How to Locate Philomeen’s Hiding Spot in Baldur’s Gate 3

Finding Philomeen’s hiding spot in Baldur’s Gate 3 can be a challenging endeavor, but it is no less rewarding. Philomeen is a deep gnome that has escaped from the Duergar slavers and the Cult of the Absolute, and has gone into hiding in the dangerous Underdark near Grymforge. If you help as part of an optional side quest, you can receive some valuable rewards including the Runepowder vial essential for freeing True Soul Nere. 

Here is a step by step guide to finding Philomeen’s hiding spot in Baldur’s Gate 3.

Head to Grymforge Docks

Philomeen’s hiding spot happens to be located in the Abandoned Refuge area of Grymforge. To initiate the search, head over to the docks at Grymforge, which are accessible through a waterway. Here, you can find two Duergar getting rid of some deep gnome corpses, you can either persuade them or engage them in combat. Whichever option you choose, you’ll now have to enter the nearby room, saving the game is recommended at this point. 

Unlock Hidden Pathway

Once you’re inside the room after dealing with the Duergar, you will now have to locate a hidden button. The button will activate a secret passageway that will open up a path with some steps. If for some reason, your party fails the Perception checks to find the button, reload your saved game and try once again. 

After pressing the button and unlocking the passage, follow the path up the steps and be prepared to be ambushed by three slime opponents waiting to drop from the ceiling. Their positions can be identified by the puddles of acid beneath them. If you have good stealth abilities, you can try to sneak around these enemies to avoid combat altogether. 

Jump Across the Cliff

After navigating through the slime enemies, you need to continue along the path, climbing up the stairs and making your way to the left towards a cliff. You will need to jump across the other side to access a locked door. Now, there are two ways to navigate around this door. The obvious method is to lockpick it using a character with high Dexterity, alternatively, you can also access a hidden passage through a broken wall towards the left side of the locked door. Continue to navigate through this passage till the end.

Reaching Philomeen’s Hiding Spot in BG3

At the end of this hidden passage, you will find an increasingly agitated Philomeen. She seems quite scared and is paranoid, fearing for her life from her former captors, the Duergar slavers and the Cult of the Absolute. In order to get the Runepowder vial from her, you will have to calm her down using Persuasion. A successful check should convince Philomeen to hand over the vial.

But be warned, if you fail to persuade her, Philomeen might end up becoming hostile and could potentially blow up herself, harming you in the process. For this reason, it is recommended that you save your game once again before interacting with her in any way.

Philomeen Sometimes Might Not Appear

If you happen to reach Philomeen’s hiding spot in BG3 and she’s not there, it could be due to one of the following reasons. If you have already dealt with True Soul Nere, Philomeen might already have left and her marker is bugged at this point. Another possible scenario is that Nere has already died from poisoning, causing Philomeen to abandon her hiding spot.

To avoid running into these problems and to absolutely ensure that you do run into Philomeen, head straight to her location upon learning about her disappearance at Grymforge without resting or returning to camp. As, resting or returning to camp might trigger events that lead to Nere’s death and Philomeen’s subsequent unavailability at her designated hiding spot. 

All in all, finding Philomeen’s hiding spot in Baldur’s Gate 3 involves a decent mix of exploration, combat, and skill checks. Successfully locating and interacting with her can provide critical items and progress in your quests. By following this guide, you should be able to navigate the challenges of Grymforge and find Philomeen to aid in your journey. 

Now that you have the Runepowder Vial, you can proceed to free True Soul Nere and continue your adventure in Baldur’s Gate 3. However, if due to the reasons we have mentioned, you’re unable to encounter Philomeen, it shouldn’t really affect your overall progress as it’s only an optional side quest.