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Where To Find Isobel - Preparing For The Fight
How To Defeat Flaming Fist Marcus
The Last Light Inn in Baldur's Gate 3 is a place of peace and sanctuary for those seeking protection from the curse of the Shadowfell. Its blessing is the hard work of one of Selune's most powerful clerics, Isobel. Her popularity, however, is not limited to the grateful people of the inn.
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Upon the return of Flaming Fist Marcus, you'll be tasked with safeguarding the inn's most precious treasure: Isobel herself. Will you be able to rise to the challenge, or will Isobel be snatched to Moonrise right from under your nose? We'll give you the tools you need to aid in your success.
Where To Find Isobel - Preparing For The Fight
Isobel is on the second floor of the Last Light Inn. There are two entrances to her room:
- From the wraparound balcony on the left
- From the large, double-doors inside beside the stairs
As you enter the room after talking to Jaheira, toggle off your group mode and split your party. You'll want one person standing in the doorways of each entrance and the third person, preferably a ranged spellcaster, standing alone in one corner of the room with sight into the center.
The best members to have in your party for the coming encounter are at least one of the following:
- A Healing Tank - Cleric, Paladin, or beefy Druid
- A Melee Tank - Barbarian or Fighter
- Spellcaster with controlled area spells (e.g. Scorching Ray) - Sorcerer or Wizard
For prepared spells, these spells and abilities are some of the best to have for this encounter:
- Healing Word or Goodberry
- Spirit Guardians
- Scorching Ray
- Magic Missile
- Cleave (Longsword Ability)
- Sweeping Attack (Fighter: Battle Master Maneouvre)
- Horde Breaker (Ranger: Hunter Conclave)
Of these, Spirit Guardians is the best for simultaneously protecting Isobel and dealing damage to a wide number of enemies.
Shield of Faith is not much help with Isobel as her natural AC is only 11. With Marcus's high hit rate, an AC of 13 is not much help.
You may be tempted to pack Sanctuary here to protect Isobel. It is a waste of your time. Isobel is programmed to lean toward using Guiding Bolt each round on Marcus, thereby undoing your spell slot of Sanctuary.
How To Defeat Flaming Fist Marcus
Flaming Fist Marcus | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
HP | 86 (+40 Temp) | ||||
AC | 17 | ||||
Speed | 9m | ||||
Size/Weight | Medium/75kg (Aberration) | ||||
Stats | |||||
Str | Dex | Con | Int | Wis | Cha |
23 (+6) | 16 (+3) | 16 (+3) | 10 (0) | 10 (0) | 10 (0) |
Feats | |||||
Great Weapon Master | When landing a critical hit or killing a target, make another melee weapon attack as a Bonus Action. | ||||
Dark Devotion | Advantage on saving throws against being Charmed or Frightened. | ||||
Extra Attack | Marcus can make two attacks. | ||||
Feral Instinct | +3 to initiative (+6 total) and cannot be surprised. | ||||
Tenacity | When missing an attack, Marcus deals 6 Bludgeoning damage anyway. | ||||
Attacks | |||||
Vampiric Shout | Deals 1d4(?) Necrotic damage in an area and heals the total amount of Temp HP to the attacker. | ||||
Main Attack - Great Club +1: | Marcus can make two attacks with his club. Each is +10 to hit; 5ft. Deals 1d8 + 7 Bludgeoning damage. |
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Flaming Fist Marcus will begin the fight in the center of the room. Due to his high initiative, he is almost always first in the turn order. He prefers to hit Isobel twice and then follow up with a Vampiric Shout for extra Temp HP.
Nearby, there is a Winged Horror at each of the entrances and exits of the room. Two will be blocked by the party members you positioned in the doorways.
Typically, they will not attack your character but will instead Fly past them to Isobel. Your position means you'll force an Opportunity Attack on their way.
You can have an even better bonus here if one of the people in the doorways has Sentinel, reducing the Winged Horror's Movement to 0 and preventing it from entering Isobel's room altogether.
All enemy attacks upstairs will be focused on Isobel, making it a 4v1 match. If Isobel is knocked unconscious during this fight, the fight will end, you will fail, and the inn will lose its protection.
The Harpers downstairs will be able to mostly handle themselves. In most instances of this fight, anywhere from 0-2 Harpers could die. Jaheira is too high of a level to be threatened. Therefore, ignore the battle downstairs until you finish with Marcus and his group.
On your first and some of your second turn, you should focus primarily on getting rid of the Winged Horrors. Cut down their numbers as quickly as possible. This is best done with controlled multi-hit attacks like Cleave or Magic Missile.
Spirit Guardians will be a huge asset in providing passive damage - especially when the caster is placed directly beside Isobel, punishing those who get too close. Where necessary, use Healing Word or Goodberry.
Marcus, for all the fear he first evokes, is actually a big pushover when the Winged Horrors are taken out of the picture.
Once his minions are gone, he'll change his strategy and focus on people other than Isobel. He'll even try leaving, granting Opportunity Attacks against him.
Team up with all your party members to put the nail in Marcus's coffin once and for all. If there are any straggling minions down below, you can try firing ranged attacks over the banisters or Misty-Stepping down below to wrap up.
Marcus does not drop many valuables for loot other than his +1 Greatclub and a nifty ring, the "Shifting Corpus Ring," that allows the wearer to cast Blur and Invisibility for free.
With his items in hand, you'll finally be able to turn your renewed sights to the great expanse of the shadowed lands ahead with a new ring, a blessing, and peace of mind for the safety of those sheltering at Last Light Inn.
NEXT: Baldur's Gate 3: How To Get The Moonlantern