Best Gear in BG3 Act 1 — Top Items to Find Before Leaving the Underdark

Best Act 1 Gear Quick Reference

Adamantine Armor — The Crown Jewel of Act 1

The Adamantine Forge in the Grymforge (Underdark) is the source of the most powerful craftable gear in Act 1. The forge requires Mithral Ore (found in two nodes within the Grymforge mines) and a weapon or armor Mold (also found as loot in the Underdark and Grymforge). You can craft exactly two Adamantine items per playthrough — one for each Mithral Ore.

The key property of all Adamantine gear is Adamantine-forged: incoming hits are never critical hits. Enemies literally cannot land a critical strike on a character wearing Adamantine armor. This is enormous in Tactician and Honour Mode where enemy crits can one-shot your party members. Additionally, the Scale Mail version (light enough for most builds) has AC 16 — solid protection without requiring STR. The Splint Armor variant reaches AC 17 and requires STR 15.

To access the Adamantine Forge, you must defeat the Grym (a lava golem guardian). Grym is immune to most damage but vulnerable to being superheated by lava and then struck with a hammer (a lever on the forge platform). Bring the party, use the lava plunger to drench Grym, then hit it with melee — it takes massive bonus damage in this state. Defeat Grym and you'll have access to the forge for the rest of Act 1.

Sword of Justice — The Best Act 1 Paladin Weapon

The Sword of Justice is found through a questline involving Anders, a Paladin of Tyr you encounter on the Risen Road (the path between the Goblin Camp and Waukeen's Rest). Anders claims to be hunting Karlach, the tiefling Barbarian companion. If you expose his deception (he's a fallen Paladin, no longer serving Tyr legitimately) and defeat him, the Sword of Justice drops as loot.

The Sword of Justice is a +1 greatsword that grants its wielder the ability to cast Shield of Faith (a concentration spell adding +2 AC to a target) as a bonus action, once per turn, without consuming a spell slot. For a Paladin or martial character who doesn't normally have spellcasting, this is effectively a free +2 AC on yourself or an ally every fight. Concentrated with the right utility spells alongside it, this significantly improves party survivability.

You'll want to either send Karlach away (if not recruiting her) or expose Anders through dialogue and fight him. The fight isn't trivial at low levels, so approach it around character level 3-4 with Bless prepared and full spell slots. Anders summons Hellriders as backup — use AoE control (Entangle, Grease) to manage them.

Gloves of the Growling Underdog — Frontline Staple

The Gloves of the Growling Underdog are found in the Goblin Camp — specifically in the chamber where True Soul Gut resides (the goblin who runs the area's 'True Soul' operations). Defeating Gut drops the gloves. The Goblin Camp is accessible in early Act 1 and is one of the game's major early faction questlines.

The gloves grant Advantage on attack rolls when the wearer is surrounded by two or more enemies. For a Barbarian using Reckless Attack, this is redundant — they already have Advantage from Reckless. But for Fighters, Paladins, and other melee characters who don't have a reliable Advantage source, these gloves are a consistent Sneak Attack enabler for your Rogue (via the adjacent-ally condition) and a hit-rate improvement for your own attacks. Equip them on whoever is your primary melee aggressor.

Other notable Goblin Camp loot includes the Wicked Promise dagger (bonus necrotic on crits) and various vendor items from Roah Moonglow (the drow merchant who sells a wide variety of equipment and scrolls). Raiding the Goblin Camp thoroughly is highly rewarding, though it locks you out of the goblin faction questline.

Hidden and Easily Missed Act 1 Items

• Phalar Aluve (Underdark longsword): Located in the Underdark, stuck in a stone near the Selunite Outpost. Requires a STR or Religion check to pull free. Grants a Shriek aura (enemies nearby get -1d4 to attack rolls and saves) or Sing aura (allies get +1d4). Exceptional versatility.
• Amulet of Misty Step (Underdark): Found in the chest in the Selunite Outpost area. Gives the wearer a free Misty Step teleport (18m blink) once per short rest. Outstanding mobility for any build.
• Spellsparkler (staff): Given by Counsellor Florrick at Waukeen's Rest after rescuing her from the burning inn. Each spell attack hit grants +1 Spell Attack for the rest of combat. Great early weapon for casters.
• Warped Headband of Intellect: Found on the Intellect Devourer Lump in the Blighted Village caves. Sets the wearer's INT to 17 — useful for non-Wizard characters who want access to Arcane spells via a 1-level Wizard dip.
• The Whispering Promise (ring): In the Druid Grove hospital area. Bless targets you heal also get Bless status — additional attack and save bonuses for the target. Strong synergy with healing Clerics.
• Handmaiden's Mace: In the Underdark near the Arcane Tower. Adds 1d4 psychic damage and can push targets 1.5m on hits. Solid early Cleric weapon before better options appear.
• Everburn Blade: Obtained from Commander Zhalk on the Nautiloid (during the prologue). Requires defeating a powerful enemy in the ship. The longsword deals ongoing fire damage per hit and is the best early game weapon available if you manage to take it.

