Ketheric Torm in Baldur's Gate 3: how to find and defeat Apostle Myrkul

Ketheric Torme in Absolute and the keeper of one of the Netherian stones. This is the most powerful mid-game boss, especially on high difficulties: the battle with him requires a thoughtful strategy, as it is divided into 3 stages.

In this guide, we will tell you in detail where to find and how to defeat Ketheric Torm in BG3 at each stage of the battle, including the battle with his avatar - the Apostle Myrkula, and also explain what will happen if you spare the formidable enemy.

Where to find Ketheric Torm in Baldur's Gate 3

Go to Shadow-blighted lands - to get there you will need:

• Receive Selune's blessing from blessing, protecting from any kind of darkness.
• Alternatively, in Mintare destroy the Grove, receive the Spider Lyre from it, and already in Act 2 go to the Lunar Towers with the help of the guide Karniss.

Keterik Torm is at the top of the towers, but there is no point in breaking through to him yet due to the fact that he is immortal. Get Songs of the Nightto make the boss fight easier.

Not far from the Moon Towers there is the Waning Moon tavern with a boss Malus Torm.

How to kill Ketheric Torm in Baldur's Gate 3

The battle with Ketheric Torm in human form is divided into two stages:

1. Fight at the top of the Moon Towers.
2. A fight in the depths of an illithid colony.

Immediately after the second battle, he will summon the incarnation - Apostle Myrkula, which marks the third and final phase of the battle in the Moon Towers.

Battle on the roof

Get to the top of the Moon Towers - the battle will begin immediately after you complete the dialogue with the enemy.

Phase 1

In the first battle, the heroes will have to defeat several opponents who, on Tactics, have the following amount of HP:

• Ketheric Torm (188 HP);
• Lady of Souls Susdera (84 HP);
• Necromites - 8 individuals (23 HP each);
• Squire (61 HP).

Some tips on how to finish the fight with Keterik Torm faster and with a minimum of losses:

• Ketherick and Susdera summon bone spawns, from which new necromites hatch. Thus, first deal with Susdera, then switch to Torm with the dog. The faster you defeat Susdera, the easier the battle will be.
• Necromites and Squire are vulnerable to bludgeoning damage. Ketheric resists all types of physical and necrotic damage, and is also immune to poison.
• Ketheric can be blinded, paralyzed, and prone.
• Using teleport or Misty Step, send 1-2 heroes to the top of one of the decorative arches of the arena: you can safely shoot Torm from above, because the boss does not have long-range attacks that cause serious damage. We recommend using this exact tactic, and to maximize damage, give the shooters a pair of +1 one-handed crossbows and the best arrows. Corresponding crossbows are sold at
• Ketherick and Susdera don't like ice. Cover the surface with ice using any skill with frost damage to the area, so that the enemies slip and miss 1-2 turns.

The role of the shooter at the top of the arch is suitable for Astarion, if the main character is not good with bows or crossbows, and for Gale, since he is a magician.

Battle in the Mind Flayer Colony

After defeating Torm on the roof, follow him into the depths of the illithid colony. The age there opens after the battle and is located at the top of the Moon Towers. Since you can’t rest inside, we recommend going to the camp first and taking a long rest.

While exploring the illithid colony in pursuit of Ketheric Torm, you can find yourself in necrotic laboratory with a mystery.

Phase 2

The second battle with Ketheric Torm will be more difficult than the previous one: for now Song of the Night captured in the corner of the arena - the boss is invulnerable. Enemies will include:

• Ketheric Torm (113 HP on Tactics);
• Illithid (92 HP);
• Necromites - 4 individuals (23 HP each);
• Intelligence eaters - 4 individuals (27 HP each).

Next, we'll tell you how to get an advantage surprise attack and on the first battle cycle, release the Song of Night:

1. Even the Song of Night can be rescued Shkryab: give him a potion or cast an invisibility spell on the dog, command him to run close to the Song of Night and put him in turn-based mode so that the invisibility does not run out.
2. Give the rest of the squad all available potions - speed, accuracy, performance enhancements - also put the characters into a state of invisibility, sneak covertly onto the central donut-shaped platform and stand behind Ketheric Torm. If there is not enough invisibility for everyone, it doesn’t matter: you can take part of the team closer to the illithid or other enemies in order to neutralize them faster.
3. Start the fight с shot from invisibility.
4. Right after that free Maid Eileen.

Shooting from stealth and stealth at the start of the fight will give the team advantage of surprise — the enemy will miss 1 turn, — and releasing Eileen will remove Ketherick’s invulnerability. Next, the final dialogue with the boss will start, and only after that the battle will begin. Immediately attack with the strongest techniques appropriate to the situation. First, we recommend dealing with the illithid, and also killing groups of intelligence devourers and necromites with AoE spells like Fireball. Try not to stand close to the abyss on the central platform, so as not to inadvertently fall. Some tips on the sequence of actions after liberating the Song of Night:

1. Throw Karabasan's Poison at the Illithid and Ketheric: The potion will paralyze them for 2 turns, but not with a 100% chance. A paralyzed enemy is unable to dodge and is effectively unable to defend itself. In practice, this means that a couple of radiant strikes will be enough to remove all of Ketherick's health. Karabasan's poison can be purchased from House of Healing.

