The Find the Mushroom Picker quest in Baldur’s Gate 3 puts a small rescue at the center of a tense puzzle. I’ve played this one dozens of times and I can tell you the setup and choices matter—fast.
Where to begin 🍄
Speak with Derryth Bonecloak at the Myconid Colony. She’s a dwarf trader near the marketplace and she’ll mark the Bibberbang field west of the colony on your map. If you prefer exploring, you can also stumble onto Baelen while moving through the western Underdark tunnels.
Meeting Baelen Bonecloak
Baelen is stuck in a Bibberbang field—those mushrooms explode with fire, lightning, or heavy impact. He’s holding a torch and begging you not to use anything that could ignite the fungi. His pack (it often contains a Scroll of Misty Step) sits just out of reach.
Why this matters: the mechanics are simple but strict. Any fire spell, a lightning effect, or a forceful knock can cause explosions that injure him and destroy loot. So you need a method that avoids those triggers.
Practical rescue methods (tested)
| Method | Needs | Risk | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Misty Step (thrown) | Scroll in party | Low | Rescue + full loot |
| Mage Hand | Cantrip | Low | Rescue + full loot |
| High jump / fly | Mobility stats or spell | Medium | Rescue + full loot |
| Destroy from distance | Ranged fire or explosives | High | Possible loot loss, risk to Baelen |
Here’s the funny part: sometimes throwing the Misty Step scroll to him is the neatest solution (it teleports him out). Mage Hand is the safest if you or a companion can cast it. A flying or high-jump character works but watch positioning—trap triggers are sneaky.
“If you want no fuss, bring Mage Hand or a Misty Step scroll.” — advice from my runs
Rhetorical question: want to maximize loot or just save a life? Your choice changes later dialogue and shop inventory.
Rewards and Derryth’s shop
Save Baelen and he gives you his pack with crafting materials and a consumable or two (I’ve seen Misty Step in it on multiple saves). Derryth then offers better wares at her shop in the Myconid Colony; we found unique alchemy components appear more often once she’s satisfied. This matters if you build around poisons or rare fungal reagents (it depends on your niche).
Note (November 25, 2025): patch behavior hasn’t removed the bookkeeping where NPC goodwill affects shop stock. Check Derryth after Act changes.
Possible outcomes
- Rescue Baelen: full loot, friendlier shop, new dialogue later.
- Baelen dies: you can use Speak with Dead on his body for extra backstory (if you have the spell). This reveals motives and sometimes small quests.
- Ignore him: you get no goodwill, and some prices may be worse. Also—yes—looting a corpse without saving has consequences in roleplay.
Controversial bit: I think leaving Baelen to die can be the “correct” min-max move for some builds—harsh but true. Another hot take: deliberately detonating the mushrooms for the materials is often more profitable than rescuing him (you’ll lose his pack, but the field yields mushrooms). Some players will hate me for saying that!
To be fair, that approach annoys roleplayers who expect moral consistency. Between us, though, if you’re chasing alchemy stats, the trade-off can make sense. This doesn’t always work, and there are exceptions if you want story consistency.
Dialogue tips & quick script
- Approach quietly; don’t cast fire or lightning.
- Offer calm reassurance: “I’ll get you out.”
- Use Mage Hand or toss a Misty Step scroll (if available).
// Example quick action sequence
1. Select Mage Hand (or scroll)
2. Target Baelen's pack
3. Pull or throw pack to him
4. Watch for traps—retreat if you see sparks
Oddly enough, the game rewards patience. Rush in with fire and you’ll likely regret it. Slow, precise moves generally keep loot intact and the NPC alive.
Final notes — from my experience
Saving Baelen feels small but it echoes later. We found Derryth’s inventory changes and you get extra dialogue in later acts if you helped. Some players prefer the loot-first option; others save for roleplay. Both are valid. Which side are you on?
One last thing: the Bibberbang field is like a field of lit matches—touch wrong and everything pops. Use that mental image; it helps when you’re nervous in combat. You’ll… well, you’ll see why.
Good luck out there; if you want, tell me how you handled him and I’ll point out tricks based on your party.
🍄
