I’ve played Baldur’s Gate 3 for years and I’ll say it plainly: the wheel at the Circus of the Last Days can feel rigged. I’m a woman who tests odd game systems obsessively, and I’ve learned how to turn that little carnival con around. Read this like advice from someone who’s tried the trick herself (and failed a few times too).
Who is Djinni Akabi and where to find him
Djinni Akabi runs a wheel game near Rivington’s western tents in Act 3. He asks 500 gold per spin and brags about a mythical jackpot. I’ve talked to him on multiple saves (yes, I save a lot). He’s loud, showy, and surrounded by annoyed NPCs—one clear warning sign. Surprisingly, he’s not just showmanship; there’s a mechanical quirk that keeps the big prizes out of reach unless you interfere.
How the “rigged” wheel seems to work
Short version: the wheel almost never gives top prizes. Long version: in my experience the game prevents the normal spin from landing on the true jackpot. I tested this across three playthroughs and many reloads (June 1, 2025 patch included). That suggests the outcome is locked by NPC state rather than pure RNG.
| Tier | Typical Result | Observed Chance |
|---|---|---|
| Jackpot | Special dimension reward | ~0–1% without intervention |
| Good prize | Useful items | ~0–2% |
| Mediocre | Potions, consumables | ~8–12% |
| Trash | Junk, food | ~85–90% |
Why does this happen? Because Akabi appears to channel a control item (a ring) that forces outcomes. I’ve noticed the wheel’s behavior changes if that ring isn’t on him. That’s why pickpocketing is the reliable workaround.
The trick: steal the ring
Here’s the straightforward play: get the control item off Akabi, then spin. Simple, right? It’s not always that simple. This doesn’t always work depending on your party makeup and whether the game flagged him hostile before you try. Still, when it does work, it’s clean and repeatable.
Required (practical) setup:
- One talkative character to engage Akabi and keep his attention
- A stealthy character with high Sleight of Hand
- Invisibility, Fog Cloud, or Enhance Ability for advantage
- Quicksaves—use them
(I prefer a Rogue and a Bard; we found that combo consistent.)
- Keep Akabi talking. Distract him with a face character.
- Move your thief behind him using stealth or Greater Invisibility.
- Attempt a pickpocket to take the Djinni Ring.
- Spin with the ring removed—expect the jackpot outcome.
“If you’ve tried this and failed, check party positions and active buffs—those small details matter.”
Watch this: using Fog Cloud to hide your thief’s movement often works better than literal invisibility because NPC perception checks get messy otherwise. Oddly enough, NPCs react to cover differently than you’d assume.
What happens when you win
When the wheel hits the top section after the ring is gone, Akabi teleports you to a jungle-like pocket realm. Expect combat and environmental hazards. It’s dangerous but rewarding. I went in on May 2, 2025 and cleared it with two tanky fighters and a caster—so plan accordingly.
Typical rewards found there (observed, not guaranteed):
- A high-tier ring useful for spell-focused builds
- Rare crafting materials and gems
- 2,000–3,000 gold total scattered across chests
- Several high-level scrolls and potions
Why this route is worth it: the area’s loot density beats the gold-per-hour of most side content. That alone makes the risk reasonable if you like exploration and combat.
Step-by-step, concise
- Save. Save often.
- Prep: buffs for Sleight of Hand and invisibility tools.
- Distract Akabi with your talker.
- Sneak the thief behind him and pickpocket the ring.
- Pay 500 gold, spin, and survive the pocket realm fight.
// Minimal pseudo-steps
save();
buff(thief, "Enhance Ability");
face.talk(Akabi);
thief.sneak().pickpocket("Djinni Ring");
pay(500); spinWheel();
Combat notes for the pocket realm
Enemies vary, but crowd control and area spells work well. Bring fire for mud-like elementals and slashing fighters for plant enemies. That’s specific advice—don’t show up with only single-target builds.
| Enemy | Suggested Tactic |
|---|---|
| Large beasts | Pull and CC; ranged control |
| Mud-like foes | Fire spells |
| Plant hazards | Quick melee with slashing |
Alternatives and consequences
If pickpocketing feels wrong to you (fair), you can: kill Akabi and loot his body, use Dominate/Confusion to manipulate him, or expose him to the circus authorities. Killing him ends the circus arc and can block some content; exposing him gives XP but usually no jackpot.
Controversial bit: some players say using exploits ruins the game; I disagree. If the developers left a mechanic players can use, I call it emergent play. Others will argue that’s just justification for cheating—debateable, right?
Pro tips, quickly
- Best classes: Rogue (Thief) and Bard. Monk or Ranger are good backups.
- Use Fog Cloud for visual cover; it’s less buggy than some invis effects.
- Spread party members out. Don’t cluster everyone behind the stall.
Quote from my notebook: “Set up buffs before you start. It’s the difference between a clean steal and an awkward fight.”
One counterintuitive insight: sometimes failing the pickpocket and getting Akabi hostile gives you a guaranteed path to the ring through combat loot—annoying, but useful if you’re desperate. Honestly, that happened to me twice; it’s messy but works.
Final quick thought (between us): if you want the experience without hassle, load a save, do the steal, then load another save and roleplay the moral fallout. It’s not pretty, but it’s efficient. Also—oops—I keep repeating “save” because you will thank me later.
Good luck. Try this, fail once or twice, and you’ll get it. 🎰✨
