How to pass the Soft-Step Trial in Baldur’s Gate 3

After making it to Moonrise Towers in Baldur’s Gate 3, you’ll probably find yourself searching for a certain Relic. Inside the Mausoleum, then in the Gauntlet of Shar, you’re faced with multiple trials. Shadowheart is especially up to the task, as one of Shar’s most devoted followers. These trials aren’t so simple, and will test all of your abilities. Let’s go over how to pass the Soft-Step Trial in Baldur’s Gate 3.

Baldur’s Gate 3: Soft-Step Trial Walkthrough

The first trial you’ll face is a mysterious one. It’s a short maze with strange shadows lurking about. Essentially, how you can pass the Soft-Step Trial in Baldur’s Gate 3 is by sneaking and avoiding the shadows. If you make one wrong turn, it’ll suddenly teleport you and your party back to the start. This is because the shadow spots you.

Screenshot by PC Invasion

Before you start any of these Trials, make sure to make a blood sacrifice at the Sacrificial Bowl. For roleplay purposes, I made Shadowheart do it, since she’s the first one to volunteer. This is her deity, after all.

There are four archways at the start of this trial. I recommend that not only do you stealth through this, but you take only one person. They should be the one who made the sacrifice. It’s a lot easier to stay undetected by the shadow if you do this. Also, as explained in our guide on the best strategies to stealth successfully, cast Pass Without Trace on you. Shadowheart should have this spell on her.

The best pathway through the Soft-Step Trial in Baldur’s Gate 3

After quite a few failed tries, I finally got through just using Shadowheart and sneaking through the second Archway. Wait until the shadow is about to pass by, then start sneaking up. I waited until it went to the left side, then had Shadowheart sneak to the right. If you keep heading towards the right wall, you’ll notice a button. Get there as soon as you can, and have her press it.

The wall in front of you will open up. Be careful, because there’s a second shadow in this area. I somehow rolled a successful Stealth check, even though it passed right by me. This is why Pass without Trace is a great spell to use, as it gives you a +10 bonus to your Stealth roll.

Screenshot by PC Invasion

As soon as I successfully hid, I kept walking forward until I reached the end of the trial. Head up the stairs, and unlock the gate. You should always have at least a few lockpicks on you at all times. Now, just take the prize, which is the Umbral Gem. As soon as you pick it up, a button appears, which will teleport you back to the start if pressed.

That’s all it takes to complete the Soft-Step Trial in Baldur’s Gate 3! You’ll find the trials get tougher as they go along, such as the Faith-Leap Trial, which made me feel like an idiot once I realized how to pass it.

Baldur’s Gate 3 is available on Steam.