Baldur’s Gate 3 Guide: Obtaining the Emperor’s Staff

In the vast realm of Baldur’s Gate 3, players can discover numerous magic items, yet few are as sought after and challenging to acquire as the Staff of the Emperor. This unique item is exclusively possessed by one specific character in the game: The Emperor himself.

While The Emperor is primarily your ally—helping you combat the formidable Netherbrain and preventing your transformation into an Illithid—acquiring his staff poses a unique challenge. Attacking or stealing from him would typically jeopardize your relationship. However, there are legitimate methods to obtain this powerful artifact. Let’s explore how to secure the Staff of the Emperor in Baldur’s Gate 3.

How to Obtain the Staff of the Emperor

Baldur's Gate 3 Staff of the Emperor Astral Plane Portal

As mentioned earlier, The Emperor stands as your ally throughout much of Baldur’s Gate 3. However, certain situations might lead him to act against you, making the quest for his staff intricate but not impossible. There are three effective strategies to consider:

The Emperor drops his staff during combat.
Reverse pickpocketing The Emperor.
Utilizing command or an ability on The Emperor when he is an enemy.

Exploring these approaches will enable you to collect the Staff of the Emperor, ranging in difficulty and style from direct confrontation to clever strategy.

1. Making The Emperor Drop His Staff

Baldur's Gate 3 Staff of the Emperor Combat

During the Gith invasion in the Astral Plane, The Emperor joins forces with you, creating an ideal environment for some unexpected tactics. If you’re playing as a fighter, you can leverage this moment:

In this combat scenario, you cannot directly cast spells like Command on The Emperor since he is treated as an ally. Instead, utilize the Battle Master Fighter’s Disarming Strike ability. This technique allows a chance of disarming him, which may cause him to drop his staff. When this occurs, another character can conveniently pick it up without risking your alliance, ensuring you retain the weapon throughout your journey.

2. Reverse Pickpocketing The Emperor

Baldur's Gate 3 Staff of the Emperor Pickpocket

Another creative method to acquire the staff is through reverse pickpocketing. After liberating the Ironhands, you can find several clubs near the boats that facilitate this strategy. These clubs automatically equip to characters’ weapon slots when picked up, impacting NPCs like The Emperor as well.

By having a character with these unique clubs, you can discreetly place one in The Emperor’s inventory. This action automatically disarms him, allowing you to snatch up his staff without confrontation.

Collect all seven clubs available to maximize your options for stealing weapons and enhancing your arsenal in other scenarios.

3. Stealing the Staff From The Emperor as an Enemy

Baldur's Gate 3 Staff of the Emperor Final Battle

If your journey leads you to infiltrate the House of Hope and obtain the Orphic Hammer, alongside the intention of freeing Orpheus, be aware that The Emperor will shift allegiance and align with the Netherbrain.

This pivotal change provides a new opportunity: during the final confrontation, you can employ spells like Command or utilize the Disarming Strike ability to secure his staff. It’s crucial to avoid killing The Emperor outright, as this will limit the rewards to a few items instead of acquiring his staff.

If he fails the saving throw, his weapon will drop, granting you the chance to collect it. However, I would advise against waiting until the climactic battle to claim the staff, as its utility may be lost if you acquire it too late.

Armed with these strategies, your pursuit of the Staff of the Emperor can turn from a daunting task into a strategic challenge that enhances your adventure in Baldur’s Gate 3.

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