How to solve the Necrotic Laboratory puzzle in Baldur’s Gate 3

There are tons of unique and difficult puzzles you’ll stumble upon during your playthrough of Baldur’s Gate 3. One puzzle that I ended up struggling with was the Necrotic Laboratory puzzle. You’ll need to complete this puzzle to open up a door for special rewards. Let’s explain how to solve the Necrotic Laboratory puzzle in Baldur’s Gate 3.

Baldur’s Gate 3: Necrotic Laboratory brain puzzle

On your way to defeat General Ketheric Thorm, you find yourself in a Mind Flayer lair with multiple rooms to explore. One room holds a complicated puzzle with brain parts and nodes. How you can solve the Necrotic Laboratory puzzle in Baldur’s Gate 3 is by connecting each of the four brain parts to their matching pair on the other side with connecting nodes.

Still unsure of how this works? Let me explain more in detail. The four brains are Emotion, Memory, Speech, and Reason. There are a string of interconnected nodes that follow through to the other side with matching brains. Essentially, connect one brain type at a time. It’s easier to do this when you realize each brain type corresponds to a color.

Screenshot by PC Invasion

While you’re connected to the machine, start with one brain. Select it with left-click, then click the node attached to it. Then you just click the next node, and the next, and so on. There is a specific pathway needed for each brain to connect individually to their matching brain. If you’re still struggling to figure out the pattern, view the image above for the answer.

Once that’s complete, the door ahead will open, giving you more information on the Mind Flayers. If Gale is in your party, he’ll receive Inspiration for completing this brainy puzzle. Also, this area has some interesting rewards in store! Make sure to take them from the skeleton’s body.

Screenshot by PC Invasion

• Blade of Oppressed Souls
  • +1 Longsword. 1d10 (1d8) Slashing + 1d4 Psychic damage.
• Braindrain Gloves
  • Mental Interference: When you inflict Psychic damage, also inflict Mental Fatigue for 2 turns.
    • Mental Fatigue: -1 penalty to Charisma, Intelligence, or Wisdom saving throws for every remaining turn.
• Circlet of Mental Anguish
  • Psychic Leech: When an enemy fails a Charisma, Intelligence, or Wisdom saving throw against your spell or cantrip, you regain 1-4 HP.

Baldur’s Gate 3 is available on Steam.