You've finally reached the Lower City. The smells of salt and desperation are everywhere, but nothing stinks quite as much as the devil waiting for you in the upstairs room of Sharess’ Caress. By now, you know the drill with Raphael. He’s theatrical. He’s smug. He’s definitely wearing too much eyeliner. But when he lays out the BG3 Raphael deal Act 3 players have been dreading—or anticipating—it isn't just flavor text. It’s a massive fork in the road for your ending.
He wants the Crown of Karsus. In exchange? He gives you the Orphic Hammer. This tool is the only thing capable of freeing Orpheus, the Githyanki prince trapped inside the Astral Prism.
Here's the thing: Raphael isn't asking for your soul this time. He wants a crown that could literally reshape the hierarchy of the Hells. It’s a classic "lesser of two evils" scenario that Larian Studios loves to throw at us. Do you trust the Emperor, who’s been keeping you alive but clearly has a manipulative streak, or do you take a gamble on a literal devil?
Honestly, it's a lot to process while a cambion watches you with that predatory grin.
What's actually in the contract?
The fine print matters. If you sign, Raphael hands over the Orphic Hammer immediately. No questing required. No breaking into high-security vaults. Just a signature and a very heavy hammer. In return, once the Absolute is defeated, you are legally (in the infernal sense) obligated to hand over the Crown of Karsus to him.
🔗 Read more: All Chapters Space Marine: What You Actually Need to Know About the 1,000 Groups
If you refuse? He just shrugs. He knows you need that hammer if you want to side with Orpheus. He's betting you’ll come crawling back, or better yet, that you'll try to steal it. Raphael loves a good heist. It gives him an excuse to be dramatic.
The Emperor's reaction is... not great
The moment you step out of that room after signing, the Emperor is going to get in your head. He’s pissed. Not just "annoyed friend" pissed, but "you just doomed the world" pissed. He views your deal as a personal betrayal because freeing Orpheus essentially makes the Emperor's protection redundant—and puts his life at risk.
If you’re trying to stay on the Emperor's good side, signing the deal is the fastest way to tank that relationship. He doesn't see a pragmatic tactical move; he sees a fool handing a nuclear weapon to a devil. And he's kinda right.
Why most players choose to steal it instead
Look, the BG3 Raphael deal Act 3 offers a shortcut, but Baldur’s Gate 3 players usually aren't looking for shortcuts. They’re looking for loot and XP. If you sign the contract, you lose the chance to experience one of the best dungeons in the game: The House of Hope.
Technically, you can sign the contract and then go to the House of Hope to tear it up. That’s the "have your cake and eat it too" route. It's risky. If Raphael catches you in his home after you’ve signed his paper, he isn't just disappointed. He's coming for blood.
- The Loot Factor: If you skip the deal and just break into the House of Hope, you can walk away with the Helldusk Armor and the Gauntlets of Hill Giant Strength. These are arguably some of the best items in the entire game.
- The Boss Fight: "Raphael's Final Act." It's a masterpiece of game design. The music alone—which the devil literally sings himself—is worth the price of admission.
- The Narrative Freedom: Stealing the hammer means you owe no one. You keep the Crown (or let it fall), you free Orpheus (if you want), and Raphael ends up as a pile of ash on his own dining room floor.
The consequences of letting Raphael have the Crown
Suppose you’re playing a "deal with the devil" roleplay. You sign the contract, you finish the game, and you actually give him the Crown.
What happens?
Raphael gets exactly what he wanted. In the epilogue, you’ll get a very specific, very chilling cutscene. He’s not just a regional manager in the Hells anymore. With the Crown of Karsus, he begins his campaign to conquer the Nine Hells, starting with Avernus and his father, Mephistopheles. He hints that his ambitions don't stop there. He’s looking at other planes. He’s looking at you.
It’s a "bad" ending in the grand scheme of things, but it’s a fantastically written one. If you're doing an evil playthrough, giving a devil the keys to the universe is peak commitment to the bit.
What if you break the contract?
If you sign the deal but then sneak into the House of Hope and destroy the physical contract, the "deal" is nullified. You keep the hammer, you keep your soul (or whatever Raphael was claiming), and you still get to kill him. This is the ultimate power move. It requires a high-level party and a lot of patience for the Trial of Hope, but it’s incredibly satisfying.
Just remember that if you fail to destroy the contract before the final fight with him, it’s game over in a very literal, "your soul belongs to me" kind of way.
Is there any reason to sign?
Actually, yeah. If you’re playing on Honor Mode and you’re terrified of the House of Hope fight—which is notorious for ending permadeath runs—signing the deal is the safest way to get the Orphic Hammer. You get the tool you need for the Githyanki plotline without having to face 666 HP of singing devil.
It’s the "safe" path. It’s also the boring path. But in a game where one bad roll can delete 80 hours of progress, boring is sometimes a luxury.
Actionable Strategy for Act 3
Don't rush into the room at Sharess' Caress. Think about your endgame.
First, talk to your companions. Lae'zel will practically beg you to get that hammer, but she doesn't necessarily care how you get it. Karlach, on the other hand, is rightfully wary of anything involving devils.
Second, go talk to Helsik at the Devil’s Fee. Even if you haven't talked to Raphael yet, she's the key to getting into the House of Hope. You can bypass the deal entirely by paying her (or intimidating her) to open a portal. This allows you to get the hammer on your own terms.
Lastly, if you do sign, make sure you're prepared for the Emperor’s fallout. He will be cold. He will be distant. You’ll need to pass some high-level persuasion checks later to keep the alliance from crumbling entirely if you plan on using him to win the final battle.
The BG3 Raphael deal Act 3 isn't a trap in the sense that it breaks your game, but it is a trap for your character’s morality. Decide now if you want to be the one who outsmarts the devil, or the one who helps him decorate his new throne. Either way, make sure you bring some fire resistance potions. You’re gonna need ‘em.
Your next steps in the Lower City:
- Visit the Devil’s Fee: Speak to Helsik to learn about the ritual to enter the House of Hope.
- Check your inventory: Ensure you have the "Silver Sword of the Astral Plane" quest active if you're siding with Lae'zel.
- Save your game: Before entering the Sharess' Caress top floor, create a hard save so you can see the different dialogue branches for the contract.