Exploring the depths of Baldur’s Gate 3 leads players into some of the most bizarre, dangerous, and rewarding areas in the Forgotten Realms. Among them, the Acrid Workshop stands out as a secretive and challenging location hidden beneath the Lower City. Getting to the Acrid Workshop in BG3 is not straightforward it requires solving puzzles, avoiding traps, and navigating through hard-to-spot entrances. For players determined to find every hidden corner of the game, this underground lab is a must-visit. This guide explains in detail how to get to the Acrid Workshop in Baldur’s Gate 3, what you’ll encounter on the way, and why it’s worth the journey.
Understanding the Location
What Is the Acrid Workshop?
The Acrid Workshop is a hidden area tucked beneath the Lower City in Act 3 of Baldur’s Gate 3. It’s often missed by casual players because there’s no direct quest that points to it. The workshop contains alchemical materials, strange devices, lore-rich items, and sometimes optional enemies that can provide extra challenge or rewards. Players looking to fully explore BG3’s secrets will want to visit this location at least once.
Prerequisites Before You Begin
Before attempting to access the Acrid Workshop, make sure you’ve progressed far enough into Act 3 to have access to the Lower City. Additionally, ensure your party is ready to handle traps, toxic environments, and potential combat. Bring along party members or items that offer:
- High Perception (to detect traps)
- Misty Step or similar teleport abilities
- Poison resistance or immunity
- Lockpicking tools or spells like Knock
How to Get to the Acrid Workshop
Step 1: Reach the Lower City
The first step is to gain access to the Lower City in Act 3. This will happen naturally as you progress through the main story. Once there, explore the southeastern part of the city. You’re looking for the area near the Basilisk Gate and the city’s industrial or seedy quarters, where odd experiments and alchemy are more common.
Step 2: Locate the Suspicious Basement
The entrance to the Acrid Workshop is hidden inside a seemingly ordinary building. Look for a dilapidated or poorly lit home or shop that appears uninhabited or strangely quiet. This building is often referred to by players as the Suspicious House or Closed Alchemist’s Shop. You may need to pass a Perception check to spot interactable objects, such as hidden switches, trapdoors, or suspicious floor panels.
Step 3: Find the Hidden Trapdoor
Once inside the building, carefully inspect the floor and walls. There is usually a trapdoor hidden beneath a rug, shelf, or pile of rubble. Use Perception and Investigation to uncover it. Once found, open the hatch and descend the ladder or stairs into a basement level.
Be cautious this area is often filled with traps, poison clouds, or enemy creatures. Move slowly, use stealth if needed, and let your party scout ahead to disarm any hazards.
Step 4: Solve the Puzzle or Unlock the Door
After navigating through the basement, you’ll likely come across a locked door, magical barrier, or riddle-based puzzle. The specifics may vary depending on your choices and prior actions in the game, but common solutions include:
- Using a character with high Sleight of Hand to pick the lock
- Casting Knock or Dispel Magic on warded doors
- Activating a hidden lever or pressure plate in the room
- Inserting a specific item found nearby into a socket or device
If you have trouble with these mechanics, consult any notes, books, or letters found in the upper part of the building they often contain clues about how to proceed.
Step 5: Enter the Acrid Workshop
Once you’ve bypassed the door or trap, you’ll gain access to the actual Acrid Workshop. This area is darker, filled with caustic fog or noxious fumes, and lit by eerie green or purple lighting. It’s best to use poison resistance potions, environmental manipulation spells (like Gust of Wind), or simply avoid the hazardous areas as much as possible.
What to Expect Inside
Loot and Crafting Materials
The workshop is packed with alchemical tools, strange ingredients, and magical remnants. You’ll often find:
- Alchemist’s Fire, Smoke Powder, and poison vials
- Books and scrolls with lore about the city’s experiments
- Rare crafting components for poison- or fire-based gear
Optional Combat
Some variations of the workshop may include constructs, mutated creatures, or rogue alchemists who are hostile to your party. These enemies are usually immune or resistant to poison, so plan your attacks accordingly. Fire and magic damage tends to work best here.
Environmental Hazards
The workshop’s toxic environment isn’t just for show it can actively damage your party if you’re not careful. Some hazards to watch for include:
- Persistent poison clouds that require constant healing or cleansing
- Explosive traps near shelves and tables
- Hidden magical glyphs that trigger elemental damage
Why Visit the Acrid Workshop?
Unique Lore and Hidden Story Elements
While not central to the main plot, the Acrid Workshop adds depth to the game’s world-building. The notes and journals you find there often tie into the darker side of the Lower City experiments gone wrong, forbidden research, and factions dabbling in necromancy or chemical warfare.
Rare Gear and Consumables
Some of the loot found here isn’t available anywhere else. You may come across prototype weapons, poison-enhancing gear, or consumables that give your rogue or ranger an edge in upcoming battles. If you’re building around stealth or damage-over-time abilities, this area is especially valuable.
Satisfying Exploration Experience
Reaching the Acrid Workshop rewards players who explore every corner, read every note, and think creatively. It’s not just about combat or loot it’s about piecing together a mystery buried beneath the city. For completionists and lore fans, it’s one of Act 3’s more memorable secrets.
Tips for Success
- Bring a party with diverse utility: lockpicking, magic, perception, and healing.
- Save before entering the basement, in case traps are triggered.
- Use poison resistance items to safely explore the toxic zones.
- Be methodical missing one lever or puzzle piece can block progress.
Finding the Acrid Workshop in Baldur’s Gate 3 is a rewarding challenge that encourages players to think outside the box and pay close attention to their surroundings. It’s a shining example of the game’s depth, offering both hidden lore and practical rewards. While it may not be marked clearly on your map, reaching the workshop is worth the time and effort. Whether you’re hunting rare loot or immersing yourself in BG3’s richly detailed world, the Acrid Workshop offers a memorable and atmospheric experience deep beneath the streets of the Lower City.