There are several things to do before entering Shadowfell in Baldur’s Gate 3 to start the Nightsong mission. Entering the area, known as the domain of Lady Shar, is a major point of no return in Act 2 of the game. As such, players should try to complete as much as they can within the available areas before heading into the lair of the Nightsinger. There is much to do in the Shadow-Cursed Lands and its extensions, both openly stated and hidden, so the area needs to be explored a bit if players want to expand their knowledge of what plagues the area and the history of Ketheric Thorm’s rule.

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Act 2 of Baldur’s Gate 3.

While some quests are clearly shown, like obtaining the Moonlantern, there are some secrets in Act 2 of Baldur’s Gate 3 that need to be resolved before heading into Shadowfell. Entering the domain of Lady Shar has the potential of modifying the Shadow-Cursed Lands entirely, which means that most of these secrets or side quests in Act 2 (and Act 1, for that matter) will become unavailable. This does not impede the player’s progress through the main story of Larian’s turn-based RPG, but it does cut them off from several compelling stories and many possible rewards.

12 Find The Sharran Sanctuary

The Gauntlet of Shar isn't the only Act 2 location to bear the dark goddess's name, but the other one can easily be missed. Parties intent on exploring Act 2 thoroughly should take care to check out everything in Reithwin Town, and one thing that can be found there is a hidden Sharran Sanctuary that contains a few rewards for those who succeed on saving throws (alternately, just let Shadowheart do the talking).

Accessing the Sharran Sanctuary requires the party to solve a simple puzzle by interacting with a few plaques. It's not one of the most critical pieces of content in Act 2, but that doesn't mean it's not worth doing. The one reward there that comes with a price is the dagger, which triggers a potentially challenging fight and could upset Shadowheart.

11 Visit The Mountain Or The Underdark

Baldur's Gate 3 provides two ways to reach Act 2 from Act 1, with the party needing to either take a Mountain or journey into the Underdark. Both pathways have perils, but they also come with plenty of interesting content and valuable rewards.

Luckily, picking one option doesn't mean that the other is locked off, at least not until the party enters the Shadowfell in Act 2. Before taking that leap, doubling back to check out whichever path the party didn't take is definitely worthwhile. The same goes for any missed content in Act 1, but since the party is inevitably likely to miss one of these two locations during Act 1, it's the most important piece of Act 1 to prioritize.

10 Free The Pixie In The Moonlantern

After arriving at the Last Light Inn and resolving a few issues at the location, players will eventually be led to set up an ambush to obtain an active Moonlantern. This item allows the party to get through the Shadow Curse in Baldur’s Gate 3 and navigate the Shadow-Cursed Lands without getting debuffed with every step. Upon grabbing this item, either through honeyed words or violence, players will have the option to free the pixie within the lantern or keep the item functional.

While the narrator does say that pixies tend to be mischievous, releasing the pixie in the Moonlantern is the way to go. The creature will bestow a bleson the party, allowing them to run around the Shadow-Cursed Lands safely without having to equip the Moonlantern or stay in its radius. This, in fact, is one of the first things to do in Act 2 of Baldur’s Gate 3, but one that should be done to make all other tasks in the area much easier.

9 Deal With The Thorm Family In Reithwin Town

The three of the Thorm family in Reithwin Town are all optional boss encounters but are worth the time investment. Dealing with Gerringothe, Malus, and Thisobald in Baldur’s Gate 3 considerably expands the player’s knowledge of the Shadow Curse and their relationship with Ketheric Thorm. They also offer some great pieces of loot. While all of them can be defeated with sheer violence, the best detail is that they can all kill themselves given the right amount of dedication.

Players may have to save scum in Baldur’s Gate 3 to ensure the desired outcome occurs, but it is possible. These secondary Thorm boss encounters open up many possibilities for other quests as well, as certain items can only be obtained if they are defeated or cautiously stolen.

8 Complete He Who Was’ Quest

In fact, one of the items needed for another side quest, a ledger, can be found within Thisobald Thorm’s Waning Moon distillery. The ledger is solicited by a mysterious elf called He Who Was. He can be found on the eastern outskirts of the Shadow-Cursed Lands and is completing a ritual for afterlife punishment.

The side quest for He Who Was in Baldur’s Gate 3 is not too long or difficult, but it may be worth checking out. Depending on how players complete it, they may be rewarded with an exclusive item that is not obtainable by any other means. Like all other objectives, it needs to be completed before entering Shadowfell, otherwise, it becomes unavailable.

7 Bring Infernal Iron To Dammon For Karlach

Karlach’s companion story has a major development in Act 2, and this requires that players visit Dammon at the Last Light Inn with Karlach in their party. He will recognize the character’s infernal engine and offer his services to cool her off by crafting an item with Infernal Iron. If players are pursuing a romance with Karlach in Baldur’s Gate 3, this is an obligatory task to complete.

By cooling her body, Karlach will be able to touch others again, which was one of her deepest desires. Dammon will also give her bad news that may later tie in with the main story quests, but this is definitely something that should not be skipped before heading into Shadowfell.

6 Find Arabella’s Parents

Another event that can be found when exploring the graveyard area surrounding Reithwin Town is stumbling upon Arabella, in case she was saved from Kagha in Baldur’s Gate 3 during Act 1. The young tiefling will be searching for her parents and players can talk to her, take the task for themselves, and redirect her to their camp.

This side quest may initially seem small, but it expands into something much larger and interesting. The outcome of the story is compelling and sets up further developments that will prove to be worthwhile in the long run. If players have the chance of finding and helping Arabella, they definitely should do this before entering Shadowfell.

5 Play With Oliver

To the eastern portion of the Shadow-Cursed Lands in Baldur’s Gate 3, players may encounter a house full of flowers and, within it, a young boy who seems to have been touched by the Shadow Curse. Called Oliver, he will ask them to play and players on a good-aligned playthrough should do so. They should also do that without killing the kid’s mom and dad.

After the game is completed, there will be nothing else left to do, but a quest marker will remain on the area. This is because this seemingly meaningless task is actually connected to a larger and much more critical side quest in the game that involves purging the Shadow Curse altogether.

4 Help Halsin Rescue Thaniel

At the Last Light Inn, players will encounter a cursed NPC in a bed called Art Cullagh. After talking to him and his caretaker, players should return to camp in Baldur’s Gate 3 and talk to Halsin about the character. They should mention that Art is mumbling about Thaniel. This will trigger one of the most important side quests in Act 2 that needs to be completed right before entering Shadowfell.

They then need to recover a lute from Malus Thorm, take it back to Halsin, awaken Art, and find out more about Thaniel and the Shadow Curse. Halsin will then set off to rescue Thaniel, and players will have to protect him in a dangerous survival battle with multiple rounds. If successfully completed, this will later connect to Oliver’s questline, and it can have a positive outcome depending on what players choose to do inside Shadowfell.

3 Explore Moonrise Towers Freely

While players have not yet entered Shadowfell and triggered any groundbreaking events, they should go to Moonrise Towers in Baldur’s Gate 3 and explore the area. There is plenty to do there, including interacting with certain vendors and uncovering secrets. The only recommendation is to not head into the central room where Ketheric Thorm is.

Players can encounter an enigmatic vendor called Araj Oblodra who can give players powerful potions, as well as hidden treasures. Players can also help a pack of gnolls being mistreated. There is even a secret set in a crack in a wall that allows players to learn more about the Absolute itself and its role in the story of Baldur’s Gate 3.