BG3 Tharchiate Codex Location & Vault Puzzle
Where to find the Tharchiate Codex in Baldur's Gate 3 — the Sorcerous Sundries vault door puzzle, curing Tharchiate Withering, and unlocking Danse Macabre.
Quick Answer
The Tharchiate Codex is in the Sorcerous Sundries vault in Act 3. Lockpick the Tome Monger's office on the second floor (use Invisibility), open the closed book to reveal the vault portal, then solve the door puzzle — Silverhand, then Evocation, then Wish to pull the lever, then Gate and Illusion to reach the Elminster vault. Smash the display case to take the Codex. Reading it inflicts Tharchiate Withering (-5 Constitution); cure it with Remove Curse for a permanent +20 temporary HP, then read the Necromancy of Thay to learn Danse Macabre.
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To finish the Necromancy of Thay in Act 3 you need the Tharchiate Codex — hidden behind a portal puzzle inside the Sorcerous Sundries vault. Here’s the exact path, the curse cure, and how it pays off with the Danse Macabre ghoul army.
Short Answer
The Tharchiate Codex is in the Sorcerous Sundries vault (Act 3). Lockpick the Tome Monger’s office on the second floor — use Invisibility so the guard doesn’t catch you — then open the closed book on the bookcase to reveal the vault portal. Inside, solve the door puzzle: Silverhand → Evocation → Wish (pull the lever), then back to start and Gate → Illusion to reach the Elminster vault. Smash the display case to take the Codex. Reading it inflicts Tharchiate Withering (-5 Constitution); cure it with Remove Curse for a permanent +20 temporary HP, then read the Necromancy of Thay to learn Danse Macabre.
Key Takeaways
- The Codex is inside the Sorcerous Sundries vault in the Lower City (Act 3).
- Enter via the Tome Monger’s office (second floor) — Invisibility makes the lockpick safe.
- Door order: Silverhand → Evocation → Wish (lever), then Gate → Illusion to the Elminster vault.
- Smash the display case to grab the Codex; you can ignore the weak traps.
- Reading it gives Tharchiate Withering (-5 Con); Remove Curse turns it into +20 temp HP per long rest.
- Finishing unlocks Danse Macabre — summon up to 4 ghouls (5 as a Necromancer).
How Do You Enter the Sorcerous Sundries Vault?
Go to Sorcerous Sundries in the Lower City and reach the Tome Monger’s office on the second floor. It’s the large magic shop in the center of the map. Upstairs, the office door on the left is locked — cast Invisibility (you can buy the scroll/spell in the shop) so you can lockpick it without the guard interrupting, or talk to the guard to turn his gaze away, then sneak in and close the door behind you.
Inside, interact with the closed book on the bookcase on the right. This opens a portal to the Sorcerous vault.
What’s the Vault Door Puzzle Solution?
From the hub, take the oak door, break down the locked door in the hallway, then route through the magical doors in order. The traps inside are weak, and loading screens between doors cancel them, so don’t worry about them.
| Step | Door | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Silverhand | Begins the sequence |
| 2 | Evocation | Leads toward the lever room |
| 3 | Wish | Reach and pull the lever (opens the Elminster vault) |
| 4 | Gate (from start) | Into another hub |
| 5 | Illusion | Opens the lit door back to start → the Elminster vault |
In the Elminster vault, the Codex sits in a display case — smash it with a weapon and take the Tharchiate Codex. Leave through the broken door and portal, then teleport away rather than passing the guard again.
How Do You Finish the Quest?
Give the Codex to whoever read the Necromancy of Thay, cure the curse, then read the book again. Reading the Codex inflicts Tharchiate Withering (-5 Constitution). Cast Remove Curse (Shadowheart works) on that character to convert it into Tharchiate Vigor: a permanent +20 temporary HP after every long rest.
With the curse removed, read the Necromancy of Thay and pass a DC 20 Wisdom save to learn Danse Macabre — summon up to 4 ghouls (5 as a Necromancer), rechargeable on every long rest.
FAQ
Where is the Tharchiate Codex in Baldur’s Gate 3?
In the Sorcerous Sundries vault in Act 3. Enter through the Tome Monger’s office on the second floor (open the closed book for the portal), then solve the door puzzle to reach the Elminster vault.
What is the Sorcerous Sundries vault door order?
Silverhand → Evocation → Wish to pull the lever, then back to the start and Gate → Illusion to open the path to the Elminster vault.
How do you cure Tharchiate Withering?
Cast Remove Curse on the cursed character (Shadowheart can learn it as a Cleric). This converts the -5 Constitution debuff into the permanent Tharchiate Vigor buff (+20 temp HP per long rest).
Do you need the Necromancy of Thay before the Codex?
Yes — the Codex completes the Necromancy of Thay questline, so you should have found and opened the book in Act 1 first.
How do you get past the vault traps?
They’re weak, and the loading screen between doors cancels them, so you can largely walk through. Spread your party out if you want to be safe.
Related Guides
- Necromancy of Thay & Tharchiate Codex: Full Guide — the complete Act 1–3 questline.
- How to Get & Open the Necromancy of Thay (Act 1) — the Act 1 prerequisite: the book, mirror, and Dark Amethyst.
Sources
- How to Finish Necromancy of Thay: Tharchiate Codex Location & Guide — 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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