BG3: Kill Commander Zhalk & Get the Everburn Blade
How to kill Commander Zhalk and get the Everburn Blade in Baldur's Gate 3 Honor Mode — the Command: Drop disarm, chest blockade, and 4-Nautiloid-tank explosion.
Quick Answer
To kill Commander Zhalk and grab the Everburn Blade on the Nautiloid (even on Honor Mode), prepare Shadowheart's Command spell, block the entrance with one Chitinous Chest to stop the turn-15 Cambion reinforcements, and collect all 4 Nautiloid Tanks. In the fight, use Command: Drop to disarm Zhalk and have Lae'zel grab the Everburn Blade immediately (an unarmed Zhalk hits far weaker). Bring him to ~40 HP, retreat to the transporter, and ignite the tanks with a Firebolt — the explosion kills Zhalk and the Mind Flayer for 75 XP each, hitting Level 2.
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Commander Zhalk guards the Everburn Blade — the best early legendary weapon — on the Nautiloid. Here’s the safest, most consistent way to kill him and walk away with the sword, even on Honor Mode.
Short Answer
Prepare Shadowheart’s Command spell, block the entrance with one Chitinous Chest to stop the turn-15 Cambion reinforcements, and collect all 4 Nautiloid Tanks. In the fight, use Command: Drop to disarm Zhalk and have Lae’zel grab the Everburn Blade immediately (an unarmed Zhalk hits far weaker). Bring Zhalk to ~40 HP, retreat to the transporter, and ignite the tanks with a Firebolt — the explosion kills Zhalk and the Mind Flayer for 75 XP each, hitting Level 2.
Key Takeaways
- Three things first: Command prepared, a chest blockade, and 4 Nautiloid Tanks.
- Command isn’t equipped by default — swap it onto Shadowheart’s hotbar (drop Bless/Guiding Bolt).
- Place one Chitinous Chest horizontally in the narrow hallway to block the turn-15 Cambions.
- Tank locations: one by Shadowheart’s pod, the other three inside the helm.
- Carry tanks with a high-Strength character (Lae’zel) to avoid being encumbered.
- Command: Drop disarms Zhalk → Lae’zel equips the Everburn Blade; nuke him at ~40 HP for 75 XP and Level 2.
How Do You Prepare for the Zhalk Fight?
Get Command on Shadowheart, blockade the hall with a chest, and gather the tanks. Three prep steps before you enter the helm:
- Command spell: It’s not equipped by default. Open Shadowheart’s spellbook and swap out something like Bless or Guiding Bolt so Command is on her hotbar — two attempts at ~55% gives you good disarm odds.
- Chest blockade: Grab the Chitinous Chest from the room where you rescued Shadowheart. As you enter the helm, place it horizontally across the narrow hallway — rotated to fill the width, the two Cambion reinforcements that arrive on turn 15 physically can’t path through. That removes the timer.
- Nautiloid Tanks: You need 4. One is next to Shadowheart’s pod; the other three are in the helm where you fight Zhalk. Carry them with a high-Strength character (Lae’zel or your main) to avoid encumbrance.
How Do You Kill Zhalk and Get the Everburn Blade?
Disarm Zhalk with Command: Drop, grab the blade, then nuke him with the tanks. Enter the fight, pick up the in-helm tanks, and move Shadowheart in for Command: Drop — once the Everburn Blade hits the floor, have Lae’zel pick it up and equip it immediately. An unarmed Zhalk deals far less damage to the Mind Flayer, keeping your ally alive to tank while you position the explosives.
Bring Zhalk to roughly 40–30 HP, pull your party back to the transporter, and have Shadowheart ignite the Nautiloid Tanks with a Firebolt. The blast kills both Zhalk and the Mind Flayer, netting 75 XP each (Level 2 before the beach). Loot Zhalk for extra gold, then hit the transporter to escape.
FAQ
How do you get the Everburn Blade in Baldur’s Gate 3?
Use Command: Drop on Commander Zhalk during the Nautiloid fight so he drops the Everburn Blade, then have a party member (Lae’zel) pick it up and equip it right away.
How do you kill Commander Zhalk on Honor Mode?
Disarm him with Command: Drop, block the hallway with a Chitinous Chest to stop the turn-15 Cambions, then bring him to ~40 HP and detonate 4 Nautiloid Tanks with a Firebolt to kill him and the Mind Flayer.
Where are the 4 Nautiloid Tanks?
One is next to Shadowheart’s pod; the other three are inside the helm where you fight Zhalk. Carry them with a high-Strength character.
Why prepare Shadowheart’s Command spell?
Command isn’t equipped by default. You need it on her hotbar to cast Command: Drop, which disarms Zhalk — the key to making the fight safe.
How much XP do you get?
The tank explosion gives 75 XP each for killing Zhalk and the Mind Flayer, enough to hit Level 2 before reaching the beach.
Related Guides
- How to Free Shadowheart from the Nautiloid Pod — rescue her first so she can cast Command in this fight.
- How to Get Shadowheart to Spare the Nightsong — her Act 2 arc, much later.
Sources
- How to Kill Commander Zhalk & Get Everburn Blade - Honor Mode BG3 — original video walkthrough by Fusion Thunder.
Fusion Thunder
Founder & EditorI'm Fusion Thunder, the founder of Beyond Max Level. I'm a lifelong gamer and content creator who doesn't just play games — I like to push them to their absolute limits. This site is the written extension of my YouTube channel, @BeyondMaxLevel, where I break down the open-world epics and big RPGs worth going deep on into clear, no-fluff guides you can actually follow.
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