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Locationmajor

Central Watch Tower

The Central Watch Tower is a compact but strategically important location in the Lower City of Baldur’s Gate during Act Three of Baldur’s Gate 3.

Importancemajor

Key takeaways

  • Central Watch Tower is in the Lower City, not the Upper City, the Undercity or Wyrm’s Rock.
  • The location includes the South Tower, the central wall, the bell platform, the upper tower and nearby streets, rather than only the ground-floor building.
  • The Lower City Central Wall waypoint is immediately beside the tower at approximately X: -50, Y: -55.
  • The wall provides the ordinary route to Szarr Palace, although the palace itself is an Upper City location.
  • The tower contains useful ranged equipment, arrows, healing potions, a hand crossbow and a medium-armour helmet.
  • The surrounding area contains several named civilians, two stonemasons, a talking cat and a small group of Flaming Fist guards.

About this guide

Spoiler warning: This guide covers Act Three locations, Flaming Fist security, access to Szarr Palace, the Investigate Cazador’s Palace quest, and some companion-related outcomes.

Overview

The Central Watch Tower is a compact but strategically important location in the Lower City of Baldur’s Gate during Act Three of Baldur’s Gate 3. It is not simply a single tower interior. The location includes the tower itself, the adjoining section of the Lower City wall, the nearby guard post and firing ground, the upper tower and ramparts, and the alley and streets immediately around the Lower City Central Wall waypoint.

Its principal importance is geographical rather than quest-heavy. The tower and its wall divide much of the Lower City roughly from north to south, provide an elevated route across the district, and offer the only normal approach to Szarr Palace from the Lower City. The tower is therefore both a useful navigation landmark and a major access point for Astarion’s personal questline.

The tower is heavily watched by the Flaming Fist, but it is not supported by Steel Watchers. Characters who attempt to steal from the nearby guard equipment or pass through the upper tower should be prepared for the area’s guards to notice suspicious behaviour.

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Reaching the tower

The most direct route is to activate the Lower City Central Wall waypoint, located immediately north-east of the tower. From the waypoint, look for the tower entrance at approximately X: -59, Y: -65. The entrance is guarded by Flaming Fist personnel.

The Lower City itself is normally reached after the party passes through Wyrm’s Rock Fortress and leaves through the North Span. Central Watch Tower is therefore an Act Three location and is not available during earlier acts or in the Lower City’s neighbouring transitional areas.

The ordinary route to Szarr Palace

From the tower, climb through the interior and continue along the city wall. At the northern end, the party reaches the South Tower of Szarr Palace. The route continues through the upper tower and onto the ramparts, where a locked door leads into Szarr Palace.

The tower route is the intended approach for Investigate Cazador’s Palace. If Astarion is present, he recognises the route and comments on entering through the tower.

Alternative approaches

The guarded entrance is not the only way to reach the wall. The party can bypass the post through movement abilities, including:

The exact ease of these approaches depends on character strength, available movement and the camera angle. Tactical Camera can help when targeting a distant crenellation or rampart. These alternatives are useful if the party wants to avoid walking directly past the guards, but they do not remove the need to deal with the locked palace entrance unless the party reaches it by another means.

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Exterior guard post

The entrance is guarded by Fist Gonfalon and Gauntlet Soapstone. A small firing ground stands nearby, with covered tables holding ordinary ranged equipment and six Arrows of Many Targets. Taking the equipment can count as theft, so use concealment, turn-based movement or an appropriate distraction if you intend to loot it while the guards are present.

Gonfalon’s response can vary depending on the outcome of Stop the Presses. The articles printed by the Baldur’s Mouth Gazette can influence his reaction to the party. This is a progression state rather than a new version of the location.

Lower tower

The lower interior contains the winding stairs leading to the bell platform and the upper tower. It is primarily a traversal space, but it also contains minor containers and a useful helmet.

A Well Crated Helm can be found on a shelf on the second floor at approximately X: -68, Y: -33. It is a common medium-armour helmet that grants +1 to Constitution saving throws.

Bell platform

The bell platform is the upper part of the main tower. A chest at approximately X: -56, Y: -62 contains three random arrows ranging from common to very rare quality. Because the arrows are generated from a rarity range, the exact contents are not fixed in every playthrough.

A wooden chest on the upper level contains:

These are fixed contents according to the location listing.

Central wall

The wall is patrolled by Flaming Fist guards and forms the main route northwards. Its elevated position makes it useful for scouting, ranged attacks and reaching the palace tower without following the ordinary Lower City streets.

At the far end of the wall, around X: -28, Y: -104, a chest contains:

As with the bell-platform chest, the precise arrow types are random within the stated rarity range.

