Summary

• The Ancient Tome in Baldur's Gate 3 has multiple uses.
• Destroying the Ancient Tome spawns tough enemies.
• Players should consider their character goals and long-term benefits when deciding what to do with the Ancient Tome in order to make an informed choice.

Baldur's Gate 3 certainly doesn't have a shortage of items the party can find during their journey, especially if they meticulously dig through every area and open all storage containers. It's not unusual to pick up items that don't seem to have a use besides selling them to a vendor, but even items that are pieces of a puzzle or a quest later in the game aren't always obvious at first glance. However, part of the fun of a game based on Dungeons & Dragons 5e is exploring and discovering how the choices a player makes affect situations later.

The Ancient Tome, or Necromancy of Thay, is found during the "Search the Cellar" side quest in the Blighted Village in Act 1. Since it's locked, players aren't able to open it right after picking it up, and they might not want to open it at all. This book is one of many decisions players will make with consequences that aren't immediately clear, like deciding whether to help Auntie Ethel in Baldur's Gate 3. There are four primary uses for the Ancient Tome: give it to Astarion, let Gale suck out its magic, destroy it, or read it.

You Shouldn't Destroy The Ancient Tome In BG3

The biggest reason the book should not be destroyed is that destroying the Ancient Tome spawns a set of shadow enemies that are pretty tough to kill, and it they don't have any noteworthy drops that come with them. Plus, physical attacks are weaker against these creatures, so the melee of the party will likely have a rough time in the fight. Overall, this seems like the worst option for the Ancient Tome in BG3 since the other options at least give some sort of benefit, even if it's just increased approval.

Other Ancient Tome Options In Baldur's Gate 3

Giving the tome to Astarion or Gale results in an approval increase, which will be useful for those eyeing Gale or Astarion to romance in Baldur's Gate 3. The biggest benefits come from reading the Ancient Tome, however, which gives characters Speak with Dead as a free spell and a +1 to Wisdom Saves. This process requires the character to a series of Wisdom saving throws. The first is a DC 10, the second is a DC 15, and the third is a DC 20 to finish reading or a DC 10 to abort.

Gale will also receive Inspiration if a character reads the Ancient Tome.

These checks are the main risk of opening the Ancient Tome, as failing once incurs a temporary debuff to Wisdom checks and failing twice makes it permanent. If the checks go by without a hitch, however, there aren't any side effects. If the prospect seems a bit frightening, it's always possible to let the Ancient Tome sit in the character's inventory until they has a higher Wisdom score or helpful items or abilities to assist the checks. It can also be left lingering there forever, which has no specific benefits or drawbacks.

Act 3 Has One More Ancient Tome Benefit In BG3

Act 3 brings the potential for a final update to the Ancient Tome side content, and it's once again one that benefits anyone who reads it. The vault at Sorcerous Sundries holds a volume called the Tharchiate Codex, which holds the secrets necessary to glean everything possible from the Necromancy of Thay. Reading it, returning to the Ancient Tome, and ing another DC 20 saving throw unlocks a spell called Summon Ghouls, which does exactly what it sounds like it would do.

When coming across the Ancient Tome, it's definitely best to avoid destroying it, no matter how dangerous the object might seem. Giving it to Astarion or Gale is the safest route for minor benefits, while reading it poses a certain risk but provides more benefits in the long run. It's possible to completely miss the Ancient Tome in a Baldur's Gate 3 campaign, but no one should waste the opportunity that finding it can bring to the table.