Baldur’s Gate 3is a game that encourages solving problems in multitudinous ways and rewarding players for their creativity. No place has more variance in solving a problem than South Span Checkpoint, your last hurdle before entering Baldur’s Gate proper itself.

Unfortunately guarded by the Flaming Fist and Steel Watch, you’ll likely need to figure out how to pass them without getting yourself thrown in jail. Unless you want to get yourself purposefully thrown in the conveniently placed prison under Baldur’s Gate…

The party arriving at the South Span Checkpoint for the first time in Baldur’s Gate 3.

Updated June 24, 2025 by Alexis Campbell:Added new garnered methods from repeated testing and alternative story path outcomes. Included new method of becoming captured and breaking out of prison as well as ingenious new spell uses via items.

Speak With The Guards - How To Fight The Flaming Fist

To forgo any creative problem-solving found below, you canchoose to be confrontationalwith the guards. You can:

There arefive Flaming Fist guards(as well as any others who might happen to patrol the area) andone Steel Watch guardian. While the Flaming Fist aren’t too much trouble, the Steel Watcher can be a big obstacle (especially if you don’t have access to Lightning attacks).

Nimble Intervenes At South Span Checkpoint And Throws Bomb At Steel Watch in Baldur’s Gate 3.

Watch out for the Steel Watcher’s auto self-destruct sequence. It will begin the sequence when reaching low health or spontaneously erupt if you lower its health to zero before the sequence begins.

We recommend dealing considerable damage and thenlaying off your attacks around the 15 percent health mark. This will allow the sequence to begin and you to flee. The Steel Watcher will not attack or move during this sequence; its explosion can and will hit all creatures and items regardless of affiliation with the Steel Watcher.

Steel Watcher at South Span Checkpoint tells player to come quietly or die in Baldur’s Gate 3

Speak With The Guards - How To Get Past Without Fighting (Ironhand Gnomes And Karlach)

If youhelped the gnomes of the Ironhands,especially byrescuing their leader from Moonrise Towers, you canskip the fight entirelyafter paying the 200 gold sum. After the Steel Watch scans you and prepares to attack, the Ironhands will create a distraction.

While the guards are distracted running after the Gnomes, you canrun through the checkpointuninterrupted.

Invisible Astarion misty steps outside prison door in Wyrm’s Cross Prison in Baldur’s Gate 3

If you are interested in continuing the Ironhand questline, you canfollow them through the checkpoint, down the crates to the right, andloop back to a cavewhere their hideout is stashed. Just make sure towalk close enough to the Wyrm’s Crossing Waypoint on your way through,bypassing the need to go through the checkpoint again.

You can also skip the fight if you have Karlach speak with the guard instead. When the Steel Watch says you are one of them, say “Uh, no I’m not.” And then you can walk through.

Three Step Go Down Vines Jump To Balconies Up Boxes To Enter Wyrm’s Crossing in Baldur’s Gate 3.

Speak With The Guards - How To Get Past Without Fighting (Escape Jail)

If you’re against fighting and also want that sweet “Escapologist” (Break out of Jail) achievement, you cansubmit to the Steel Watchduring dialogue by choosing to be scanned by the Steel Watcher and then select:

This willplace you in Wyrm’s Rock Prison on the other side of the checkpointbut also mean that you’re stuck inside a cell. Unfortunately for them, there isnothing preventing the casting of spells inside.

We recommend doing this with at least one spellcaster, as items in your inventory will be confiscated to the prison evidence chest.

Arrows Guiding Path Around South Span Checkpoint And Into Wyrm’s Crossing in Baldur’s Gate 3.

You can thenbreak out by casting:

CastingInvisibilityafter bypassing the door is recommended,as ispickpocketing one of the guardsfor a key to either your cell or to the Wyrm’s Rock Fortress doors. This will allow you toescape either through the main door or through the side doorwhere you’ll discover a lounge, a chest, and a wall that can be broken to a secret passage.

We also recommend using this opportunity tofree Counsellor Florrickon your way.

Gale Casts Fifth Level Invisibility On Himself And Party To Cross South Checkpoint in Baldur’s Gate 3.

How To Go Around South Span Checkpoint

To avoid using magic, you cantake the long way around.

While facing South Span Checkpoint from the south,travel rightto findknotted rootsthat can be climbed.Go downand ignore the prompting for the Passageway in the rocks (this is the Ironhand gnomes hideout; do not attempt to enter if you have not done their questline).

Continue down until you see aledge sticking out toward the rockfaceand a collection of wooden balconies.You canjumponto one of the balconies from the ledge.

Halsin Wild Shaped As Cat Walks Through South Span Checkpoint Unharmed in Baldur’s Gate 3.

Run acrossand up the balconies until you reach astack of crates.Climb them, and you’ll find yourself inside Wyrm’s Crossing.

Other Ways To Pass Through South Span Checkpoint

Among the standard ways, there are also someunique and crafty methodsof wandering through the checkpoint.

The first and easiest method of walking through South Span Checkpoint is through theuse ofInvisibility.You can:

Shadowheart Disguised As A Half-Orc Is Stopped By The Steel Watch in Baldur’s Gate 3.

No matter what you choose, it’s aquick and painless way to pass the guardswithout going the long way round. They do not care if you cast Invisibility in their faces either.

A more creative method is to usePolymorphor Wild Shapeinto a less conspicuous animal. Polymorphed Sheep do not cause any reaction from the guards, and you can wander through.

Wild Shape, through our testing, only appears to function withtwo animals:

Both can go through the checkpoint without being stopped.

Once the singular changed party member is on the other side, they cangrab the Waypoint, and all other members can teleport through.

Summon Familiar is an exception to this rule. Familiars cannot walk through the checkpoint and will be stopped.

Unfortunately, Scratch, the best boy, cannot help you this time. However, the Corvid Token that allows you to transform into a Raven (acquired fromHe Who Was) does work.

Spells that we have tested thatdo not workinclude:

We also have concluded thatwearing Iron Fist gear does not prevent the guards from being suspiciousor the Steel Watch from scanning you correctly.Jaheira and Halsinnot having tadpoles alsodoes not change the outcomeof the conversation with the Steel Watch.