Kuo-Toa’s The Festering Cove Guide In BG3 (Baldur’s Gate 3)
Among the many secrets that Baldur’s Gate 3 there is an entire race of people, the Kuo-Toa, hidden away from the rest of society in a hole even deeper than the Underdark. The plot takes players through many hidden places but this one is so hidden that it’s not labeled on the map and no markers will direct players to find it.
Where to Find the House of Grief in Baldur’s Gate 3
The House of Grief is an important part of Shadowheart’s story in Baldur’s Gate 3.
The Festering Cove, therefore, is a special treat for those who stumble upon it. Some may even scour every map in Baldur’s Gate 3 and never find it. Players will either need to get lucky when they wander around and spot this secret entrance or find out from the community.
Updated on December 28, 2025, by Nahda Nabiilah: The Underdark is a dangerous place to explore if players are planning to go there unprepared. The area in BG3 is filled with powerful enemies left and right, like Grym and the Bulette. In one of the more hidden areas of the Underdark, is a cove that’s filled with Kuo-Toa worshiping the infamous god of murder, BOOOAL.
Where To Find The Festering Cove Entrance In BG3
To reach the Festering Cove in Baldur’s Gate 3, explore the southern parts of the Underdark. Walk northeast of the Arcane Tower to find a dark corner with explosive mushrooms and a cragged rock. The closest waypoint is the Underdark – Beach, but it’s surrounded by Duergars, so keep that in mind. The long way would be to walk from the Selunite Outpost or the Myconid Colony.
The Festering Cove is a completely optional and missable area. There is a single quest there as well as some treasures to find. Due to its isolation, players can either resolve things peacefully or wipe everyone out without changing the main plot. After initiating conversation with the tribe’s priest, BOOOAL will appear and demand a sacrifice. Here, there are many ways to proceed and it depends on players’ choices.
Reveal BOOOAL’s True Nature
There are many ways to reveal the false god’s true nature.
- Succeed a DC 10 Nature Check to get the “You can give it a rest. Your ‘god’ isn’t real.”
- Choose “Get your bearings. What have you stumbled in on?” and succeed a DC 15 Investigation check.
- Choose “Try to determine who – or what – they’re talking to” and succeed a DC 20 Arcana check.
- If you’re a Bard, you can choose “Think back to your studies of Kuo-Toa and their gods for any useful information” and succeed a DC 15 History check.
After succeeding one of the previous checks, the Kuo-Toa’s start to questions BOOOAL’s nature as well, which wavers the false god’s powers and appearance. From here, Tav can choose to kill everyone, make an offer, or persuade the Kuo-Toa further to reveal BOOOAL’s lies.
- Choose “Redcaps love violence – bait him with an exaggerated tale of battle and bloodshed” and succeed a DC 10 Performance check.
- Choose “Are your followers aware you’re just a rabid little fey creature?” and succeed a DC 15 Persuasion check.
Once BOOOAL is revealed to be a Redcap, players can become his chosen or simply kill him. You will challenge only the fey creature as the rest of the Kuo-Toa won’t join the fight.
Become BOOOAL’s Chosen
If BOOOAL becomes angry, or you manage to reveal his true nature, it’s possible to become his chosen and receive a weapon.
- Choose “Well? Bow before BOOOAL’s Chosen!”
- As a Dark Urge that killed Alfira, you can choose “Fool. I kill in my sleep. If you seek death, death itself is here.”
- Choose “I have only one life. But I can kill many more in your name” and succeed a DC 20 persuasion check.
This rewards players with the 
Sickle Of Boooal, a 2d4 Sickle with the BOOOAL’s Blessing, which grants Advantage when attacking Bleeding enemies, as long as there are Kuo-Toa worshiping BOOOAL.
Becoming chosen while being a Dark Urge triggers a special dialogue from the narrator about your evil pride revolting from following a false god.
Free The Kuo-Toa By Becoming MAHKLOOMPAH
After exposing BOOOAL, you can challenge him to a battle alone so you can free the Kuo-Toa.
- Choose “I’ll just kill you and claim it for myself.”
- Choose “I won’t let you enslave them any longer.”
Completing the battle triggers a conversation with the priest and Tav is declared MAHKLOOMPAH, their new deity. Choosing “Go out and build me an army” will give players the Kuo-Toa Acolytes option in the final battle in ACT 3.
Sacrificing Companions To Get Permanent Buff
Sacrifice one of your companions to get a permanent buff called BOOOAL’s Benediction, which grants the same Advantage as the Sickle of BOOOAL.
The companion you need to sacrifice must be in the party.
- Choose “You want me to sacrifice one of my friends?”
This reveals different reactions from your current companions to the idea of being sacrificed. After choosing one of them, they become hostile and defeating them will kill them permanently, and they cannot be resurrected.
After picking any of the available options for BOOOAL, you can explore the Festering Cove to loot some good items like the 
Slippery Chain Shirt in a chest (X: -401 Y: 311).
How To Reach The Underdark In BG3
There are multiple ways to get into the Underdark, and that will be the first part of the journey. Perhaps the easiest way is through the Goblin Camp and then go directly west from the Selunite Outpost, but other ways include picking the lock on the elevator in the Zhentarim Hideout, using Auntie Ethel’s mushroom ring portals, or jumping through a hole in the Whispering Depths.
If the party visits the Myconid Colony first, they can pick up a quest that leads them to the Wizard’s Tower. Speak to the Mind Flayer vendor to start “Help Omeluum Investigate the Parasite” which sends the main character on a mushroom hunt.