Finding Infernal Iron in Bg3 without Losing Your Mind
You know what’s frustrating? Having a companion who is literally burning up from the inside out, and the only thing that can fix her is a piece of scrap metal that looks like it fell off a devil’s toaster. If you’re playing Baldur’s Gate 3, you probably know exactly who I’m talking about. Karlach. Our favorite tiefling barbarian with a heart of – well, infernal machinery. And that is the character who constantly needs to level up with the infernal iron in BG3.
Getting your hands on this metal isn’t just about crafting cool gear or ticking a box on a fetch quest. It’s about keeping her alive. And honestly? It’s about letting her touch people again without scorching them. That emotional payoff is worth every second spent digging through goblin crates.
But here’s the thing. The game doesn’t exactly hand you a map. You might wander around the Sword Coast for hours, hoarding spoons and rope, while completely missing the very thing you need. So, I’m going to walk you through where to find this stuff. No fluff, just the spots you need to hit.
The Blighted Village: Your First Stop
Okay, act one. You’ve crashed the nautiloid, you’ve gathered a few weirdos, and now you’re in the Blighted Village. This is usually the first place people encounter metal.
There’s a house in the village – looks like a blacksmith’s setup. You can’t miss it; it’s the one that isn’t completely rubble yet. Head inside. There’s a basement room that is locked up tight. You might need Astarion for this, or just a really lucky roll with your own thieves’ tools. Once you’re in the basement, look for a chest on a raised wooden platform. It’s rigged, obviously. Because why would anything be easy?
Disarm the trap (or face tank the explosion, I won’t judge your playstyle) and pop it open. Boom. Your first piece.
The Goblin Camp: Looting Dror Ragzlin
If you missed the one in the village, or if you just need more because you want that sweet Helldusk armor later, head to the Goblin Camp. Specifically, the Shattered Sanctum.
You know Dror Ragzlin? The big hobgoblin guy shouting at a dead mind flayer? Yeah, him. He’s sitting on a stockpile of treasures. Behind his throne – well, the chair he uses as a throne – there is a treasure room. It’s locked, naturally.
You have two options here. One, you kill everyone. That usually solves the key problem. Two, you pickpocket him for the key or pick the lock on the gate itself. Inside that treasure pile is another piece of infernal iron. Just be careful if you’re trying to be stealthy; the goblins don’t take kindly to people touching their boss’s loot.
The Zhentarim Hideout: The Sneaky Route
This one is easy to miss. I walked past it on my first two playthroughs. In the Zhentarim Hideout (accessed through Waukeen’s Rest), there’s a locked area at the back. It’s behind a gate, guarded by traps and wolves – or are they worgs? I never can tell the difference until they’re biting me.
There are two chests back there. One of them holds the iron. The tricky part isn’t finding it; it’s getting it without angering the Zhentarim, assuming you’re trying to stay on their good side. Invisibility potions are your best friend here.
Grymforge: Talking to Kith
Down in the Underdark, things get a bit gloomy. But if you make it to Grymforge, look for a Duergar named Stonemason Kith. He’s actually a pretty chill guy compared to the rest of the slavers down there. He’s obsessed with the architecture.
If you talk to him and pass a History, Investigation, or Perception check (basically proving you know a thing or two about rocks), he’ll just give you a sample of infernal iron. No stealing, no killing. Just a nice chat about masonry. It’s honestly the most wholesome way to get the metal. If you fail the checks, you can buy it from him, but where’s the fun in that?
Infernal Iron in BG3 – Locations Checklist
It can be hard to keep track of all this while a Mind Flayer parasite is wriggling in your brain. Here is a quick reference to keep you organized.
| Location | Specific Spot | Difficulty |
| Blighted Village | Blacksmith’s Basement | Medium (Traps) |
| Shattered Sanctum | Behind Dror Ragzlin’s Throne | Hard (Combat/Stealth) |
| Zhentarim Hideout | Behind the locked gate | Medium (Stealth) |
| Grymforge | Stonemason Kith | Easy (Dialogue Checks) |
| Reithwin Town | Mason’s Guild First Floor | Medium (Exploration) |
| Gauntlet of Shar | Balthazar’s Vault | Hard (Combat/Lockpicking) |
Why Is Infernal Iron in BG3 Glitchy Sometimes?
Let’s take a minute to talk about the technical side. Sometimes, you have the iron, you have Karlach, and you have Dammon, but nothing happens. It’s annoying.
The biggest issue usually involves Dammon. He is the tiefling smith who can actually work this metal. If he dies in Act 1 (at the Grove) or Act 2 (at Last Light Inn), you are out of luck. Seriously. The quest just ends. I’ve seen people restart 40-hour saves because the Strange Ox killed Dammon in a freak accident.
Also, there’s a weird bug where if you try to upgrade Karlach’s engine immediately after recruiting her without resting, the dialogue won’t trigger. Long rest often. It resets the camp states and usually fixes the “I have the item but can’t use it” problem.