Upper tower and ramparts

The upper tower is reached from the top of the South Tower. Inside is a locked Traveller’s Chest with minor loot. The chest can be opened by sleight of hand or with the Central Wall Chest Key, carried by Reklan.

From the upper tower, stairs lead to the ramparts and the door into Szarr Palace.

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Central Watch Tower has a larger named-character directory than its size might suggest. Some characters are stationed inside the tower, while others are simply nearby and belong to the surrounding streets.

Guards and tower personnel

Gonfalon and Soapstone are the most visible guards. Equidna and Hagedorrn patrol the wall, while Jaryd, Merony and Reklan are encountered closer to the palace approach.

Guards and tower personnel

NameDetails
Fist GonfalonFlaming Fist guard outside the entrance.
Gauntlet SoapstoneFlaming Fist guard stationed with Gonfalon.
Fist EquidnaFlaming Fist patrol on the central wall.
Fist HagedorrnFlaming Fist patrol on the central wall.
JarydGuard in the South Tower.
MeronyGuard in the South Tower and carrier of the key needed for the palace route.
ReklanGuard stationed near the ladder in the South Tower and carrier of the Central Wall Chest Key.

Civilians and nearby residents

Paddo and Buntter discuss their missing co-worker Tamris, who failed to appear for work and is the third member of their crew to disappear. This is environmental storytelling rather than a dedicated Central Watch Tower quest.

Iza and Sharlz discuss the Baldur’s Mouth Gazette. Their dialogue can change depending on the outcome of Stop the Presses, making the tower’s surroundings one of the places where that quest’s result is reflected in ordinary city conversation.

Civilians and nearby residents

NameDetails
Paddo GarrardStonemason working near the damaged wall.
BuntterStonemason and Paddo’s colleague.
Iza BlouinCitizen near the waypoint.
Sharlz MolarCitizen discussing the Baldur’s Mouth Gazette.
MaltaCat found in the alley behind the tower.
MohanA travelling vendor standing between Bonecloak’s Apothecary and the Central Wall waypoint.

Malta and Bonecloak’s Apothecary

If a party member can use Speak with Animals, Malta speaks in an unusually theatrical, bard-like style. Malta can also become relevant to Derryth Bonecloak:

Malta is not a companion, summon or recruitable ally. The interaction is a small optional character outcome connected to Bonecloak’s Apothecary.

Malta and Bonecloak’s Apothecary: steps

  1. 01
    Baelen Bonecloak must have died in Act One.
  2. 02
    The party must speak with Derryth about her loneliness.
  3. 03
    The party must then speak with Malta using animal communication.
  4. 04
    Malta can be persuaded to keep Derryth company.

Ordinary and hostile creatures

These rats are local creatures rather than a named faction or a major encounter.

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Ordinary and hostile creatures

NameDetails
Giant Rat ×4Found in the South Tower.

Flaming Fist

The Central Watch Tower is a Flaming Fist position. The guards are not decorative scenery: they occupy the entrance, patrol the wall and secure the palace approach.

The tower has no Steel Watchers assisting the Flaming Fist. This is a notable distinction from several other Lower City locations, where Gortash’s automatons appear alongside the city’s conventional security forces.

Theft and infiltration

The party can loot several containers and unattended items, but much of the valuable material is placed in or near an active military post. The safest approach is:

The game can treat a chest as locked, owned or both. Passing the lock check does not necessarily make the surrounding guards ignore an observed theft.

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The Well Crated Helm is particularly easy to overlook because it sits on a shelf rather than inside a prominent chest. It provides +1 to Constitution saving throws and requires medium-armour proficiency.

The arrow containers should not be treated as fixed lists of named arrow types. Their rarity and contents can vary, so the listed reward is the verified category rather than a promise of a particular arrow in every playthrough.

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Theft and infiltration: steps

  1. 01
    Activate the waypoint before attempting anything risky.
  2. 02
    Separate the character with the strongest Sleight of Hand.
  3. 03
    Use turn-based mode to monitor patrol routes.
  4. 04
    Avoid opening containers while directly observed.
  5. 05
    Keep a fast-travel route available in case the theft is reported.
  6. 06
    Consider using invisibility or a movement spell for the upper route.

Theft and infiltration

LocationItemStatus
Exterior firing groundPlain ranged weaponsStealable equipment
Exterior firing groundSix Arrows of Many TargetsFixed arrows
Second floor shelf, approximately X: -68, Y: -33Well Crated HelmFixed item
Bell platform chest, approximately X: -56, Y: -62Three arrowsRandom common to very rare arrows
Upper tower wooden chestThree Potions of Superior HealingFixed
Upper tower wooden chestOne Potion of Greater HealingFixed
Far end of wall, approximately X: -28, Y: -104Hand CrossbowFixed
Far end of wall chestTwo arrowsRandom uncommon or rare arrows
Upper tower Traveller’s ChestMinor lootLocked, key held by Reklan

Investigate Cazador’s Palace

This is the tower’s defining quest connection. The tower and wall provide the intended access route to Szarr Palace, where the party can continue the investigation into Cazador Szarr and Astarion’s history.

