Five playthroughs into Baldur's Gate 3, I have to admit that I'm not as much of a completionist as I was the first time I journeyed through Faerun. There are several side quests, areas, and treasures I sometimes skip because they aren't needed in my current run. But there are a few exceptions, and one is the Sentient Amulet. This bit of Baldur's Gate 3 treasure is a "cannot miss" for me, no matter how tricky it is to obtain. Not only can completing the Amulet's quest lead to multiple benefits, it's a fairly easy source of late-game approval for every companion.
The Sentient Amulet Can Be A Pain To Obtain
The Sentient Amulet is a rare magical item located in a chest near the Adamantine Forge in the Underdark. It is protected by a Lava Elemental, and players must either defeat the elemental or find a way through the lava without getting burnt alive. Picking up the amulet requires passing a DC10 Wisdom check to avoid bursting into laughter. Doing so will result in a cursed monk tasking players with returning the amulet to his granddaughter.
It's a hilarious moment, especially if someone like serious Lae'zel or usually-smug Astarion is sent to grab the amulet and forced to resist laughing. It may seem like quite a lot of effort for a middling magic item, as the Sentient Amulet has only a few abilities and one major drawback:
- Allows wearer to cast Shatter once per Short Rest.
- Lets Monks restore two Ki Points once per Long Rest.
- Wearer can speak to the Cursed Monk at will.
- When casting Shatter, wearer must pass a DC10/15 Wisdom check.
Completing The Quest Is Worth It For Multiple Reasons
At first glance, the Sentient Amulet seems like a worthless magical item that is best used as a quick snack for Gale. However, bringing it to the Open Hand Temple in Rivington can allow players to either defeat the monk in combat, gaining an upgraded version of the Amulet, or take on the curse, passing two DC15 Wisdom or Constitution checks (or bypassing them with Illithid powers) in exchange for a new permanent ability.
If you take on the monk's curse, you get:
- Cast Tasha's Hideous Laughter once per Long Rest. Foes must pass a Wisdom saving throw or else gain the Hideous Laughter condition (Prone, cannot take actions or reactions, disadvantage on certain saves) for 10 turns
- Failing either saving throw causes you to permanently lose 1 Wisdom
If you resist the curse and defeat the monk, you get an upgraded Sentient Amulet with the following abilities:
- Cast Shatter as a Level 3 spell (4d8 Thunder damage) once per Long Rest.
- For Monks, restores Ki points equal to Martial Arts die once per Long Rest.
On the surface, these abilities don't seem great. However, Tasha's Hideous Laughter is amazing in a pinch — it works against all enemies, even some late-game bosses, and can buy you a turn or two to catch your breath during a chaotic fight. On the other hand, free Ki Restoration is great for a Monk, and I find Monk to be one of the strongest classes in the entire game. I almost always have a Monk on my team, whether I've taken on the class myself or reclassed a companion such as Astarion, Wyll, or Halsin, and the upgraded Amulet is a great piece of equipment for them
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However, the true value in returning the Amulet and withstanding the curse is approval. Gaining Tasha's Hideous Laughter earns you approval with every single party member. It's a great way to shore up your approval rating if someone has started to dislike you, or to get some fairly easy points for late-joining members like Minthara or Jaheira. This is the primary reason why I will always slog through a field of lava for this particular item — well, that, and it's always fun watching whichever party member I choose desperately trying not to burst into laughter as they resist the monk's curse.
Baldur's Gate 3
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 96 /100 Critics Rec: 97%
- 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
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- RPG
