Baldur’s Gate 3 has some tricky encounters to defeat but few, if any, are as challenging as the fight that waits at the House of Hope.
This dungeon area in Baldur’s Gate 3 is home to several side missions and some extremely powerful pieces of gear that should not be overlooked—though you will face a hell of a battle to get your hands on them—literally.
The House of Hope is a challenging area to complete but we’re here to help every step of the way, having suffered in our attempts so that you don’t have to.
Table of contents
How to unlock the House of Hope
You need to head to the “Devil’s Fee” shop in the city of Baldur’s Gate (X: -39, Y:-9) and speak to Helsik to complete the ritual.
Three options are provided that cost either 20,000 gold, 10,000 gold (if you pass an Intimidation check), or nothing if you pass a Persuasion check and promise to bring back the Gauntlets of Hill Giant Strength, an artifact she wants.
Once you receive the ritual item, you then need to pass the puzzle to unlock the House of Hope.
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How to complete the Helsik Ritual puzzle
You will need to place the five items in the correct position to unlock the portal to the House of Hope and are provided with these clues:
- Place the skull on the star point near the altar.
- Place the Coin of Mammon on the next point to the right.
- Counting clockwise, skip a point and place a diamond on the next one.
- Place the incense on the point that follows the diamond.
- Finally, place the Infernal Marble in the center of the star.
The “altar” is Helsik’s desk and you can add the items to their positions by opening your inventory and dropping them on the floor, which you can then drag into the correct spots. The solution is:
- Top-center: Skull
- Top-right: Coin of Mammon
- Lower-right: Diamond
- Lower-left: Incense
- Center: Infernal Marble
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How to complete the House of Hope
![A character in Baldur's Gate 3 in conversation.](https://dotesports.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/20230814103713_1.jpg?w=640)
Before you head to the Archives, find the Inert Infernal Gem on the wall (X:-6480, Y:2943) and pass the Wisdom and Intelligence checks to enter a hidden room. Here, you can loot the very rare Helldusk Helmet and Staff of Spellpower.
Now head to the Archives, where you can see the Orphic Hammer and other top-tier items, but make sure you don’t interact with them yet as it will start a battle and there are a few more things you need to do first.
Before entering the Archives, speak to Hope outside and pass some skill checks to receive crucial insight into the Archivist. You will discover that he fears Zariel’s High Inquisitor, Verillius Receptor, and you can pass a Deception check to fool him.
Ask to see the Hammer and you will receive an invitation to the Boudoir, an area previously blocked by a veil of magic. Inside, you can find a Restoration Fountain, which acts as a Long rest, and Haarleep lying on a bed.
There are several different outcomes in the Dialogue, where you can let him take your body as a disguise, but not your mind, and receive access to the hidden safe, or a fight where you can loot the key from his body after defeating him. There is some romance without a fight but be sure to remain in control of your mind.
Once you have the key, find the safe. It is to the left of the bed, beneath a painting of Raphael. Read the note and head back to the Archives to loot the Hammer and the other gear—and get ready for a fight.
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How to rescue Hope
![Hope speaking to a character after being freed in Baldur's Gate 3.](https://dotesports.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/20230814114044_1.jpg?w=640)
With the Orphic Hammer, equip it and head to the eastern side of the House of Hope. Keep moving and stay as far away from the orb that is chasing you as possible. Your focus should be on movement, rather than combat. The best approach I found was to travel as far as you can in a turn, then use ranged attacks on anyone you can.
Be careful as every enemy defeated results in a fiery explosion, then turning into another enemy, and fire damage from the floor is a major concern. Eventually, you’ll reach a hatch that leads down to the prison. One by one, move your party down the hatch.
Head through the door ahead of you, interacting with the button on the right, and a fight will commence in the next room against several Imps and two Spectators. Be wary of the gaps that you can fall into or be pushed to your death.
To free Hope, hit the crystals on both sides with the Orphic Hammer. Once released, she will fight alongside you and you can now head to the big fight with Raphael himself.
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How to defeat Raphael
![Raphael in Baldur's Gate 3 speaking to a character.](https://dotesports.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/20230814115741_1.jpg?w=640)
After exiting the prison, you’ll be back in the fight you were in beforehand, against the Hell Spheres and other remaining enemies. Again, your goal should be movement, switching to ranged attacks when you cannot move anymore.
Your aim is to reach the entrance to the House of Hope, so head left into the Feast Hall. There are several enemies here and it’s best to defeat them before advancing. Again, be wary as their initial forms explode when defeated.
Before you return to the portal you used to arrive, heal your party as much as you can. If you have any Short Rests remaining, use them. You cannot take a Long Rest in this area and the fight ahead of you is a tough one.
Raphael starts with 666 health and strikes against him have a less than 10 percent chance to hit, so your first point of call should be to destroy the four pillars in each corner of the room. Thankfully, I had Yurgir with me after a previous encounter led him to side with me, which made a huge difference.
Keep your party healed as much as possible and attack the pillars. Be wary of Raphael spawning in new allies who, once defeated, explode into a fiery area and take a new form. You may have to attempt this fight several times.
Once the pillars are destroyed, focus your attacks on Raphael. Make sure to keep your party healed as much as possible—and remember that just having Hope alive does not save you from a reset. At 60 percent health, Raphael switches to his devil form to get more melee attacks against you.
The tactic remains the same though. Keep healing, keep inflicting damage. Eventually, you should wear him down.
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