How To Defeat Mystic Carrion
Sebastian Wright
Updated on April 01, 2026
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In Baldur's Gate 3, you will face various enemies across the many regions throughout your journey. For some of these enemies, you can choose to spare their lives, while with others, you don't have much of a choice. Either way, it's a tough position to be in.
Baldur's Gate 3: Should You Kill The Dream Visitor?
Baldur's Gate 3 allows you to truly live in the world. One choice you must make is if you should kill your Dream Visitor. Here's a guide to tell you.Sometimes, you must avenge those who are no longer with you, but even then, the enemy's life is in your hands. A similar situation occurs when you go up against Mystic Carrion -- what you choose now may haunt you for the rest of the game.
Updated by Isabella Risoni on November 24, 2023: With so many things you can do in Baldur's Gate 3, it's so important to keep our content updated. Therefore, to keep this article fresh we've updated this article to include a mini tag, more recent related links, and a new featured photo.
Baldur's Gate 3
- Released
- August 3, 2023
- Developer(s)
- Larian Studios
Begin Your Search At Philgrave's Mansion
Ultimately, you'll need to find Mystic Carrion's Ancient Lair, but first you'll have to find his Secret Basement. You will start, however, in the Lower City. You will need to go to Philgrave's Mansion located at the lower portion of the right side of the map.
There are a few steps you must take to find Mystic Carrion's Lair, and that includes receiving a code in the "Free The Artist" quest in Jannath Estate Atelier. This code will be needed to proceed into the Philgrave's Mansion. Keep in mind you will be utilizing any stealth experience or skills you may have throughout this quest.
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Starting just below Heapside Strand on the map, in front of the bottom of the large staircase, you will run to your left down the alley. Veer to your left and down a few steps. At first glance, it just looks like a dead end to the path overlooking the water. However, upon further inspection and good perception, you'll notice there's a door in the stone wall on your left.
When you inspect it, you'll notice glowing symbols appearing before you. You will then have to find the correct phrase to say, so you can open it. You will want to choose "Secreta mortuorum." The door will then shudder open and you may proceed.
Speak With Mystic Carrion
Approach Mystic Carrion and listen to his speech, and eventually, he will ask you why you are there. You will want to mention that you are helping Oskar. After he tells you that he remembers the painter and goes on a short rant, you will ask Carrion who Oskar was trying to contact. He will not give up any information due to "privacy" but he will tell you that he knows you came for an exorcism. He will ask for a favor, and you will ask what kind of service he needs.
He will want you to return Thrumbo's body to him then give you the items needed to cleanse Oskar. Agree to the terms and tell him you will bring Thrumbo under the condition that he frees Oskar. Once the arrangement is made, he will tell you of 3 others who can point you into the direction of Thrumbo.
Find & Speak With Thrumbo
Starting back at the Heapside Strand on the map, you will want to head to the slightly Northeast cluster of buildings near you that have a brown roof bordering the water. From the staircase you started at earlier, instead of heading down the alley to your left, you will head down both sets of stairs to the left of you.
Veer a bit to your left and head down another set of stairs. You will see more stairs straight ahead with a few hay bales on the side. Go up those stairs then through the double doors on your right. Open the wardrobe and Thrumbo will come tumbling out.
Tell him that you came to find him and that Mystic Carrion wants you to bring him home. Sensing fear in his voice, you can tell he is scared. He will then try to convince you to go after Mystic Carrion, not him. When you ask him why, he will explain all the murders Mystic Carrion committed as well as other crimes.
You will then have 3 dialogue options. While it is ultimately up to you after hearing what Carrion did, if you want to proceed with defeating him, then you should tell Thrumbo what Carrion did was horrible and ask him what you can do to help. He will tell you that you must stop him from resurrecting somehow. After he mentions his beliefs about Carrion being a mummy lord, you will ask what that is.
Once you are done talking about Carrion's secrets he shared with him about the jar with the heart, you will ask where you should start. You will be told of a chamber beneath Carrion's salon. Considering Carrion won't let anyone in that chamber, there must be something he's hiding in there.
How To Enter Mystic Carrion's Basement
Starting at the bottom of the stairs at Heapside Strand again, you will head down the stairs straight ahead of you. If you are facing your character, you will then head down the stairs to the left of you. At the bottom of the steps, there will be a hidden door behind some crates. You can also enter the basement through the 2nd floor of the Philgrave's Mansion. At the Northeast corner room of the mansion will be a ladder.
