You probably didn’t know you could annoy goblins with this object in Baldur’s Gate 3, though it takes a bit of musical talent

It may seem that two years after Baldur’s Gate 3's release (and even longer since Act 1 was in early access) there wouldn’t be many secrets or exploits left to uncover. Yet players continue to stumble upon unexpected tricks, like discovering a hidden powerful weapon, successfully removing a tadpole from a companion, or making the fight against Auntie Ethel a bit easier. Some of us even discover well-known features 70 hours into the game. That’s just how BG3 is, so densely detailed that it’s easy to overlook the little things or miss some mechanics entirely. Take, for example, the ability to annoy goblins and turn their war drums into a tactical advantage instead of a call for reinforcement.

When a True Soul finds a beat

Act 1 in BG3 revolves around the conflict between druids and goblins. With the right choices, the game lets you freely explore both areas. Since nearly every object in the game can be interacted with, musically inclined players might be tempted to try out the war drums found on the outskirts of the Goblin Camp. That’s exactly what someone did on TikTok.

As the name implies, war drums are designed to call in reinforcements during battle, so they’re not to be taken lightly. But as a “True Soul,” you don’t always have to play by the rules. Anyone with the Performance skill can bang out a simple tune. At first, you’ll just get a warning, but keep it up and the nearby guards will start to lose their patience. Eventually, you’ll get a hilarious reaction from a thoroughly fed-up goblin. If combat breaks out in that area afterward, those same goblins won’t respond to the drums, they’ll just assume you're goofing off again.

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

Sadly, those are the only drums in the camp that can actually be played. Still, if you plan to side with the druids, I highly recommend destroying every drum you come across in the fortress. They can be a real problem when a real fight starts.

Sure, this might be common knowledge for some players, but Baldur’s Gate 3 is packed with so many small details that it’s easy to overlook things. For instance, you can combine a certain Mace with a curse to create an insanely strong weapon. Or miss out on a very powerful Quarterstaff that can be found early on.

Baldur's Gate 3

August 3, 2023

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