Key takeaways
- Dread Hollow is the western and north-western part of the Underdark’s western map, surrounding a chasm and the giant Sussur Tree.
- The area includes two materially different subareas the Sussur Tree hollow and the Bibberbang Grotto.
- Take Sussur Tree Bark from a branch for Finish the Masterwork Weapon.
- The Bibberbang Grotto contains Baelen Bonecloak, the Noblestalk and the Explorer’s Ring.
- Filro the Forgotten carries an Icy Crystal and can provide a clue connected with The Adamantine Forge.
- The area has a permanent Underdark - Sussur Tree waypoint, making it a useful base for later Underdark exploration.
About this guide
Base-game guide, Act One. Major spoilers for the Underdark, the Arcane Tower, and the related quests.
Overview
Dread Hollow is a broad western Underdark location in Baldur’s Gate 3, centred on an enormous glowing Sussur Tree. It is not merely the clearing around the tree. The area also includes the Bibberbang Grotto, a dangerous mushroom cavern, the exposed overlook towards the Arcane Tower, a Bulette’s deep hole, Filro the Forgotten’s lair and several lesser loot sites.
The location is easy to underestimate because it has no settlement, shop or conventional dungeon entrance. In practice, Dread Hollow contains several useful quest items, one of the Underdark’s most valuable alchemical ingredients, a major weapon-crafting component, an important Adamantine Forge clue and a permanent waypoint. Its hazards are environmental as much as combat-related: Sussur Blooms suppress magic, Bibberbang mushrooms can destroy the Noblestalk, and Hook Horrors may attack while the party is spread across the tree’s branches.
The location sits within the Underdark, not the Shadow-Cursed Lands and not the surface Wilderness. Its nearest named neighbours are the Decrepit Village to the south and east, the Ebonlake Grotto to the east, and the Arcane Tower to the south-west. The separate Arcane Tower, Decrepit Village and Ebonlake Grotto areas are not included in this guide except where routes or quests cross their boundaries.
What counts as Dread Hollow?
Dread Hollow is a named location within the Underdark. It occupies the western and north-western portion of the region and forms a ring-like area around a central chasm. The Sussur Tree grows from this central terrain and serves as the location’s dominant landmark.
The Bibberbang Grotto is treated as a subarea of Dread Hollow rather than a separate major location. It lies north-east of the Sussur Tree and is reached through knotted roots. The grotto is large enough to have its own exploration route, hazards and loot, so it should not be confused with the ordinary mushroom patches elsewhere in the Underdark.
The southern edge of Dread Hollow opens towards a view of the Arcane Tower and the lake beneath it. The tower itself is a separate location. Likewise, the Decrepit Village and Ebonlake Grotto are neighbouring Underdark locations rather than parts of Dread Hollow.
Excluded neighbouring areas
These places may connect to Dread Hollow by geography or quest progression, but they should be explored as separate locations.
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Excluded neighbouring areas
The Sussur Tree hollow
The main hollow is a broad cavern with cliffs, ledges and exposed paths around a deep central drop. The Sussur Tree is both a navigation landmark and a source of rare materials. Its pale blue-white glow makes it visible from much of the surrounding Underdark.
The central tree is dangerous to approach casually. Sussur Blooms produce a magic-sapping effect that prevents nearby creatures from casting spells or cantrips. The effect applies to party members, enemies and other creatures in range. Blooms can also be picked up and carried, allowing them to suppress magic around the person holding them or the location where they are placed.
The hollow is not a conventional enclosed dungeon. Its cliffs and branches reward jumping, Misty Step and other movement tools. Some loot is placed away from the main path and may not be highlighted by the usual search function, especially in dark areas.
Bibberbang Grotto
The Bibberbang Grotto lies north-east of the Sussur Tree. It is densely filled with Bibberbang mushrooms, which can explode when disturbed. The explosion chain can ignite or destroy nearby objects and may kill NPCs or destroy quest items.
The most important danger is that Baelen Bonecloak is trapped inside the mushroom field while holding a burning torch. The grotto also contains the Noblestalk, a rare mushroom that can be lost if the patch is allowed to erupt. Because party members may follow the active character automatically, it is safest to enter turn-based mode before moving through the cavern.
Arcane Tower overlook
At the southern end of the location, the terrain opens towards the Arcane Tower and the lake below. This is not the Arcane Tower itself, but it provides a useful visual reference for the tower’s position and contains Myrna’s grave.
