Look, we’ve all been there. You just survived a literal mind-flayer ship crashing into a beach, you’re covered in sand and probably some questionable alien goo, and you just want to find a friendly face that isn't trying to eat your brain. Enter Gale. Or rather, enter Gale’s hand.
Finding Gale is actually one of the funniest introductions in Baldur’s Gate 3, but if you’re sprinting toward the Druid Grove or getting distracted by every shiny chest on the Ravaged Beach, you might actually walk right past him. Honestly, missing him is easier than you’d think if you aren't looking at the right rock.
The Roadside Cliffs: Where to Find Gale in BG3
Basically, Gale isn't hanging out in a tavern or waiting for you at a campfire. He’s stuck inside a wall. Specifically, he’s trapped in the Roadside Cliffs Ancient Sigil Circle.
If you want the exact coordinates, you’re looking for X: 223, Y: 326.
To get there, you’ll want to head north from the Nautiloid crash site. If you've already found Shadowheart pounding on those big ancient doors, you're close. Just keep heading up the path toward the cliffs. You’ll see a purple, swirling portal on a rock face that looks like it’s having a total meltdown. That’s your guy.
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How to Actually Get Him Out
As you approach the portal, a cutscene triggers. You’ll see a hand reach out—pretty dramatic, right?—and Gale’s voice pleading for help. You have a few ways to handle this, depending on what your character is good at:
- The Brute Force Method: Use a Strength check to literally yank him out. The DC is usually around 7, so unless you’re playing a wizard with the muscle mass of a wet noodle, you’re probably fine.
- The Magical Touch: If you’re a magic user yourself (Wizard, Sorcerer, etc.), you can use your Arcane knowledge to stabilize the portal.
- The "Oops" Factor: Be careful. If you fail the checks or—heaven forbid—decide to smack the hand, you can actually lose Gale for the rest of the game. If you’re playing the Dark Urge, well... let’s just say there’s an option to "fantasize" about cutting the hand off. If you do that, Gale stays in the rock. Forever. Don’t do that if you want a wizard.
Why You Don't Want to Miss Him
Gale is a Wizard. In the early game, wizards are kinda fragile—they’re basically glass cannons—but they are incredibly versatile.
He starts with the Sage background, which is great for Arcana and History checks. But more importantly, he has a very specific "condition" that drives a huge chunk of his personal quest, The Wizard of Waterdeep. You’ll find out pretty quickly that Gale needs to "eat" magical items. It sounds annoying, but trust me, having a high-level spellcaster who can learn almost any spell in the game from a scroll is worth a few green-tier boots you weren't going to use anyway.
Is Gale Missable?
Technically, yes. If you ignore the portal and progress too far into Act 1—like completing the entire "Save the Refugees" questline and moving into Act 2—the portal eventually stabilizes or disappears, and Gale is gone.
Larian’s engine is weirdly reactive. Some players have reported that if they sneak past the trigger zone in stealth, the scene never pops. If you’re at the Roadside Cliffs and don't see the purple swirl, try walking right up to the cliff face or reloading a save from just after the crash.
What to Do After Recruiting Gale
Once he’s out of the rock, he’ll be super charming and probably make a joke about how "uncanny" the whole situation was. You can invite him to your party right then and there. If your party is full (4 people), he’ll just head back to your camp.
Pro tip: Talk to him at camp often. Gale is a chatterbox. He has some of the best lore drops regarding Mystra and the Weave. Also, keep a couple of "useless" magical artifacts in your inventory. When he gets an exclamation point over his head and looks like he’s about to keel over, he’ll need you to donate one to his... internal situation.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Playthrough
If you’re standing on that beach right now, here is exactly what you should do:
- Save your game before touching the purple sigil. Dice rolls happen, and a Nat 1 can ruin your day.
- Bring Shadowheart or a character with high Strength if your main character is weak; you can switch control to them to perform the pull.
- Check your inventory for any "Uncommon" (green) items. Don't sell everything to the first merchant you see; save at least two items for Gale’s first two "hunger" triggers.
- Head to the Druid Grove immediately after. There’s a lot of Gale-approved dialogue there that will boost his approval rating early, making his questline much smoother.
The Roadside Cliffs waypoint is also a fast-travel spot, so even if you don't want Gale in your active party yet, grabbing him now unlocks that teleport for later. Just don't leave him hanging in the rock—it's a long way down if that portal fails.