And don’t get me started on inventory management. Sometimes the game thinks the iron is in your camp chest and won’t register it for the dialogue. Put it in your main character’s inventory just to be safe.
What To Do with Infernal Iron In BG3?
So you have a bag full of devil metal. Now what? You can’t equip it. You can’t eat it (don’t let Karlach try). Primarily, this is for Karlach’s personal quest, “The Hellion’s Heart.” She needs two upgrades to stabilize her engine:
- First Upgrade: Allows her to rage without overheating as much, and truthfully, it just makes her feel better.
- Second Upgrade: This is the big one. This allows her to physically touch other people. If you are trying to romance her, this is mandatory. If you aren’t romancing her, do it anyway, because she deserves a hug.
Once her engine is fixed, you might have leftover iron. Don’t throw it away. Dammon can use the surplus to craft the Flawed Helldusk armor set. It’s heavy armor, looks menacing, and deals fire damage to attackers. It’s perfect for a front-line fighter like Lae’zel or a Paladin Tav.
The Crafting Breakdown
Here is what Dammon can make for you once Karlach is all tuned up. Note that in Act 3, the material changes to “Enriched Infernal Iron” for the top-tier stuff, but the standard iron gets you the flawed set in Act 2:
- Flawed Helldusk Helmet: Good for preventing crits.
- Flawed Helldusk Armour: Heavy plate, deals fire damage back when you get hit.
- Flawed Helldusk Gloves: Adds fire damage to weapon attacks. You want this.
A Note on the Shadow-Cursed Lands
When you get to Act 2, make a beeline for the Last Light Inn. Dammon sets up shop in the stables/barn area. This is the moment of truth. If you didn’t fix Karlach in Act 1, you can do both upgrades here back-to-back, assuming you have two pieces of iron.
Just – and I can’t stress this enough – protect Isobel. If the protection over the Inn falls, everyone inside turns into a shadow zombie. Including Dammon. If Dammon turns, say goodbye to your infernal upgrades. It’s a tragedy I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. Well, maybe on Raphael.
Is It Worth Hoarding?
Honestly? No. You only need a handful of pieces. There is more infernal iron in the game than you can actually use. By the time you hit Baldur’s Gate city in Act 3, you’ll be finding “Enriched Infernal Iron” dropped by the Steel Watchers. That is a different tier of material used for different things (like the Watcher Crossbow or the true Helldusk upgrades).
Standard infernal iron in Baldur’s Gate 3 becomes vendor trash in Act 3. So don’t be afraid to use it in Act 2 to gear up your squad.
Key Items vs. Sellable Junk
- Infernal Iron in BG3: Quest item / Crafting material. Keep it.
- Infernal Alloy: Rare, used for a specific vendor dialogue.
- Infernal Metal: Sometimes just scrap.
- Enriched Infernal Iron: Act 3 crafting material.
It’s easy to get them mixed up. Just remember: if the icon looks like a jagged piece of red-hot scrap, check the tooltip. If it says “Can be used by a smith,” keep it.
FAQ
Where is the easiest infernal iron to find?
The easiest piece is in the Blighted Village basement. It requires minimal combat if you are sneaky, just a bit of trap disarming.
Can I save Karlach without infernal iron?
No. Her questline, “The Hellion’s Heart”, strictly requires infernal iron to stabilize her engine and progress her story.
Does Dammon need to be alive to use infernal iron in BG3?
Yes. If Dammon dies in the Grove or Last Light Inn, there is currently no other NPC who can craft with this material for you.
How many pieces of infernal iron do I need?
You need two pieces to fully upgrade Karlach’s heart. Any extra pieces (up to 3) can be used to craft the Flawed Helldusk armor set.
Can I find infernal iron in Act 3?
You mostly find Enriched Infernal Iron in Act 3 from Steel Watchers, which is different. Standard infernal iron is rare in the city itself.
Is infernal iron in BG3 used for anything other than Karlach?
Yes, it is used to craft the Flawed Helldusk Helmet, Armor, and Gloves if you bring the extra pieces to Dammon in Act 2.
What happens if I sell my infernal iron?
If you sell it to a vendor, you can usually buy it back. If you lose it completely, you might be soft-locked out of Karlach’s romance.
Wrapping It Up
Look, managing inventory in BG3 is a nightmare. We all know it. But this is one item you really want to keep in a specific bag for. The narrative payoff with Karlach is one of the best parts of the game. Seeing her go from a touch-starved soldier to someone who can finally embrace a partner is beautiful stuff.
Plus, the Flawed Helldusk armor looks sick. It’s got that jagged, fiery aesthetic that says, “I walked through hell, and all I got was this breastplate.”
So, check those goblin stashes. Talk to the mason. Keep Dammon alive at all costs. It’s worth the hassle. Good luck out there, and try not to get burned.
