You've probably found it. That weirdly heavy, glowing little statue sitting at the bottom of a trapped chest in the Owlbear Nest. Or maybe you spotted it in a cellar at the Last Light Inn and wondered why the developers even bothered putting it there. Honestly, the Idol of Selune is one of the most misunderstood items in the entirety of Baldur’s Gate 3.
Most players pick it up thinking it’s a quest item. They carry it around for 80 hours. They wait for a special dialogue prompt with Shadowheart that never comes. Or worse, they accidentally tank their approval with her before the game even gets moving. Basically, it’s the ultimate "maybe this will be useful later" trap.
But it isn't useless. Not exactly.
Where to find the Idol of Selune BG3
Finding the idol isn't the hard part; it's getting it without blowing yourself up or making your goth cleric girlfriend hate your guts. Most people encounter it for the first time in the Owlbear Cave (X:328, Y:-135). It's tucked inside a Gilded Chest protected by a magical seal.
If you try to touch that chest, it shocks you. Hard. To open it safely, you have to jump across the gap to the giant Selune statue nearby and pass a Perception check to find the Selunite Prayer Sheet. Read that sheet while standing next to the chest, and the seal breaks. Inside, you’ll find some gems, a necklace, and the Idol of Selune.
There are a few other spots where it pops up, though they’re less iconic:
- In the Shadow-Cursed Lands, specifically in the Potter’s Chest near Reithwin (X:-52, Y:13).
- The cellar of the Last Light Inn.
- Occasionally sold by specific merchants or found in random loot crates in Act 3.
Why you shouldn't give it to Shadowheart (yet)
Here is the thing about Shadowheart: she is a Sharran. At the start of the game, her entire personality is built on hating Selunites. If you find the idol and immediately shove it into her inventory, she’s going to notice.
She will lose approval.
A lot.
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It’s actually kinda funny how much it pisses her off. Some players think that if they keep it in her bag, it might trigger a special "conversion" scene later in the game. It doesn't. Even if you're on the "good" path and she eventually turns toward the Moonmaiden, the Idol of Selune remains a miscellaneous item. She doesn’t need it to find her way back to the light. Dame Aylin and a certain spear handle that just fine.
The mechanical reality of the item
If you were hoping for a buff like the Idol of Silvanus gives, I have bad news. The Idol of Silvanus—the one the druids are chanting around in the Emerald Grove—gives a massive area-of-effect Nature and Animal Handling bonus. It's a game-changer.
The Idol of Selune? It does nothing.
It has no aura. It gives no stats. It weighs 1kg (about 2 lbs) and has a base value of 60 gold. It is, for all intents and purposes, vendor trash with a fancy name.
However, "junk" is a relative term in a Larian game. Because it's a unique religious object, it’s great for camp decoration. If you’re playing a Cleric of Selune, you’ve probably already realized that the game reacts to your faith constantly. Carrying the idol doesn't change those dialogues, but it feels right.
What to actually do with it
Since it doesn't have a quest trigger, you have three real options.
First, you can sell it. 60 gold isn't a fortune, but in the early game when you're trying to scrounge up enough coin for that +1 armor at the Grove, every bit helps.
Second, you can use it as a "paperweight" (as Shadowheart mockingly calls it). Some players like to carry it specifically to annoy her. It’s a roleplay choice. If you’re romancing her as a Selunite, it adds a bit of flavor to the "enemies to lovers" tension.
Third—and this is the big one—you can use it at the Stormshore Tabernacle in Act 3. While you can't hand the idol over for a specific quest, you can offer it (or gold) to the statue of Selune there. If you offer enough value in items or currency, you get a daily blessing called "Anointed in Splendor," which gives you a +2 bonus to all Saving Throws. Using the idol as part of that sacrifice is a nice way to retire it.
Key takeaways for your inventory
Don't let the "Idol" tag fool you into thinking this is a legendary artifact. It’s a lore piece.
- Approval Warning: Don't put it in Shadowheart’s inventory during Act 1 or 2 unless you want her to dislike you.
- No Stat Buffs: Unlike the Silvanus version, this one provides zero mechanical benefits while carried.
- Safe to Sell: You will not break any quests or miss any secret endings by selling this to Arron or Dammon.
- The Tabernacle Trick: If you keep it until Act 3, it’s a high-value item to donate to the gods for a permanent daily buff.
Honestly, the best thing to do is just treat it as a trophy. Stick it on a nightstand in your camp, let the silver glow look pretty, and focus your energy on finding the Blood of Lathander instead. That’s where the real power is.
Next Steps for Your Playthrough:
If you are currently carrying the idol and struggling with Shadowheart's approval, move the item to your camp chest immediately. Once you reach the Shadow-Cursed Lands, look for the Moondrop Pendant in the same Owlbear chest—that item actually has a mechanical use, preventing opportunity attacks when your health is low. If you're looking for a statue that actually does something, focus your efforts on the Idol of Silvanus in the Druid Grove, but be prepared for the entire camp to turn hostile if you aren't stealthy about it.