Chances are you haven’t heard of this secret companion. A sheep in Baldur’s Gate 3 that can cast Wall of Thorns

It's been two years since the full release of Baldur’s Gate 3, but I’ve only just discovered this. There's a secret “companion” hidden in the game. And no, I’m not talking about Helia; she was sadly cut before the final version. It turns out Scratch the dog or Owlbear cub aren’t the only creatures that can join your camp. But is it even accurate to call this one an animal? Let’s start from the beginning.

The fireproof sheep that might explode – BG3 at its best

Recruiting this new ally in BG3 is so unlikely, it’s a wonder anyone found it at all. I haven’t been able to trace who first uncovered the fact that a sheep can join your party, but it must’ve been quite the surprise. That said, let’s clear something up: this isn’t a full-fledged companion. It’s a summonable creature you can control, similar to Us, the adorable walking brain from the prologue.

Now, here’s what you need to do:

Source: Baldur's Gate 3; Developer: Larian Studios

1. In Act 3, head to the Elfsong Tavern in the Lower City. Remember Harvard Willoughby, the self-proclaimed comedian? Unfortunately, he needs to die. Yes, it’s cruel (especially with his son watching) but it’s a necessary step. Just be aware that a guard will show up immediately afterward to arrest you. But there are a few options to avoid getting locked up.
2. Next, you’ll need to ring two bells. One is located at the top of the tower on the Lower City Central Wall, just outside the entrance to Szarr Palace. The other can be found atop the Open Hand Temple tower in Rivington.
3. You can complete these steps in any order, as long as Harvard is dead before you ring the second bell.

Once everything is done, head back to your camp in Rivington. Near Gale’s tent, you’ll find a nest containing a mysterious egg. Interact with it, and a sheep bearing the name Harvard Willoughby will fall from the sky (watch your head, he can fall on you). You can dismiss and resummon him by interacting with the egg again, but be warned: you can’t resurrect him.

Source: Baldur's Gate 3; Developer: Larian Studios

Harvard the sheep comes equipped with spells like Wall of Thorns, Call Lightning, Entangle, and Thorn Whip. He’s also resistant to fire. However, there’s a catch: at the start of each of his turns, the game rolls a random number between 0 and 27 and adds it to the current round number. Once the total reaches 30, Harvard Willoughby will explode, dealing fire damage to all nearby creatures. Despite his fire immunity, he is disintegrated in the blast. So there’s always a small chance he’ll go up in flames for good.

Harvard Willoughby the sheep was likely added in Patch 8, so this is a fairly new content. It feels like there should be a deeper story connecting the human version of Harvard, the sheep, and the bells, but for now, it remains a mystery to me.

Then again, Baldur’s Gate 3 is full of secrets that players are still uncovering. From combining a certain weapon with a curse to gain almost limitless power, to a cleaver trick that makes the first fight with Auntie Ethel much easier. There’s always something new to find. You can even stumble upon a powerful Wizard weapon early in the game if you know where to look. That’s how incredibly detailed the game is. Larian Studios clearly poured a massive amount of care into every element, and that’s exactly how a great CRPG should be.

Baldur's Gate 3

August 3, 2023

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• Wizards of the Coast
• Larian Studios
• Baldur's Gate (franchise)