If you’ve made your way into Nettie’s Room in Baldur’s Gate 3, you’re probably here because you’re either stuck in the room, staring at a mysterious rune puzzle, or trying to figure out how to unlock the hidden loot. Don’t worry, we’ve got your back. Here’s is complete breakdown of Nettie’s Room puzzle, how to solve it, and what valuable rewards await you.
How to Enter the Nettie’s Room
You’ll encounter this puzzle during the “Get Help from Healer Nettie” quest in the Emerald Grove in Baldur’s Gate 3. Here, you will meet Nettie, a healer who can cure the Mind Flayer parasite stuck in your head. Like the rest of your party, you’re desperate to find a solution, and Nettie looks like a promising lead. You’ll find her in the Inner Sanctum of the druids’ chambers, accessible through the Hollow area of the Grove.
To get to her, you need to unlock the Emerald Grove by defeating the goblins wandering outside its gates. Once inside, head to the deep part of the Grove, where tensions between the Druids and the Tiefling refugees are high. Nettie herself is available in her chambers, tending to a dying bird. If you find it hard to locate her, look for Arron, a vendor carrying most of the information about Emerald Grove. After talking with Nettie, she’ll offer to help you but don’t let her trick you into giving her your hand. If you do, she’ll try to poison you to “cure” the parasite in the harshest way possible.
During your interaction, she’ll eventually open up a secret passage to the Enclave Library, which contains a hidden rune puzzle. If things go wrong such as Nettie dyes in this encounter, you could end up locked in her room, staring at the door with no obvious way out. It has troubled a lot of players when they end up there but couldn’t find the exit. But don’t worry, there is a way to escape.
How to Get Out of Nettie’s Room
If you end up locked in Nettie’s room (maybe after an unfortunate incident where she dies or you killed her), you will see the big locked door (Stone Slab) and be unable to leave. Obtain the Key of the Ancients Circlet from Nettie’s body, equip it on your head, and then head to the southern door. Once you approach it, the door will automatically open for you as long as you’re wearing the circlet. There’s also another door in the northwest corner of the room. This door leads to a cave that connects to the back of the Druids’ Gorge, giving you another way out.
Baldur’s Gate 3 Enclave Library Rune Puzzle Solution
After entering the Enclave Library either by a talk with Nettie or leaving on your own, you can face the main event: the rune puzzle. This puzzle is centered around a large wolf (or fox) statue in the middle of the room, surrounded by four pedestals. Here’s what you’ll notice:
- Three pedestals already have runes on them:
- Rune of the Bear
- Rune of the Elk
- Rune of the Eagle
- The fourth pedestal is empty and needs the Rune of the Wolf to complete the set.
Rune of the Wolf is not in this library—it’s held by Rath, another NPC in the Emerald Grove. Getting this rune is the trickiest part of the puzzle, but you have three options depending on your playstyle:
Option 1: Pickpocket Rath
If you want to solve the puzzle right away, the fastest way is to steal the rune from Rath. Here’s how:
- Find Rath: Rath is usually in the Inner Sanctum of the Emerald Grove, near the other druids.
- Use a Sneaky Character: Bring someone like Astarion (if you have him in your party) or a character with high Dexterity and Sleight of Hand.
- Avoid the Direwolf: Rath has a Direwolf companion patrolling nearby, so you’ll need to time your pickpocket attempt carefully. Using an Invisibility Potion can make this much easier.
- Save Before Stealing: If Rath catches you, you’ll be in for a fight, so it’s always a good idea to quick-save first.
Option 2: Kill Rath
For a bold move or if you’ve already decided to side with Minthara and eliminate the druids, this option might appeal to you. Engage in combat with Rath and the druids in the Emerald Grove. Be prepared for a tough battle, as there are many strong enemies in this area. Once Rath is defeated, loot his body to claim the Rune of the Wolf.
Note: This option is very extreme and will lock you out of a lot of quests tied to the Druids and Tieflings in the Emerald Grove. Proceed with care.
Option 3: Rescue Halsin
The final (and most peaceful) option requires some more patience but has the least risk. Head to the Goblin Camp on the western side of the map and rescue Halsin. This is part of the main storyline and happens at the end of Act 1. After Halsin is safe and back in the Emerald Grove, Rath will trust you and give you the Rune of the Wolf as a reward for your help. This option is better among three if you’re playing a more diplomatic or heroic character and want to avoid unnecessary bloodshed.
How to Solve Nettie’s Puzzle in Baldur’s Gate 3
Once you’ve got your hands on the Rune of the Wolf, you can solve the puzzle in Nettie’s Library. The last pedestal, of course, is empty and waiting for the Rune of the Wolf you just worked so hard to get. Place the Wolf Rune on the empty pedestal. After that, interact with each of the four pedestals to “light them up.” to activate the puzzle. When all four runes are at their place and glowing, the central statue sinks into the floor, revealing a hidden staircase leading down into a secret vault.
Rewards: What’s in the Hidden Vault in BG3?
The Hidden Vault beneath Nettie’s Library is filled with amazing loot that makes all the effort worth it. The first thing you’ll want to get is Sorrow, a two-handed powerful rare weapon. What makes it special is its ability to cast the Sorrowful Lash cantrip—a bonus action that lets you deal damage to enemies and pull them toward you for more critical hits. Another useful item you obtain is the Robe of Summer, a lightweight and super-versatile piece of clothing. The main benefit you get from this is resistance to Cold damage.
You’ll also find a vial of Wyvern Toxin, a deadly poison you can apply to your weapons for extra damage over ten turns. If you’re more into explosive tactics, you can throw the toxin like a grenade to create a poisoned area that forces enemies to make a Constitution Saving Throw or take poison damage. The vault also contains Jade, a Druid Note, and some lore-rich books, including the “Secret Society of the Sword Coast: Exposed.” Even if you’re not into reading every scrap of lore, the main items alone make this puzzle worth solving in Baldur’s Gate 3.
