Act 3 ofBaldur’s Gate 3sees players inching closer to a face-off with Cazador, Astarion’s master, and the vampire lord with designs on the innocent people of the city. But while Cazador might be the ultimate target, there’s a tricky barrier in your path: a Sinister Door stalwartly guarding his ritual site.
If you’re thinking of sending in Astarion with a couple of thieves' tools as usual, think again; you won’t be able to lock pick this door at all. This guide aims to help you decipher the secrets of this magically sealed entrance and make your way beyond the ballroom, where the horrors of Cazador’s Ascendant Ritual await.
Updated Jun 10, 2025, by Alexis Campbell:What lies beyond the sinister door in Baldur’s Gate 3 is not for the faint of heart. To aptly prepare you, we’ve added information about methods of dispelling a necrotic curse beside one of the necessary key items as well as information about what lies in wait behind this sinister obstacle.
Astarion can help youbypass several social and investigation checks, given his familiarity with Cazador’s abode and staff. Werecommend having Astarion in your partyfor both narrative and mechanical benefit.
Where Is The Sinister Door?
Cazador is holding his ritual beneath theSzarr Palace (X:-70, Y:-55)just west of theLower City Central Wall waypoint.
You can find this out by confronting Cazador’s vampire spawnhunting in the Outer Cityand finishing the first step of theInvestigate Cazador’s Palacequest.
You can also get into the Szarr Palacewithout meeting the vampire spawn—if you do so, the spawn will not warn Cazador about you. That said, Cazadorcannot be surpriseddue to his Alert feature, so it makes very little mechanical difference.
Once you get into the Szarr Palace, either byfighting or deceiving the guardsat the front door, you’ll be greeted bysome of his servants, as well as themagically-sealed Sinister Doorto the far north of the hallway.
you may interact with the door, but doing so will only reveal that you will need two components to open it:
The information about the Signet Ring and the Kozakuran Dictionary, as well as their possible locations, can befound in the Chamblerlain’s officeat the end of the long hall to the right of the door. You will finda note titled ‘The Ballroom Door’ on the Chamberlain’s desk.
You do not need to find the Chamberlain’s body or explore his quarters as these are dead ends, and reading the letter is not required to find the items - only an extra narrative insight and a path for your roleplaying pleasure.
How To Find The Szarr Family Ring
Speak toVilhelmand pass aDC 18 Persuasion, Intimidation or Deception Checkto learn that Cazador’s kennel keeper,Godey, is the only creature who can unseal the door.
You can find Godey on thelower floor of the Szarr Palace, down a long flight of stairs to the right of theSinister Door.
Once you’ve reached the bottom of the stairs,follow the carpet,turn right, and walk to theend of the hallway.ADC 10 Investigation checkwill reveal asecret doorwayif Astarion isn’t present (no roll needed if he is).
With Astarion Present
Once you go through this door,Godey willbe waiting toambush youimmediately to the right of the doorway, though aDC 15 Perception checkwill reveal him as well as Volo’s Ersatz eye.
If Astarion is in your party, you canwalk in without fear of ambush. So:
Without Astarion Present
Without Astarion,speaking to Godey will immediately instigate combat.If you manage to perceive him, it may be more advantageous tomake the first attack.*
You’ll be able to find theSzarr Family Ringon Godey’s body, as well as aKey to the Kennel, andPlate Armor(worth 400 gold).
*As askeletonand anundead, Godey isimmune to Poison damageandvulnerable to Bludgeoning damage.
He also hasMagical Resistance,three attacks, as well as theParryandRipostefighter features, making him a surprisingly hardy foe.
How To Find The Kozakuran Dictionary
The next piece of the puzzle lies behind thedoor to the southof the Kennels where you found Godey.
AnArcana checkwill reveal that the door is hiding somepowerful necrotic energy. Once you open the door, it’ll reveal a dead bodyinflicted with a Sapping Cursein the middle of the room.
Anyone nearby will take3d8 Necrotic damageper turn, as well as cause the room tobecome difficult terrain.
TheKozakuran Dictionarythat you need can be found in themahogany wardrobe closer to the bed.
To reach it, you can:
you may alsocast spells such asLongstriderorEnhance Leapto cross the 18-meter distance.
If you don’t use Remove Curse or, at the very least, drink a Potion of Necrotic Resistance, you will likely only want to send in one person and leave all others outside the door.
One of these people outside the door should be a healer of some kind.
Extra Treasures Inside The Suite
If you have the health to spare, theOpulent Chestto the north of the room may also be worth mentioning, as it contains a fair bit of gold, aspell scroll ofGlobe of Invulnerability, as well as aHelmet of Grit.
Helmet of Grit
Very Rare
Grit: When the wearer has 50% hit points or less, they have an additional bonus action.
Dexterity Saving Throws+1
What Lies Behind The Sinister Door?
With both theSzarr Family Ringand theKozakuran Dictionaryin your inventory, you’ll be able to interact with theSinister Doorand open it easily.
When you speak the password and show the ring to the door,it will open to reveal a ballroom rife with werewolves, wolves, and rats. This can be a tough encounter, sowe recommend making sure your health and spells are up to parbefore opening the door.
There are about 14 enemies in total(depending on your difficulty), and many of them don’t have high health. This means they are very susceptible to area attacks.
Thebest strategy is to:
Eventually, these foes will be put in their place, and you’ll be clear to pass the Sinister Door and finally begin to search for the entrance to Cazador’s secret whereabouts.
