Planar Prison - Baldur's Gate II

This guide will walk you through the Planar Prison in Baldur’s Gate II. This area’s code in the game files is AR0516.

baldurs gate 2 map planar prison — Map of the Planar Prison

Overview

After freeing Haer’Dalis from Mekrath’s Lair in the Temple District Sewers, he and his acting troupe will get arrested by a bounty hunter and sent to this prison. They’ll leave a portal behind, in the basement of the Five Flagons Inn in the Bridge District, which will allow you to follow. See the Bridge District page for more information about these events.

When you arrive in the prison (#1), you’ll witness some bounty hunters, led by Aawill, trying to force a gnome named Tagget to put his Thrall Collar back on. However, when they spot you, they’ll close the portal you came through, and they’ll attack. You’ll earn 33,400 xp for defeating the bounty hunters, and you’ll find a Bard Hat (if imported from Siege of Dragonspear), Boots of Speed: The Paws of the Cheetah, a Cloak of the Shield, Melodic Chain +3, Pixie Prick +3, and more when you loot their corpses.

After the battle, Tagget will give you some information about the prison. He’ll tell you about the floor portals (#2), which will teleport you to barracks rooms, where you’ll be attacked by the prison’s defenders. He’ll tell you that the Master of Thralls (#5) controls the thralls through the Thrall Collars that they wear, and so defeating him will reduce your opposition in the prison. And he’ll tell you that the prison’s magic comes directly from the Warden (#6), and so to escape, you’ll have to kill him.

If you head north towards the Warden, then your party will get teleported by floor portals, and you’ll end up with some characters facing the Warden while others are stuck in barracks rooms. That is, it’ll be a mess, so instead you should head east. In that direction, you’ll eventually reach the Master of Thralls (#5), who will drop a Mastery Orb when he dies. If you destroy the orb at the brazier (#3), then all of the remaining thralls in the prison will switch to your side and immediately start attacking any enemies near them.

When you reach the Warden (#6), if you destroyed the orb, then you’ll only have to face him and his minions. His personal thralls will either be dead (after having done some damage for you) or they’ll still be fighting. The latter option is the best, as distractions are always nice. For that case, you should send your weakest character to destroy the Mastery Orb, and have all of your other characters waiting right next to the Warden’s room so they can assist the thralls when they start attacking. Meanwhile, if you haven’t destroyed the orb yet, then you’ll have to face the Warden, his minions, and several thralls, all at once and all at full strength. This isn’t recommended.

You’ll earn 10,000 xp for killing the Warden, and when you loot his corpse, you’ll find Adjatha the Drinker +2, two Emeralds, three Star Sapphires, the Wave Shaft (needed by Cromwell to craft Wave +4), and the Planar Prison Cell Key. You’ll also receive 5,000 xp from Tagget, who will thank you for freeing everybody. Finally, the Warden’s death will stop the floor portals (#2) from functioning, making it easier for you to move around the prison.

When you approach Haer’Dalis (#7) with the Planar Prison Cell Key, a cut scene will start up. Haer’Dalis‘s acting troupe will teleport away, but Haer’Dalis will decide to stay with you, and he’ll return with you to the Five Flagons Inn in the Bridge District. This will earn every character in your party — plus Haer’Dalis — 44,000 xp. If you’re playing a Bard, then you’ll also be given the playhouse in the basement of the Five Flagons Inn, and it’ll become your Bard Stronghold.

1 – Starting Point / Bounty Hunter Battle

2 – Floor Portals

These portals will take you to small rooms where you’ll get attacked by golems, minotaurs, prison captains, warriors and more.

3 – Brazier

The brazier here will allow you to destroy the Mastery Orb (#5) and set the prison thralls free.

4 – Wyvern

You’ll encounter a wyvern and two thralls here. You’ll earn 8000 xp for defeating them, and when you loot the thrall bodies, you’ll find Gauntlets of Weapon Skill: Xarrnous’s Second Sword Arm, a Ring of Protection +1: Ring of the Princes, a Sword of Quickness +2: Kundane, and more.

5 – Master of Thralls

In this chamber, you’ll encounter the Master of Thralls plus two Air Elementals. You’ll earn 30,000 xp for defeating them, and you’ll find a Mastery Orb and the Staff of Air +2 on the master’s corpse.