Exploring Moonrise Towers during Act Two of Baldur's Gate 3 presents players with numerous secrets, including hidden chambers and mysterious mechanisms. Among these points of interest is the Ancient Altar, a curious interactive structure located inside Balthazar's private quarters. Locating and properly activating this altar allows adventurers to uncover valuable loot, unique lore, and powerful crafting choices.
Locating Balthazar's Quarters in Moonrise Towers
To find the Ancient Altar, players must first gain access to the upper levels of Moonrise Towers without triggering hostile reactions from the cultists. Speaking with Disciple Z'rell in the main audience chamber provides an opportunity to receive the key to Balthazar's room through dialogue checks. Once inside the room on the upper floor, players will encounter a workspace littered with necromantic research and corpses.
Solving the Bookcase Puzzle to Reveal the Altar
Inside Balthazar's study, players will notice a large bookshelf filled with interactable protruding books that trigger dangerous traps if mismanaged. Interacting exclusively with the protruding book located on the upper-right section safely triggers the mechanism. This action unlocks the Ancient Altar mounted nearby on the wall, allowing direct interaction with the pedestal.
Activating the Ancient Altar with the Correct Item
Once the Ancient Altar becomes active, players must offer the correct item to unseal the hidden passageway. Searching the surrounding room reveals several human hearts lying on tables or among the remains. Placing a heart into the slot on the altar activates the mechanism, causing the bookshelf to move aside and reveal a secret laboratory.
Exploration Rewards and Ritual Circle Choices
The hidden room behind the altar contains valuable treasures, including the Coldbrim Hat and an Elixir of Necrotic Resistance inside a locked chest. Additionally, players will discover a modified Ritual Circle surrounded by broken Moonlanterns and a dead pixie. Bringing Gale into the room offers special interactions where players can either gain Mystra's Benevolence buff or craft the unique Shadow Lantern.
