The Baldur’s Gate 3 Grymforge boss, Nere, isn’t the nicest guy you’ll encounter along the way. One of the realm’s most self-important True Souls is trapped behind a rock slide in the Underdark, and time is running out. While Nere’s reputation does little to endear himself, freeing the True Soul or leaving him to die holds consequences.
Below, we’ll explain how to complete the Free True Soul Nere BG3 quest. Plus, we’ve got a few tips outlining choices and who’ll judge your decisions in the Underdark.
How to Free True Soul Nere in BG3
The Underdark is Act 1’s sprawling labyrinth of shadows, and not even the worst NPCs fair well down there. Upon discovering Grymforge, speak to Sergeant Thrinn across from the dig site. The Duergar explains True Soul Nere is trapped behind the nearby cave-in, and the miners’ rescue mission is slow going. Agree to help her, and she’ll set you on the path to Free True Soul Nere.
Interact with the cave-in, and Nere links up with your Tav to show the rubble from his perspective. There’s poison trapped in the passage with him, so you’ll want to avoid taking Long Rests or leaving the Underdark. The passage of time is an easy BG3 mechanic to forget, but doing so here leads to his death.
Free True Soul Nere Objectives:
- Sergeant Thinn requests help freeing Nere from the cave-in
- Find Explosives
- Use grenades or other explosives
OR - Speak to miners Lunkbud and Laridda
- Find Philomeen and convince her to give you the Runepowder Vial
- Use grenades or other explosives
- Blind the Absolute
- Speak to Elder Brithvar and turn him against Nere
- Destroy the Scrying Eye that follows
You’ll need some firepower to clear the way. Using Smokepowder, grenades, or Philomeen’s Runepowder Vial all work for continuing the quest. Speak to Thinn again and let her know it’s time to light the cave-in up, drop your explosives, move to a safe distance, and trigger the explosion with a ranged attack.
Deciding Nere’s Fate
As you’ve come to expect, Nere’s fate rolls into other BG3 quests. Sovereign Glut isn’t much help, but Spaw asks you to protect the Myconid Colony and kill Nere. We’ve got a bit more detail on both sovereigns in our side with Glut or Spaw BG3 guide.
Choose wisely, and for tips on retrieving True Soul Nere’s head, check out our longer guide on the Nere fight.
Wait it out
It’s as easy as it sounds. Take a couple of Long Rests, and Nere will succumb to the poison on the other side of the cave-in. You can still blow up the wall and access the other side, but the True Soul won’t be around. This is the easiest way to take out one of BG3’s more notoriously difficult bosses, but it prevents you from continuing other quests.
Free Nere, then betray him
To Nere’s delight, he thinks you’re a true fan for saving the day, but this path insists otherwise. After clearing the cave-in, insist you aren’t a True Soul devout, and take the drow’s head. If you helped the other Duergar betray him, they’ll come to your aid during the showdown — this makes the encounter much easier.
Free Nere, then side with him
For the Tav keen on satiating their evil, save Nere and play nice with his ramblings in the dialogue scenes that follow. He’ll get to work causing havoc as soon as he’s free, but you’ll want to avoid disagreeing if you want to spare him. The True Soul will also aid you in fighting the rebelling Duergar. Regardless, Sovereign Spaw isn’t gonna like you for this one.
