Finding Duke Ulder Ravengard is one of those quests that feels like it’s constantly slipping through your fingers. You hear about him early on. Waukeen's Rest is burning, people are screaming, and you're told the Grand Duke has been snatched. Most players think they’ll find him in Act 1. You won't. Then Act 2 rolls around and you're scouring Moonrise Towers thinking, "Okay, he’s definitely in a cell here." Wrong again. Honestly, the rescue the grand duke bg3 questline is a long-haul commitment that tests your patience and your ability to deal with a very literal "deal with the devil."
It’s easy to get frustrated because the game dangles him in front of you at the end of Act 2, only to whisk him away to the city of Baldur’s Gate. By the time you actually get the chance to save him, the stakes have shifted from a simple search-and-rescue to a massive political cluster of choices involving Mizora, Gortash, and the fate of Wyll’s very soul.
The Long Road to the Iron Throne
You can't just stumble into the Duke's location. The game forces you to play along with Gortash's coronation first. If you try to go rogue and skip the ceremony at Wyrm's Rock Fortress, you’re basically breaking the quest flow in a way that makes everything harder. Talk to Gortash. Watch him get crowned. Feel the awkward tension in the room while Ravengard stands there, mind-controlled and glassy-eyed. This is where the rescue the grand duke bg3 mission truly pivots into its final phase.
After the ceremony, Mizora will show up at your camp. She’s got a proposition. This is the moment most people agonize over. She offers to reveal the Duke's location and help you save him, but the price is Wyll’s eternal soul. Or, you can break Wyll's contract, but she warns that the Duke will die.
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Here is the secret: you don't actually need her help. You can break Wyll's contract—freeing him from Mizora's grasp forever—and still save the Duke. It’s just significantly more difficult because Mizora will actively try to sabotage you during the rescue mission.
Locating the Underwater Prison
The Duke is being held in the Iron Throne. No, not a chair made of swords, but a high-security underwater prison. To get there, you need to head to Flymm Cargo in the Lower City. It’s a nondescript warehouse guarded by some nasty worgs. Inside, hidden under some crates, is a hatch.
Down there, you’ll meet Redhammer the Deviser. He operates a submersible. This is your ride. Depending on how you’ve played Act 3, you might have different reasons to be here. Maybe you're doing the "Avenge the Ironhand Gnomes" quest or "Avenge the Drowned." Regardless of your side quests, if you want to rescue the grand duke bg3 style, you need that sub.
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Once you board and head down, Gortash will call you on the "radio" and threaten to blow the whole place up. He’s not bluffing. The moment you dock, a turn-based timer starts. On Balanced difficulty, you get six turns. On Tactician, it’s five. On Honour Mode? You better have a plan.
The Chaos of the Iron Throne Rescue
The Duke is in the eastern wing of the prison. But wait—there are other prisoners too. The Gondians are scattered in different cells, and Omeluum (the friendly Mind Flayer) might be there if you didn't give his egg to the Society of Brilliance. You have to decide who matters most.
If you broke Wyll’s contract, Mizora appears the second you open the Duke’s cell. She’ll summon several combustion spiders to kill him before he can reach the submersible. This is why you need a dedicated healer or a character with "Dimension Door" standing right next to him.
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- Speed is everything. Use Haste spores, Potions of Speed, and the Dash action.
- Mist Step is a godsend. Every character should have a way to teleport.
- The Duke is weak. He starts with low HP. Don't let him take a hit.
- Throw a Potion of Speed at him. If he has his own turns and extra movement, he can make it to the ladder in two turns.
It’s chaotic. Sahaugin are spawning every turn, netting your characters and slowing them down. If you don't get everyone back to the sub before the timer hits zero, they die. Period. They don't go to camp; they are gone. Only the characters actually inside the sub when the cinematic triggers survive the implosion.
Dealing with Mizora’s Sabotage
If you kept Wyll’s contract, Mizora actually helps. She’ll buff the Duke with Freedom of Movement and Haste, making his exit a breeze. But if you’re like me and you want Wyll to be free, you have to be his bodyguard. Casting "Sanctuary" on the Duke the moment he steps out of the cell is the smartest move you can make. The spiders can't target him, and he can just stroll past the explosions.
What Happens After the Rescue?
If you successfully pull it off, the Duke goes to your camp. He’s understandably shaken. This is where the story pays off. You get a massive lore dump about the Wyrmway and Ansur, the bronze dragon meant to protect the city in times of peril.
The rescue the grand duke bg3 quest doesn't just end with him being safe; it unlocks the final legendary gear quests for Wyll and provides a powerful ally for the final battle. Ravengard will provide his "Gather Your Allies" buff, which is incredibly useful when you're staring down an Elder Brain.
Actionable Steps for a Flawless Rescue
- Prioritize the Hatch: Don't waste time fighting every Sahaugin. Kill the ones blocking the doors, but keep moving.
- Split the Party: Send your fastest character (usually a Rogue or someone with Misty Step) to the Duke’s wing immediately. Send another to the south to grab Omeluum, as Omeluum has an ability to teleport himself and one other person back to the sub instantly.
- Use Summons: Spiritual Weapon, Elementals, or Scratch can distract the enemies while your main party focuses on opening cell doors.
- Pre-Buff: Cast Longstrider on everyone before you even get in the submarine. It’s a ritual spell; it costs nothing and lasts until a long rest.
- The Duke’s Health: If you have a Cleric, have them cast Warding Bond on the Duke at camp earlier, or be ready with a high-level Cure Wounds the moment he’s free.
The Iron Throne is arguably the most stressful 15 minutes in the entire game. It’s a puzzle box disguised as a combat encounter. If you go in swinging a sword at everything that moves, you’ll fail. If you go in like a specialized extraction team, you’ll walk out with the Duke and enough gratitude from the Gondians to make the final act much smoother.