The grave is associated with Lenore de Hurst’s former pet. Digging it up produces the Dog Collar. The item has a special interaction in the Arcane Tower when equipped by an active party member. If the party has already explored the tower and read the relevant letter there, placing Autumncrocus on the grave can also produce approval from certain companions.
The deep hole
A deep hole with skeletal remains can be found north-east of the Sussur Tree. Interacting with it produces a threatening voice. With Speak with Animals, the party can understand the voice more clearly, although it remains hostile and tells the characters to leave.
The voice is strongly associated with the Bulette that can emerge in this part of the Underdark. The game does not present a conventional named NPC inside the hole, so it should be treated as an environmental encounter rather than a separate character location.
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From the Decrepit Village
The most direct route is from the Underdark beach near the Decrepit Village. Travel north-west from the village and look for the route descending through knotted roots. This leads into the Dread Hollow area and eventually towards the Sussur Tree.
This route is particularly useful if the party has entered the Underdark through the Myconid Colony or another western entrance. It also allows the party to reach the Sussur Tree waypoint before committing to the Bibberbang rescue.
From Ebonlake Grotto
Dread Hollow borders Ebonlake Grotto. The western entrance from the grotto is guarded and leads towards the Dread Hollow side of the Underdark. The two locations are close enough that the boundary can feel informal, but their named map areas and local content remain distinct.
From the wider Underdark
Dread Hollow connects indirectly to the other Underdark destinations through the surrounding cavern network. The area is not a route to the surface in its own right, although the Underdark as a whole can be entered through several surface access points, including the Whispering Depths, the Defiled Temple and the Zhentarim Hideout.
Waypoint
The Underdark - Sussur Tree waypoint is located near the Sussur Tree. Activate it as soon as the area is safe. It provides a convenient fast-travel point for returning to the masterwork weapon quest, revisiting the tree or travelling between Dread Hollow and the other Underdark locations.
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Dread Hollow has no permanent settlement, shop district or organised civil authority. Its named inhabitants and encounters are tied to quests, exploration or hostile wildlife.
Named characters
Baelen Bonecloak
Baelen is trapped in the Bibberbang Grotto. His rescue is the central event of Find the Mushroom Picker. He needs access to a means of escape, normally through his backpack and the Scrolls of Misty Step found inside it.
His survival affects the later outcome of the quest and the availability of certain rewards through Derryth Bonecloak. The grotto is hazardous enough that it is possible to trigger the mushrooms before properly assessing the room, so rescue should be handled deliberately.
Filro the Forgotten
Filro is a hostile drow wizard living in a cliffside cave in the western part of the hollow. He is accompanied by Hook Horrors and attacks the party on sight.
After the fight, the party can investigate Filro’s remains and notes. These clues can begin or advance The Adamantine Forge if the party has not already acquired the relevant information. Filro also provides the Icy Crystal listed among the location’s notable loot.
Ordinary NPCs
No neutral residents, merchants, guards or service providers are verified within Dread Hollow itself. Baelen is a quest-associated visitor in danger rather than a resident, while Filro is a hostile occupant rather than a shopkeeper or civic authority.
Creatures and enemies
Hook Horrors
Hook Horrors roam the Sussur Tree area, particularly around the routes leading to Filro’s lair. They are dangerous melee creatures capable of punishing isolated characters. Avoid splitting the party unnecessarily while climbing or collecting Sussur Tree materials.
Bulette
The Bulette can emerge from underground in parts of the Underdark, including the eastern side of Dread Hollow. Its appearances are encounter-based rather than tied to a single boss arena. The creature is a major threat at low levels because it can surface unexpectedly and knock characters down or scatter the party.
Enemy directory
The named and creature listings above reflect entries specifically associated with Dread Hollow in the available location evidence. Random encounters and creatures from neighbouring Underdark areas should not automatically be counted as Dread Hollow content.
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Find the Mushroom Picker
This is the most urgent Dread Hollow quest activity because the Noblestalk can be destroyed and Baelen can die if the mushroom field is mishandled.
Recommended rescue method
A character with Misty Step, a long jump or another movement ability can simplify the rescue. The backpack itself contains two Scrolls of Misty Step according to the available walkthrough evidence.
Noblestalk outcomes
The Noblestalk is a rare consumable mushroom. It can be given to Baelen or Derryth, or used by a suitable party member. It has special memory-related interactions with Shadowheart and the Dark Urge, making it particularly significant in those playthroughs.