If you are at the bottom of the steps near the water, you will select one of the crates in front of the door and choose to throw it. You can then search through all of the best abilities you have obtained in the game to see which would work best to fit through the door that has a hole on the bottom. The Gaseous Form that will allow you to transform yourself into a gas cloud will help you fit through small openings and will be very useful here. Select the hole and go inside.
Once inside, head to the top part of the screen into a room with a few machines and a skeleton. You will find "A Mummy's Memories" on the table and your journal will update for defeating Mystic Carrion. Choose to read the book and your journal will update again.
Locate Mystic Carrion's Ancient Lair
You can use the fast travel point for Undercity Ruins, it will be on the way to Bhaal Temple, which is part of the main quest. From the fast travel point and facing it, you will head to your left down the wet alley. Go all the way to the end then up the steps and through the doorway. You will then enter the Ancient Lair. It would be smart to use one of the best wizard spells in the game, invisibility, to avoid being seen.
Walk through the door just ahead of you past the 3 steps then veer to your right. You will see a dead ancient servant at the base of the hidden door. A chest will be just ahead of you as well, though you may want to get through the mission first as to not alert enemies. Use a spell such as Eldritch Blast to destroy the stone wall and continue forward.
In the next room you will find a dead Half-Elf and just past it on the table near the lamp you will find a Funerary Jar Form and Function book. Once you interact with it your journal will update. You will learn of a jar that will grant immortality hidden inside a zombie, to be more specific, Mystic Carrion's heart will be in Thrumbo's chest.
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Considering everything Thrumbo has told you, it is strongly suggested that you kill Mystic Carrion. He has committed numerous crimes against people, including murder. The good news is that if there are any quests that are tied to him, you can still complete them even after you kill him. Not to mention you can loot his shop for some pretty sweet items, and most likely complete the battle task.
That being said, you were already told that you would need to destroy Mystic Carrion's heart to defeat him. However, there are a couple more steps you will need to complete first. These steps shouldn't take too long, but you must be careful.
Destroy Jar Of Mystic Carrion's Brain
Before destroying the heart, you must destroy the jar containing his brain. Run to the other side of the room and look over at the wooden table with a body on it. Select the Fabricated Arbalest and target the jar on the table located above the legs but below the chest of the cut up body. Once you blow it up, your journal will update again.
Get The Heart From Thrumbo
You will have to find Thrumbo again who should be located in the same room where you found him before hiding in the wardrobe. This time, he should just be standing in the middle of the room. When you initiate conversation with him, tell him that you know where Carrion keeps his canopic jar. Thrumbo will expel the jar of Mystic Carrion's heart which you can then take with you.
Destroy Mystic Carrion's Heart Jar
Run outside back to the sand and look through your inventory for the jar with the heart in it. Remove it and place it somewhere on the ground down the beach from you a bit. You can then choose a spell to destroy it with such as Harold. Select the jar and then destroy it. You will receive notice that you have completed the Defeat Mystic Carrion quest, and you will be instructed to find Mystic Carrion's servant.
Take Out Mystic Carrion
Head back to the Philgrave's Mansion to find Mystic Carrion. Upon entering the room past the staircase, a battle will begin. Everyone will roll for initiative and you will face Carrion. He will be fairly easy to defeat as you've already destroyed his heart and brain. Once you loot everything, you can speak with Thrumbo again who will thank you for ridding the world of Mystic Carrion once and for all.
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When the deed is done, and you're speaking with Thrumbo, he will give you the Crypt Lord Ring. With this ring, you can not only use the Create Undead spell, but use it at level 6. You will also receive a "Haunted One: An Overdue Slaughter - The Dark Urge Is Inspired" notification along with various amounts of XP depending on how many people are in your party.
You will loot Mystic Carrion's body. You can take everything, the Veil of the Morning, Scroll of Eyebite, Amour of the Sporekeeper, and the two keys. In a small room on the other side of his body, there will be a chest against the right wall. In this chest will be the following items.
- x1 Acquisitions Record
- x1 Torch of Revocation
- x121 Gold
- x1 Behir Scales
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