Astarion is not required to physically open the route, but taking him along gives the area greater narrative context and supports the personal quest. The palace itself is not part of Central Watch Tower’s region, despite being reached through it.

The relevant route is

  1. 01
    Travel to Lower City Central Wall.
  2. 02
    Enter Central Watch Tower.
  3. 03
    Climb through the tower and reach the wall.
  4. 04
    Walk north along the ramparts.
  5. 05
    Enter the South Tower.
  6. 06
    Deal with Jaryd, Merony and Reklan.
  7. 07
    Continue through the upper tower.
  8. 08
    Unlock or bypass the door into Szarr Palace.

Call of the Blood

The location is associated with Call of the Blood through its connection to Cazador and the vampire-spawn storyline. Central Watch Tower is not the quest’s main arena, but it may form part of the route towards the relevant palace content.

The Pale Elf

The tower is also connected to The Pale Elf, Astarion’s companion quest. The location’s practical role is the same: it provides the route into Szarr Palace and onward to Cazador’s domain.

Gather Your Allies

The area is listed in connection with Gather Your Allies, mainly through the consequences of the Cazador and Astarion storyline rather than through a separate rallying event at the tower.

Stop the Presses

The quest does not take place inside the tower, but its outcome changes nearby civilian and guard dialogue. Check Iza, Sharlz and Gonfalon after resolving the Baldur’s Mouth Gazette situation if you want to see the local reaction.

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For a first visit, the following order minimises backtracking:

If the party is pursuing Astarion’s story, bring him before opening the palace route. If the party is pursuing the area for loot only, the lower tower and wall can be cleared without entering Szarr Palace.

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Stop the Presses: steps

  1. 01
    Activate Lower City Central Wall.
  2. 02
    Speak to or observe Gonfalon and Soapstone.
  3. 03
    Inspect the firing ground and decide whether stealing the arrows is worthwhile.
  4. 04
    Enter the tower and search the lower floors.
  5. 05
    Collect the Well Crated Helm from the second-floor shelf.
  6. 06
    Climb to the bell platform and open the arrow chest.
  7. 07
    Follow the wall north-east.
  8. 08
    Search the far-end chest for the hand crossbow and arrows.
  9. 09
    Continue to the South Tower.
  10. 10
    Deal with the guards or use stealth and movement abilities.
  11. 11
    Unlock the Traveller’s Chest using sleight of hand or Reklan’s key.
  12. 12
    Read Szarr Palace Servant Etiquette if you want the environmental clue.
  13. 13
    Enter the upper tower and proceed to the palace ramparts.
  14. 14
    Before leaving the area, speak with Paddo, Buntter, Iza, Sharlz and Malta.

Is Central Watch Tower part of the Upper City?

No. Central Watch Tower is a Lower City location. It leads to Szarr Palace, which is located in the Upper City, but the tower and its wall remain Lower City territory.

Does the tower contain Cazador’s Palace?

No. The tower provides access to the South Tower of Szarr Palace and its ramparts. The palace and its dungeon are separate locations.

Can the tower be entered without fighting the Flaming Fist?

Usually, yes. The entrance is guarded, but teleportation, flight, jumping and other movement options can bypass the guard post. Alternatively, the party can attempt to pass through normally and manage the guards through dialogue or stealth.

Is there a Steel Watcher at Central Watch Tower?

No Steel Watchers are reported at the tower. The security presence is Flaming Fist personnel.

Where is the Central Wall Chest Key?

It is carried by Reklan in the South Tower. The key opens the locked Traveller’s Chest in the upper tower.

Where is the key for Szarr Palace?

The palace door can be opened with the key taken from Merony. It can also be lockpicked with a DC 15 Sleight of Hand check.

Is Malta recruitable?

No. Malta is a local cat. With Speak with Animals, the party can speak to him and potentially send him to keep Derryth Bonecloak company if Baelen died in Act One.

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Places and structures

The last five entries are neighbouring or route-related places rather than all being physically contained within Central Watch Tower.

Places and structures

Named objects and documents

Factions and organisations

The Watch is associated with the Upper City and the Steel Watch with broader Baldur’s Gate security, but neither is a resident faction of the tower itself. The active security force at Central Watch Tower is the Flaming Fist.

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Sources