You’re wandering through the Risen Road, dodging gnolls and trying not to step on fire wine barrels, when you stumble into one of the most stressful dilemmas in Act 1. BG3 Find the Missing Shipment isn't just a side quest. It is a massive test of how you want to play the rest of the game. Do you play the hero? Are you a greedy mercenary? Or do you just want to see what's inside that shiny iron flask?
Most players find this quest by accident. You see a couple of guys, Rugan and Olly, trapped in a cave while a literal army of gnolls—led by the terrifying Flind—tries to eat them. If you save them, you’re thrust into a world of black-market politics and secret hideouts. It's messy. Honestly, it's one of the best examples of how Larian Studios forces you to live with the consequences of your curiosity.
Where the Missing Shipment Actually Is
The "missing shipment" is located north of the Blighted Village. You'll need to head toward the Risen Road, specifically the coordinates X:37 Y:645. You’ll know you’re close when you start seeing bloated hyenas that look like they’re about to pop.
Pro tip: kill those hyenas fast. If you don't, they’ll spawn more gnolls, and suddenly a simple scouting mission becomes a total bloodbath.
Once you reach the cave, you've got a choice. You can help the survivors, or you can let the gnolls do the dirty work and then pick through the remains. If you decide to help, you can actually use your Illithid powers on Flind, the gnoll leader. You can convince her to eat her own kind, which is deeply gross but incredibly effective for clearing the cave without burning through all your spell slots.
The Two Cargo Protectors
Rugan and Olly are the Zhentarim agents guarding the shipment. Rugan is the one you’ll talk to most. He’s a bit of a cocky guy, but he’s in a tight spot. If you play your cards right and have high Charisma, you can convince him to split the profit with you. This sounds like a great deal, but the Zhentarim are not people you want to owe money to.
If you take the deal, you’re basically betraying the organization. If you help them and let them deliver the chest, you get an invitation to their secret hideout.
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Dealing with the Zhentarim Hideout
The hideout is tucked away in Waukeen’s Rest. You’ve probably seen the burning inn where everyone is screaming about a trapped Duke. Ignore the fire for a second (or save them, your call) and head to the back left of the estate. There’s a small shed with a guy named Salazon standing over some barrels.
If you have the password from Rugan, you’re golden. If not, you’re going to have to talk your way in or start swinging.
Downstairs, you’ll meet Zarys. She is the boss of this operation, and she has zero patience for mistakes. This is where the BG3 Find the Missing Shipment quest reaches its climax. If you brought the chest unopened, she’s thrilled. You get a hefty gold reward and, more importantly, Harold—a very solid rare heavy crossbow that can cast Bane on enemies.
But what if you opened the chest?
Why Everyone Wants to Open the Iron Flask
Inside that sealed chest is a small, ornate Iron Flask. If you pick the lock (Difficulty Class 20, so bring Astarion), you can take the flask out.
Don't just throw it.
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Actually, do throw it, but only if you’re prepared. Opening the flask or throwing it releases a Spectator. This is a mini-beholder that will immediately try to paralyze and disintegrate your entire party. It doesn't care if you're the one who let it out. It’s an incredibly tough fight for a low-level party, but the XP is decent, and it’s a fun "oops" moment.
However, if you open the chest, you lose the "good" ending with the Zhentarim. Zarys will be furious. If you told Rugan to split the loot and then showed up at the hideout, you’ll find him being tortured. Zarys will then give you a choice: kill Rugan to prove your loyalty, or die with him.
The Best Way to Complete the Quest
Honestly, the "meta" way to do this depends on your build.
If you’re playing a character who uses heavy crossbows, do not open the chest. Deliver it intact. The "Harold" crossbow is one of the best ranged weapons you can get until well into Act 2. The Bane effect it applies is huge for keeping your party alive during tough boss fights.
If you’re playing a chaotic character or just want the loot, here is the trick:
- Kill the gnolls.
- Kill Rugan and Olly (or just let the gnolls do it).
- Take the chest.
- Send the chest to camp.
- Go to the Zhentarim hideout later and clear it out for the XP and the loot in their back storage area.
The back storage area—behind the locked iron gates in the hideout—contains some incredible items, including the Titanstring Bow. This bow adds your Strength modifier to your damage, making it a beast for characters with high Strength. Even if you don't finish the quest "properly," you can still buy this bow from the trader, Brem, if you didn't piss them off. If you did piss them off, you’ll have to loot it off his corpse.
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Missing Shipment Nuances
A lot of people think they have to choose between the gold and the Zhentarim's friendship. Not really. If you deliver the chest, you can still sneak back into the storage area later and rob them blind.
There's also a weird interaction with the "Find the Missing Shipment" quest and the "Hunt the Devil" quest nearby. If you’re already in the area to deal with Karlach and Anders, you might as well knock this out. Just be careful with area-of-effect spells near the Zhentarim crates. They are packed with fire wine and oil. One stray Fireball and the whole cave becomes a crematorium.
Practical Steps for Your Playthrough
If you want the most "complete" experience with the best loot, follow this sequence:
- Approach the cave from the south to trigger the dialogue with the gnolls.
- Use your Illithid Wisdom to make the gnoll leader help you kill the others.
- Talk to Rugan. Do not mention that you want the cargo. Be nice. Let them go.
- Follow them to Waukeen's Rest. Enter the hideout peacefully.
- Talk to Zarys and get your reward. This unlocks the "premium" inventory for Brem, the trader.
- Buy the Titanstring Bow and the Jolly Bastard.
- Sneak into the back area using invisibility or misty step to grab the rest of the loot from the locked chests.
By doing it this way, you get the quest reward, the vendor access, and eventually, the loot inside the chest anyway if you're sneaky enough to steal it back. Just remember that the Zhentarim have eyes everywhere. If you get caught stealing, the entire hideout turns hostile, and those oil barrels I mentioned earlier? They will use them against you.
The BG3 Find the Missing Shipment quest is a perfect microcosm of Baldur's Gate 3. It’s about greed versus duty, and whether you value a powerful weapon today over a powerful ally tomorrow. Whatever you do, just make sure you don't accidentally open that Iron Flask in the middle of camp. Scratch and the owlbear cub won't appreciate the Spectator.
Next Steps for Success
To maximize your gains from this encounter, check your party's current Strength scores. If you have a character with 18 or 20 Strength, the Titanstring Bow from the Zhentarim trader is your top priority. Make sure you complete the delivery before doing anything that might make the hideout hostile. Once the trade is complete, you are free to explore the darker paths of this quest line without losing out on the game's best early-game ranged weapon.