Its destruction is one of the clearest missable outcomes in Dread Hollow. Do not ignite the mushroom field simply to clear a path before deciding what to do with the Noblestalk.
Recommended rescue method
- 01Enter the Bibberbang Grotto and switch to turn-based mode.
- 02Keep most of the party outside the mushroom field.
- 03Reach Baelen’s backpack without touching the Bibberbang stalks.
- 04Obtain the Scrolls of Misty Step from the backpack.
- 05Throw or otherwise provide a scroll to Baelen so that he can teleport out.
- 06Leave the area without detonating the mushrooms if you want the safest chance of preserving the Noblestalk.
- 07Collect the Noblestalk only after Baelen is safe, using careful movement and avoiding the stalks.
Finish the Masterwork Weapon
The Sussur Tree Bark found on the tree is a required material for Finish the Masterwork Weapon. The quest begins in the Blighted Village and ultimately allows the party to forge a Sussur weapon at the village blacksmith’s forge.
Obtaining Sussur Tree Bark
The bark is a fixed quest item, not a random drop. The route is awkward rather than mechanically locked, so movement abilities can make the collection safer and quicker.
Obtaining Sussur Tree Bark
- 01Reach the Sussur Tree waypoint.
- 02Search the tree and surrounding branches for a climbable route.
- 03Use jumps, enhanced movement or teleportation where necessary.
- 04Collect the Sussur Tree Bark from the branch.
- 05Return to the Blighted Village and continue the masterwork weapon process.
The Adamantine Forge
Filro’s notes and corpse can provide information relevant to The Adamantine Forge. If the quest has not already been started, investigating this evidence may begin it; if it has, the discovery can advance the objective.
The actual Grymforge and Adamantine Forge are not in Dread Hollow. They are separate locations elsewhere in the Underdark. Dread Hollow contributes a clue and does not contain the forge itself.
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Fixed notable loot
Explorer’s Ring
The Explorer’s Ring is on a skeleton on a high ledge above the Bibberbang area. It can be easy to miss because the skeleton is in darkness and does not necessarily stand out through ordinary highlighting.
The first ledge is reached near the room entrance, after which the party can jump across the surrounding ledges. High Strength, Enhance Leap or suitable movement equipment can make the route easier. The ring provides Nature +1 and Survival +1.
Dog Collar
Dig up Myrna’s grave at the southern overlook to obtain the Dog Collar. Its primary special use occurs in the Arcane Tower, which is outside Dread Hollow’s boundaries. It is therefore worth collecting before leaving the area, but do not mistake the grave for an entrance to the tower.
Icy Crystal
Filro drops the Icy Crystal. It is one of the materials associated with the Mourning Frost staff, alongside the Icy Helve and Icy Metal found elsewhere in the Underdark. Dread Hollow contains only the crystal from this set.
Fixed notable loot
| Item | Location | Use or significance |
|---|---|---|
| Sussur Tree Bark | Branches of the Sussur Tree | Required for Finish the Masterwork Weapon |
| Noblestalk | Rear part of the Bibberbang Grotto | Quest and memory-related consumable |
| Explorer’s Ring | Skeleton on a high ledge in the Bibberbang Grotto | Grants Nature +1 and Survival +1 |
| Dog Collar | Myrna’s grave at the Arcane Tower overlook | Special interaction in the Arcane Tower |
| Icy Crystal | Filro the Forgotten | Component associated with the Icy weapon set |
| Sussur Blooms | Around the Sussur Tree | Suppress nearby spellcasting |
Collectible directory
Sussur Blooms are environmental plants rather than ordinary equipment. Their anti-magic effect is the important property, and they may be useful when dealing with the Arcane Tower’s defences.
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Sussur anti-magic
Sussur Blooms disable spellcasting in their vicinity. This can affect the party’s emergency options, including healing, teleportation and defensive spells. Consider sending a non-spellcaster to collect them, and avoid carrying one into a fight unless you understand its area of effect.
The flowers can also be used outside Dread Hollow. In particular, they are relevant to disabling or destroying the Arcane Tower’s Arcane Cannons.
Bibberbang chain reactions
Bibberbang mushrooms are the most dangerous environmental hazard in the location. A single explosion can trigger others, kill Baelen and destroy the Noblestalk. Fire and careless movement are especially dangerous.
