and romance as you journey through the Forgotten Realms and beyond. Play alone or as a party of up to four in multiplayer – and select your companions carefully.

A CINEMATIC STORYTELLING EPIC
Forged with the new Divinity 4.0 engine, Baldur’s Gate 3 gives you unprecedented freedom to explore, experiment, and interact with a world that reacts to your choices. A grand, cinematic narrative brings you closer to your characters than ever before, as you venture through our biggest world yet. Romance, deceive, aid, obstruct, and grow alongside your friends thanks to Larian's next-generation RPG engine.

Franchise
Baldur's Gate
Genre(s)
RPG