2. The illithid must be neutralized quickly also because it is capable of subjugating Nightsong or any other hero. This is a very serious advantage that threatens victory.
3. Use Gale or any AoE scroll to quickly deal with groups of intelligence eaters and necromites.
4. Towards the end of the battle, when Ketherick has almost no HP left, evacuate all team from the donut platform - no one should be there.

The second phase of the battle with Torm can be skipped if you find a special item, and also successfully complete checks in the dialogues at the top of the Lunar Towers and before the battle in the colony. In this case, you will immediately move on to the battle with Myrkul, and the surprise bonus for a stealthy shot will remain. At the end of the guide, we'll tell you how to skip the second battle.

How to defeat Apostle Myrkul

Between the second and third phases the game will not allow you to rest, so the last battle is extremely difficult to complete. The outcome of the enterprise will largely depend on the state in which the team survives until the final battle with the avatar of Ketheric Torm - the apostle Myrkula (360 HP on Tactics).

If you decide not to skip the second phase, then we recommend bringing the team to the final battle as vigorous as possible: when Ketherick’s HP runs out in the second phase, spend several actions restoring the team’s HP and resurrecting the fallen.

Phase 3

To kill Apostle Myrkul as quickly as possible in Baldur's Gate 3, follow these rules:

• Around the boss, i.e. over the entire area of ​​the donut platform, the “Presence of Myrkul” debuff is constantly in effect, prohibiting treatment. In addition, the boss's sweeping scythe attacks are very dangerous. This effectively makes melee combat pointless, so evacuate the heroes from the platform. Fight, shooting enemy from all sides with magic.
• Summon summons to the donut platform area: Guardian of Faith (Shadowheart), Fire Elemental, or Burning Orb (Gale) to distract Myrkula. Try to place assistants further from each other so that the boss's sweeping blows do not hit everyone at once.
  

• Myrkula is well protected from physical, necrotic, ice and poison attacks. He doesn't like fire, lightning and rays.
• The Moonlight spell will shine on the top of Myrkul's head every turn. This is a great source of free damage over time.
• Maiden Eileen will fight in close combat in any case. The heroes’ task is to treat her in time.
• Every turn, Apostle Myrkula in Baldur's Gate 3 will summon bone sanctuaries with necromites. Try to get rid of at least some of these annoying cocoons.

Having defeated the manifestation of the God of Death, get ready to receive a reward for your efforts.

Awards

For defeating Ketheric Torm on the roof of the Lunar Towers, you will receive the following prizes:

• A ring of delicious bone marrow in a locked heavy chest [KS - 18].
• Devil's Flail of Myrkul from Susdera's corpse.

Killing Ketheric Torm in the form of the Myrkul avatar will give more valuable rewards:

• Netherian Stone of Ketherick.
• Ketheric's War Hammer.
• Reaper's Embrace armor.
• Shield of Ketheric.
• A bag of supplies.

Receiving a Netherian stone marks the imminent completion of Act 2 of the game.

Can Ketheric Torm be spared?

Ketheric Torm is certainly a tragic antagonist. Having learned his backstory, the hero will discover unique checks, thanks to which he will be able to skip the second phase of the battle in the illithid colony, and immediately begin the battle with Myrkul. Below we will explain step by step how to do this:

• Save the Song of Night.
• Before going to the roof of the Lunar Towers, visit the personal chambers of Ketheric Torm, break open the luxurious chest next to his bed [KS - 14] and read the letter contained in it, written by Ketherick’s wife, Melody.

• Climb to the roof of the tower, in the dialogue with Ketherick, select the belief: “Melody didn’t want to see you like this, Ketherick” [KS - 10].
• Continue negotiations with Ketherick, placating him: “You are wrong Ketherick. It's not over for you yet."
• Now choose "I will help you, Ketheric - if you let me."
• At first glance, Ketheric Torm has surrendered, but suddenly Maid Eileen appears with the intention of slaying the enemy who has fallen to his knees. Stop her with the line “Wait... Ketherick has given up.”

This concludes the first round of negotiations. So far we have not been able to convince the boss, but this can be done in the future.

Fight with Torm in the first phase, go down into the depths of the illithid colony and enter into a final conversation with him: the circumstances of the next battle depend on the successfully chosen words:

• For your first answer, choose “And what is my lot, Ketheric?” or “Why do you need this prism?”
• Next, use the belief: “I was ready to spare you. Not too late. You can repent" [KS - 18].

If you succeed in persuasion, then skip the second phase of the battle and go straight to Myrkul’s avatar: this will not save Ketheric’s life, but it will simplify the age. Please note that the technique of a sneak attack on Ketheric described in the guide before the start of the second phase will still trigger a dialogue in which you can a persuasion check and receive a surprise attack bonus for the fight with Myrkul.

We hope this guide helped you learn how to defeat Ketheric Torm in Baldurs Gate 3 and kill Apostle Myrkula. If you have any questions or additions on the topic of the article, write to comments. Read other helpful Baldur's Gate 3 guides in the relevant section of our website.