Act 1 Gear Collection Route

Steps

1. Recruit companions at Emerald Grove, buy scrolls from Aradin (level 1-2)
2. Head to the Blighted Village — loot all containers, grab Warped Headband of Intellect from Lump
3. Visit the Goblin Camp — rescue Halsin, defeat Gut for Gloves of the Growling Underdog, buy from Roah Moonglow
4. Side quest: find Anders on the Risen Road, expose and defeat him, claim Sword of Justice (level 3-4 recommended)
5. Head to the Underdark via Blighted Village well or Zhentarim shortcut — grab Phalar Aluve and Amulet of Misty Step at Selunite Outpost
6. Explore Arcane Tower (Underdark) for unique items and Sussur Bark (used in crafting)
7. Travel to Grymforge — mine both Mithral Ore nodes, collect armor Molds from containers
8. Defeat Grym, craft two Adamantine items at the forge (Scale Mail + Weapon of choice)
9. Return to surface — buy remaining scrolls, sell excess loot, prepare for Act 2 transition

Tips

• Carry the Scale Mail Mold and a Weapon Mold to the forge — not just one. You get two Mithral Ore.
• Phalar Aluve requires a STR 15 or Religion 15 check — prepare accordingly or use Guidance.
• The Everburn Blade from the Nautiloid prologue is missable — fight Zhalk immediately on the ship.

Best Act 1 Gear by Slot for Every Party Class

Must-Not-Miss Merchant Items in Act 1

• Quartermaster Talli (Druid Grove): Cloak of Protection (+1 AC and saves), various enchanted weapons, alchemy ingredients. Buy out everything before leaving the Grove.
• Volo (Druid Grove): Sells unique books and the Boots of Stealth. Save him from goblins for additional discounts.
• Auntie Ethel (Sunlit Wetlands): Sells Cap of Wrath (+1 STR rage damage) and Mirror Wand. Buy BEFORE attacking her — she becomes hostile after the questline.
• Roah Moonglow (Goblin Camp): Drow merchant with the widest variety. Sells the Smuggler's Ring (Stealth bonus), Wicked Promise dagger, and various scrolls. Buy everything before assaulting the camp.
• Lenore (Underdark Myconid Colony): Sells the Bracers of Banishment (situational) and Mushroom Wine.
• Derryth Bonecloak (Myconid Colony): Sells Gloves of Cinder and Sizzle (essential for Monk/Druid), Caustic Band (cheap +2 acid per hit), and Sussur Tree Bark (for crafting silence weapons).
• Blurg (Myconid Colony): Sells the Boots of Speed (free Haste 1/long rest) — niche but powerful for Honour Mode.
• Cyrel (Last Light Inn, accessible from late Act 1 via Mountain Pass): Sells the Diadem of Arcane Synergy and various +1 weapons.
• Lann Tarv (Moonrise Towers, late Act 1 by Mountain Pass): Sells various Act 2 transition gear, including the Tempest Loincloth.
• Damon (Goblin Camp): Sells Hill Giant Strength Elixir (sets STR to 21 for 8 hours — strongest temporary buff in Act 1).

Secret Room Items and Hidden Loot

• Secret Door in Blighted Village (Pumpkin Patch): Behind illusion wall — find Sussur Tree Bark, Sussur Blooms (used for crafting silence weapons), and unique potions. Use Detect Thoughts or pass a Perception check.
• Secret Room in Auntie Ethel's House (Sunlit Wetlands): Behind broken floorboards — Mirror Wand and Hag-Trapped Children quest items. Save the children to unlock Mirror Wand reward.
• Hidden Chest in Goblin Camp (Stone Lord's Quarters): Behind statue — contains the Wicked Promise dagger and several gold pieces. Hidden behind a Perception 17 check.
• Secret Vault in the Arcane Tower (Underdark): Below the main floor — contains the Soul Coin (worth 200 gold each + special use with infernal characters), Returning Pike (essential for Throwzerker), and the Iron Flask (summon a creature once per long rest).
• Hidden Stash in the Druid Grove (Halsin's Bedroom): Behind tapestry — contains Hide of the Bear armor and herbal potions. Perception 15 check.
• Phurzogh's Stash (Shattered Sanctum, Goblin Camp): Behind illusory floor — contains Phurzogh's Helmet (+1 INT, niche but useful) and various consumables.
• Defiled Temple Secret Room (Goblin Camp Underground): Pull the lever next to the moon altar to access the Adamantine Mace and unique resurrection scroll.
• Phase Spider Cave Hidden Chamber (Whispering Depths): After defeating the Matriarch, search the egg sac chamber — contains Spider's Lyre (rare crafting material) and the unique Web Sash belt.

Adamantine Forge Picks — What to Craft With Your 2 Ores