As you near the end of Act 2 in Baldur’s Gate 3, you will enter the Gauntlet of Shar via the Mausoleum Entrance which is situated behind the Grand Mausoleum in the northwest of the Shadow-Cursed Lands. Naturally, this will progress Shadowheart’s companion quest due to the whole area being dedicated to the almighty God, Shar. In this area, Shadowheart will have to complete three trials on her path to becoming a Dark Justiciar. Read below to find out the best way to complete the Soft-Step Trial in the Gauntlet of Shar.

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Use the Sacrificial Bowl in the trial room to begin it.

Soft-Step Trial Location¶

Once you enter the Gauntlet of Shar, proceed north into the Verge of Shadow room where you’ll need to complete a puzzle which has an invisible wall around the statue in the center. Head into all four of the small rooms adjacent to this room, and lower the Mystic Thuribles. This allows you to turn them all off which will reveal the invisible wall, from there, walk through the maze-like wall to the statue and pick up the Umbral Gem.

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This map shows you the optimal route to reaching the trial, although you’ll have to complete a puzzle on the way.

Now place that in the door to the north and continue north. At the intersection in the next room, head west into the Gauntlet of Shar proper where you’ll unlock the waypoint. Head into the next room to your north, and you will find the Soft-Step Trial in the first room on the west.

How to Complete the Soft-Step Trial¶

This trial is one of the more frustrating puzzles to contend with due to getting sent back to the start off the area whenever you get spotted. See, this trial is a trial of Stealth, so getting spotted will fail the trial, but fortunately, you can retry this as much as you like until you get it done. When you walk into the room, you’ll see four Iron Gates and a Sacrificial Bowl. Head over to the bowl with Shadowheart, and place your blood in it to start the trial. The second door in the center on the right (when facing the bowl) will have a couple of Thieves Tools if you need them.

When you’re ready to start the trial, choose whatever character has the highest DEX in your party (this doesn’t have to be Shadowheart), and head into the first door on the right. You have to sneak the entire way unless you have another way to soften your footsteps. If the Shadow is heading toward the door you’re coming through, exit the door, and wait for it to go back. Note: Using an Invisible scroll, spell, or skill will make your life easier, but it’s not needed.

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(1 of 4) If you go through the first door on the right, you can press a button on the wall to allow you to continue down the corridor.

As it’s heading back, follow it to the end, and press the button on the wall to your right. This will drop the wall in front of you. Now, you could sneak straight to the end while avoiding the Shadows, but it’ll require you to pick the lock on the gate which requires you to overcome a 10 DC Dexterity check. If you don’t want to save-scum your way through the gate, head back to the wall you opened with the button, and head through the left doorway to pull the lever.

This will move the walls next to you where you can run to the table to pick up the Gate Key. Now that you have the Key, go back the way you came, and open the gate at the end. Head into the next room, and pickup the Umbral Gem which will complete the trial. Finally, click on the Umbral Transporter where the Gem was, and use it to transport you to the beginning of the trial.