During your time in Baldur’s Gate 3, you will have to complete a variety of puzzles whose solution is not exactly evident from the start. While the game usually gives you the option of even skipping these puzzles or finding some creative solutions by thinking outside the box, there will be times when the only option at your disposal is just to complete the puzzle.
This is the case of the moon puzzle in the Defiled Temple, which you may have to complete during Act 1 before heading to the Underdark. Here’s how to solve it.
How to Solve the Defiled Temple Moon Puzzle in Baldur’s Gate 3
The Defiled Temple is found inside the Shattered Sanctum, the big location where goblins have settled that you will have to explore to save the first Druid if you choose to help the people of the Druid Grove. To reach the temple, proceed through the main corridor until you reach the altar, then head west on the stairs. Once on top, head towards the door to the right, which will be locked unless you have already interacted with Priestess Gut. Lockpicking the door is the best way to get it open without any trouble.
Inside Gut’s room, you will find another locked door, which can be opened via lockpicking. Inside, you will find an ogre called Polma, who will make it clear you are in the wrong place. You can try to talk your way through or fight the Ogre. If you do decide to fight, get your casters and long-range fighters up the ladder near the entrance so as to be at a vantage point and end the fight quickly, which is not too challenging, no matter your strategy.
Once the ogre has been defeated, proceed further to find the moon puzzle. In true Baldur’s Gate 3 fashion, hints on the solution can be found in a few different ways, including by reading the journal you can loot from the ogre Polma, but if you do not want to waste too much time with this puzzle, all you need to do is align the objects as shown in the screenshot below so that the black spots are all on the sunlit disc.
As there’s never a single solution to any puzzle in Baldur’s Gate 3, you can also skip it almost entirely if you have a character with you with good Perception. As soon as you enter the room with the puzzle, you will get a Perception Check that, if cleared, will show a lever. Interact with it, then head to the door, which can now be opened via lockpicking.