Use turn-based mode, keep party members separated and inspect the field before committing to a route. If the party has a way to teleport or move objects from a distance, use it rather than walking through the mushrooms.
Bulette emergence
The Bulette is not necessarily waiting in a visible arena. It can emerge from below as the party explores suitable ground. Keep the party together and avoid ending a turn with vulnerable characters far from the group.
Branching and cliff routes
The Sussur Tree and Bibberbang Grotto both use vertical exploration. Jumping is valuable, but failed jumps or poorly chosen routes can leave a character isolated. Characters with high Strength, Enhance Leap, Misty Step or similar abilities have a considerable advantage.
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This route aims to preserve the missable content while collecting the major rewards.
This order is not mandatory, but it puts the most easily lost content, particularly Baelen and the Noblestalk, before unnecessary environmental experimentation.
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Before leaving Dread Hollow, check that you have:
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Dread Hollow demonstrates the Underdark’s mixture of natural danger and the remains of failed habitation. The Sussur Tree is a powerful living source of anti-magic material, while Filro’s presence shows that the area has attracted drow experimentation and isolation. The tree’s bark has practical value to surface smithing, linking the Underdark to the masterwork weapon quest in the Blighted Village.
The grave of Myrna adds a smaller, more personal story to the region. The associated letter in the Arcane Tower explains that Lenore de Hurst cared for the dog and later attempted to tame a Bulette after Myrna’s death. This gives the deep hole and the Bulette encounter additional context, although the location does not turn the creature into a conventional named boss.
The Sussur Tree also connects Dread Hollow to the Arcane Tower mechanically. Its flowers can suppress the Arcane Cannons, making the material useful well beyond the hollow itself. This is one of the clearest examples in Act One of a location’s environmental feature being deliberately reusable elsewhere.
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Branching and cliff routes: steps
- 01Activate the Underdark - Sussur Tree waypoint.
- 02Explore the outer hollow and identify the Hook Horrors before climbing.
- 03Collect Sussur Tree Bark for Finish the Masterwork Weapon.
- 04Investigate Filro’s lair and defeat him when ready.
- 05Search Filro for the Icy Crystal and inspect his notes.
- 06Visit the southern overlook and dig up Myrna’s grave for the Dog Collar.
- 07Enter the Bibberbang Grotto in turn-based mode.
- 08Rescue Baelen without detonating the mushroom field.
- 09Collect the Noblestalk.
- 10Search the high ledges for the Explorer’s Ring.
- 11Inspect the deep hole, but prepare for a possible Bulette encounter.
- 12Travel back through the Underdark to continue towards the Arcane Tower, Ebonlake Grotto or Grymforge.
Is Dread Hollow the same place as the Decrepit Village?
No. They are neighbouring areas in the western Underdark. Dread Hollow contains the Sussur Tree and Bibberbang Grotto, while the Decrepit Village contains the beach, Duergar and boat route towards Grymforge.
Is the Bibberbang Grotto a separate location?
It is best treated as a subarea of Dread Hollow. It has distinct hazards and a recognisable internal section, but available location references place it within Dread Hollow rather than listing it as a separate major Underdark location.
Can the Noblestalk be missed?
Yes. It can be destroyed by detonating the Bibberbang mushrooms. Rescue Baelen and collect the Noblestalk before clearing the room recklessly.
Do I need to kill Filro?
Filro is hostile when encountered, so the normal resolution is combat. His remains and notes are useful for The Adamantine Forge, and he carries the Icy Crystal.
Does Dread Hollow contain a shop?
No verified functional shop or vendor is located within Dread Hollow. Derryth Bonecloak, who is relevant to the mushroom-picker quest, is associated with the Myconid Colony rather than living in this area.
Is the Arcane Tower part of Dread Hollow?
No. Dread Hollow contains an overlook towards the tower and Myrna’s grave, but the Arcane Tower is a separate Underdark location.
Is the Bulette a Dread Hollow boss?
Not in the conventional sense. It is a roaming or emergence-based Underdark creature that may appear in this area. The deep hole provides related environmental flavour, but there is no separate boss arena or unique Dread Hollow boss encounter verified here.
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Sources
- Dread Hollow - bg3.wiki — bg3.wiki
- Underdark - bg3.wiki — bg3.wiki
- Find the Mushroom Picker Walkthrough — baldurs gate 3 | Ludo — ludo.guide
- Explorer's Ring - bg3.wiki — bg3.wiki
- Underdark - bg3.wiki — old.bg3.wiki